Ivan Cornejo to Make Performance Debut at This Year’s RodeoHouston

Posted on January 14, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Ivan Cornejo is lassoing a special gig for the first time…

The 19-year-old Mexican American singer-songwriter will make his performance debut at this year’s RodeoHouston as part of the 2024 lineup, which will showcase some of the biggest names across several genres, including rock, rap, country, Latin, Christian and more.

Cornejo is set to perform on Sunday, March 3.

But he isn’t the only Latinx act set to perform.

Los Tigres del Norte will perform during the event as part of Go Tejano Day on Sunday, March 10.

Other artists set to perform during RodeoHouston, which will take place at Houston’s NRG Stadium from February 27 through March 17, include

Jelly Roll, Blake Shelton, 50 Cent, the Jonas Brothers, Lainey Wilson, Eric Church and for King & Country.

“The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is proud to bring such a wide range of musical genres to the RodeoHouston stage,” said Chris Boleman, Rodeo president and CEO, in a statement. “We’re welcoming 10 new entertainers who will make their debut on the star stage, as well as many fan-favorites from a variety of genres from our country roots, to EDM and hip-hop.”

The artists further add to RodeoHouston’s nearly 100-year legacy, in which time the rodeo has committed more than $600 million to aid education and youth-focused efforts in Texas.

Each year, RodeoHouston draws more than 2 million people to its mix of rodeo/Western activities, musical performances and carnival midway.

Tickets go on sale at rodeohouston.com on Thursday, January 18, in two waves — at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Here’s the official lineup of performers:

Feb. 27 – Opening Day, presented by Texas Capital – Blake Shelton
Feb. 28 – Armed Forces Appreciation Day, presented by Crown Royal – Carly Pearce
Feb. 29 – for KING + COUNTRY
March 1 – Black Heritage Day, presented by Kroger – 50 Cent
March 2 – HARDY
March 3 – Ivan Cornejo
March 4 – First Responders Day, presented by BP America – Hank Williams Jr.
March 5 – Oliver Anthony
March 6 – Community Day, presented by TC Energy – Jelly Roll
March 7 – Volunteer Appreciation Day, presented by Phillips 66 – Luke Bryan
March 8 – Major Lazer
March 9 – Lainey Wilson
March 10 – Go Tejano Day, presented by Fiesta Mart – Los Tigres del Norte
March 11 – Whiskey Myers
March 12 – Bun B
March 13 – Nickelback
March 14 – Zac Brown Band
March 15 – Jonas Brothers
March 16 – Brad Paisley
March 17 – RODEOHOUSTON Finals – Eric Church

Enrique Iglesias & Influence Media Partners Agree to Major Partnership Deal

Posted on December 6, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Enrique Iglesias has a new influence…

The 48-year-Spanish superstar and Influence Media Partners have agreed to a major partnership deal.

Influence and Iglesias have partnered on the rights management of his pre-2021 recorded music rights, according to a press release, including his independent masters and his Universal recorded music royalties, along with name, image and likeness (NIL) rights to expand future licensing opportunities for the singer.

This marks the first NIL deal for Influence Media, which last year partnered with Black Rock and Warner Music Group for funding and infrastructure.

“My songs hold immense significance for both my fans and me,” Iglesias said in a statement. “I’m excited to be working with the Influence Media team. I feel confident we will build an enduring partnership for my music and future projects.”

“Enrique is a global icon and having him as a part of our Influence Media family is a game-changing moment for us,” added Lylette Pizarro, Influence Media founder/co-managing partner. “For a quarter of a century, he has captivated fans globally with chart-topping and record-breaking hits. From ‘Experiencia Religiosa’ to ‘Hero’ and ‘Bailando’ to ‘I Like It’ and ‘Be With You,’ there are few artists who come close to accomplishing what Enrique has achieved commercially. He has played a pivotal role in introducing bilingual music to the masses. We couldn’t be more excited to partner with one of the most recognizable figures in modern music.”

“It has been an honor to be part of Enrique’s team for more than two decades,” said John Branca, partner/head of music at Ziffren Brittenham, who represented Iglesias in the deal. “As the most successful Latin artist of all time he is also one of the most accomplished and beloved artists of his generation. Enrique was highly selective in choosing a partner with whom he will enhance his already monumental legacy.”

With a career that spans over three decades, Iglesias is one of the first Spanish-language acts to successfully cross over into the English-language market. He has placed five top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including “I Like It,” “Tonight (I’m Lovin’ You)” and “Hero.” He’s also placed three top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 (Escape, Euphoria and Sex And Love) and 27 No. 1 hits on the Hot Latin Songs chart.

Currently on the U.S. Trilogy Tour with Pitbull and Ricky Martin, Iglesias most recently scored his eighth No. 1 on the Tropical Airplay chart with his bachata collab “Así Es La Vida” with Maria Becerra. He is set to drop his new album, Final Vol. 2, next year.

Influence Media previously acquired the commercially-released master recording catalog of Blake Shelton for his 2001-2019 output, Future’s song publishing catalog and Puerto Rican songwriter-producer Tainy’s song publishing catalog from 2005-2021, among other investments.

Alex Alvga Wins Video of the Year at CMT Music Awards for Directing Kane Brown’s “Thank God”

Posted on April 3, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Alex Alvga is thanking God for his latest award…

The Spanish award-winning music video director and photographer, Kane Brown’s go-to creative director, picked up the evening’s biggest prize at the CMT Music Awards, which were held in Austin on Sunday evening.

Brown and wife Katelyn Brown’s official music clip for “Thank God,” directed by Alvga was named Video of the Year, beating out Carrie Underwood and Blake Shelton for the honor.

The video was filmed over two days in Oahu, Hawaii.

“That was an idea that Kane and Katelyn had,” Alvga says. “They wanted tropical, beach vibes for the video. They have a beautiful family with two kids, and are so young and amazing together. When you see them and spend time with them backstage, you can see that connection. I felt like the best way to do this to show them just having fun and letting them be them.”

So how did Alvga become Brown’s go-to creative director?

While on tour in the U.K. and the U.S. with singer-songwriter Jacob Whitesides, the artist’s tour manager introduced Alvga to Brown’s manager — who was seeking a videographer/photographer for CMA Fest that year. As a trial run, Alvga was invited to capture Brown’s CMT Music Awards performance (which, at the time, was held the day before the fest). “The next day, I was offered the job full time,” says Alvga. “I moved to the States with a work visa permanently two months later, and it started from there.”

Beyond Brown, Alvga has worked with various artists across genres including Khalid, Swae Lee, Becky G, White Lies, Foals, The Weeknd, Years and Years, among others.

Here’s a look at this year’s CMT Music Awards winner:

2023 CMT MUSIC AWARD WINNERS

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Kane Brown & Katelyn Brown – “Thank God”

FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Lainey Wilson – “Heart Like A Truck”

MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Jelly Roll – “Son Of A Sinner”

GROUP/DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Zac Brown Band – “Out In The Middle”

BREAKTHROUGH FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Megan Moroney – “Tennessee Orange”

BREAKTHROUGH MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Jelly Roll – “Son Of A Sinner”

COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
HARDY feat. Lainey Wilson – “wait in the truck”

CMT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Cody Johnson – “‘Til You Can’t” (from 2022 CMT Music Awards)

CMT DIGITAL-FIRST PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Jelly Roll – “Son of A Sinner” (from CMT All Access)

Camila Cabello to Serve as Judge on NBC’s Next Season of “The Voice”

Posted on May 15, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Camila Cabello is sharing her voice with new talent…

The 25-year-old Cuban and Mexican singer/songwriter is joining the 22nd season of NBC’s reality competition series The Voice.

Cabello, who make her acting debut in Amazon’s Cinderella, will join Blake Shelton, John Legend and Gwen Stefani on the panel, replacing Kelly Clarkson for the show’s next installment.

Clarkson has served as a coach for the last eight seasons of the show.

The Voice has always had a rotating group of coaches so there is always an opportunity for Clarkson to be back in the chair one day in the same way that Stefani has come in and out.

Cabello, who broke through on The X Factor, makes her reality television judging debut on the show. She announced the news on TikTok, where Shelton offered his fellow judges a challenge.

Cabello previously worked with Legend helping his team on last season of The Voice.

The series will return this fall.

The reality competition series sees four famous musicians search for the best voices in America and mentor these singers to become artists. Each season, America then decides which singer is worthy of the show’s grand prize. Shelton has the longest history with the show, having been a coach since Season 1. Legend has coached each season over the course of the last four years, with Stefani stepping in intermittently over the last nine years for a total of six seasons. Clarkson joined the show in 2014 and has won it a total of four times, alongside contestants Brynn Cartelli, Chevel Shepherd, Jake Hoot and Girl Named Tom.

Christina Aguilera to Perform During People’s Choice Awards Show

Posted on December 6, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Christina Aguilera is ready for a Choice performance…

The 40-year-old half-Ecuadorian American Grammy-winning singer will perform during this week’s 2021 People’s Choice Awards show.

No word on what song(s) Aguilera, who’ll be honored with the inaugural Music Icon award, will perform.

Others set to take the stage include H.E.R., who will perform a tribute to the life and legacy of Motown legend Marvin Gaye. This year marks the 50th anniversary of his landmark album What’s Going On.

Blake Shelton is also set to perform on the People’s Choice Awards, which will be hosted by Kenan Thompson.

The show will air simultaneously on NBC and E! for the first time, after airing only on E! the last three years. From 1975-2017, the show aired on CBS.

The 2021 People’s Choice Awards will air on Tuesday, December 7, at 9:00 pm ET from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif.

E! will kick off the night with a red-carpet special, Live From E!: The 2021 People’s Choice Awards, at 7:00 pm ET.

Both shows are produced by Den of Thieves with executive producers Jesse Ignjatovic, Evan Prager and Barb Bialkowski.

Performers:
Christina Aguilera
H.E.R.
Blake Shelton

Presenters:
Becky G
Cardi B
Chase Stokes (Outer Banks)
Eliza Coupe (Pivoting)
Ginnifer Goodwin (Pivoting)
Jack Quaid (Scream)
Jojo Siwa (Siwas Dance Pop Revolution)
Laverne Cox (Live from E!)
Leslie Jones (Coming 2 America)
Lil Rel Howery (Free Guy, Vacation Friends)
Lili Reinhart (Riverdale)
Maggie Q (Pivoting)
Mike Epps (The Upshaws)
Paris Jackson (American Horror Stories)
Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria)
Tracee Ellis Ross (Black-ish)
Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws)

Robert Trujillo & His Metallica Band Mates to Headline This Year’s ATLive

Posted on July 7, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Robert Trujillo is headed to the ATL…

The 56-year-old half-Mexican American bassist and songwriter and his Metallica band mates will headline the second annual ATLive alongside George Strait on November 5-6 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Produced by AMB Sports and Entertainment and presented by Mercedes-EQ, Strait will be joined by Eric Church and Caitlyn Smith on November 5, while Cage the Elephant and Greta Van Fleet round out the November 6 lineup alongside Metallica.

In perhaps a first, Strait and Metallica’s Lars Ulrich appear “together” in a video promoting the festival.

The inaugural ATLive took place November 15 and 17, 2019 and drew more than 90,000 to the all country lineup including Keith Urban, Blake Shelton, Church, Sugarland, Sam Hunt and Luke Combs.

Like the 2019 concert, this year’s festival also has a charitable component with a portion of the proceeds going to the Strait-supported Military Warriors Support Foundation and Metallica’s All Within My Hands nonprofit.

“We are thrilled to be bringing ATLive back with an incredible lineup of artists,” said Tim Zulawski, SVP and chief revenue officer for AMB Sports and Entertainment in a statement. “From the beginning, our goal was to create a concert series that will become the must-see event for Atlanta. In our first year, we delivered a world-class experience for fans from across the world and we are excited to create that same experience again while giving back to our communities and those in need.”

Tickets go on sale July 16 via Ticketmaster.

Luis Fonsi to Serve as Kelly Clarkson’s Team Advisor on Season 20 of NBC’s “The Voice”

Posted on February 1, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a special crossover for Luis Fonsi…

The 42-year-old Puerto Rican singer will join Kelly Clarkson as her team advisor on season 20 of NBC’s The Voice.

Fonsi, who has been a coach on Telemundo‘s La Voz since 2018 — the network’s Spanish-language version of the singing competition series — is a “natural at giving constructive criticism.”

“It means a lot to them,” Clarkson told Extra. “I’ve been them, and it means a lot when people actually take the time to invest in your performance.”

“Getting to work with Kelly truly is an honor,” said Fonsi of Clarkson. “I’m a fan … I’ve been doing this for 22 years and you meet talented people every day, but to meet a normal talented person? Somebody who is kind-hearted — it is so refreshing. ‘Oh, wait, you are famous, talented and nice … What?’”

In 2019, Fonsi made a surprise appearance on The Voice to promote the second season of Telemundo’s La Voz. There he found a new fan, Kelly Clarkson, who asked for a Spanish lesson. The “Despacito” singer told her to repeat: Mi nombre es Kelly Clarkson y soy una mujer hermosa (My name is Kelly Clarkson and I’m a pretty woman).

Season 20 of The Voice kicks off March 1 with returning judges Clarkson, Nick Jonas, John Legend and Blake Shelton.

CNCO to Perform on NBC’s New Year’s Eve 2021 Special

Posted on December 21, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

CNCO has major plans for the New Year…

The Latin boy band will be ringing in the new year with a performance on NBC’s New Year’s Eve 2021 program.

CNCO joins a roster of new additions to the lineup that includes Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton, Chloe x Halle, Jason Derulo, Kirstin Maldonado and her Pentatonix group mates.

Carson Daly will host NBC’s New Year’s Eve special live from Times Square in NYC. Amber Ruffin, the star of Peacock’s The Amber Ruffin Show and writer for Late Night With Seth Meyers, and Stephen “tWitch” Boss, DJ and co-executive producer for The Ellen DeGeneres Show, will join him as co-hosts.

The star-studded lineup also includes AJR, Goo Goo Dolls, Kylie Minogue, Busta Rhymes with Anderson .Paak, Bebe Rexha with Doja Cat, and Sting with Shirazee.

NBC’s New Year’s Eve 2021 will air on Thursday, December 31, at 10:00-11:00 pm and 11:30 pm-12:30 am. ET on NBC.

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)”

STX Entertainment Moves Up the Release of Pitbull’s “UglyDolls” to May 3

Posted on December 14, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Things are about to get Ugly for Pitbull a bit earlier than expected…

STX Entertainment has moved up the release of the 37-year-old Cuban American rapper’s family animated feature UglyDolls.

Instead of releasing the film on May 10, STX Entertainment will now release the film on May 3.

Kelly Asbury directs the animated pic based off David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim’s plush toy line.

In addition to Pitbull, the voice cast includes Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas,Blake Shelton, Janelle Monáe, Wanda Sykes, Emma Roberts, Gabriel Iglesias, Bebe Rexha, Charli XCX, Lizzo and Wang Leehom.

The film is a bid by STX to launch a potential franchise in the wake of its hit female comedy Bad Moms.

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: Blake Shelton