J Balvin & Bad Bunny Tie Ozuna for Top Spot on YouTube’s Billion Views Club with ““Si Tu Novio Te Deja Sola” Collab

Posted on May 17, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

It’s Lucky No. 13 for J Balvin and Bad Bunny…

The 38-year-old Colombian urbano singer/songwriter and the 29-year-old Puerto Rican superstar have each notched their 13th video entry in YouTube’s Billion Views Club, according to the video platform.

Balvin and Bad Bunny have now tied the record Ozuna previously held on his own.

All three reggaeton acts have become the artists with the most entries in the Billion Views Club as lead, featured artist or collaborator.

Balvin and Bad Bunny achieved the milestone with their 2017 collaborative effort “Si Tu Novio Te Deja Sola,” a tropical, groovy, trap fusion with cheeky lyrics that put Bad Bunny on the radar. The vibrant music video, filmed in the captivating landscapes of Puerto Rico, was uploaded to YouTube on March 3, 2017.

In 2022, J Balvin reclaimed his crown after his Black Eyed Peas-assisted “Ritmo (Bad Boys for Life)” video entered the club. He broke the tie he had with Justin Bieber, who currently has 11 titles with more than a billion views.

Earlier this year, however, Ozuna nabbed the crown notching two new entries with “Síguelo Bailando” and “Diles.” The latter — a collaboration with Bad Bunny, Farruko, Árcangel and Ñengo Flow, also became Bad Bunny’s 12th entry in the Billion Views Club.

Ozuna’s next video to hit one billion views will likely be “El Farsante” (977 million views as of press time). Balvin’s next contender is “Say My Name” with David Guetta and Bebe Rexha (982 million views). Bad Bunny’s next potential clip to reach the milestone viewership number is his feature on Nacho and Yandel’s “Bailame Remix” (975 million views).

With the new entry into the Billion Views Club, Balvin is now at No. 37 on YouTube’s Global Top Artists chart, whereas Bad Bunny lands at No. 6.

Bizarrap’s “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 52,” Featuring Quevedo, Returns to No. 1 on Billboard Global Excl. U.S. Chart

Posted on September 19, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Bizarrap is back on top…

The 24-year-old Argentine record producer and DJ’s collaboration with Quevedo, “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 52,” rebounds for a sixth week atop the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. survey.

The single rebounds from No. 2 for a sixth week at No. 1 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, as it drew 51 million streams (down 8%) and sold 1,000 downloads (up 1%) in territories outside the U.S. in the September 9-15 tracking week.

David Guetta and Bebe Rexha’s “I’m Good (Blue)” jumps 5-2 on the Global Excl. U.S. chart; BLACKPINK’s “Pink Venom” drops to No. 3 after spending its first three weeks on the ranking at No. 1; Harry Styles’ “As It Was” retreats 3-4, following a record 13 weeks on top; and Manuel Turizo’s “La Bachata” lifts 6-5 to become his first top five hit on the chart.

Plus, Rema and Selena Gomez’s “Calm Down” ascends 11-10 on the Global Excl. U.S. chart, with gains of 23% to 41.8 million streams and 17% to 2,000 sold outside the U.S. Nigeria native Rema (real name: Divine Ikubor) dropped the original version of the song in February as the second single from his debut solo LP, Rave & Roses. Its remix with Gomez arrived August 26, and that version’s official video premiered September 7.

Gomez lands her second single on the chart since the survey began, after “Ice Cream,” with BLACKPINK, ranked at its No. 6 high on the inaugural list in September 2020.

The chart, which began in September 2020, ranks songs based on streaming and sales activity culled from more than 200 territories around the world, as compiled by Luminate. The Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart comprises data from territories excluding the U.S.

Chart ranks are based on a weighted formula incorporating official-only streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of audio and video music services, as well as download sales, the latter of which reflect purchases from full-service digital music retailers from around the world, with sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites excluded from the charts’ calculations.

Lin-Manuel Miranda Among Artists Offering Civic Lessons in Netflix’s Animated Series “We the People”

Posted on July 5, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Lin-Manuel Miranda is giving a civics lesson…

The 41-year-old Puerto Rican actor, singer, songwriter, rapper, producer and playwright, the mastermind behind the Tony Award-winning musical Hamilton, lends his voice to the new animated Netflix series We the People.

Created by Chris Nee and produced by Barack and Michelle Obama, the 10-part series provides a range of civics lessons through three-minute music videos on topics that include the Bill of Rights, immigration and the courts.

In addition to Miranda, the series also features award-winning artists H.E.R., Brandi Carlisle, Bebe Rexha and others.

Miranda took on the topic of “The Three Branches of Government” episode, writing and performing the song “Checks and Balances,” alongside Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Daveed Diggs, Brittany Howard and Robert Lopez.

With its light hip-hop bear, the catchy number explains the checks and balances of the United States government.

Meanwhile, Jorge R. Gutierrez directs the immigration-themed episode, which features the track “American Citizen,” performed by Bebe Rexha.

The 46-year-old Mexican animator, painter, writer, voice actor, and production designer helms Rexha’s pop message that lets everyone know from the second they are born, they are an “American Citizen.”

The episode is full of visual treats showing how the country is one built from a nation of immigrants, as animated versions of Sofia Vergara, Steven Chen, Anousheh Ansari and Padma Lakshmi are all featured to illustrate the point.

We the People premiered on Sunday, July 4 on Netflix.

Demi Lovato to Take Part in iHeartMedia & P&G’s “Can’t Cancel Pride” Virtual Benefit Concert

Posted on May 23, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Demi Lovato is celebrating Pride in a big way…

The 28-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actor will be taking part in iHeartMedia and P&G’s second annual “Can’t Cancel Pride,” a virtual benefit concert featuring some of the biggest LGBTQ names in music appearing to offer special performances, while also raising funds for nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping LGBTQ people around the world.

Hosted by Elvis Duran and Bebe Rexha, the event will take place on June 4, and will feature appearances and performances from Lovato, Lil Nas X, Troye Sivan, Rexha, Brothers Osborne, Busy Phillips, Hayley Kiyoko, Jennifer Hudson, JoJo Siwa, Marshmello, MJ Rodriguez, Nina West, P!nk, Ricky Martin, Regard and Tate McRae.

Along with putting on a good show, iHeartMedia and P&G are also partnering with Greater Cincinatti Foundation to help distribute the funds raised from the event to six organizations supporting the LGBTQ community in 2021, including GLAAD, SAGE, The Trevor Project, the National Black Justice Coalition, CenterLink, and OutRight Action International.

“As the country is returning back to normal and we are slowly starting to gather again, LGBTQ+ communities around the world are still feeling the devastating effects of COVID-19,” iHeartMedia’s chief marketing officer Gayle Troberman said in a statement. “We look forward to once again celebrating the incredible voices and allies of the LGBTQ+ community with an amazing night of music that will honor Pride and the communities’ fight for equal rights, all while benefiting six remarkable nonprofits that make an everyday positive impact.”

“Can’t Cancel Pride” will take place on June 4th at 9:00 p.m. ET on iHeartRadio’s TikTok, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram TV pages, PrideRadio.com and Revry, while also being broadcast on iHeartMedia radio stations nationwide and on the iHeartRadio App.

Learn more about the upcoming event here.

Ally Brooke to Perform During This Year’s “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade”

Posted on November 12, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

It’ll be an extra special Thanksgiving for Ally Brooke…

27-year-old Mexican American singer and former Fifth Harmony member will be performing as part of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which may look different this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Unlike other years, the decorated floats and helium-filled balloons will not be marching down the usual two-and-a-half-mile route starting at West 77th Street. The parade has shorted its route and will only be held (without an audience) in front of Macy’s famed flagship store on 34th Street for the national television special.

Ally Brooke joins a roster of performers that includes Lauren Alaina, Jimmie Allen and Noah Cyrus, Sofia Carson, CNCO, Jimmy Fallon and The Roots, Karol G, Tori Kelly, Patti LaBelle, Ella Mai, Leslie Odom Jr., Keke Palmer, Dolly Parton, Pentatonix, Bebe Rexha, Jordin Sparks, Sebastián Yatra, Brett Young and more.

The casts of Hamilton, Mean Girls, Jagged Little Pill, and Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations, all of which have not taken the live stage since March, are set to perform at the parade.

While the Broadway performances will be filmed ahead of time, they will air during the broadcast at 9:00 a.m. ET on NBC.

Karol G to Give First-Ever Performance at This Year’s MTV Europe Music Awards

Posted on November 3, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Karol G is ready for a special European debut…

The 29-year-old Colombian singer is set to give her first performance at the MTV Europe Music Awards during this year’s ceremony.

Karol G is nominated in the Best Video and Best Collaboration categories for her Nicki Minaj collaboration, “Tusa.” She’s also up for Best Latin.

Karol G joins a roster of performers that includes Little Mix, Alicia Keys, Sam Smith, Maluma, a nominee in the Best Latin category, Doja Cat, DaBaby, David Guetta, YUNGBLUD, Zara Larsson, Tate McRae and Jack Harlow.

The show will feature appearances from DJ Khaled, Lewis Hamilton, Winnie Harlow, Bebe Rexha, Rita Ora, Big Sean, Roman Reigns, Anitta, Madison Beer, Anne-Marie, Aya Nakamura, Barbara Palvin and Raye.

The 2020 MTV EMAs will take place on November 8 from various places across the European Union.

Click here to see this year’s list of nominees.

Mj Rodriguez to Take Part in GLAAD’s “Together in Pride: You are Not Alone” Live Stream Event

Posted on April 26, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Mj Rodriguezis bringing the pride to sheltering in place…

GLAAD will host the live stream event “Together in Pride: You are Not Alone” in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the 29-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress and Pose star among the celebrities taking part.

The event will be available on GLAAD’s YouTube channel and Facebook Liveon April 26 at 8:00 pm ET.

“Together In Pride” will raise funds for LGBTQ community centers impacted by the coronavirus.

In addition to Rodriguez, the event will include appearances by Billy Eichner, Matt Bomer, Adam Lambert, Lilly Singh, Bebe Rexha, Dan Levy, Wilson Cruz, Gigi Gorgeous, Nats Getty, Michelle Visage, Javier Muñoz, Sean Hayes, Sharon Stone,Tatiana Maslany, with more guests being announced soon.

The event will include performances by Kesha and Melissa Etheridge.

Actor and producer Erich Bergen is working alongside GLAAD to bring the event to the masses.See More

“At a time when some LGBTQ people could be isolating in homes that are not affirming, GLAAD is bringing together the biggest LGBTQ stars and allies to send messages of love, support and acceptance,” said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “So many LGBTQ people, especially our youth, depend on support from local community centers around the country, and during this time of financial distress, we must come together as a community to ensure that all LGBTQ organizations can continue their life-saving work.”

“Together in Pride: You are Not Alone” will also raise critical funds for CenterLink, a coalition of more than 250 LGBTQ community centers from 45 states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, as well as Canada, China, Mexico, and Australia.

CenterLink strengthens, supports, and connects LGBTQ community centers, which serve over 2 million people each year. Participating community centers will also share the livestream on their social platforms.

“LGBTQ centers are the heart of the community, and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic these centers have continued to provide vital connectivity and services, pivoting to virtual programming, modifying in-person services when possible, and ensuring that their communities have resources and support when they need it the most,” said Denise Spivak, Interim CEO of CenterLink.

In March, GLAAD joined over 100 LGBTQ organizations in an open letter calling on U.S. public health officials and media to address the heightened vulnerability of LGBTQ people to COVID-19. Amongst other factors, the LGBTQ community experiences higher rates of cancer, HIV, and tobacco use — all which factor into higher susceptibility to negative outcomes from COVID-19. Additionally, LGBTQ people continue to experience discrimination and unwelcoming attitudes in medical settings, and as a result, many are reluctant to seek medical care. On Wednesday, Centerlink released a letter signed by over 160 LGBTQ community centers to House and Senate leaders, urging them to include nonprofits who serve the LGBTQ population in future relief packages.

Anitta Performs English & Spanish Songs on the UglyDolls Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Posted on March 29, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

It’s an Ugly (Doll) time for Anitta…

The track list for the UglyDolls Original Motion Picture Soundtrack has been revealed, with the 25-year-old Brazilian singer pulling double (language) duty on the album.

Anitta performs the track “Ugly” in English, as well as the Spanish-language version of the song, “Fea.”

In addition to Anitta, the album features a track from Kirstin Maldonad oand her Pentatonix(PTX) group mates.

The 26-year-old half-Mexican and part-Spanish American singer and her Grammy-winning a cappella group mates perform the track “You Make My Dreams.”

In addition to Anitta and Pentatonix, the soundtrack for the upcoming animated UglyDolls movie features new music from Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas, Janelle Monae and Bebe Rexha.

The soundtrack is now available for pre-order, and will officially drop on April 26.

The movie features an all-star cast of voice-overs from Jonas, Wanda Sykes, Gabriel Iglesias, Pitbull, Blake Shelton, Monáe, Rexha, Charli XCX, Lizzo and much more. It follows the story of imperfect toys who travel to the town of Perfection in the hopes of becoming good enough for children to take them, with Clarkson voicing the pink main character, Moxy. UglyDolls hits theaters on May 3.

Here’s the full track list:

UglyDolls Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Tracklisting

1) Kelly Clarkson — “Broken & Beautiful (from the movie UGLYDOLLS)”
2) Kelly Clarkson — “Couldn’t Be Better (Pop Version)”
3) Kelly Clarkson — “Today’s the Day”
4) Kelly Clarkson and the UglyDolls Cast — “Couldn’t Be Better (Movie Version)”
5) UglyDolls Cast — “Today’s the (Perfect) Day”
6) Nick Jonas — “The Ugly Truth”
7) Pentatonix — “You Make My Dreams”
8) Nick Jonas — “The Uglier Truth”
9) Janelle Monáe (feat. Kelly Clarkson) — “All Dolled Up”
10) Janelle Monáe & Kelly Clarkson — “Unbreakable”
11) UglyDolls Cast — “The Big Finale”
12) Bebe Rexha — “Girl in the Mirror”
13) Anitta — “Ugly”
14) Why Don’t We — “Don’t Change”
15) Blake Shelton — “Wallflowers & Weeds”
16) Anitta — “Ugly (Fea)”

Pitbull to Headline This Year’s Nickelodeon SlimeFest

Posted on March 24, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Pitbullis ready for the slime of his life…

The 38-year-old Cuban American rap superstar has been set as a headliner for the second Nickelodeon SlimeFest in the US, which returns to Chicago June 8-9 and will feature Nick multimedia star Jojo Siwa.

Pitbull’s fellow headliners are Bebe Rexha and T-Pain.

The sophomore lineup signals a strong green light for SlimeFest—which has seen a strong following in markets including the U.K., Spain, South Africa and Australia since its debut in 2012. The event drew a crowd of primarily kids and their parents to the Huntington Bank Pavilionat Northerly Island in Chicago on a chilly June weekend last year to catch headliners Liam Payne, Flo Rida, Zedd and Siwa.

Round two in Chicago is a beacon of the growing drive at the company to connect families around content that appeals to multiple generations.

“Nickelodeon knows how to get the SlimeFest started! This festival is for everyone – kids, their parents and all of us who take the stage,” said Pitbull. “Nickelodeon has been a great partner throughout my career, so it’s always an honor to be part of their iconic events and this one takes green to a whole new level.”

It’s also a fit with the kind of offline, immersive experiences parent Viacomwants more of. Viacom chief Bob Bakish mandated more live events when he took over as CEO in 2016, and sister brands are also upping their drive to cement brand affinity including the expanded BET Experienceand Comedy Central’s ClusterFest.

Nickelodeon last year established new division Nick Experience to focus on granular, real-life experiences and extensions of its IP. Division executive VP Sharon Cohen told Billboard at last year’s Slimefest, “People are together and in the moment. It’s an area where we feel we really can grow the brand.”

“I’m so excited to return to Chicago for SlimeFest and see all the Siwanatorz with their bows,” says JoJo Siwa. “This is such a cool event for the whole family, plus there will be tons of slime!”

SlimeFest also provides an opportunity to interact with network talent, this year including Annie LeBlanc of Annie vs. Hayley; Scarlet Spencer and Dallas Dupree Young of Cousins For Life; Ella Anderson and Riele Downs of Henry Danger; and Owen Joyner and Daniella Perkins of Knight Squad.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, March 29, at 11:00 am.

Luis Fonsi Named an All-Star Ambassador for New Grammy Music Education Coalition Campaign

Posted on February 7, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Luis Fonsiis raising awareness about music education…

The 40-year-old Puerto Rican singer/songwriter has been named to the Grammy Music Education Coalition’s (GMEC) national campaign on behalf of its new All-Star Ambassador program.

Additional members of the All-Star Ambassador program include singer Bebe Rexha, pop/R&B artist Rita Ora, Broadway veteran Kristin Chenoweth, Grammy winner Stephen Marley, country newcomer Caroline Jones, classical pianist Lang Lang, Guns N’ Roses’ Matt Sorum, saxophonist Mindi Abair, songwriter Regina Spektorand Philadelphia rock band War on Drugs.

Selected for their personal connections to music education, the diverse group of creatives will be working to spread awareness and raise funds for music education.

In a release announcing the Ambassador program, GMEC executive director Lee Whitmore said, “The Grammy Music Education Coalition is thrilled to be celebrating universal music education participation by American elementary, middle and high school students. Today, we join with our GMEC member and partner, the Grammy Museum Foundation, to inspire a future vision for careers and the arts for young people from around the Los Angeles area.”

Whitmore also announced that the GMEC has launched intensive music programs in Philadelphia and Nashville. Focusing on funding and services for both cities’ public school systems, the goal for this inaugural school year is to invest $1 million in each district while overseeing and coordinating the programs established by the Coalition’s partners. For instance, the Philadelphia slate includes a commercial music curriculum developed with DASH, Live Nationand Recording Academymembers along with a program coordinator. The Nashville investment will feature an elementary music coach, a program coordinator and professional development through spring/summer music and audio technology events for all teachers.

“Our commitments in these first two school systems for the next three years are focused and will have a lasting impact,” added Whitmore. “The Coalition and community investment goals for the school systems are $5 million each.” Rounding out its series of announcements, the GMEC revealed members of its Founders Circle, board and executive advisory council (grammymusiced.org).

The campaign will get underway this spring.

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