Daniela Avanzini & Her KATSEYE Mates Earn First No. 1 on Billboard 200 with “WILD”

Posted on August 23, 2026 by Tom Castaneda

Daniela Avanzini is celebrating a wild debut.

The 22-year-old Cuban-American singer and her KATSEYE group mates have landed their first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 as WILD debuts atop the list dated August 29.

The set earned 170,000 equivalent album units in the United States in the week ending August 20, according to Luminate.

WILD marks the group’s second top 10-charted effort, following the No. 4-peaking Beautiful Chaos in 2025.

WILD is the fourth No. 1 album by an all-woman group this decade. It follows TWICE’s With YOU-th (2025),NewJeans’ 2nd EP Get Up (2023) and BLACKPINK’s Born Pink (2022).

Before Born Pink, the last No. 1 album by an all-woman group was Danity Kane’s Welcome to the Dollhouse in 2008.

WILD also lands KATSEYE its biggest week by equivalent album units earned, and by pure album sales (145,000). Further, WILD tallies the largest week by units for an all-woman group since the Billboard 200 began ranking by units in December 2015.

WILD additionally has the largest pure album sales week for an all-woman group in more than three years, since TWICE’s Ready To Be: 12th Mini Album debuted with 146,000 (March 25, 2023).

Of WILD’s 170,000 first-week equivalent album units, album sales comprise 145,000 (it debuts at No. 1 on the Top Album Sales chart), SEA units comprise 24,500 (equaling 26.95 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs; it debuts at No. 19 on Top Streaming Albums) and TEA units comprise about 500.

WILD’s album sales were largely driven by its availability across more than 30 CD and vinyl variants (all containing collectible items such as photocards, with some items randomized, including signed editions; some editions also contain bonus tracks).

WILD was preceded by a pair of Billboard Hot 100-charting cuts: “Pinky Up” (No. 28 peak in April) and “Animal” (No. 24 on the August 8 chart).

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 2,500 ad-supported or 1,000 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album.

Maria Becerra Announces Natanael Real & Armando Lozano as New Co-Managers

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Maria Becerra has new management.

The 24-year-old Argentine singer-songwriter, who has been dubbed as “a leading voice in Argentina’s urban pop movement,” will ] be co-managed by Natanael Real and veteran Mexican manager Armando Lozano after she parted ways amicable with longtime manager José Levy.

Real has been Becerra’s longtime day-to-day manager, while Lozano steps into a bigger role after working two years as a consultant for the artist for all territories outside Argentina.

“I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to María for placing her trust in me over nearly seven years, from the very beginning. It has been a true pleasure and honor to be part of her professional journey, and I wish her every success in this new chapter,” Levy told Billboard in a statement.

In turn, Lozano, who until recently also managed Mau & Ricky, said: “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to join María in this exciting new phase of her career. I am confident that remarkable achievements await her, further cementing her place as the global star she truly is.”

Added Real: “From the start, I’ve been inspired by María’s extraordinary talent and charisma. It is a privilege to support her in this new chapter and help her reach even greater heights.”

Becerra started her career as a YouTuber in her native Argentina as a tween, posting all kinds of content that included music covers.

By 17, she was focusing only on music and started working with Levy.

In 2021, at 21, she released her debut album, Animal via 300 Entertainment and earned a Latin Grammy nomination for best new artist.

In 2023, Becerra signed a deal with Warner Music Latina as a joint venture with 300 Entertainment, still managed by Levy, and also received the Visionary Award at Billboard’s inaugural Latin Women In Music event.

Becerra is in the midst of her first major U.S. tour and released new singles with Yandel (“El sexo está de moda”) and Gloria Trevi (“Borracha”), the latter which she performed at the Billboard Latin Music Awards in October.

She currently has 24 million monthly listeners on Spotify, making her 240 in the world on the platform.

Becerra has multiple entries on the Billboard charts, including two No. 1s on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart.

Maria Becerra Signs with Wasserman Music for Worldwide Representation

Posted on December 15, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Maria Becerra is expanding her world…

The 23-year-old Argentine singer-songwriter has signed with Wasserman Music for representation worldwide (except Latin America).

She’ll be represented by agents Juan Toro and Ryan Soroka.

The deal caps off a significant 2023 for Becerra who in May signed a label deal with Warner Music Latina, in a joint venture with 300 Entertainment, followed by an exclusive administration deal with Warner Chappell Music in August.

In May, Becerra received the visionary award at the inaugural Billboard Latin Women in Music gala.

Becerra — known for fusing pop, cumbia villera, bachata and reggaeton — broke in 2019 with her EP 222.

Two years later, she released her debut album, Animal, featuring collaborations with artists such as Cazzu, Becky G and Tiago PZK. The set earned Becerra a Latin Grammy nomination for best urban music album.

Overall, Becerra has scored three entries on the Hot Latin Songs chart, including her J Balvin collaboration “Qué Más Pues?” She’s also claimed three top 10 spots on Latin Airplay, including two No. 1 hits: “Te Espero,” featuring Prince Royce and “Así Es La Vida” with Enrique Iglesias.

Notably, she holds the record for the most entries by a woman on the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 with 43.

Most recently, Becerra sold out her upcoming March 23 show at the River Plate Stadium in her native Argentina in less than 90 minutes, making history in doing so.

Before her show at the fabled venue, which has a capacity of nearly 65,000, Becerra will perform at Viña del Mar in Chile on March 1.

Cazzu & Maria Becerra Release New Single “Maléfica”

Posted on May 27, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

It’s an exciting reteam for Cazzu and María Becerra…

The 28-year-old Argentine rapper/singer and the 22-year-old Argentine singer have joined voices to release the new single “Maléfica” via Rimas Entertainment.

Cazzu and Becerra’s hypnotic track is powered by a head-bobbing reggaetón beat.

In the new song, the maleficent duo trade cheeky verses about everything they have to offer that makes them the most unforgettable lovers.

“I promise that you won’t forget esta loca,” they sing in the chorus

The pairing comes a year after pair released “Animal,” which opened Becerra’s debut album.

Karol G Wins Big at Latin American Music Awards with Six Trophies

Posted on April 22, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Karol G is this year’s Latin AMAs darling…

The 31-year-old Colombian singer proved to be the biggest winner at the seventh annual Latin American Music Awards, earning six awards at the ceremony that celebrates the best of Latin music.

Karol G took home the most coveted award of the night, Artist of the Year. She also prevailed as Female Artist of the Year and Favorite Urban Artist.

Her third studio album, KG0516, was voted Album of the Year and Favorite Urban Album, and she picked up a Favorite Collaboration Award for her track “Makinón,” with Miami native Mariah Angelique.

Bad Bunny, who came into the ceremony as the most-nominated artist, followed close behind with five awards.

The 28-year-old Puerto Rican artist’s five awards included Song of the Year, Favorite Male Artist and Favorite Urban Song for his multiplatinum single “Dákiti,” with Jhay Cortez.

He also nabbed the award for Favorite Tropical Song “Volví,” and Viral Song of the Year for “AM.”

Argentine singer María Becerra, whose debut album Animal was released last summer, won Best New Artist.

This year’s Latin AMAs were hosted by Jacqueline Bracamontes, Rafael Amaya and Cristián de la Fuente and broadcast on Telemundo from the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

Latin AMAs voting is fan-driven with nominations based on streaming, sales, airplay and social activity tracked by Billboard from February 6, 2021 through January 29, 2022.

Here’s the full list of Latin AMA 2022 winners:

Artista del Año: Karol G
Nuevo Artista del Año: María Becerra
Sencillo del Año: Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez — “Dákiti”
Álbum del Año: Karol G — “KG0516”
Artista Favorita Femenina: Karol G
Artista Favorito Masculino: Bad Bunny
Dúo o Grupo Favorito: Aventura
Artista Favorito Pop: Selena Gomez
Álbum Favorito Pop: CNCO — “Déjà Vu”
Canción Favorita Pop: Sebastián Yatra & Myke Towers — “Pareja Del Año”
Artista Favorito Solo Regional Mexicano: Christian Nodal
Dúo o Grupo Favorito Regional Mexicano: Grupo Firme
Álbum Favorito Regional Mexicano: Christian Nodal — “Ahora”
Canción Favorita Regional Mexicano: Gera MX & Christian Nodal — “Botella Tras
Artista Favorito Urbano: Karol G
Álbum Favorito Urbano: Karol G — “KG0516”
Canción Favorita Urbano: Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez — “Dákiti”
Artista Favorito Tropical: Romeo Santos
Álbum Favorito Tropical: El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico — ‘”En Cuarentena”
Canción Favorita Tropical: Aventura & Bad Bunny — “Volví”
Artista Favorito Crossover: The Weeknd
Colaboración del Año: Karol G & Mariah Angeliq — “El Makinon”
Canción Viral del Año: Nio Garcia, J Balvin & Bad Bunny — “AM”
Gira del Año: Enrique Iglesias & Ricky Martin
Video Favorito: Anitta — “Girl From Rio”
Artista Social Favorito: Pabllo Vittar

Pedro Pascal Among the Narrators for Season 1 of Netflix’s Nature Series “Animal”

Posted on October 13, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Pedro Pascal is embracing his animal side…

Season one of Animal, a nature series from Plimsoll Productions will premiere on Netflix November 10, with the 46-year-old Chilean actor among the narrators.

The show follows eight families of the natural world, including a mother lioness, a wild dog family, a kangaroo joey and a young giant pacific octopus.

Each episode has a high-profile narrator who will bring to life the subjects, including Pascal, Bryan Cranston, Rashida Jones and Rebel Wilson.

The project was almost entirely shot during the pandemic, meaning the team used local camera operators to film in countries that were inaccessible due to travel restrictions.

Series two of the show has already been greenlit by Netflix and will feature narrators including Andy Serkis, Anthony Mackie, David Harbour and Uzo Aduba and will focus on dolphins, bears, birds of prey and apes. That season will premiere in 2022.

Maria Becerra Teams Up with Becky G for New Single “Wow Wow”

Posted on August 28, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Maria Becerra is bringing the wow factor…

After releasing a series of singles and collaborations with artists like Cazzu and J Balvin, the 21-year-old Argentine singer has officially released her debut album titled Animal.

The 11-song set drops with “Wow Wow” featuring Becky G as its focus track, a hard-knock reggaeton single that has female empowerment anthem potential.

It marks the first time Becky and Becerra have joined voices for a collab.

With a “who needs men” attitude, the track (and music video) find the pair living the best life and sharing a wealthy lifestyle with their BFFs.

“Once I woke up and realized you were no longer by my side, I thought, ‘What good luck, this story has finally ended,’” Becerra opens the song.

Near the minute-mark, Becky G joins Becerra on the track, singing, “Life is just one and it won’t wait for you … everything is cured with a perreo so don’t be embarrassed to get down.”

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