Gabito Ballesteros Earns First No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay Chart with Prince Royce-Collab “Cosas de la Peda”

Gabito Ballesteros is celebrating a Billboard first…

The 24-year-old Mexican singer-songwriter and record producer’s collaboration with Prince Royce, “Cosas De La Peda” rises to the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart as their first partnership advances from the runner-up slot to lead the February 24-dated list.

Gabito Ballesteros, Prince RoyceThat translates into a 24th No. 1 for Prince Royce, while Ballesteros scores his first champ on first try.

“Cosas De La Peda,” Mexican slang for “drunken times,” lifts 2-1 on the tropical radio ranking with by a 37% gain in audience impressions, to 6.2 million earned in the U.S. during the February 9-15 tracking week, according to Luminate.

The track trades places with Marc Anthony’s “Punta Cana” which drops 1-2 with an 11% dip in impressions, to 5.2 million.

Prior to its release, “Cosas De La Peda” received its fair share of promotion. The Bronx-born singer premiered the song live for the first time, with Ballesteros, during Calibash festival at the Crypto Arena in Los Angeles on January 12. Plus, a performance on ABC’s Good Morning America followed on January 17.

With “Peda,” Royce collects his 24th No. 1 on Tropical Airplay, continuing with the third-most leaders since the chart’s inception in 1994. Only two soloists stand ahead him: Marc Anthony with 36 No. 1s and Victor Manuelle with 29. Here’s an updated look at the artists with the most No. 1 hits on the almost three-decade-old ranking:

36, Marc Anthony
29, Victor Manuelle
24, Prince Royce
18, Romeo Santos
14, Elvis Crespo
14, Gilberto Santa Rosa
13, Jerry Rivera
12, Juan Luis Guerra 440
11, India

Ballesteros, who seasoned “Peda” with his corridos tumbados flair, lands a first No. 1 on the Tropical Airplay —and on any airplay ranking— thanks to the bachata tumbada. The Mexican producer first landed a No. 1 on a Billboard chart as a producer of the two-week champ “Lady Gaga,” with Peso Pluma and Junior H (last September).

Elsewhere, “Cosas De La Peda” flies 26-11 on the overall Latin Airplay tally. It bests Ballesteros’ previous No. 37 entry with “La Pelinegra,” with La Adictiva, last October.

Cosas De La Peda” is one of 23 songs from Royce’s latest seventh full-length album, Llamada Perdida, released February 16 through Sony Music Latin; it has not entered any Billboard charts yet. The song was produced by Edgar Barrera and Luis Miguel Gómez Castaño, better known as Casta.

Grupo Frontera Signs Management Deal with Habibi

Grupo Frontera is under new management…

The Regional Mexican group has signed a management deal with HabibiNoah Assad’s management firm.

Grupo FronteraRaymond Acosta, director of talent management at the company — which also includes Karol G on its roster — will lead Grupo Frontera’s management team.

The deal comes seven months after Grupo Frontera and Bad Bunny‘s massive cumbia/norteña track, “Un x100to,” peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also up for song of the year at this year’s Latin Grammys.

Over the past two years, Grupo Frontera — previously managed by Victor Ruiz — went from local McAllen, Texas, band to a música mexicana global force. Composed of Adelaido “Payo” Solis III, Juan Javier Cantú, Julian Peña Jr., Alberto Acosta, Carlos Guerrero and Brian Ortega, the group broke out last year thanks to its Tejano spin on Morat‘s 2019 single, “No Se Va.” The inventive cover scored the norteño group its first entry on any Billboard chart, ultimately peaking at No. 3 on the Hot Latin Songs tally dated November 12, 2022.

According to Raymond Acosta, Habibi was approached by Mexican hitmaker Edgar Barrera — who’s penned and produced for Grupo Frontera — and Alberto (of Frontera) after seeing the impact “Un x100to” had.

“I asked Noah for an opportunity to get to know and study Mexican culture,” Acosta explains. “Because for me, identities are very important. One of my role models is Mr. Angelo Medina, he was the manager of José José and Emmanuel. He was the one who taught me [that] when you’re going to cross the pond, you have to know where you’re going.”

In August, Grupo Frontera released its debut album, El Comienzo, via Barrera’s BorderKid Records label. The set bowed and peaked at No. 3 on the Top Latin Albums chart. In the past year alone, the group has placed eight songs on the Billboard Hot 100 — including “Que Vuelvas” with Carin Leon, “Bebe Dame” with Fuerza Regida and “Frágil” with Yahritza y Su Esencia. They have a distribution deal with Believe and own their masters.

“If you want to be the number one manager, your artists have to be number one,” adds Acosta. “I’m fulfilling my dreams by fulfilling the dreams of others. I think that’s the beauty of the management part. [At Habibi,] we don’t copy-paste marketing plans. That’s why when you see all the projects, none of them look alike. And seeing everything that is behind Frontera, the personality of each one and what they are doing, motivates us a lot.”

Karol G Wins Three Latin Grammy Awards, Including Album of the Year for “Mañana Será Bonito”

Karol G is the leading (Latin Grammy) lady…

Women proved to be the big winners at the 2023 Latin Grammys in Seville, Spain, on Thursday night (Nov. 16), with the 32-year-old Colombian superstar taking home one of the night’s top prizes.

Karol GKarol G and her Colombian compatriot Shakira tied Mexico’s Natalia Lafourcade with three major awards each. The best new artist award also went to a woman, young singer/songwriter Joaquina.

Karol G took home the coveted album of the year award for her historic chart-topper Mañana Será Bonito, which became the first Spanish-language album ever by a Latina to top the Billboard 200. The set also won best urban album, and “TQG,” her collaboration with Shakira, won best urban/fusion performance.

On top of her win with Karol G for “TQG,” Shakira also won song of the year and best pop song along with Argentine DJ Bizarrap for their chart smash “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53.”

Earlier in the evening, Mexican singer/songwriter Natalia Lafourcade, who has won multiple Latin Grammys through the years, won best singer/songwriter album for De Todas Las Flores and best singer/songwriter song for the track of the same name. During the telecast, she also won record of the year for “De Todas Las Flores,” but wasn’t there to pick up her award, which was collected by her producer.

Venezuelan singer/songwriter Joaquina, who performs highly personal songs and has been opening shows for the likes of Juanes and Fonseca, broke down in tears as she collected her best new arist award. “I’ve been writing since I was 8 years old. … They told me I wouldn’t make it if I recorded my own songs, but here I am.”

Hitmaker Edgar Barrera, the lead nominee for the 2023 Latin Grammy Awards, also won three awards, for producer of the year, songwriter of the year and best regional song for “un X100to,” the Bad Bunny and Grupo Frontera hit.

Here’s the full list of winners of the 24th annual Latin Grammy Awards:

General Field

Record of the year: “De Todas Las Flores,” Natalia Lafourcade
Album of the yearMañana Será Bonito, Karol G
Song of the year: “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” Santiago Alvarado, Bizarrap, Kevyn Mauricio Cruz & Shakira, songwriters (Bizarrap Featuring Shakira)
Best new artist: Joaquina

Field 1: Pop

Best pop vocal albumTu Historia, Julieta Venegas
Best traditional pop vocal albumDécimo Cuarto, Andrés Cepeda
Best pop song: “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” Santiago Alvarado, Bizarrap, Kevyn Mauricio Cruz Moreno & Shakira, songwriters (Bizarrap Featuring Shakira)

Field 2: Urban

Best urban/fusion performance: “TQG,” Karol G Featuring Shakira
Best reggaeton performance: “La Receta,” Tego Calderón
Best urban music albumMañana Será Bonito, Karol G
Best rap/hip hop song: “Coco Chanel,” Bad Bunny & Eladio Carrión, songwriters (Eladio Carrión Featuring Bad Bunny)
Best urban song: “Quevedo: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 52,” Santiago Alvarado, Bizarrap & Quevedo, songwriters (Bizarrap Featuring Quevedo)

Field 3: Rock

Best rock albumSólo D’ Lira, Molotov
Best rock song: “Leche De Tigre,” Juan Galeano, songwriter (Diamante Eléctrico Featuring Adrián Quesada)
Best pop/rock albumVida Cotidiana, Juanes
Best pop/rock song: “Ojos Marrones,” Luis Jiménez, Lasso & Agustín Zubillaga, songwriters (Lasso)

Field 4: Alternative

Best alternative music albumBolero Apocalíptico, Monsieur Periné
Best alternative song: “El Lado Oscuro Del Corazón,” Dante Spinetta, songwriter (Dante Spinetta)

Field 5: Tropical

Best salsa albumNiche Sinfónico, Grupo Niche y Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Colombia
Best cumbia/vallenato albumEscalona Nunca Se Había Grabado Así, Carlos Vives
Best merengue/bachata album (Tie): Fórmula, Vol. 3, Romeo Santos & A Mi Manera, Sergio Vargas
Best traditional tropical albumVida, Omara Portuondo
Best contemporary tropical album5:10 am, Luis Fernando Borjas
Best tropical song: “Si Tú Me Quieres,” Fonseca, Yadam González & Yoel Henríquez, songwriters (Fonseca & Juan Luis Guerra)

Field 6: Singer-Songwriter

Best singer-songwriter albumDe Todas Las Flores, Natalia Lafourcade
Best singer-songwriter song: “De Todas Las Flores,” Natalia Lafourcade, songwriter (Natalia Lafourcade)

Field 7: Regional-Mexican

Best ranchero/mariachi album: Forajido EP2, Christian Nodal
Best banda albumDe Hoy En Adelante, Que Te Vaya Bien, Julión Álvarez y Su Norteño Banda
Best Tejano albumPara Empezar A Amar, Juan Treviño
Best Norteño albumColmillo De Leche, Carin León
Best regional song: “un X100to,” Bad Bunny, Edgar Barrera, Andrés Jael Correa Rios & Mag, songwriters (Grupo Frontera Featuring Bad Bunny)

Field 8: Instrumental

Best instrumental albumMade In Miami, Camilo Valencia & Richard Bravo

Field 9: Traditional

Best folk albumCamino Al Sol, Vicente García
Best tango albumOperation Tango, Quinteto Astor Piazzolla
Best flamenco albumCamino, Niña Pastori 

Field 10: Jazz

Best Latin jazz/jazz AlbumI Missed You Too!, Chucho Valdés & Paquito D’Rivera (with Reunion Sextet)

Field 11: Christian

Best Christian album (Spanish language): Lo Que Vemos, Marcos Vidal
Best Portuguese language Christian albumNós, Eli Soares

Field 12: Portugese language

Best Portuguese language contemporary pop album: Em Nome da Estrela, Xênia França
Best Portuguese language rock or alternative album: Jardineiros, Planet Hemp
Best Portuguese language urban performance: “Distopia,” Planet Hemp Featuring Criolo
Best Samba/Pagode album: Negra Ópera, Martinho Da Vila
Best MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira) albumSerotonina, João Donato
Best Sertaneja music albumDecretos Reais, Marília Mendonça
Best Portuguese language roots albumTecnoShow, Gaby
Best Portuguese language song: “Tudo O Que A Fé Pode Tocar,” Tiago Iorc & Duda Rodrigues, songwriters (Tiago Iorc)

Field 13: Children’s

Best Latin children’s albumVamos Al Zoo, Danilo & Chapis

Field 14: Classical

Best classical albumHuáscar Barradas Four Elements Immersive Symphony For Orchestra And Chorus, Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra; Ollantay Velasquez, conductor; Huascar Barradas, Maria Cardemas, Eugenio Carreño & Eduardo Martinez Planas, album producers
Best classical contemporary composition: “Concerto Venezolano,” Paquito D’Rivera, composer (Pacho Flores Featuring Paquito D’Rivera)

Field 15: Arranging

Best arrangement: “Songo Bop,” Rafael Valencia, arranger (Camilo Valencia, Richard Bravo Featuring Milton Salcedo)

Field 16: Recording Package

Best recording packageAtipanakuy (Deluxe), Gustavo Ramirez, art director (Kayfex) 

Field 17: Songwriter

Songwriter of the year: Edgar Barrera

Field 18: Production

Best engineered album: Canto A La Imaginación, Érico Moreira, engineer; Érico Moreira, mixer; Felipe Tichauer, mastering engineer (Marina Tuset)
Producer of the year: Edgar Barrera

Field 19: Music Video

Best short form music video: “Estás Buenísimo”, Nathy Peluso; Félix Bollaín & Rogelio González, video directors; María Rubio, video producer
Best long form music video: Camilo: El Primer Tour De Mi Vida, Camilo; Camilo & Camilo Ríos, video directors; Mauricio Ríos, video producer

Alejandro Fernández Earns Seventh No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay Chart with “Difícil Tu Caso”

Alejandro Fernández’s difficulties are paying off…

The 52-year-old Mexican singer has earned his seventh No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart as “Difícil Tu Caso” advances from No. 3 to lead the November 18-dated ranking.

Alejandro FernándezThe ranchera ballad checks into the penthouse as the Greatest Gainer for the week with a 28% boost in audience impressions, to 7.85 million, earned in the U.S. in the week ending November 9, according to Luminate.

“Dificil Tu Caso” unseats Maná and Eden Muñoz’s “Amor Clandestino,” after the song’s one week in command. It drops 1-5 with 4.8 million impressions, down 28%.

“Difícil Tu Caso,” composed by Edgar Barrera, Luis Mejía and Iván Gámez, grants Fernández his seventh champ, the second-most for a male soloist in the 2020s decade. The song was released September 1 and hits No. 1 on Regional Mexican Airplay in its 10th week.

Here’s the list of all artists with the most champs on Regional Mexican Airplay this decade where Calibre 50 paces the race:

10, Calibre 50
9, Grupo Firme
8, Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
8, Christian Nodal
7, Alejandro Fernández
5, Grupo Frontera

“Difícil Tu Caso” follows one other No. 1 in 2023, “No Es Que Me Quiera,” which likely topped Regional Mexican Airplay for one week in August. Here are all of Fernández’s No. 1s since his first in 2020:

Peak, Title, Artist, Weeks at No. 1
Jan. 11, 2020, “Caballero,” 1
April 25, 2020, “Te Olvidá,” 2
Oct. 24, 2020, “Decepciones,” with Calibre 50, 1
April 24, 2021, “Duele,” with Christian Nodal, 1
Sept. 17, 2022, “Nunca Dudes En Llamarme,” with La Arrolladora Banda El Limón De Rene Camacho, 1
Aug. 5, 2023, “No Es Que Me Quiera Ir,” 1
Nov. 18, 2023, “Difícil Tu Caso,” 1

“Difícil” also continues its successful rise on the all-Latin genre Latin Airplay tally, with a 9-5 jump, its second week in the top 10.

Ice Spice Earns Four Grammy Award Nominations, Including Best New Artist Nod

Ice Spice is celebrating her first-ever Grammy nominations…

The 23-year-old half-Dominican American rapper/singer-songwriter has earned four Grammy Award nods, including one for the coveted Best New Artist award.

Ice SpiceIce Spice, the most nominated Latinx artist this year, is up for Best Rap Song and Best Song Written for Visual Media for her Barbie collaboration with Nicki Minaj featuring Aqua, “Barbie World,” which appears on Barbie The Album.

Her fourth nod comes in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for the remix to Taylor Swift’s “Karma.”

Robert Trujillo is up for three Grammys.

The 59-year-old half-Mexican American musician and his Metallica band mates are up for Best Rock Performance for “Lux Æterna,” Best Metal Performance for “72 Seasons” and Best Rock Album for 72 Seasons.

Adrian Quesada and the 46-year-old Mexican American musician, producer and songwriter’s Black Pumas group mate, Eric Burton, have earned a nod in the Best Rock Performance for their single “More Than a Love Song.”

Mexican American Latin Grammy darling Edgar Barrera is nominated for Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical. He’s the first Latino songwriter to earn a nod in the category, which was launched at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards.

Peso Pluma, who was snubbed for Best New Artist, earned his first Grammy nod. The 24-year-old Mexican Regional Mexican Artist earned the nod in the Best Musica Mexicana Album (including Tejano) for Genesis.

Kirstin Maldonado and her Pentatonix a capella group mates, three-time Grammy winners, have earned a nod in the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album category for their album Holidays Around the World.

Esperanza Spalding, who previously beat out Justin Bieber for Best New Artist, has earned a nod in the Best Jazz Performance category alongside Fred Hersch for “But Not for Me.”

Other Latinx nominees include Vince Mendoza, Pablo Alborán, Maluma, Pedro Capó, Karol G, Juanes and Lila Downs.

The ceremony takes place on Sunday, February 4, 2024, at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena, and will broadcast on CBS and Paramount+. The annual Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony precedes the event.

Here’s a look at the categories with Latinx artists.

Best New Artist
Coco Jones
Gracie Abrams
Fred Again…
Ice Spice
Jelly Roll
Noah Kahan
Victoria Monét
The War and Treaty

Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical
Edgar Barrera
Jessie Jo Dillon
Justin Tranter
Shane McAnally
Theron Thomas

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
Labrinth Featuring Billie Eilish – Never Felt So Alone
Lana Del Rey Featuring Jon Batiste – Candy Necklace
Miley Cyrus Featuring Brandi Carlile – Thousand Miles
SZA Featuring Phoebe Bridgers – Ghost in the Machine
Taylor Swift Featuring Ice Spice – Karma

Best Rock Performance
Arctic Monkeys – Sculptures of Anything Goes
Black Pumas – More Than a Love Song
Boygenius – Not Strong Enough
Foo Fighters – Rescued
Metallica – Lux Æterna

Best Metal Performance
Disturbed – Bad Man
Ghost – Phantom of the Opera
Metallica – 72 Seasons
Slipknot – Hive Mind
Spiritbox – Jaded

Best Rock Album
Foo Fighters – But Here We Are
Greta Van Fleet – Starcatcher
Metallica – 72 Seasons
Paramore – This Is Why
Queens of the Stone Age – In Times New Roman…

Best Rap Song
Doja Cat – Attention
Drake & 21 Savage – Rich Flex
Killer Mike Featuring André 3000, Future and Eryn Allen Kane – Scientists & Engineers
Lil Uzi Vert – Just Wanna Rock
Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice Featuring Aqua – Barbie World [From Barbie the Album]

Best Jazz Performance
Adam Blackstone Featuring The Baylor Project & Russell Ferranté – Vulnerable (Live)
Fred Hersch & Esperanza Spalding – But Not for Me
Jon Batiste – Movement 18’ (Heroes)
Lakecia Benjamin – Basquiat
Samara Joy – Tight

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
ADDA Simfònica, Josep Vicent, Emilio Solla – The Chick Corea Symphony Tribute – Ritmo
The Count Basie Orchestra Directed by Scotty Barnhart – Basie Swings the Blues
Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society – Dynamic Maximum Tension
Mingus Big Band – The Charles Mingus Centennial Sessions
Vince Mendoza & Metropole Orkest – Olympians

Best Latin Jazz Album
Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band – Vox Humana
Eliane Elias – Quietude
Ivan Lins With the Tblisi Symphony Orchestra – My Heart Speaks
Luciana Souza & Trio Corrente – Cometa
Miguel Zenón & Luis Perdomo – El Arte del Bolero Vol. 2

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Bruce Springsteen – Only the Strong Survive
Laufey – Bewitched
Liz Callaway – To Steve With Love: Liz Callaway Celebrates Sondheim
Pentatonix – Holidays Around the World
Rickie Lee Jones – Pieces of Treasure
Various – Sondheim Unplugged (The NYC Sessions), Vol. 3

Best Latin Pop Album
AleMor – Beautiful Humans, Vol. 1
Gaby Moreno – X Mi (Vol. 1)
Maluma – Don Juan
Pablo Alborán – La Cuarta Hoja
Paula Arenas – A Ciegas
Pedro Capó – La Neta

Best Música Urbana Album
Karol G – Mañana Será Bonito
Rauw Alejandro – Saturno
Tainy – Data

Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album
Cabra – Martínez
Diamante Eléctrico – Leche de Tigre
Fito Paez – EADDA9223
Juanes – Vida Cotidiana
Natalia Lafourcade – De Todas las Flores

Best Música Mexicana Album (Including Tejano)
Ana Bárbara – Bordado a Mano
Flor de Toloache – Motherflower
Lila Downs – La Sánchez
Lupita Infante – Amor Como en las Películas de Antes
Peso Pluma – Génesis

Best Tropical Latin Album
Carlos Vives – Escalona Nunca Se Había Grabado Así
Grupo Niche y Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Colombia – Niche Sinfónico
Luis Figueroa – Voy a Ti
Omara Portuondo – Vida
Rubén Blades con Roberto Delgado & Orquesta – Siembra: 45° Aniversario (En Vivo en el Coliseo de Puerto Rico, 14 de Mayo 2022)
Tony Succar, Mimy Succar – Mimy & Tony

Best Global Music Performance
Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer & Shahzad Ismaily – Shadow Forces
Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer & Zakir Hussain Featuring Rakesh Chaurasia – Pashto
Burna Boy – Alone
Davido – Feel
Falu & Gaurav Shah (Featuring PM Narendra Modi) – Abundance in Millets
Ibrahim Maalouf Featuring Cimafunk & Tank and the Bangas – Todo Colores
Silvana Estrada – Milagro y Disastre

Best Global Music Album
Bokanté – History
Burna Boy – I Told Them…
Davido – Timeless
Shakti – This Moment
Susana Baca- Epifanías

Best Children’s Music Album
Andrew & Polly – Ahhhhh!
DJ Willy Wow! – Hip Hope for Kids!
Pierce Freelon & Nnenna Freelon – Ancestars
Uncle Jumbo – Taste the Sky
123 Andrés – We Grow Together Preschool Songs

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
Daisy Jones & the Six – Aurora
Various Artists – Barbie The Album
Various Artists – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From and Inspired By
Various Artists – Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3: Awesome Mix, Vol. 3
“Weird Al” Yankovic – Weird: The Al Yankovic Story

Best Song Written for for Visual Media
Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For? [From the Motion Picture “Barbie”]
Dua Lipa – Dance the Night (From Barbie the Album)
Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice Featuring Aqua – Barbie World [From Barbie the Album]
Rihanna – Lift Me Up (From Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From and Inspired By)
Ryan Gosling – I’m Just Ken [From “Barbie the Album”]

Best Engineered Album, Classical
Gustavo Dudamel, Anne Akiko Meyers, Gustavo Castillo & Los Angeles Philharmonic – Fandango
Manfred Honeck & Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra – Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 & Schulhoff: Five Pieces
Mehmet Ali Sanlikol, George Lernis & A Far Cry – Sanlikol: A Gentleman of Istanbul – Symphony for Strings, Percussion, Piano, Oud, Ney & Tenor
Riccardo Muti & Chicago Symphony Orchestra – Contemporary American Composers
Shara Nova & A Far Cry – The Blue Hour

Best Remixed Recording
Depeche Mode – Wagging Tongue (Wet Leg Remix)
Gorillaz Featuring Tame Impala & Bootie Brown – New Gold (Dom Dolla Remix)
Lane 8 – Reviver (Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs Remix)
Mariah Carey – Workin’ Hard (Terry Hunter Remix)
Turnstile & BadBadNotGood Featuring Blood Orange – Alien Love Call

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella
Hilario Duran and His Latin Jazz Big Band Featuring Paquito D’Rivera – I Remember Mingus
Just 6 – Angels We Have Heard on High
Ludwig Göransson – Can You Hear the Music
The String Revolution Featuring Tommy Emmanuel – Folsom Prison Blues
Wednesday Addams – Paint It Black

Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals
Cécile McLorin Salvant – Fenestra
Maria Mendes Featuring John Beasley & Metropole Orkest – Com Que Voz (Live)
Patti Austin Featuring Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band – April in Paris
Säje Featuring Jacob Collier – In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning
Samara Joy – Lush Life

Best Orchestral Performance
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra – Scriabin: Symphony No. 2; The Poem of Ecstasy
Los Angeles Philharmonic – Adès: Dante
Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra – Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra; Four Pieces
The Philadelphia Orchestra – Price: Symphony No. 4; Dawson: Negro Folk Symphony
San Francisco Symphony – Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring

Maluma to Perform at This Year’s Latin Grammy Awards Show

Maluma will be feelin’ the FIBES

The 29-year-old Colombian singer-songwriter will perform at this year’s Latin Grammy Awards.

MalumaThe “Felices Los 4” singer joins a roster of recently added performers that includes Milo J, Rosalia, Shakira, Sebastian Yatra, Andrea Bocelli and DJ Premier.

They’ll perform at the upcoming ceremony, which will broadcast from FIBES in Seville, Spain, on Thursday, November 16.

The newly announced artists join previously unveiled performers, including Maria BecerraBizarrap, FeidKany GarcíaCarin LeónChristian NodalRauw AlejandroAlejandro Sanz, Pablo AlboránEdgar BarreraCamilo, Manuel Carrasco, IzaJuanes, OzunaEslabon Armado and Peso Pluma.

Additionally, Majo AguilarAnitta, Pedro Capó, Jorge Drexler, Luis Figueroa, Fonseca, Tiago Iorc, Mon LaferteNatalia Lafourcade, John Leguizamo, Nicki Nicole, Carlos PonceCarlos Vives and Yandel join as presenters throughout the ceremony.

For the first time held outside the United States, the annual Latin Grammys will be broadcast from the Conference and Exhibition Centre in Seville, Spain. It will air November 16 on Univision starting at 8:00 pm ET, UniMás and Galavisión in the U.S., and at 10:30 pm CET on Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE) in Spain.

Danna Paola, Yatra, Roselyn Sánchez and Paz Vega will serve as co-hosts.

This year, Mexican hitmaker Edgar Barrera leads the list of nominees with 13 nods, including songwriter of the year, producer of the year and song of the year. Barrera is followed by Colombian stars Camilo, Karol G, Shakira and composer Kevyn Mauricio Cruz (also known as Keityn), each with seven nominations.

Maria Becerra to Perform at This Year’s Latin Grammy Awards Show

Maria Becerra is preparing to hit the Latin Grammys stage…

The 23-year-old Argentine singer and former YouTube content creator will perform at the 24th annual Latin Grammy awards show.

Maria BecerraBecerra is among a roster of A-list performers that includes Bizarrap, FeidKany GarcíaCarin LeónChristian NodalRauw Alejandro and Alejandro Sanz.

The Latin Recording Academy announced the first round of performers on Tuesday, October 17 for the upcoming ceremony, which will broadcast from FIBES in Seville, Spain, on Thursday, November 16.

Four-time nominee Becerra is nominated in categories including song of the year and best reggaeton performance.

Meanwhile, Bizarrap is nominated in six categories, including producer of the year.

Feid is a five-time nominee with entries in best urban music album and best rap/hip-hop song.

García is nominated for best regional song.

León is in the running for best norteño album.

Nodal is up for best ranchero/mariachi album and best regional song.

Alejandro is a best urban music album nominee, and Sanz is nominated in record of the year and song of the year.

This year, Mexican hitmaker Edgar Barrera leads the list of nominees with 13 nods, including songwriter of the year, producer of the year and song of the year. Barrera is followed by Colombian stars Camilo, Karol G, Shakira and composer Kevyn Mauricio Cruz (also known as Keityn), each with seven nominations.

The Latin Grammy Week will include the person of the year gala — honoring Laura Pausini — and the special awards ceremony, the leading ladies of entertainment luncheon, the best new artist showcase and a reception for the nominees, among other events.

The 24th annual Latin Grammys will be broadcast on November 16 on Univision starting at 8:00 pm ET, UniMás and Galavisión in the U.S., and at 10:30 pm CET on Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE) in Spain. Additional international broadcasting partners and local airings will be available soon.

Christian Chávez to Make Special Appearance During This Year’s Billboard Latin Music Week

Christian Chávez will be making a special appearance at this year’s Billboard Latin Music Week

The 40-year-old Mexican singer, songwriter and actor and his recently reunited RBD group mates Maite Perroni and Christopher von Uckermann have been confirmed for the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Week, set to take place on October 2-6 at the Faena Forum in Miami.

Christian ChávezFollowing their reunion tour announcement after a 14-year hiatus, the three RBD members will take center stage at Latin Music Week to share how their reunion tour came to fruition. This RBD marquee appearance follows another first as this month, all five members — Anahí, Dulce María, Perroni, Chávez and von Uckermann — will sit down with Billboard and Billboard Español for their first interview as a group.

Additionally, Chencho CorleoneFeidManuel Turizo and Myke Towers are also set to be part of the five-day legacy event.

Colombian superstar Feid, will bring together his creative and management team for a blow-by-blow panel on how his passion translated to success.

Hitmaker Myke Towers will participate in the “Deja tu Huella” panel presented by Cheetos. During the panel, the “LALA” singer will share the stage with fellow creatives from different fields who have also brought together success in conjunction with social responsibility.

Puerto Rican singer-songwriter and producer Corleone will be part of a panel conversation with Vico C. And, Manuel Turizo will grace the stage for a one-on-one conversation.

The aforementioned artists join a star-studded Billboard Latin Music Week that will feature exclusive panels and conversations with hitmakers throughout the week.

Previously announced participants include Shakira, Arcángel, Edgar Barrera, Maria Becerra, Eladio Carrión, Fonseca, GALE, Grupo Frontera, Natanael Cano, Nathy Peluso, Nicki Nicole, Peso Pluma, Santa Fe Klan, Sebastián Yatra, Vico C, Yng Lvcas, and Young Miko, with more to be revealed.

With 30 years of events, Billboard Latin Music Week is the longest running and biggest Latin music industry gathering in the world. After a sold-out 2022 edition that featured star Q&As with Maluma, Ivy Queen, Chayanne, Romeo Santos andChristina Aguilera, to name a few, the event returns, coinciding with Hispanic Heritage Month.

Billboard Latin Music Week will also coincide with the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards on Thursday, October 5, at the Watsco Center in Miami, and will broadcast live on Telemundo. The awards show will broadcast simultaneously on Spanish entertainment cable network Universo, and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean on Telemundo Internacional.

Registration for the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Week is now open at BillboardLatinMusicWeek.com.

Becky G Teams Up with Gabito Ballesteros to Release New Single “La Nena”

Becky G is that girl

The 26-year-old Mexican American singer, rapper and actress has joined voices with Mexican newcomer Gabito Ballesteros to release “La Nena,” the latest single from her upcoming regional Mexican album.

Becky GHer new corrido single navigates from trumpets to strings, resulting in an enticing rhythm complemented by the harmonizing voices of Becky and Gabito to create a new female anthem.

Co-written and co-produced by Edgar Barrera and Ballesteros, the lyrics in “La Nena” tell the story of an empowered woman who chooses to continue dancing through life despite having her heart broken.

“She dances alone, but if she only knew how beautiful she looks single,” goes the chorus.

Bad Bunny Earns 60th Top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs Chart with Grupo Frontera-Collab “un x100to”

Make that an even 60 for Bad Bunny

The 29-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning superstar’s Grupo Frontera-collaboration “un x100to” debuts at No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, giving el Conejo Malo his 60th top 10 on the chart, extending his record among all acts.

Grupo Frontera, Bad BunnyIt’s the highest debut on the chart for Grupo Frontera and the band’s fourth top 10 single.

“Un x100to” was released on April 17 via Rimas Entertainment, a surprise not only for fans, but for Grupo Frontera as well.

Bad Bunny’s vocals were incorporated as Edgar Barrera, composer of the song, revealed his participation as a surprise the day the norteño group shot the music video.

“We did not hear Bad Bunny’s part in the song until the day of the video,” Adelaido “Payo” Solis III, lead vocalist, shared during an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1. “So when that part comes out and we were shooting the video, I froze. Having a song with Bad Bunny is just something that… It’s unexplainable.”

“Un x100to” starts at No. 3 on Hot Latin Songs, largely due to its surge in streams.

As mentioned, because the song came with the track’s music video on April 17, it joins the upper region of the multimetric ranking with only four days of activity for its chart debut. According to Luminate, it generated 20 million official U.S. streams during the April 14-20 tracking week.

That opening sum yields a No. 7 on the overall Streaming Songs chart, a first top 10 for Grupo Frontera there, and an equal No. 3 debut on Latin Streaming Songs.

“Un x100to” also registered 4,000 downloads in the same period, prompting a No. 1 launch on Latin Digital Song Sales. There, it becomes the third champ for Grupo Frontera and Bad Bunny’s 13th chart topper.

Over on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart, Grupo Frontera’s new single makes its top 20 debut, at No. 15, the highest ranking for the Rio Grande Valley-based group. For Bad Bunny, it becomes his highest chart appearance since “Moscow Mule” debuted and peaked at No. 4 in May 2022.

Back on Hot Latin Songs, “un x100to” marks Grupo Frontera’s fourth top 10. It follows “Bebe Dame,” with Fuerza Regida, which led for two weeks (January 21 and March 4-dated lists).

Elsewhere, Grupo Frontera also earns career highs on both global charts. “Un x100to” bows at No. 5 on the Billboard Global 200 with 67 million streams, while it shoots to a No. 4 start on the Global Excl. U.S. with 48 million earned during the same period.

The news of the collaboration’s debut across Billboard charts arrives on the heels of Grupo Frontera’s El Comienzo Tour, which kicked off in San Antonio, Texas, on April 20 and will take the sextet through the U.S. with its last stop on Nov. 25 in Los Angeles.