The Puerto Rican artist is starting off the new year with a new career success as “Gatúbela,” with Karol G, captures first place on Billboard’s Latin Rhythm Airplay chart dated January 7.
The song gives the reggaetón singer his first champ as a soloist on any airplay chart.
“Gatúbela,” produced by DJ Maff, reaches the summit with a 3-1 jump, generating 7 million in audience impressions, up 1%, earned in the U.S. in week ending December 29, according to Luminate.
The track was released on August 26 via Universal Music/UMLE and reaches a No. 1 in its 18th week.
Maldy, one-half of veteran reggaetón duo Plan B, scores his first chart-topper on any airplay ranking a decade after he earned a first Latin Rhythm Airplay entry. He reached a No. 21 high prior with “La Formula Sigue,” with Zion, Arcangel, Lennox, Chencho, and RKM & Ken-Y, in 2012.
During his Plan B era, Maldy went as high as No. 4 with “Mi Vecinita” in 2014.
Karol G, meanwhile, enters a tie for the eighth-most No. 1s on Latin Rhythm Airplay.
She matches Don Omar, Nicky Jam and Yandel, all with 14 leaders.
Here’s the scoreboard since the list begun in 2005:
34, Daddy Yankee
34, J Balvin
28, Ozuna
19, Bad Bunny
19, Maluma
19, Wisin
19, Wisin & Yandel
14, Don Omar
14, Karol G
14, Nicky Jam
14, Yandel
Manuel Turizo has danced his way to the top of another chart…
The 22-year-old Colombian singer has secured his fifth No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart as “La Bachata” advances from No. 4 to lead the October 29-dated ranking.
The track concurrently notches a sixth week at No. 1 on Tropical Airplay.
“La Bachata,” released on La Industria/Sony Music Latin, tallied 10.7 million in audience impressions, up 29%, earned in the U.S. in the October 17-23 tracking week, according to Luminate.
The song, written by Turizo, Edgar Barrera, Andrés Jael Correa, Juan Diego Medina and Miguel Andrés Martinez, is the first single from Turizo’s forthcoming album 2000 (release date TBD).
The new leader is the fifth champ for Turizo among 24 Latin Airplay chart entries.
Turizo’s first No. 1, “Vaina Loca” with Ozuna, dominated for two weeks in 2018.
“La Bachata” is also Turizo’s second chart-topper as a soloist, unaccompanied by any other act.
Here’s a look at his chart-topping singles:
Peak Date, Title, Artist (if other than Turizo) Oct. 6, 2018, “Vaina Loca,” with Ozuna
March 9, 2019, “Sola”
July 4, 2020, “TBT,” with Sebastian Yatra & Rauw Alejandro
Jan. 23, 2021, “La Nota,” with Manuel Turizo & Myke Towers
Oct. 29, 2022, “La Bachata”
Elsewhere, the Latin Airplay coronation helps “La Bachata” improve its standing on the multimetric Hot Latin Songs chart. There, the song lifts 8-6, the closest to the top Turizo has ranked since the No. 5 high of “La Nota” in 2021. Plus, “La Bachata” gain 1% in streams, to 5.1 million, while it dips 5% in downloads sold, earned in the week ending October 20.
Further, “La Bachata” holds at No. 1 for a sixth consecutive week on Tropical Airplay (and counting), five weeks after it ascended to the summit. It becomes the third-longest-leading title in 2022, trailing Romeo Santos’ “Sus Huellas” which ruled for 10 weeks and Don Omar and Nio Garciá’s 8-week ruler, “Se Mena.”
The Puerto Rican singer-songwriter has joined voices with emerging trans rapper Villano Antillano and Venezuelan pop star Corina Smith for her new single “Activa,” with the official music video premiering exclusively on Billboard on Thursday.
The three female acts not only bring to the forefront their distinct, sensual, and captivating flow, but also empowering lyrics about owning yourself, your place, your body, and your sexuality. Backed by a hard-hitting perreo with futuristic beats, part of the track even references timeless reggaeton bangers like Yaga & Mackie’s “La Batidora” and Don Omar’s “Conteo.”
“Estamos toa’ la’ baby’s activa/pa’ lante y pa’ tras y dandole hasta abajo/Esto acaba empezar nadie se va” (All the babies are active/ To the front to the back and all the way down/ This is only the beginning, nobody is leaving), goes the catchy chorus.
“I feel happy with what is happening in my career. I thank God for allowing me to do what I do,” Chesca, a former BillboardLatin Artist on the Rise, tells Billboard via email. “I like to put a lot of enthusiasm into my work and manage to be an example that dreams do happen. This is just the beginning of countless surprises that I have for my fans — new music and collaborations are what’s coming.”
Smith adds: “This collaboration has been a wonderful experience because as Latinas, we are exchanging dreams and talents between sister countries allowing us to strengthen our presence in music.”
The music video, featuring Chesca, Villana, and Corina, is the best representation of the nightlife in La Isla del Encanto.
The 44-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer and actor has risen to the No. 1 spot on Billboard‘s Latin Airplay chart dated July 16 with his latest single “Soy Yo” with Wisin and Gente de Zona.
With the new chart-topper, Don Omar adds an 11th No. 1 career total to his account.
The new win arrives a week after “Soy Yo” cracked the No. 1 spot on Tropical Airplay for the first time to rule in its 12th week (July 9-dated ranking).
“Reaching No. 1 for the 11th time in my career is a blessing!” Don Omar shares with Billboard. “The love and appreciation from my fans who have stood by me all these years inspires me to bring more music to them! I dedicate this achievement to them!”
“Soy Yo” rules Latin Airplay with a 38% gain in audience impressions, to 11.17 million, logged in the U.S. in the week ending July 10, according to Luminate.
The airplay surge earns the song the week’s Greatest Gainer trophy, while the percentage gain becomes the second-largest increase following another Wisin collaboration: “Buenos Días,” with Camilo, with a 44% boost, to 5.2 impressions.
With the move, Don Omar claims an 11th career No. 1 total on Latin Airplay. The champ arrives six months after he ruled with “Se Menea,” with Nio García, for two weeks.
Here’s Don Omar’s No. 1 recap:
Peak Date, Title, Artist (if other than Don Omar), Weeks At No. 1 July, 22, 2006, “Angelito Vi,” one
Nov. 13, 2010, “Danza Kuduro,” with Lucenzo, 15
July 16, 2011, “Taboo,” five
April 07, 2012, “Dutty Love,” featuring Natti Natasha, one
July 21, 2012, “Hasta Que Salga El Sol,” three
March 02, 2013, “Zumba,” nine
Feb. 14, 2015, “Soledad,” one
Feb. 11, 2017, “Sin Contrato,” Maluma featuring Fifth Harmony or Don Omar & Wisin, one
Dec. 24, 2016, “Te Quiero Pa’Mi ,” with Zion & Lennox, four
Jan. 15, “Se Menea,” with Nio Garcia, two
July 16, “Soy You,” with Wisin & Gente de Zona
As “Soy Yo” leads, collaborators Wisin and Gente de Zona, concurrently add chart achievements. Wisin continues his No. 1 career expansion as a solo act with 21 champs, tying with Maluma for the fifth-most among all Latin acts. Gente de Zona, meanwhile, pounces to the No. 1 rank after almost seven years. The duo last took the top spot on Latin Airplay with “La Gozadera,” featuring Marc Anthony, in August 2015 for one week.
“Working with Wisin and Gente De Zona, two outstanding artists, was great fun and I feel that enthusiasm showed through on ‘Soy Yo,’ Don Omar adds. “Thanks, Billboard, for giving me a reason to celebrate and acknowledge a special song!”
As Wisin enters a new tie for the fifth-most Latin Airplay No. 1s, let’s look at the scoreboard:
Elsewhere, despite its dip in streams and digital sales, “Soy Yo” pushes up the all-metric Hot Latin Songs chart with a 49-40 climb, after its No. 38 debut and peak.
Gente de Zona has made a triumphant return to the top of theBillboard Tropical Airplay chart…
“Soy Yo,” the first collaboration between the Cuban reggaeton duo comprised of musicians Alexander Delgado and Randy Malcom, Wisin and Don Omar, has reached the summit of the Tropical Airplay chart dated July 9.
“Soy Yo” tops the list with a 17% increase in audience impressions, to 8.03 million, earned in the U.S. in the week ending July 3, according to Luminate (rising 2-1).
It trades places with Prince Royce and Maria Becerra’s “Te Espero” after its four-nonconsecutive-week reign (with 5.8 million impressions and a 24% dip).
“Soy Yo” becomes the first No. 1 for Gente de Zona in over five years, since “La Mala y La Buena,” with Alex Sensation, placed the Cubans in the penthouse in February 2017 for two weeks.
In between, the duo scored 20 entries — among those, a collection of 10 top 10s — including “A Mi Manera,” with Dale Pututi, Jacob Forever, featuring Baby Lores, Eddy K, Los 4, El Chacal, El Micha, El Chulo, which debuts at No. 24 on the current chart.
Don Omar and Wisin, meanwhile, clock their 10th and fifth champ, respectively.
For Don Omar, “Soy Yo” grants him a second No. 1 via his new label Saban Music after a more than eight-year hiatus on the chart. Prior to the nine-week champ “Se Menea,” with Nio García (December 2021), Don Omar scored eight chart-toppers, his last one in April 2021 (“Dutty Love,” with Natti Natasha).
Here’s a recap of Don Omar’s No. 1s on Tropical Airplay:
Peak Date, Title, Artists (if other than Don Omar)
Aug. 20, 2005, “Reggaetón Latino”
Sept. 10, 2005, “Ella y Yo,” Aventura featuring Don Omar (two weeks atop)
July 1, 2006, “Angelito VI” (two weeks)
Dec. 16, 2006, “Los Hombres Tienen La Culpa,” with Gilberto Santa Rosa (two weeks)
May 5, 2007, “Nunca Había Llorado Así,” with Victor Manuelle
Nov. 13, 2010, “Danza Kuduro,” Don Omar & Lucenzo (18 weeks at No. 1)
July 23, 2011, “Taboo” (three weeks)
April 7, 2012, “Dutty Love,” featuring Natti Natasha
Dec. 25, 2021, “Se Menea,” with Nio García (nine weeks)
July 9, “Soy Yo,” with Wisin & Gente de Zona
“Soy Yo’s” coronation returns Saban Music to the top of Tropical Airplay. As previously mentioned, the label’s first win through Don Omar, arrived with “Se Menea’s” nine-week reign starting Dec. 25, 2021. The tribute to the late Celia Cruz, “El Carnaval de Celia: A Tribute (La Vida Es Un Carnaval/ La Negra Tiene…)” by Kyen?Es? saw the label at the summit for the first time in September 2020.
Elsewhere, “Soy Yo” continues forward progress on the all-genre Latin Airplay chart through a 7-4 climb; the highest Gente de Zona has ranked since its featured role in Chyno Miranda’s “Quédate Conmigo,” which also features Wisin (No. 7 high, 2017).
The 36-year-old Colombian singer and rapper will co-headline Sueños, a new reggaeton and Latin trap festival in Chicago.
J Balvin will co-headline with Ozuna and Wisin y Yandel, when the festival takes place during Memorial Day Weekend (May 28-29).
The first-ever edition of Sueños — presented by the producers behind Baja Beach Fest and Lollapalooza, respectively, and Chicago’s Reventon Promotions — will also include sets by artists like Myke Towers, El Alfa, Tokischa, Sech, Natanael Cano, Fuerza Regida, Jhay Cortez, Blessd, Jowell & Randy, and DJ Luian.
“We’re honored to work with the producers of Lollapalooza and Reventon to bring a premier Latin festival to Grant Park in Chicago,” said Aaron Ampudia of Baja Beach Fest. “Reggaetón is a massive genre, but remains underserved by live festivals in the U.S. We’re extremely proud to expand to the US and serve our community and everyone who enjoys Latin music.”
Reventon Promotions’ Enrique Medrano added: ”Over a decade ago, I started Reventon Promotions with a dream of bringing authentic and diverse Hispanic entertainment to Chicago. Now I am excited and proud to be part of the first Sueños festival, an event that celebrates the Hispanic presence in the city, in addition to being held in the iconic and representative Grant Park right in the heart of downtown. What better place is there for thousands of people from different Latin American countries to meet, share, and celebrate with artists of the likes of J Balvin, Ozuna, and many more.”
Sueños’ inaugural edition will be the first of two back-to-back reggaeton festivals set to take place for the first time ever in Chicago over the summer.
The also new Más Flow three-day reggaeton fest — featuring headliners Don Omar and Ivy Queen — is confirmed for July 15 to July 17, and produced by Grass Root Events, a local production company.
Sueños and Más Flow join Chicago’s very own Ruido Fest, a Latin alternative music festival that launched in 2015, as the third and second Latinx music festivals to find a home in the Midwestern city, where Latinos are now the second-largest racial or ethnic group, growing by 5% from roughly 779,000 in 2010 to nearly 820,000 in 2020, according to census data.
Tickets for Sueños will be available via pre-sale beginning Friday, February 11, at 1:00 pm ET with the official on-sale launching at 3:00 pm at www.suenosmusicfestival.com.
The 30-year-old Puerto Rican singer and songwriter’s latest single “Pepas” has reached the No. 1 slot on Billboard’s Latin Airplaysurvey dated October 9 with a 3-1 jump.
“Pepas” rules with 11 million in audience impressions, up 14%, earned in the U.S. in the week ending October 3, according to MRC Data. The track has now reached No. 1 on nine different Billboard song charts.
The new command arrives in tandem with its Hot Latin Songs’ lead as the track took over atop the August 28-dated tally where it has remained since then (it’s currently in its seventh week), earning Farruko his first No. 1 on the chart.
The club banger has received remixes from David Guetta, Lil Jon, Don Omar, Mr. Samtrax, Nico DJ, and more. With its new Latin Airplay win, the EDM song gifts Farruko a 10th career leader.
It concurrently ascends with an equal 3-1 on Latin Rhythm Airplay, also his 10th win there.
As “Pepas” gains territory on two new Billboard charts, it adds a ninth coronation across Billboard charts. Here’s a recap in order of arrival:
Chart, Peak Date, Weeks at No. 1
Latin Digital Song Sales, August 7, nine weeks (and counting)
Latin Rhythm Digital Song Sales, August 7, nine (and counting)
Dance/Electronic Streaming Songs, August 7, 10 (and counting)
Hot Dance/Electronic Songs, August 21, eight (and counting)
Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales, August 21, one
Hot Latin Songs, August 28, seven (and counting)
Latin Streaming Songs, August 28, 7 weeks (and counting)
Latin Airplay, Oct. 9Latin Rhythm Airplay, Oct. 9
Over on the Global charts, “Pepas” has netted Farruko his highest charting rankings and two new career top 10s: a No. 7 peak and a No. 5 high on the Global 200 tally and the Global Excl. U.S. chart (dated Sept. 4) respectively.
“Pepas” is the second single from La 167, a nod to the Puerto Rican’s homeland and eighth studio album released October 1. The album was preceded by the No. 4-peaked “La Tóxica” (Nov. 2020).
The 43-year-old Puerto Rican award-winning reggaetón legend has signed a groundbreaking multi-year partnership with Saban Music Group.
Saban Music Group CEO and Latin music industry veteran Gustavo López, who helped foster Omar’s career, will continue their working relationship under the new deal, which includes advancing all recording and marketing costs — a standard for all of the label’s artists.
“Don will always be family to me,” said López in a statement. “When the opportunity to work together again came up, it felt as if not a single day had passed. And yet, he’s now making the best music of his career.”
“I am thrilled to be joining forces with Saban Music Group and being backed by the savvy business and artistic instincts of Haim and Gus,” said Omar in a statement. “And I can’t wait to connect with my loyal fans and audience by doing what I love most and introduce them to the exciting new music I have coming.”
Omar has been working on his long-awaited eighth studio album. He has 41 entries on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart, including five No. 1s.
He’s also notched 10 projects on the Top Latin Albums chart, five of which have hit No. 1. Omar has been working on his long-awaited eighth studio album.
He has 41 entries on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart, including five No. 1s.
He’s also notched 10 projects on the Top Latin Albums chart, five of which have hit No. 1.
Saban Music Group was founded in 2019 by multi-billionaire entertainment mogul Haim Saban, who serves as chairman/CEO of Saban Capital Group LLC. Last July, SMG entered into an exclusive global administration agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group.
“Don Omar is one of the most transcendental music stars of the past two decades, he set the pace for the entire Latin Urban genre,” Saban added. “Without his charismatic stage presence, deep compositional skills, and powerful vocal delivery, Latin music would be an altogether different animal today, and we’re honored to join forces with him.”
The 41-year-old Puerto Rican former professional basketball player and reggaeton singer has released his new single “Morena,” as well as the song’s music video.
Reeling in reggaeton star Nicky Jam and urban newcomer Jeon, Arroyo offers up a hard-hitting reggaeton and dembow track married with Middle Eastern-infused dance beats.
Produced by Saga WhiteBlack, “Morena” is about a man who’s trying to conquer the girl he likes at the club. The song’s melodies and catchy hooks easily remind fans of old-school reggaeton singles like Don Omar’s “Dale Don.”
The edgy music video, helmed by director Gus, features all three artists in a parking garage loaded with dancers, cars, neon lights and fire.
Arroyo previously played in the NBA for teams like the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat. He kicked off his music career in 2009, collaborating with artists like Yomo and Ivy Queen. He’s currently the general manager of the Puerto Rico national team.
Balancing his love for basketball and music, Arroyo returned to the scene in 2020 after a nine-year hiatus and has since collaborated with Farruko, Rauw Alejandro, Luis Fonsi, and Jowell & Randy.
The Puerto Rican reggaeton duo, composed of Joel Muñoz and Randy Ortiz, is back on Billboard‘s Top Latin Albums chart as Viva El Perreo, their fifth studio album, debuts at No. 5 on the August 22-dated survey.
It marks Jowell & Randy’s return to the Top 10 on the chart since 2013 when Sobredosis debuted and peaked at No. 10.
“Somehow we feel that our effort is recognized,” Jowell tells Billboard. “It is definitely a great achievement for us at this stage of our career. It’s what we aspire to as artists every time we release new music. We are proud.”
Viva El Perreo starts at No. 5 with 7,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending August 13, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data, most of which stemmed from streaming activity.
The album’s songs logged 10 million U.S. on-demand streams in the tracking week, a career-high weekly total for the duo.
The Top Latin Albums chart ranks the most popular Latin albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA).
Viva El Perreo was released August 8 via Rimas Entertainment and produced by DJ Orma, SubeloNeo, DJ Blass and Bad Bunny.
“The production of this album was somewhat atypical due to the pandemic,” Randy adds. “Most of the ideas were handled by Bad Bunny and we managed to exchange and approve our ideas from home using technology. The process of recording our voices took place under strict security measures, quartering us for several weeks in a studio. Once the voices were recorded, they were distributed via the internet to the producers who each took charge from their respective studios to finalize the mixes and give the last details to this musical project.”
Viva El Perreo is a follow up to La Alcaldía del Perreo: The Album, Jowell & Randy’s last entry on Top Latin Albums in 2016, which debuted and peaked at No. 23.
The new 14-track effort features collaborations with Don Omar, J Balvin, Miky Woodz, De La Ghetto, Barbie Rican and Kiko El Crazy.
“We enjoyed working with Don Omar the most,” Jowell continues. “It was a personal and professional goal that we had as a group,” “We have been fans of his music since his origins and we learned a lot from him while we shared in the recording studio.”
Viva El Perreo was preceded by one song on Hot Latin Songs, which blends airplay, digital sales and streaming data: “Anaranjado,” with J Balvin, peaked at No. 31 on the current chart.
“We have developed a chemistry with J Balvin that we don’t have with anyone else in the genre,” Randy adds. “Our friendship for years and the trust we have in each other allowed us to work freely and feel comfortable when composing together.”
Viva El Perreo concurrently debuts at No. 5 on Latin Rhythm Albums, the duo’s fifth consecutive top 10 there.
The song gives the reggaetón singer his first champ as a soloist on any airplay chart.
