Wisin & Yandel to Receive BMI President’s Award

Posted on February 23, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Wisin & Yandel are getting the presidential treatment…

The iconic Puerto Rican reggaeton duo will be honored with the BMI President’s Award at the 29th Annual BMI Latin Awards, which will be held on March 15 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Wisin & Yandel will receive the honor in recognition of their outstanding achievements and contributions to the Latin music community that span over 20 years and continue to influence the next generation of songwriters, according to the music rights organization.

“Wisin & Yandel are true innovators of reggaeton and urban Latin music” Jesus Gonzalez, BMI vice president, creative, Latin, said in a statement. “Their music transcends generations and has influenced many artists across all genres, helping to propel Latin music forward. We’re thrilled to finally come together and present this distinct honor to ‘el duo de la historia,’ whose undeniable chemistry and talents have earned them legions of fans around the world.”

Since the late ’90s, Wisin & Yandel has scored a number of hits on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, including “Rakata,” “Ahora Es,” “Llame Pa’ Verte” and “Algo Me Gusta de Ti.”

Wisin y Yandel also brought reggaetón from an underground genre to the mainstream in collaborations with different artists, including Chris Brown, T- Pain, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, Luis Fonsi and Enrique Iglesias.

The special award presented to a songwriter, composer, producer or executive who has “profoundly influenced the entertainment industry,” Wisin & Yandel join previous BMI President’s Award recipients including Carlos Vives, Gloria Trevi, Juanes, Luis Fonsi, Mario Quintero, Pitbull and Sergio George, among others.

Songwriters, publishers and administrators of the past year’s most-performed Latin songs in the United States will also be honored during the ceremony hosted by BMI president & CEO Mike O’Neill and Gonzalez. The BMI Regional Mexican Song, Songwriter, BMI Contemporary Latin Song, Songwriter and Publisher of the Year will also be named.

Pitbull’s NASCAR Team Agrees to Partnership Deal with UFC’s Dana White

Posted on February 1, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Pitbull is racing to a new deal…

UFC president Dana White has agreed to a partnership deal with the 41-year-old Cuban American rapper/singer and entrepreneur’s NASCAR team Trackhouse Racing, starting this week at the exhibition Clash in Los Angeles.

White’s Howler Head Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey will serve as primary sponsor of Ross Chastain‘s No. 1 Chevrolet in Sunday’s race at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

“This is an absolute (wicked) car, and I can’t wait to see it compete on the track at the Coliseum on Sunday,” White said.

Trackhouse Racing fields two full-time NASCAR Cup Series cars in 2022 with drivers Chastain and Daniel Suarez.

Trackhouse Racing, owned by Justin Marks and Pitbull, ran with Suarez last year. Trackhouse then bought Chip Ganassi‘s team and expanded to two cars for this season.

“We want to transcend our sport, work with innovative minds and powerful brands, and Dana White, along with Howler Head and UFC exemplify that. Dana’s influence, vision, and passion is inspiring and I’m looking forward to working with him on amplifying both our brands and hopefully along the way, learning from him as well,” Marks said.

Robert Trujillo & His Metallica Band Mates to Perform at This Year’s BottleRock Festival

Posted on January 10, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Robert Trujillo is putting the rock in this year’s BottleRock festival…

The 57-year-old half-Mexican American musician, songwriter and bassist and his Metallica band mates will be headlining this year’s BottleRock, California’s premiere food, wine and music festival.

Metallica will headline the event, taking place Memorial Day weekend (May 27-29), alongside P!nk, Twenty One Pilots and Luke Combs.

The fest, which includes more than 75 musical acts, also includes The Black Crowes, Kygo, Pitbull, Greta Van Fleet, Mount Westmore, a new hip-hop supergroup featuring Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, E-40 and Too $hort.

The Napa Valley festival will also showcase the region’s wine, craft brew and culinary legacy.

“We’re happy to be bringing the first taste of summer back to music fans here in the Napa Valley,” says Dave Graham of BottleRock Napa Valley. “As fans have come to expect, our 2022 lineup has something for everyone, featuring a wide variety of genres that offer legendary performers with some of the most exciting new and emerging artists in the world.”

This year’s festival includes the highly entertaining Williams Sonoma Culinary Stage, showcasing a unique mashup of cooking demonstrations with renowned chefs, celebrities, performers and rock stars. Details on the 2022 Williams Sonoma Culinary Stage will be announced at a later date.

BottleRock Napa Valley will follow all local and state COVID-19 health & safety guidelines in place at the time of the event and will communicate all requirements to ticket holders beforehand.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. Pacific. More details here.

Pitbull Partners with Echelon Fitness for New Content & More

Posted on June 30, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Pitbull is workin’ on his fitness dealings…

The 40-year-old Cuban rap superstar and entrepreneur has been named a new partner in Echelon Fitness, the upstart fitness brand known for their line of spin bikes, fitness mirrors, treadmills and rowers.

Pitbull is teaming up with Echelon to unveil a host of new content on the Echelon website and Echelon Fitness app.

Among the new projects: Pitbull will write a new “anthem” for Echelon that the company says will “inspire members, and get the world moving and feeling good.”

It’s not just for a campaign though – Pitbull says the Echelon anthem will be released as a single on his new album, and says he’ll be playing it on his upcoming “I Feel Good” tour. Expect to hear the new upbeat track on Echelon commercials as well.

Echelon, known for its Peloton-style spin bike (currently shipping faster than a Peloton by the way) will also unveil a special “Ride with Pitbull” channel, with themed rides featuring music from the rapper along with his frequent collaborators (expect Jennifer Lopez, Daddy Yankee, Marc Anthony and Becky G to be on the class playlists). Echelon says you’ll also have the ability to ride with Pitbull himself, in classes created and taught by his dancers. It’s unclear if Mr. 305 will actually pop up on screen riding a bike, but Echelon has confirmed that Pitbull’s lead dancer, Jenny Valdes, will be one of the featured instructors.

The final piece of the partnership will be exclusive Pitbull merch and a co-branded Pitbull spin bike, to be released on the Echelon website. Though details of the merchandise haven’t been released, it’s likely to include athleisure wear, water bottles and other accessories to help you reach your fitness goals.

“It is truly an honor to partner with Echelon Fitness,” says Pitbull, in a press release. “With this new venture, we look forward to producing new avenues for music and fitness. Music is the universal language. Fitness is a cultural movement. Together we will create a powerful generation. I don’t know about you but that makes me feel good, Dale!”

“Learning Pitbull was a fan of our product and our community was humbling,” adds Lou Lentine, President and CEO of Echelon Fitness. “Pitbull has featured and been featured with some of the biggest talents in the music industry. And now his latest feature is with Echelon Fitness. We are so excited to welcome Mr. Worldwide to the team!”

Find out more about the new partnership at EchelonFit.com.

Anitta to Perform at This Year’s Latin American Music Awards

Posted on March 25, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Anitta will be bringing the heat to the Latin AMAs…

Telemundo has announced the second wave of performers to take center stage at the 2021 Latin American Music Awards next month, with the 27-year-old Brazilian singer/songwriter making the list.

Anitta joins a roster of new additions to the lineup that includes Carrie Underwood, Juanes, Manuel Turizo, Pitbull, Ricky Martin, Wisin, Yandel, Ziggy Marley, Alaina Castillo, Cami, Carlos Rivera, Juhn, Mariah Angeliq, Natanael Cano, Sofía Reyes and Yendry.

Underwood will join David Bisbal for their first-ever television performance of “Tears of Gold,” Ricky and Carlos Vives, as well as Ziggy and Maluma, will present their upcoming collaborations, Juanes will serenade fans with a new song from his soon-to-be-released album, and Karol G will take the stage with Mariah Angeliq for an exclusive TV premiere, to name a few.

They join the first wave of performers, which included Ana Bárbara, Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga, Camilo, Carlos Vives, Bisbal, Eslabon Armado, Gerardo Ortiz, Joss Favela, Karol G, Los Dos Carnales, Maluma, Myke Towers, Nicky Jam, Piso 21 and a special tribute to the late Regional Mexican singer-songwriter Joan “El Poeta del Pueblo” Sebastian.

Following safety protocols to protect the health and safety of all involved, the 2021 awards show will honor some of the most influential Latin artists of today, as voted by fans in 25 categories including pop, urban, tropical, regional Mexican, and the newly added favorite virtual concert.

The 2021 Latin AMAs, hosted by actress Jacqueline Bracamontes, will air at 7:00 pm ET on Thursday, April 15, from the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida, via Telemundo and will broadcast simultaneously on Universo and throughout the Americas on Telemundo Internacional.

Pitbull Becomes Part Owner of New NASCAR Team Trackhouse Racing

Posted on January 28, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Pitbull is dealing with a new type of track…

New NASCAR team Trackhouse Racing has brought on the 40-year-old Cuban American rapper/singer, known also as Mr. Worldwide, as an ownership partner for the organization, which will make its debut next month at the Daytona 500.

Trackhouse made the announcement with a video on Twitter in which the Grammy winner is featured dancing to an “I believe we will win” chant. He also holds signs that say: “Knuckle Up,” “Fight Hard” and “Buckle Up.”

Pitbull joins NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan as celebrity owners entering NASCAR this year. Jordan is a part owner of 23XI Racing with Denny Hamlin.

“I’ve been a fan of the NASCAR story since the movie Days of Thunder,” Pitbull said in a statement. “We are going to show the world NASCAR is not only a sport but a culture.”

Trackhouse was launched late last year by former driver Justin Marks, who struggled to find a charter that guarantees entry into every Cup Series race on the schedule. He ultimately leased one from Spire Motorsports to get his organization on the grid.

The team has hired Mexican driver Daniel Suarez for the No. 99 Chevrolet, but it will not be NASCAR’s first pairing of a Latino driver and team owner. Juan Pablo Montoya, a Colombian, drove for Chip Ganassi Racing when it was part owned by Felix Sabates, a Cuban.

Chesca Teams Up with De La Ghetto for Steamy “Como Tu Me Querias” Remix

Posted on January 22, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Chesca is getting a Ghetto-fabulous assist…

Only three months after releasing “Como Tu Me Querias,” the Puerto Rican singer has joined voices with De La Ghetto for a saucy remix.

The track tells the story of a good girl whose looks are deceiving and falls for the bad boy in town. Cue De La Geezy, the bad boy, who brings his distinguishable voice and seductive lyrics to the track.

“Como Tu Me Querias” is an infectious, uptempo reggaeton with hints of old-school perreo and dancehall melodies.

The music video, filmed by Mimi Labisi of Stellarhead in LA, shows both artists’ onscreen chemistry in a futuristic and vibrant setting. Chesca is also seen flaunting her killer dance moves.

Chesca, who’s a two-time nominee at the 2021 Premio Lo Nuestro, crowned Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart on December 12, 2020, with her Pitbull and Frankie Valli-assisted “Te Quiero Baby.”

Jencarlos Canela Teams Up with Pitbull for Dancetastic Single “Cosita Linda”

Posted on January 17, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Jencarlos Canela has a new pretty little thing…

The 32-year-old Cuban American singer/actor has joined voices with Pitbull for the high octane single “Cosita Linda.”

The track, penned by Jencarlos and Cuban newcomer Lenier, tells the story of a man who’s out to conquer the girl of his dreams.

“Everything that’s yours is for me/ I’ll give you whatever you want/ Everything that’s mine is for you/ We’ll do whatever you want,” the catchy chorus says in Spanish.

In true Miami fashion, the song, helmed by producers IAmChino and Mauro and released under Pitbull’s record label Mr. 305 Records, is almost four minutes of pure fiesta, fusing Cuban rumba, sensual reggaeton and romantic flamenco guitar riffs.

A music video directed by David Rousseau features both artists having the time of their lives in the heart of the Miami nightlife and beaches.

In addition to “Cosita Linda,” Pitbull is a three-time nominee at the 2021 Premio Lo Nuestro, and Jencarlos will soon premiere his next movie alongside Kevin Hart.

Anitta Launching Her Own Podcast, “Anitta and Friends” via LiveXLive Media’s PodcastOne

Posted on January 13, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Anitta is (pod)casting a wider net…

The 27-year-old Brazilian singer-songwriter, who has proven to be as amusing in conversation as she is when performing, will now have her own podcast.

Titled Anitta and Friends, the podcast will launch this quarter and will feature a wide array of guests in discussions that’ll be rooted in music.

The show is part of an exclusive podcast deal Anitta inked with podcast platform PodcastOne, which will also produce the show.

The platform, a subsidiary of LiveXLive Media, is also home to Pitbull’s From Negative to Positive podcast and The Adam Carolla Show, among many others.

Anitta’s debut season will include 12 episodes featuring “intimate, insightful” conversations with celebrities from around the world.

The podcast will also be streamed as a vodcast (video podcast) on the LiveXLive platform.

“The addition of world-class talent and beloved music star Anitta to the PodcastOne family of programming is a thrill for us,” said Kit Gray, president of PodcastOne. “With the rise of powerful female voices being heard … we know that we are the perfect home for Anitta’s podcast.”

Anitta is currently working on an album in English, Portuguese and Spanish, set for release on Warner Records under a new deal inked last summer. The Brazilian star has more than 91 million social media followers across platforms, which should help fuel her podcast, a medium that is still largely untested among Latin artists.

Aside from Pitbull, J Balvin hosted Made in Medellín a year ago, an eight-part podcast about life in his hometown that was produced by Spotify. Most recently, Nicky Jam began to record a podcast where he interviews friends and artists, including reggaetón superstars, but the show hasn’t debuted yet.

Gloria Estefan to Perform at ‘Nurse Heroes Live’ Benefit Virtual Concert on Thanksgiving

Posted on November 10, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Gloria Estefan is giving special thanks to some of our frontliners…

The 63-year-old Cuban singer will be among the entertainers honoring nurses in a star-studded benefit virtual concert on Thanksgiving.

ria

Nurse Heroes has announced that the concert called Nurse Heroes Live will stream on the organization’s YouTube and Facebook pages along with LiveXLive on November 26 at 7:00 pm EST.

The benefit will provide money for a variety of programs including scholarships for nurses and their children.

Estefan joins a lineup of performers that include Stevie Wonder, Celine Dion, Josh Groban, Black Eyed Peas, Pitbull, The Wailers, Carole King, Maluma and Andrea Bocelli.

Whoopi Goldberg will host the concert with special appearances by Oprah Winfrey and Billy Crystal.

Taylor Swift will donate a signed collectible edition “Folklore” guitar, which will be auctioned for the benefit of the Nurses Heroes Foundation.

The nurses of New York’s Northwell Health will be the first beneficiaries of the concert. The event will also showcase 50 nurses from the hospital in an ensemble performance with several celebrities.

The concert will be produced by Emilio Estefan and Times Square Live Media.

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: Pitbull