Sebastián Yatra to Take Part in Star-on-Star Interview with Lasso During Billboard Latin Music Week

Sebastián Yatra is preparing for a special star moment…

The 28-year-old Colombian hitmaker will take part in a star-on-star interview at this year’s Billboard Latin Music Week.

Sebastián Yatra Yatra, who has been pushing the boundaries of Latin pop, will be interviewed by by Lasso. The live Q&A will take place on Tuesday, October 3 at the Faena Forum Main Stage at 11:45 am ET.

In his upcoming interview with the Venezuelan singer/songwriter, the two South American artists will discuss Yatra’s creative process, his foray into the film industry, and how a multi-hyphenate artist manages success in a highly demanding Latin pop world. Topics will range from what inspires him and sparks curiosity, planning vs. flowing, mental health, tennis, and the power of one’s voice. The “Tacones Rojos” singer will also reveal what’s next for him.

Yatra continues his skyward ascent this year. Amid releasing a string of viral singles like “Vagabundo” with Manuel Turizo and Beéle and his latest solo hit “Energía Bacana,” Yatra was selected as the official musical opener for the 2023 U.S. Open tennis tournament.

He also received 2023 RIAA Honors for “driving the rise across American music, culture and society,” alongside global icon Gloria Estefan.

Currently, the Medellín artist is in the running for two 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards: Latin Pop Artist of the Year, Solo and Latin Pop Song of the Year for “Una Noche Sin Pensar.” Last year, Yatra achieved a No. 36 slot on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 for “Dos Oruguitas” from Disney’s Encanto and has positioned himself multiple times on Billboard’s Global charts.

In 2022, the moderator and Yatra collaborated on the pop-rock ballad “Ojos Marrones.” Lasso’s “Ojos Marrones” is nominated for three Latin Grammys: record of the year, song of the year, and best pop/rock song. The song also became the Venezuelan artist’s first entry into the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. US charts.

Peso Pluma Earns Third No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs Chart with Gabito Ballesteros & Junior H Collab “Lady Gaga”

Peso Pluma has another chart-topper…

The 24-year-old Mexican singer-songwriter’s “Lady Gaga,” his collaboration with Gabito Ballesteros and Junior H, rises 3-1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart dated September 30.

Peso PlumaThe song, one of 17 tracks from Peso Pluma’s Top Latin Albums No. 1 Génesis, gives Ballesteros and Junior H their first champ on the chart.

“Lady Gaga” advances to No. 1 on the multi-metric tally fueled by a streaming surge during the September 15-21 tracking week. According to Luminate, the song registered 13 million U.S. official streams; a 23% gain from the week prior. The gain pushes the song from No. 36 to No. 25 on the overall Streaming Songs chart and No. 2-1 on Latin Streaming Songs.

Sales also helped push the song up Hot Latin Songs: “Lady Gaga” gained a 33% in digital sales, to a little over 500 downloads sold, jumping 7-6 on Latin Digital Songs. Hot Latin Songs blends streaming data, digital sales, and airplay.

Ballesteros and Junior H nab their first No. 1s on Hot Latin Songs. Ballesteros previously reached No. 6 through the three-way collab “AMG,” also with Peso Pluma and Natanael Cano, in February. Junior H’s highest peaking song arrived with the co-billed “Luna,” likewise with Peso Pluma (chart dated July 8).

Pluma, meanwhile, claims his third champ and replaces himself at No. 1 as “Qlona,” with Karol G, drops 1-2, while “Ella Baila Sola,” with Eslabon Armado, falls 2-3.

Beyond its coronation on Hot Latin Songs, “Lady Gaga” rebounds 53-37 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 after its debut and peak at No. 35 in July, while concurrently ascends to a new peak on Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, from No. 24-16 on the current chart.

Yandel Signs with Warner Music Latina

Yandel has a new deal…

The 46-year-old Puerto Rican singer and songwriter, whose real name is Llandel Veguilla Malavé, has signed with Warner Music Latina, marking his first deal with a major label after releasing his latest albums (Quien Contra Mi 2 and Resistencia) via his own company, Y Entertainment.

YandelThe signing took place at the Empire State Building in New York City, where Yandel kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month festivities by leading the lighting ceremony and treating a group of attendees to an intimate concert at the Empire State Building Observatory.

“I am truly excited to join the Warner Music Latina family and look forward to bringing new music to fans worldwide, fostering this new adventure with the label, and continuing to write my musical story together,” said Yandel, who rose to fame more than 20 years ago as one half of the iconic reggaetón duo, Wisin & Yandel.

Yandel’s first release on the label was his Myke Towers collaboration “Borracho y Loco,” which came out on Thursday, September 21.

After scoring countless hits as part of Wisin & Yandel, including “Abusadora” and “Rakata,” Yandel launched a full-fledged solo career in 2013.

In addition to 2003’s Quien Contra Mí — a solo album released prior to Wisin & Yandel’s 2013 hiatus — he’s released a total of eight solo albums, including his 2013’s De Líder a Leyenda, which peaked at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Latin Albums chart. In February, he scored his first solo Billboard Hot 100 entry with “Yandel 150” in collaboration with Feid.

“Yandel’s iconic career has resonated with audiences worldwide, and his influence in the music industry is undeniable,” said Warner Music Latina Alejandro Duque. “This collaboration signifies a new chapter of innovation and creativity. We are excited to work hand in hand with Yandel to bring his music to fans across the globe.”

“Yandel is an artist who embodies both iconic status and forward-thinking vision,” added Warner Music Latina MD Roberto Andrade. “We take immense pride in joining him on this new chapter of his career, contributing to its evolution alongside his dedicated and collaborative team.”

Eslabon Armado Makes History with “Good Morning America” Performance

Eslabon Armado is celebrating a historic American television appearance…

To kick off Hispanic Heritage Month festivities, the Regional Mexican band performed on ABC’s Good Morning America on Friday, September 15 — making history as the first Regional Mexican band ever to sing on the show.

Eslabon Armado,Eslabon Armado, from Patterson, Calif., performed their blockbuster hit “Ella Baila Sola.” The sierreño song with Peso Pluma peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart.

“I think it’s a blessing for us,” said Eslabon’s lead singer Pedro Tovar minutes before performing on GMA. “It’s totally another feeling for us … we’ve been on other shows but this is one of the most important one for us. I remember going to school and my teachers putting on the Good Morning America show.”

Rosalía Signs with Jaime Levine for Global Management

Rosalía is under new management.

The 30-year-old Spanish Grammy-winning superstar has signed with Jaime Levine of Seven Mantels for global management.

RosaliaRosalía was previously managed by Rebecca León of Lionfish Entertainment, with whom she parted ways this past February after a five-year relationship.

Levine spent more than a decade managing global superstar Shakira but recently transitioned from management into a senior advisor role for the Colombian star on ongoing projects, sources say.

By all accounts, the two continue to have an amicable professional and personal relationship.

Shakira, who was named Billboard’s Woman of the year during the first-ever Billboard Latin Women In Music event in May, is currently recording a new album and planning a new tour for 2024.

Rosalía’s albums have earned a combined 747,000 equivalent album units in the United States, according to Luminate, with 880 million on-demand official streams across her catalog, 84,000 albums sold and 98,000 song downloads.

She also has seven entries on the Billboard Hot 100, the latest of which — “Beso” with Rauw Alejandro — is her highest-charting there, peaking at No. 52. She also has 21 entries on Hot Latin Songs, including seven top 10s; 10 entries on Latin Airplay, of which eight reached the top 10 and seven hit No. 1.

Her 2022 release, Motomami — her third studio album — ruled Latin Pop Albums for 25 weeks, making it the longest-leading Latin Pop set this decade. The album earned Rosalía her first and only entry on the Billboard 200, debuting and peaking at No. 33 in April 2022; it also received the Latin pop album of the year award at the Billboard Latin Music Awards.

Rosalía was poised to launch her international tour at the time of her split with León, with stops at major festivals including Coachella and Lollapalooza Chile and Argentina. She continued successfully with her touring plans, amidst much speculation about who would eventually take over as her manager.

Rosalía’s Motomami tour, her first-ever global trek, included 66 performances in 21 countries across three continents. The “Saoko” singer performed to nearly two million people around the world, according to a press statement. The tour ended with a July 22 performance at Lollapalooza Paris, where Rosalía gave an emotional speech.

“The blessings that Motomami has given me are endless,” she told a crowd during the tour. “Many of you discovered me thanks to this project, thanks to this album. I’m so thankful to all of you. I don’t know what the next chapter will look like, there are some ideas but I don’t know. Only God knows.”

Ice Spice & Dunkin’ Donuts Tease Upcoming Collaboration

Donut count out Ice Spice’s sweet business prowess!

The 23-year-old half-Dominican American rap sensation and Dunkin’ Donuts have a collaboration of princess proportions in the works.

Ice SpiceOver the weekend, Ice Spice tantalized fans with a sugary post on X, with her tweet reading, “america runs on MUNCHKINS.” The photo displayed a puffy munchkin wearing a diamond necklace Princess chain, illustrating the newly minted collaboration between the two parties.

Dunkin’ doubled down on Instagram and shared a post with the same photo, but with a different caption, playing off the name of the “Princess Diana” rapper. “Putting the ice in pumpkin spice,” said the Instagram caption. Both parties further tantalized customers by teasing the date September 13.

This isn’t the first time this year that the donut and coffee chain has worked with a musician.

In February, Jennifer Lopez made a surprise cameo in husband Ben Affleck’s ad for Dunkin’ that aired during the Super Bowl.

2023 has proven to be a banner year for Ice Spice, as she’s netted four songs in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, including collaborations with Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj. Spice’s torrid streak earned her the Billboard R&B / Hip-Hop Rookie of the Year award in August.

“I have put in so much hard work, and it means a lot to be recognized for it and have more than just plaques to show for it,” she told Billboard at the time. “I hope to push the genre forward in whatever ways I can, but I know I’ll have a huge impact on the youngins coming up now.”

Last week, Spice continued to stockpile her wins when she received the inaugural BMI Impact Award at the 2023 R&B/Hip-Hop Awards.

Selena Gomez’s Rema-Collaboration “Calm Down” Surpasses One Billion Streams on Spotify

Selena Gomez is celebrating a music milestone…

The 31-year-old Mexican American actress/singer’s collaboration with Rema, “Calm Down,” has hit one billion streams on Spotify.

Selena Gomez, Rema, Calm Down“I’m so grateful,” declared Gomez via Instagram Stories and Twitter. “Love you @heisrema!”

The billion-stream milestone is particularly special for Rema, as it’s the first time an African artist-led track has reached the number, per a press release.

“It’s a blessing. It’s not just a big win for me, my team and family, it’s also a big one for the culture. I feel really happy and I’m really proud of the fans as well for going back to the song and putting people on the song. Shout out to the DJs and everyone who made this possible,” the singer said in a press statement.

Over on the Billboard charts, “Calm Down” fared particularly well.

The crossover hit topped Billboard’s Adult Pop Airplay chart dated May 13, marking Rema’s first leader on the list. It also topped the all-format Radio Songs chart and Pop Airplay chart.

“Calm Down” also topped the Rhythmic Airplay chart for four weeks in May-June. On the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, the song has hit No. 3, becoming Rema’s first entry and Gomez’s ninth top 10.

Rema, from Nigeria, released the original version of “Calm Down” in February 2022 as a single from his debut solo LP, Rave & Roses. Its remix with Gomez arrived last August, and that version’s official video premiered in September.

Demi Lovato Signs with Brandon Creed’s Good World Management

Demi Lovato has a new representation…

The 31-year-old half-Mexican American Grammy-nominated superstar has signed with Brandon Creed and his newly-launched firm Good World Management.

Demi LovatoAt the end of August,. Lovato parted ways with Scooter Braun‘s SB Projects in July after originally signing with Braun and his firm in 2019. She was previously managed by Phil McIntyre of PhilyMack.

That report was followed by news that Ariana Grande and Idina Menzel had left the SB roster, too.

Lovato is the second major signing to Creed’s Good World.

At the beginning of August, he and Lydia Asrat announced they had signed Normani to a co-management deal through Good World and Asrat’s Q10.

Creed announced Good World Management in July, with an official launch date of August 1. His last major move came in 2017, when he merged his own The Creed Company with Irving and Jeffrey Azoff‘s firm to form Full Stop Management.

Creed’s current roster includes Mark RonsonTroye Sivan and Charli XCX, among others.

His first order of business with Lovato will be the release of Demi Lovato Revamped, out September 15, which includes reworked rock versions of her biggest hits including “Heart Attack,” “Sorry Not Sorry” featuring Slash and “Cool For the Summer.”

Lovato has charted 36 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, including four top 10 hits. Over on the Billboard 200, she has charted eight albums. Her second studio album, 2009’s Here We Go Again, hit No. 1 and spent 24 weeks on the tally.

Ice Spice Receives BMI Impact Award at This Year’s BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards

Ice Spice is making an impact

The 23-year-old half-Dominican American rap sensation has been awarded the BMI Impact Award from Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), during its 2023 R&B/Hip-Hop Awards held at LIV Nightclub Miami Beach.Ice SpiceIce Spice’s is the first time the Impact Award was given in the ceremony’s 23-year history.

The Bronx-based rapper/songwriter was recognized for her groundbreaking artistry, creative vision and impact on the future of music.

As one of the year’s biggest breakout stars, Ice Spice first exploded onto social media with her viral single “Munch.”

In just two years, she has had four Hot 100 Top 10 hits, and collaborated with the likes of Pink Pantheress, Nicki Minaj & Aqua and Taylor Swift, to name a few.

Ice Spice also has the most top-five singles on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart so far in 2023 and already collected numerous industry accolades.

The private event was hosted by BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI Vice President, Creative, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton.

To see a complete list of winners, visit bmi.com/randbhiphop2023.

Cardi B Re-Teaming with Megan Thee Stallion for New Single “Bongos”

Cardi B is marching to the beat of her own drum

The 30-year-old half-Dominican American Grammy-winning rap superstar is joining forces with Megan Thee Stallion once again, this time on the new track “Bongos.”

Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, BongosCardi B’s new track will be released on Friday (September 8, with the new track available to be pre-saved now via streaming services Spotify and Apple Music.

Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion unveiled the “Bongos” artwork with the announcement. The colorful visual shows the two rappers in coordinating blue and purple one-pieces and high heels, with their hair styled in playful, multi-colored curls, and lollipops in hand.

Cardi and Megan Thee Stallion haven’t shared further details yet, but this is their second collaboration — so fans are already hyped.

Their first song together — the NSFW smash hit “WAP,” released on Atlantic Records — spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2020.

“Y’all remember when the FCC almost sued me cuz I performed WAP at the Grammys? What about when all the republicans literally harassed me over it? On the news everyday… Y’all remember? Oooohhh cuz I do,” Cardi reminisced over the summer.

Last week, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion won a court ruling tossing out a lawsuit that accused them of stealing the lyrics to “WAP” and Megan The Stallion’s “Thot Shit” from an earlier track called “Grab Em by the P—-.”

Last month, Cardi B also gave an update on her sophomore album that interestingly turned out to be a decoy — or maybe “Bongos” just came to be very recently.

“I’m not going to release any more collaborations,” she said for her Vogue México y Latinoamérica cover story. “I’m going to put out my next solo single. Right now, I’m working on the cover art and ideas for the next record because it’s definitely coming up. Everyone always tells me I should put the record out now. They did when I released ‘WAP’ [with Megan Thee Stallion] and when I released ‘Up,’ but I always let them know I’m not going to wait long after all these singles. So stay tuned because it’s coming out very soon.”