Nicky Jam to Speak at Songwriter Q&A During This Year’s Billboard Latin Music Conference

Nicky Jam is ready to open up about his red-hot career…

The 34-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American singer-songwriter, boasting back-to-back singles on the Top 5 of Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, has been confirmed for the Songwriter Q&A during this year’s Billboard Latin Music Conference in Miami.

Nicky Jam

Presented by Jorge Mejia’s Sony/ATV, the “Songwriter Q&A,” now in its third year, features hitmakers at the peak of their careers.

Nicky Jam, whose song “El Perdón” with Enrique Iglesias became the second-longest running track ever at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, will discuss his career, his hits and his songwriting strategy in a conversation with Leila Cobo, Bilboard’s executive director of Latin content and programming.

Nicky Jam is a finalist for eleven Billboard Latin Music Awards including Artist of the Year. His song “El Perdón” with Iglesias vies for five additional awards including Hot Latin Song of the Year, Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event and Airplay Song of the Year.

Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias’ “El Perdón” spent 30 weeks atop the Hot Latin Songs chart (it peaked on March 21, 2015), becoming the second-longest running No. 1 ever on the chart. His latest single “Hasta El Amanecer” is currently No. 3 on Hot Latin Songs.

The Billboard Latin Music Conference, which will be held April 25-28 at the Ritz-Carlton in South Beach Fla., will also feature key industry leaders and music stars. Registration to the conference is open at BillboardLatinConference.com with early bird, loyalty and group rates available.

The Billboard Latin Music Conference 2016 culminates with the annual Billboard Latin Music Awards, which will air live on the Telemundo network April 28 from the BankUnited Center in Miami.

Nicky Jam Signs with Sony/ATV and SESAC Latina

Nicky Jam is taking his music worldwide…

The 34-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter, who is riding high due to his current hit single with Enrique Iglesias, “El Perdón, has signed an exclusive worldwide publishing agreement with Sony/ATV music publishing, according to Billboard.

Nicky Jam

Nicky Jam, whose real name is Nick Rivera Caminero, has also signed with SESAC Latina for worldwide representation for his public performance rights, on the heels of his signing as an artist with Sony Music Latin in February.

“Nicky Jam is coming into our family of composers at a great time in his career that’s’ reflected by his simultaneous presence in various Billboard lists,” said J.J. Cheng, vice president of SESAC Latin.

“El Perdón” is currently at No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay and Hot Latin Songs chart, and Nicky Jam’s “Travesuras” and “Si Tu No Estás” are sitting at No. 8 on Hot Latin Songs and No. 14 on the Latin Rhythm Airplay chart, respectively.

“Nicky is the new generation of entrepreneurial artist who are entering the big leagues through hard work, perseverance, and social media savvy,” said Jorge Mejía, EVP of Sony/ATV for Latin America and U.S. Latin. “We couldn’t be more excited.”

Nicky Jam’s current chart success is a welcome change.

He began his career as a reggaetón act in Puerto Rico together with his friend Daddy Yankee, then branched out solo and signed with indie Pina Records, scoring singles on the Billboard charts in 2005 and 2008.

Then, he disappeared.

Nicky Jam went to live in Colombia and worked for years re-crafting his sound. Last year he resurfaced, with a vengeance.

In July of 2014, “Travesuras,” released on his own label, La Industria, debuted on the Hot Latin Songs chart, peaking at No.4 in December.

Now, 10 years after he first made it onto the Billboard charts, Nicky Jam has finally risen to No. 1 with “El Perdón.”

Daddy Yankee’s “Limbo” Recognized at the ASCAP Latin Music Awards

Daddy Yankee has plenty of reason to celebrate…

The 37-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton singer-songwriter’s “Limbo” has been named Song of the Year at the ASCAP Latin Music Awards.

Daddy Yankee

The track, released as a Spanish-language song and bilingual track, peaked at number one on Billboard’s Latin Songs and Latin Pop Songs charts.

“Limbo” was written specially for Zumba Fitness to highlight the dance fitness company’s presence in the Latin music industry.

Daddy Yankee said he wanted “Limbo to invite the imagination, ignite creativity, to step away from the norm and bring something completely different.”

But that wasn’t the only prize Daddy Yankee picked up…

He also received ASCAP’s Voice of Music award. Looking visibly emotional, Daddy Yankee accepted his award and addressed the crowd in general and his fellow musicians in particular.

“It’s such an honor to be here. For me everything began as a young guy in Santurce, Puerto Rico in the 90s. I still have that passion in my heart,” he said.

Meanwhile, legendary musicians Fania All-Stars, this year’s Heritage award recipients, shared the stage with today’s stars in what became a true once-in-a-lifetime musical moment.

“I want to thank these boys for being with me so many years,” said 78-year-old Fania founder and bandleader Johnny Pacheco when accepting the award. “To me, this is the best salsa orchestra in existence.”

Colombian Andres Castro shared the Songwriter of the Year award with Romeo Santos (who was on tour but sent a video greeting).

Held in New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom, the awards celebrate the most-performed songs, publishers and composers of 2013, with Sony/ATV winning publisher of the year and Mayimba Music winning Independent Publisher of the year.