Daddy Yankee & Don Omar to Take Part in This Year’s Billboard Latin Music Conference

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Daddy Yankee and Don Omar are headed for a clash…

The 39-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter and the 38-year-old Puerto Rican recording artist – the two most iconic names in reggaeton – will share the stage at a special panel discussion taking place during this year’s Billboard Latin Music Conference.

The “Clash of Titans” panel will offer audiences an inside look at the The Kingdom: Daddy Yankee vs. Don Omar Tour, one of the most anticipated tours of all time in the Latino market. The two stars will give the industry an inside look at the reunion and the marketing behind the 60-date, two-year international tour that launched on Dec. 5, 2015, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The panel will also include a discussion about their future and past recording projects and how both stars have changed the face and direction of Latin music.

Although reggaeton has long been an established and dominant force on the Billboard charts, its popularity exploded at an international level due in large part to Daddy Yankee and Don Omar, who both rose to stardom a decade ago and notched huge international hits like “Gasolina” and “Danza Kuduro.”

Between them, the two artists have placed 11 No. 1 hits on Billboard‘s Top Latin Albums chart, 28 top 10 hits on the Hot Latin Songs chart and over 4 million combined views on their Vevo channels.

News of their joint tour, which had been discussed for years, resulted in four sold-out shows in San Juan, Puerto Rico, last December.

The Kingdom Tour will launch in the U.S. in May, following the Billboard Latin Music Conference and Awards, where Don Omar and Daddy Yankee are also slated to perform, marking their first time ever to sing together on national television. The awards will air live on the Telemundo network April 28.

The “Clash of Titans” discussion will take place at 2:30 pm ET on Wednesday, April 27.

For more information on the Billboard Latin Music Conference, please visit BillboardLatinConference.com.

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

Posted on February 24, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

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.

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.

Reyes Debuts New Single ““Conmigo (Rest of Your Life)”

Posted on April 17, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Sofia Reyes is back with new music…

Following the success of her dancetastic debut single “Muévelo,” featuring Wisin, the 19-year-old Mexican singer has released “Conmigo (Rest of Your Life).”

The easy, breezy, beautiful bilingual pop record with an R&B sensibility is bound to gain traction throughout the late spring/summer.

A cross-cultural collaboration, the song was written and produced by Romanian singer/songwriter Smiley, Nuyorican Edwin ‘Lil’ Eddie’ Serrano (whose credits include Usher and Janet Jackson, and Reyes, who is the first artist signed to Prince Royce’s label D’Leon Records in collaboration with Warner Music.

Later this month, Reyes is set to participate in The Divas Panel celebrating women at the Billboard Latin Music Conference, alongside Ivy Queen, Kany Garcia and others, taking place Tuesday, April 28, at Miami Beach’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel during the April 27-30 conference.

Santana to Appear at This Year’s Billboard Latin Music Conference

Posted on March 31, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Carlos Santana is ready to talk about his supernatural career…

The 61-year-old Mexican musician has been added to the list of speakers at the 2015 Billboard Latin Music Conference.

Santana, a multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy winner, will have a one-on-one conversation with Billboard’s Leila Cobo on Wednesday, April 29 as they discuss his 40-plus years in music.

The open Q&A session will give the audience a chance to get up close and personal with the legendary guitarist and relive his journey — from his humble beginnings in Autlán de Navarro, Jalisco, Mexico, to his teenage years in the Mission District of San Francisco, to selling out arenas worldwide, reaching more than 100 millions fans.

“One of the great guitarists, Carlos’ style is so identifiable and relevant to pop culture; his influence is seen in varying music genres worldwide,” says Cobo. “There is no better way to end the Billboard Latin Music Conference and kick off the Awards than with this incomparable artist.”

The ‘Legends’ session is the culmination of the 26th annual Billboard Latin Music Conference and Awards, running from April 27 to 30 at The Ritz-Carlton South Beach in Miami.

CNN en Español host Ismael Cala will deliver the opening keynote of the three-day conference, while bachata king Romeo Santos will participate in an exclusive Q&A. Additional panels and sessions will feature some of Latin music’s biggest names, including J Balvin, Ivy Queen, Luis Coronel, Nicky Jam, Kevin Ortiz and Jorge Valenzuela.

Cala to Give Keynote Address at the Billboard Latin Music Conference

Posted on March 21, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Ismael Cala is turning up the power…

The 45-year-old Cuban journalist, producer and television presenter will give the opening keynote address at the 2015 Billboard Latin Music Conference.

Cala, the host of the CNN en Español show Cala will speak on “Turning the Power of Listening into Profit” on Tuesday April 28 at the Ritz-Carlton Miami Beach, as part of the annual Latin music business event.

A celebrated figure in the Latin industry, Cala is the face of one of the top rated shows in Latin programming, an intimate platform in which he sits down and discusses the lives and careers of politicians, writers, philosophers, artists, celebrities, and other notable international figures.

At the Billboard Latin Music Conference, Cala will speak about the inspiration that makes for successful business enterprises through his own personal experiences, as well as lessons he’s learned through years of interviewing and working alongside some of the world’s most successful people.

Cala was born in Santiago de Cuba, and holds a degree in Art History from the Universidad de Oriente. He graduated with honors from the school of communications at the University of York in Toronto, Canada where he received a degree in Television Production.

Coronel Among Speakers at the Billboard Latin Music Conference’s “Mexican Millennials” Panel

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Luis Coronel is reporting for Millennial duty…

The 19-year-old Mexican American singer will appear at the 2015 Billboard Latin Music Conference as part of the new “Mexican Millennials” panel discussion on April 29 at The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach.

Coronel, named Newcomer of the Year at the 2014 Premios Los Angeles, will be joined by Kevin Ortiz, Jorge Valenzuela, Remmy Valenzuela and Eden Muñoz of Calibre 50 at what is being heralded as one of the first panels of its kind.

The discussion will focus on the genre’s influence and success while shining a spotlight on some of regional-Mexican’s young stars who are impacting the way this genre is seen and heard in the new millennium.

Digital engagement will be a major component of the panel, as will discussions on musical styles and content, including narcocorridos, and the development of new fanbases in both the U.S. and Mexico.

The “Mexican Millennials” join a roster of speakers at the conference which includes Romeo Santos and a number of top new urban acts, including J Balvin, Nicky Jam and Farruko.

To register for the Billboard Latin Music conference, visit BillboardLatinConference.com.

J Balvin Scores First No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs Chart with “Ay Vamos”

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a big first for J Balvin…

The 29-year-old Colombian reggaeton singer, considered the breakout Latino artist of 2014, has scored his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart as “Ay Vamos” hops 4-1 in its 25th week on the chart.

The track takes Digital Gainer honors on the chart, climbing 78 percent (to 5,000 downloads sold in the week ending Feb. 22, according to Nielsen Music), fueled in part by a performance of the song on Univision‘s Premio Lo Nuestro awards show on February 19, where he took home four awards, including urban artist of the year.

A recently released remix featuring Nicky Jam and French Montana, along with a price reduction (to 69 cents) as part of a digital promotion, also helps the track leap 11-4 on the Latin Digital Songs chart.

On Hot Latin Songs, “Ay Vamos” had spent 10 nonconsecutive weeks stuck at No. 2 on the list, unable to break his tourmate Enrique Iglesias‘ impenetrable 41-week record No. 1 run with “Bailando” featuring Descemer Bueno & Gente de Zona. A week ago, “Bailando” finally fell (1-2), as Mana‘s “Mi Verdad” bowed atop the list. At the same time, “Ay Vamos” slipped 2-4 — to its lowest rank since the Nov. 29-dated chart. But thanks to its surge in sales, the song finally crowns the list with its three-spot leap.

“Ay Vamos,” from Balvin’s La Familia B Sides (released Sept. 16), also earlier spent 16 weeks at No. 1 on Latin Rhythm Airplay (first peaking on Oct. 25), tying with Don Omar‘s “Zumba” for fourth-longest No. 1 run on the chart. It currently continues at No. 2 (with a 10 percent jump in airplay — to 7.7 million audience impressions, according to Nielsen).

Balvin is a 12-time finalist at the upcoming 2015 Billboard Latin Music Awards, airing live on Telemundo from Miami on April 30. He’s a finalist in such categories as artist of the year, new; and hot Latin song of the year for “6 AM” (featuring Farruko). He’ll be speaking at the 2015 Billboard Latin Music Conference.

Farruko to Participate in Billboard’s New Latin Urban Movement” Panel

Posted on February 14, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Farruko is celebrating the new Latin urban movement…

The 23-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton singer-songwriter, whose real name is Carlos Efrén Reyes Rosado, will join J Balvin, Nicky Jam, Justin Quiles and Plan B at the “New Latin Urban Movement” panel discussion taking place during the Billboard Latin Music conference on Wednesday, April 29.

The session will be moderated by Alex Sensation, the well-known New York radio personality and DJ who’s been a trend-setter for Latin dance and urban music in the U.S.

The panel brings together a new generation of names in urban Latin music who have performed phenomenally well on the charts in the past year.

Farruko, the featured act on “6 AM,” who as a solo act has also remained a fixture on the charts. Farruko’s current single, “Lejos De Aquí” is currently No. 4 on Billboard‘s Latin Rhythm Airplay chart while his album Los Menores (Venevision) debuted at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Latin Albums chart.

J Balvin’s single “6 AM” spent 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Latin Rhythm Airplay chart in 2014. His follow-up, “Ay Vamos,” spent 16 weeks at No. 1 on the same chart. Balvin has been touring with Enrique Iglesias and Pitbullsince last year and is a 12-time finalist for the Billboard Latin Music Awards.

Nicky Jam, the most senior of the panelists, has returned to the charts after a hiatus of many years, armed with new music and a new Colombian production team. Earlier this month, after multiple forays into the charts, he signed with Sony Music U.S. Latin.

Meantime, New York-based duo Plan B took back old-school reggaeton to the top of the charts last year with their album Love & Sex, which reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart. Rounding off the panel is newcomer Justin Quiles, who made it onto the Billboard charts for the first time last year, with his single “Maria,” charting on Billboard’s Latin Rhythm Airplay chart, Tropical and Pop Airplay charts.

The Billboard Latin Music Conference will take place April 27-29 at the Ritz Carlton in Miami Beach. To register for the Billboard Latin Music conference, visit BillboardLatinConference.com.

Santos to Participate in Exclusive Q&A at This Year’s Billboard Latin Music Conference

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Romeo Santos is ready to open up about his career successes…

The 33-year-old Puerto Rican/Dominican American singer-songwriter, who ended 2014 as Billboard‘s Latin Artist of the Year thanks to sustained sales, airplay and a strong social presence, will take part in an exclusive question-and-answer session at the 26^th annual Billboard Latin Music Conference taking place April 27-29 at the Ritz-Carlton Miami Beach.

Santos will sit with Billboard’s Leila Cobo on a session April 28 to discuss the success of his album Formula, Vol. 2, his appearance in the films Furious 7 and Angry Birds, his social strategy, his two sold-out Yankee Stadium shows, his appeal as a bilingual Latino and his upcoming tour, among other subjects.

Santos has redefined the term crossover with his groundbreaking collaborations with the likes of Nicki Minaj and Drake, while performing his contemporary take on bachata, the traditional music of the Dominican Republic.

With more No. 1 chart hits than any other Latin music artist this decade, according to Billboard, Santos closed out 2014 with his 10^th No. 1 single as a soloist; this in addition to previous hits as the lead singer of Aventura.

“This has been the year of Romeo Santos,” said Cobo. “He’s an extraordinary songwriter, performer and artist who has carved out his place as one of the most distinctive acts of his generation.”

The Billboard Latin Music Conference is the longest-running event dedicated to Latin music. Every year, the conference draws hundreds of industry executives, top Latin music artists, leading brand marketers, national radio programmers, prominent producers, and many more for four days of provocative presentations and panel discussions, exclusive Q&A’s, compelling case studies, cutting-edge artist showcases, and exclusive networking events.

The Conference culminates with the Billboard Latin Music Awards, a three-hour multi-million dollar production that will broadcast live on Telemundo on Thursday, April 30 at 8:00 pm ET.

Santos joins a growing roster of stellar speakers and artists that also includes J Balvin, Justin Quiles, Plan B, Luis Coronel and Farruko.

Registration information can be found at BillboardLatinConference.com. You can follow the event on Twitter via the hashtag #BBLATIN.

Nazario Among This Year’s Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame Finalists

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Ednita Nazario may soon earn a special spot in Latin music history…

The 59-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter has been named a finalist for the third annual La Musa Awards 2015. The eventual winners will be inducted into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame in a ceremony on October 15 at the Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami Beach.

Nazario, a Latin Grammy nominee, received the Latin Heritage Award from ASCAP in 2004, as well as the Recording Academy Honors from NARAS in 2005.

A total of 12 nominees were announced in both the performers (or singer/songwriters) and non-performers categories. Other names included Joan Sebastian, Diego Torres, Juan Gabriel Myriam Hernandez, Roberto Carlos and Ruben Blades in the performers category and Lalo Schifrin, Gustavo Santaolalla, Leo Brouwer and Ramon Arcusa in the composers category.

Voting, which is open to LSHOF members at latinsonghall.com, began January 28, immediately following the finalist announcement during a press conference at the YoungArts Jewel Box in Miami, and will close March 15 at midnight. The artists and composers chosen for induction in the Hall of Fame will be announced during the 2015 Billboard Latin Music Conference in April.

Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational organization founded by renowned songwriter/producers Desmond Child and Rudy Pérez in 2012 to honor and celebrate Latin music creators. Created under the auspices of the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, its nominating committee is comprised by songwriters, performers, musicians, producers, engineers, music critics, and industry executives.

Many of these were present during the press conference announcing the nominees. Those in attendance included Latin Grammy winner for best new artist Mariana Vega, Colombian singer/songwriter Cabas, singer/songwriter Yunel Cruz, composer/producer Julio Reyes and both Child and Perez.

LSHOF 2015 Full List of Nominees

PERFORMERS

Diego Torres               (Argentina)
Roberto Carlos             (Brazil)
Caetano Veloso            (Brazil)
Myriam Hernandez      (Chile)
Pablo Milanes               (Cuba)
Álvaro Torres                (El Salvador)
Juan Gabriel                  (México)
Joan Sebastian              (México)
Rubén Blades                (Panamá)
Ednita Nazario              (Puerto Rico)
Camilo Sesto                 (Spain)
Franco de Vita              (Venezuela)

NON-PERFORMERS

Chico Navarro (Argentina)
Gustavo Santaolalla                            (Argentina)
Lalo Schifrin (Argentina)
Erasmo Carlos (Brazil)
Alberto Plaza                                       (Chile)
Héctor Ochoa Cárdenas (Colombia)
Leo Brouwer                                       (Cuba)
Rubén Fuentes                                    (México)
Ramón Arcusa                                     (Spain)
Luis Gomez Escolar                             (Spain)
Jose Maria “Chema” Puron (Spain)
Jose Enrique “Chelique” Sarabia (Venezuela)

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: Billboard Latin Music Conference