Bosé to Tape “MTV Unplugged” Set in Mexico City

Miguel Bosé is getting unplugged

The 59-year-old Panamanian-born Spanish musician and actor will be the next artist to record as part of MTV’s Unplugged series for Latin America and the U.S. Latin market.

Miguel Bosé

Bosé will tape his Unplugged set in Mexico City on May 12. The special will air throughout Latin America and the U.S. in September.

Bosé, one of Latin music’s most respected artists, has recorded more than 20 albums since his 1977 debut, Linda, and has had a string of transcontinental hits. However, he says, “I’d never recorded an acoustic album. Finally, it’s going to happen and it’s going to be an MTV Unplugged!”

The notion of taping an MTV Unplugged was first brought up in 2014, when Bosé was a guest at the taping of Pepe Aguilar’s MTV Unplugged, also done in Mexico City.

“He had a great experience and we got word from Warner that he wanted an MTV Unplugged to be his next record,” says Marc Zimet, Vice President of Music and Talent for VIMN The Americas. Zimet met with Warner and Bosés management during the Latin Grammys in Las Vegas and jump-started the conversion. A key factor was that Bosé is now managed by Seitrack, which represents several of MTV’s latest “Unplugged” artists, incuding Kinky, Zoé and Aguilar.

Although details are still under discussion, Zimet says the special will have Cuban performer and arranger Andrés Levin as its musical director.

“It’s going to be a retrospective,” says Zimet, although there will be at least two new songs as well.

What guests Bosé will bring in remains to be seen, but he’ll have many to choose from. Bosé has recorded with virtually every Latin star, and in 2007, released Papito, an album comprised of duets.

“Of course there will be a lot of guests and surprises,” said Zimet. “Miguel has a very specific, creative view and we’re fully supporting him. He has such a great eye for talent.”

Fonseca Pens Anthem for Change, “Rise Up,” with Jon Batiste

Fonseca is encouraging the masses to rise up

The 35-year-old Colombian singer/songwriter has partnered with American jazz artist and composer Jon Batiste to co-write “Rise Up,” the theme song to a special one-day summit of the same name.

Fonseca

Fusion, the television and digital company launched as a joint venture between Univision and Disney/ABC Television, will host its first RiseUp summit on November 19 in Washington, D.C.

The one-day event will bring together global activists, artists, politicians and technologists from around the world.

As part of “RiseUp,” Fonseca and Batiste penned the theme song, which is available on iTunes now.

The track is being called an anthem for change (“Stand Up to the world, rise up for what you care,” says the chorus) with jazz and pop influences. All proceeds from the song will be donated to UNICEF.

Fonseca and Batiste will perform “Rise Up” at the summit during an evening concert directed by producer Andres Levin. It will also feature his fusion band, Yerba Buena.

The RiseUp summit will spotlight recent youth-led movements and activism in places as far-flung as Venezuela, Egypt, Taiwan and Turkey.