Santiago Wins the Third Installment of Telemundo’s “La Voz Kids”

Jonael Santiago is the pint-sized voz of the season…

The 11-year-old Puerto Rican dynamo with an outsize personality was declared the winner of the third installment of La Voz Kids, the Spanish-language kiddie version of The Voice on the Telemundo network.

Jonael Santiago

Santiago’s win — determined by audience voting from more than 1.2 million viewers — was not a slam dunk by any means. This third season boasted a particularly talented lineup of finalists, including 11-year-old Shanty Sumaya, a Mexican American from Texas who already plays gigs in her home state and is particularly good at grupero; and 14-year-old Franser Pazosa, a Cuban-born 14-year-old from Portland, Oregon, with a stunning, versatile voice.

Santiago, a diminutive boy who looks younger than his years, couldn’t match their vocals, but he made up for it with stage presence, attitude and dance moves that evoked Bruno Mars and Michael Jackson. His grand finale was Mars’ “Treasure,” a song chosen for him by coach Natalia Jimenez.

“He’s an amazing package,” Jimenez told Billboard after the win. “He can dance, he can sing, he can act. I wanted him to sing something he can move with. He’s really good at singing ballads, but the most impressive thing is seeing him dance and sing at the same time.”

Even Daddy Yankee, a competing coach, agreed. “It’s so entertaining to watch Jona onstage,” he said after Santiago’s final performance.

Santiago competed against contestants coached by Jimenez, ranchera singer Pedro Fernandez and reggaeton star Daddy Yankee, who shared the stage as coaches for the first time in this third season of La Voz. The show, whose previous coaches have included Paulina Rubio and Prince Royce, has become a ratings success for  Telemundo.

La Voz Kids is a variation on The Voice’s format that features kids as contestants, major music stars as coaches and big-name guest performers. For the Sunday night finale, held — as the entire season was — at Universal Orlando, featured performers for the evening, beside the contestants, were Marc Anthony and Gente de Zona, Mexican singer Lucero and La Voz coach Fernandez.

The winner of La Voz Kids gets a $50,000 cash prize from AT&T that goes toward their education, and a recording contract from Universal Music Latino for the production of a song and video. That could go in different directions for Santiago, who moved from Puerto Rico to Miami two years ago to further his training in music and dance and sings equally well in both languages.

“I felt comfortable with ‘Treasure,’” he said of his final performance. His favorite acts, he says are “Demi Lovato — I love her — and Tori Kelly. I really want to record in the studio ‘All In My Head’ by Tori Kelly; she’s awesome.” However, he added, “Spanish is my first language and I came to Miami two years ago and I’m not perfect [in English yet]. I’m Puerto Rican and I always will be and I’ll talk Spanish forever.”

The “Furious 7” Soundtrack, Featuring Prince Royce, Reaches No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart

Prince Royce is making a Fast and Furious crossover on the Billboard charts…

The Furious 7 soundtrack, featuring the 25-year-old Dominican American singer-songwriter’s single “My Angel,” jumps to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart dated April 25.

Prince Royce

The rise to the summit comes four weeks after the soundtrack’s release.

This week, Furious 7 moved over 111,000 equivalent copies (combining traditional sales and those calculated out by collective streams of all the songs on the album). Last week, that figure was 74,000, so clearly the album is surging forward.

Furious 7 is the fourth soundtrack to top the chart in the past 12 months, according to Billboard, following Frozen, Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1 and the Empire TV soundtrack.

The official music for Prince Royce’s “My Angel,” featuring scenes from the action film, has been viewed more than 8 million times on YouTube.

Grace Lands Recording Deal with Sony Music U.S. Latin

Leslie Grace has a new recording contract…

The 20-year-old Dominican-American singer, the youngest female to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Latin charts, has signed a recording deal with Sony Music U.S. Latin.

Leslie Grace

Under the new deal, Grace – who scored two No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart before she was 19 years old –will release an EP of new material likely in June. A first single will hit radio in May.

Grace, who was previously signed to Top Stop Music, the label launched by producer Sergio George (and also the first home of Prince Royce), tells Billboard in an exclusive interview that her new material will follow the bachata/pop vein of her previous fare.

“It will be very infused with lots of R&B and it’s infused with my roots, which are bachata,” says Grace, who speaks and sings in both English and Spanish. “We have a song called ‘Crazy Crazy’ and the introduction is very R&B and it has drums in there. But when the verse starts, it goes straight to bachata. It’s the two worlds I come from.”

Grace was born in New York City to Dominican parents and was raised straddling both cultures, much like Romeo Santos and Prince Royce.

She came to prominence with her debut single, a bilingual cover of “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,” which reached No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart in 2012. Grace released two albums on Top Stop, but going to Sony, she says, will allow her to take her music to other markets.

“A big focus is opening new markets for Leslie,” adds Sony Music U.S. Latin president Nir Seroussi, noting that Grace is also “very appealing” to brands.

Working with her, adds Seroussi, “is like a dream come true.”

Prince Royce to Serve as Special Guest on Ariana Grande’s “The Honeymoon Tour”

Prince Royce has landed a grande gig…

The 25-year-old Dominican-America singer-songwriter will appear as the special guest on Ariana Grande’s recently extended The Honeymoon Tour beginning this summer.

Prince Royce

Grande’s tour, produced and promoted by Live Nation, kicked off February 25 and will play through April 16 in Vancouver.

The summer tour dates, featuring Prince Royce, will kick off July 16 at Amalie Arena in Tampa and will end October 15 at El Paso County Coliseum in El Paso, Texas. Stops include Staples Center in Los Angeles, BB&T Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Verizon Cetner in Washington DC and American Airlines Center in Dallas.

Prince Royce is close to releasing his English-language debut album after becoming one of the most successful new Latin acts in the market. Royce broke the top 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 with his first English-language single, “Stuck on a Feeling,” featuring Snoop Dogg.

Tickets will go on sale April 4 at www.livenation.com; all dates, cities and venues below subject to change.

Thursday, July 16 Tampa, FL Amalie Arena
Saturday, July 18 Ft Lauderdale, FL BB&T Center
Tuesday, July 21 Charlotte, NC Time Warner Cable Arena
Thursday, July 23 Louisville, KY KFC Yum! Center
Saturday, July 25 Washington, DC Verizon Center
Sunday, July 26 Hershey, PA Hersheypark Stadium
Wednesday, July 29 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
Friday, July 31 Albany, NY Times Union Center
Sunday, August 2 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena
Tuesday, August 4 Manchester, NH Verizon Wireless Arena
Thursday, August 6 Montreal, QC Bell Centre
Friday, August 7 Ottawa, ON Canadian Tire Centre
Sunday, August 9 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
Saturday, August 29 Las Vegas, NV Mandalay Bay Events Center
Monday, August 31 Fresno, CA Save Mart Center
Wednesday, September 2 Boise, ID Taco Bell Arena
Friday, September 4 Portland, OR Moda Center
Sunday, September 6 Sacramento, CA Sleep Train Arena
Tuesday, September 8 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
Wednesday, September 9 Chula Vista, CA Sleep Train Amphitheatre
Friday, September 11 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
Friday, September 18 Houston, TX Toyota Center
Sunday, September 20 Birmingham, AL BJCC Arena
Tuesday, September 22 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena
Thursday, September 24 Raleigh, NC PNC Arena
Saturday, September 26 Brooklyn, NY Barclays Center
Tuesday, September 29 Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena
Friday, October 2 Chicago, IL United Center
Sunday, October 4 St Louis, MO Scottrade Center
Tuesday, October 6 Wichita, KS INTRUST Bank Arena
Wednesday, October 7 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
Friday, October 9 New Orleans, LA Smoothie King Center
Sunday, October 11 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
Tuesday, October 13 Austin, TX Frank Erwin Center
Thursday, October 15 El Paso, TX El Paso County Coliseum

Iglesias Partnering with Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation to Fund Full Scholarship to Berklee College of Music

Enrique Iglesias is giving back to the community…

The 39-year-old Spanish singer-songwriter is funding a full scholarship in tandem with the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation valued at $200,000 — or $50,000 over four years — for a Hispanic student with financial need to attend Berklee College of Music.

Enrique Iglesias

The idea, says Iglesias, came after Manolo Diaz, who heads the Latin Grammy Foundation, asked him to be involved in the organization and suggested a scholarship. “I thought it was a great idea,” says Iglesias, who decided to go for a single, generous scholarship rather than many smaller ones.

“We wanted to get them through the four years of college. We all know one thing is getting to college, and another is getting through college,” the singer tells Billboard.

Iglesias never received a formal music education. In fact, when he went to college (he would eventually drop out) at the University of Miami, he initially studied business.

“When I first started singing and songwriting, I didn’t even think of going to a university that just had to do with music,” he says. “It wasn’t even on my radar.”

But as time has gone by, Iglesias has worked with an increasing number of people who studied music, with several of them attending Berklee. They include longtime producer Carlos Paucar.

“My first question to him was, ‘Was it worth it and was it good and would you do it all over again?'” Says Iglesias. “And he said yes, 100 percent.”

It was important to him, says Iglesias, that the recipient of the scholarship be a Latin student. It’s the same mentality he’s long applied to the artists he’s mentored — Prince Royce a couple of years ago and J Balvin now, among them — by having them open up his shows.

“I don’t see it so much as, ‘I’m helping another artist,” he explains. “What’s important is that whoever we tour with is a Latin act. I think we need to promote Latin music. And even if we’re going to markets where there are not that many Latin stations, or any Latin stations, you know the Latin community in this country is growing at a very rapid pace, and it’s important to promote Latin music and more importantly, Latin acts.”

As one of the few Latin artists who have opening acts, Iglesias also says it’s a thrill to watch artists evolve before his eyes.

“It helps them and it helps me,” he says. “It gives me energy. It inspires me to watch artists like that, who are hungry.”

Applications to the Enrique Iglesias Scholarship presented by the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation will be open for Latin students in any Spanish or Portuguese speaking country, the U.S. and Canada, through April 10 at latingrammyculturalfoundation.com.

J Balvin to Take Part in the “Billboard En Vivo” Concert Series

J Balvin is ready to go en vivo

The 29-year-old Colombian reggaeton singer will take center stage when Billboard launches the Billboard En Vivo tour.

J Balvin

The new concert series will visit intimate venues in five cities this April and feature live acoustic performances by rising the Latin rhythm artist, as well as Bachata sensation Prince Royce and Salsa singer-songwriter Victor Manuelle, all of whom are Billboard Latin Music Awards finalists.

The Billboard En Vivo tour will begin on April 3 in New York City, and visits Chicago (April 7), L.A. (April 15), Houston (April 22) before wrapping up April 29 in Miami.

The concerts are a warm-up for the Billboard Latin Music Awards, which take place April 30 from the BankUnited Center in Miami.

“The Billboard En Vivo concert series demonstrates Billboard’s continued commitment to the evolving Latin market,” comments Janice Min, co-president and chief creative officer of Guggenheim Media‘s Entertainment Group, which consists of Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter. “As Latin musicians continue to build mainstream momentum, Billboard is bringing together hundreds of passionate music fans for a series of special moments leading up to one of our biggest nights, the Billboard Latin Music Awards.”

Telemundo is the official broadcast and digital distribution partner for Billboard En Vivo and the network will air the Billboard Latin Music Awards live at 8:00 pm EST on the big night.

Here’s a look at the tour schedule.

Billboard En Vivo Tour schedule:

April 3 — New York City (Prince Royce)
April 7 — Chicago (Prince Royce)
April 15 — Los Angeles (J Balvin)
April 22 — Houston (Victor Manuelle)
April 29 — Miami (J Balvin)

J Balvin to Perform at DJ Alex Sensation’s La Mega Mezcla Live (Mega Mix) Show

J Balvin is preparing for a mega show…

The 29-year-old Colombian reggaeton singer, who recently notched his first-ever No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs Chart with “Ay Vamos,” is among the list of Latin urban acts announced to perform as part of DJ Alex Sensation‘s La Mega Mezcla Live (Mega Mix) show at Madison Square Garden on April 14.

J Balvin

In addition to J Balvin, the lineup includes appearances by Prince Royce, Daddy Yankee, Tego Calderon, Plan B, Farruko, Maluma, Nicky Jam, French Montana and Maffio.

The show is produced by SBS Entertainment, the concert division arm of radio network SBS, which includes Mega 97.9 FM, New York’s top-rated Spanish language station and home to Sensation’s Monday-Saturday mix show, La Mega Mezcla.

Sensation has hosted his radio show for 15 years, amassing a major fan base that allows him to spin in clubs across the country. Along the way, he’s also mixed tracks for multiple artists — collaborating with the likes of J Balvin, Daddy Yankee and Nicky Jam — and paired up with major brands. In 2011, Sensation launched his first live concert with friends at MSG. It has become an annual fixture and as of last year, branched out to Miami. There, Sensation’s Miami Bash takes place April 10 with a slightly different lineup.

This year’s roster of acts performing at the New York show is particularly impressive, which also includes J Álvarez, Zion & Lennox, Arcángel, De la Ghetto, Reykon, French Montana and pop singer Alejandra Guzmán.

The show is a precursor to Sensation’s next step as a recording artist. A first single, featuring Yandel and Shaggy, is due out this spring.

Sensation will be the moderator of the New Latin Urban Movement during the Billboard Latin Music Conference, taking place April 27-29 at the Ritz Carlton in Miami Beach.

Prince Royce Storms the Stage at ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live”

Prince Royce is taking his English-language crossover efforts to late night…

Prince Royce

The 25-year-old Dominican American singer-songwriter stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday night to perform two songs from his upcoming album, including his crunchy hit “Stuck On A Feeling.”

The bachata star brought a full band to help him out, complete with three backup singers and two drummers.

After unleashing the big-beat funk of “Stuck On A Feeling,” Prince Royce slowed down the tempo for a tender, finger-snapping rendition of his ballad “Extraordinary.”

He channeled mid-90s R&B hits from the likes of Babyface and the Tony Rich Project, as the crowd sang along.

Prince Royce, a six-time Latin Grammy nominee, is currently working on his first English-language album. He’ll follow it up with his fourth Spanish-language album.

Prince Royce Roars Onto Billboard’s Artist 100 Chart

Prince Royce is starting to see the fruits of his American crossover labor…

The 25-year-old Dominican American singer-songwriter has roared on Billboard’s Artist 100 at No. 78.

Prince Royce

Prince Royce’s rise on the chart is boosted by the growing success of his first English-language hit, “Stuck On a Feeling,” featuring Snoop Dogg.

The Artist 100 provides the first weekly ranking dedicated to measuring artist activity across Billboard’s most influential charts, including the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, Top Album Sales chart and the Social 50 chart.

The Artist 100 blends data measuring album and track sales, radio airplay, streaming and social media fan interaction to provide a weekly multi-dimensional ranking of artist popularity.

“Stuck On a Feeling” shifts into high gear on the Billboard Hot 100, jumping 78-63 in its third week on the chart. Social metrics account for the majority of his Artist 100 standing (41 percent), as he blasts 38-13 on the Social 50. Airplay follows at 29 percent, as the track gains by 19 percent to 29 million in all-format radio audience, according to Nielsen Music. Digital song sales account for 19 percent of his Artist 100 total, with the song up by 33 percent to 21,000 sold in the week ending Jan. 11.

“Stuck On a Feeling” previews Prince Royce’s forthcoming first English-language album.

During his young career, he has tallied three No. 1s on Top Latin Albums beginning in 2011.

Prince Royce’s “Stuck on a Feeling” Debuts on the Billboard Hot 100

Prince Royce is already seeing results in his crossover mission…

The 25-year-old Dominican American singer’s latest single, the English track “Stuck on a Feeling,” debuts on the Billboard Hot 100 this week.

Prince Royce

The song, featuring Snoop Dogg, enters the chart at No. 93. 

Airplay contributes the majority of its points, as it gains by 10 percent to 22 million in audience.

“Stuck on a Feeling” also lifts by 72 percent to 15,000 sold.

The official music video for the booming song has already garnered more than 2 million views on YouTube/Vevo since its release in early December.