Bad Bunny Makes History with Artist of the Year Win at the MTV Video Music Awards

Bad Bunny continues etching his name in the music history books…

The 28-year-old Puerto Rican superstar was named Artist of the Year during Sunday’s Video Music Awards, becoming the first non-English-language performer to win the prize.

Bad BunnyBad Bunny was nominated for the honor alongside Drake, Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles, Jack Harlow, Lil Nas X and Lizzo. His hit song “Tití Me Preguntó” also received an MTV VMAs nomination this year for the Best Latin Award.

During the MTV telecast, Bad Bunny performed live from Yankee Stadium in New York as part of his World’s Hottest Tour. Other acts in the VMA performance lineup this year included Harlow, Nicki Minaj, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blackpink, Panic! at the Disco, Anitta, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Lizzo.

In May, Bad Bunny released his fourth studio album, “Un Verano Sin Ti,” which was the second all-Spanish-language record to debut atop the Billboard 200 chart in the United States, according to MTV. When it came out, Bad Bunny’s latest LP was also Spotify‘s most-streamed album of 2022.

Meanwhile, Anitta also made history at this year’s VMAs as she picked up her first American Moon Person.

The 29-year-old Brazilian singer-songwriter, whose won several MTV Europe Music Awards, won Best Latin for her viral hit song “Envolver,” becoming the first-ever Brazilian artist to take home an MTV Video Music Awards.

It was a highly competitive category, with Anitta competing against Bad Bunny, Daddy Yankee, J Balvin, Becky G and Karol G.

Here’s a look at the night’s big winners:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Taylor Swift – “All Too Well” (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) – Republic Records

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Bad Bunny – Rimas Entertainment

BEST ALBUM
Harry Styles – “Harry’s House”

SONG OF THE YEAR
Billie Eilish – “Happier Than Ever” – Darkroom / Interscope Records

BEST NEW ARTIST
Dove Cameron – Disruptor Records / Columbia Records

PUSH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
December 2021: SEVENTEEN – “Rock With You” – PLEDIS Entertainment / Geffen Records

BEST COLLABORATION
Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow – “INDUSTRY BABY” – Columbia Records

BEST POP
Harry Styles – “As It Was” – Columbia Records

BEST HIP-HOP
Nicki Minaj ft. Lil Baby – “Do We Have A Problem?” – Young Money / Cash Money / Republic Records

BEST ROCK
Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Black Summer” – Warner Records

BEST ALTERNATIVE
Måneskin – “I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE” – Arista Records

BEST LATIN
Anitta – “Envolver” – Warner Records

BEST R&B
The Weeknd – “Out Of Time” – XO / Republic Records

BEST K-POP
LISA – “LALISA” – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records

VIDEO FOR GOOD
Lizzo – “About Damn Time” – Atlantic Records

BEST METAVERSE PERFORMANCE
BLACKPINK The Virtual | PUBG – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records

BEST LONGFORM VIDEO
Taylor Swift – “All Too Well” (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) – Republic Records

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Harry Styles – “As It Was” – Columbia Records

BEST DIRECTION
Taylor Swift – “All Too Well” (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) – Republic Records

BEST ART DIRECTION
Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow – “INDUSTRY BABY” – Columbia Records

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow – “INDUSTRY BABY” – Columbia Records

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Doja Cat – “Woman” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records

BEST EDITING
ROSALÍA – “SAOKO” – Columbia Records

Adassa & Her “Encanto” Castmates Earn Second Week at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 with “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”

It’s another week of pure enchantment for Adassa…

The 35-year-old Afro-Colombian American singer and her Encanto castmember’s “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” has registered a second week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart.

EncantoThe ensemble song – by Adassa, Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz and the Encanto cast (all singing as the characters that they voice in the movie) – becomes the first song from a Disney animated film to lead the Hot 100 for multiple weeks.

It one-ups the only other such song to have reigned: Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle’s Aladdin theme “A Whole New World,” which spent a week at No. 1 in 1993.

Meanwhile, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” logs its highest weekly totals yet in streaming, sales and radio airplay, as it reaches its first airplay charts: Pop Airplay and Adult Pop Airplay.

The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. streaming (official audio and official video), radio airplay and sales data.

“We Don’t Talk About Bruno” drew new weekly bests of 37.6 million U.S. streams (up 8%), 3.6 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 132%) and 13,600 downloads sold (up 10%, aided by 69-cent discount pricing in the iTunes Store, and good for the Hot 100’s top Sales Gainer trophy for a second straight week) in the January 28-February 3 tracking week, according to MRC Data.

The track tops the Streaming Songs chart for a fifth week and rises 3-2 on Digital Song Sales, two weeks after it led the latter list.

As “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” crowns the Hot 100 for a second week, its parent album, the Encanto soundtrack, tops the Billboard 200 albums chart for a fourth week (and third in a row), with 113,000 equivalent album units (down 2%).

Encanto and “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” mark the first soundtrack and corresponding song to have led the Billboard 200 and Hot 100 simultaneously for multiple weeks in over 19 years, since 8 Mile and Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” ruled the respective rankings dated January 11 and 18, 2003. Before that, the last such multi-week double domination belonged to Titanic and Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On,” on the charts dated February 28 and March 7, 1998.

Zack de la Rocha & His Rage Against the Machine Band Mates Nominated for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Will the fifth time be the charm for Zack de la Rocha?

The 52-year-old Mexican American musician, singer, songwriter, rapper and activist and his Rage Against the Machine band mates are among this year’s nominees for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Zack de la Rocha x Rage Against the MachineKnown for their songs, which express revolutionary political views, the band has sold more than 16 million records worldwide.

de la Rocha and rock band members are among 17 artists who received a nomination this year. They’re joined by Dolly PartonPat Benatar, Dionne Warwick, Judas Priest, Beck, Eminem, Lionel Richie, Carly Simon, A Tribe Called Quest and Duran Duran, among others.

Musicians become eligible for the Hall of Fame 25 years after the release of their first album. Rage Against the Machine has been eligible since 2017.

They were previously nominated in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021, though the bids failed.

“This year’s ballot recognizes a diverse group of incredible artists, each who has had a profound impact on the sound of youth culture,” said John Sykes, head of the foundation that runs the Rock Hall, in a statement.

A roster of five to seven successful inductees will be announced in May, with the annual ceremony to be scheduled for later this year.

This year’s nominees are:

  • A Tribe Called Quest
  • Beck
  • Pat Benatar
  • Kate Bush
  • Devo
  • Duran Duran
  • Eminem
  • Eurythmics
  • Fela Kuti
  • Judas Priest
  • MC5
  • The New York Dolls
  • Dolly Parton
  • Rage Against the Machine
  • Lionel Richie
  • Carly Simon
  • Dionne Warwick

Along with the official nominees, the Rock Hall today opened the annual “fan vote” balloting, available at the Rock Hall website. The five artists with the most votes by April 29 will be tallied with the Hall’s official ballots in selecting this year’s inductees.

Within several hours of the fan ballot opening, Pat Benatar, Dolly Parton, Duran Duran, Eurythmics and Carly Simon held the top five spots, with Benatar in a significant lead.

Jhené Aiko to Perform “America the Beautiful” at Super Bowl LVI

Jhené Aiko is preparing for a beautiful moment…

The 33-year-old part-Spanish and Dominican American Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter will perform “America the Beautiful” before the start of the game at Super Bowl LVI on February 13.

Jhené Aiko

Country star Mickey Guyton will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the game, while Sandra Mae Frank, who plays Dr. Wilder on NBC’s New Amsterdamis set to perform both songs in American Sign Language on behalf of the National Association of the Deaf.

Also set to take the pregame stage is veteran gospel duo Mary Mary, who will accompanied by the LA Philharmonic’s Youth Orchestra Los Angeles on “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

Zedd will serve as the pregame DJ.

NBC will telecast the Big Game from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The NFL championship will pit the hometown Los Angeles Rams against the AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals.

The game will also air on Telemundo and stream live on Peacock.

Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar will headline the Super Bowl Halftime Show. The quintet, which never have appeared together onstage, have 43 Grammys and 22 No. 1 albums among them.

STXtv Developing Chicano-Themed Series “Once Upon a Time in Aztlan” to Star George Lopez

George Lopez has a little Timeon his hands for an ode to California’s Chicano culture…

STXtv is developing Once Upon a Time in Aztlan, a new television series anchored by the 59-year-old Mexican American actor/stand up comedian.

George Lopez

The project includes the participation of  famed photographer Estevan Oriol and iconic Los Angeles-based artist Mister Cartoon aka Mark Machado.

Michael Connolly, under his Mad Hatter Entertainment banner, brought the elements together. 

Lopez is in final talks to star and executive produce the project through his Travieso Productions, with Javier Rodriguez writing the pilot. Oriol and Cartoon will executive-produce.

“I’m thrilled to be teaming up with Cartoon, Estevan, Jada and Michael for this series and developing a show with STXtv,” Lopez said. “Cartoon and Estevan are the DaVincis of our community; they have been the street chroniclers of our uniquely Chicano story … our American story. I’m looking forward to working with them and the rest of the team to expand their canvas to capture the diverse stories and people that make our culture and community so amazing, colorful and vibrant.”

This authentic L.A.-based series examines a family coming to terms with the falsehoods of the American Dream and their ability to defy expectations.

“I want to create a vision of Los Angeles inspired by my tattoos and murals that enriches and showcases the culture, opening it up to new audiences,” Cartoon said. “Putting together the dream team of Latino street culture and a collection of creative minds headed up by George Lopez, who is born and raised in L.A. and is an icon of our community. George’s experience and sense of humor acts as a foundation for this team.”

The pilot will be directed by Ricardo de Montreuil, who helmed Eva Longoria and Demián Bichir in the Blumhouse/Imagine East L.A.-set drama, Lowriders.During that production, he worked closely with Oriol and Cartoon, who were also involved in the production. 

Oriol and Cartoon’s longtime collaborators Mark Suroff and Marco Valadez, who produced LA Originals, also will serve as executive producers with Connolly.

“I’m looking forward to developing this with Cartoon, George, Jada and Michael,” said Oriol. “STXtv truly gets what it takes to develop a real show that can only be made in LA. This is the dream team. Period. It doesn’t get more authentic than this and I’m proud and privileged to be invited on this ride.”

Lopez recently released his first Netflix comedy special

He previously starred in Lopez for TV Land and Saint George for FX. And he had a talk show that ran from 2009-11. While his hit comedy George Lopez, whichended in 2007, ran on ABC, STXtv will zero in on buyers in the cable and streaming markets.

Cartoon is L.A.’s legendary tattoo artist, designer and cultural icon whose stylish and influential global work has been featured on countless celebrities including Kobe BryantEminemDr. Dre50 CentBeyoncéLewis HamiltonSnoop Dogg and many others. Cartoon also designed the logos for Cypress Hill and Eminem’s Shady Records, and his résumé includes cutting-edge designs for Nike, the LA Clippers and T-Mobile and others.

Oriol is an internationally celebrated photographer, director and urban lifestyle entrepreneur. Beginning as a tour manager for Cypress Hill and House of Pain, he developed a passion for photography as he documented life on the road to become hip-hop’s best-known chronicler; his work has been showcased in bestselling books, select galleries, and institutions, including the Smithsonian Center for Latino Initiatives,Mesa Contemporary Art CenterPetersen Automotive Museum, and The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles’ and New York’s Art in the Streets exhibit. He has photographed Eminem, Kim Kardashian, Cypress Hill, Dennis HopperBlink-182Forest Whitaker, Robert De NiroAl PacinoKendrick Lamar, 50 Cent, and Danny Trejo, among many others. He most recently executive produced the film Lowridersand directed the hit Netflix documentary L.A. Originals.

L.A. Originalswas critically acclaimed and extremely successful, introducing new fans to the world to Oriol and Cartoon.

Jessie Reyez’s New Album Makes the Long List for the 2020 Polaris Music Prize

Jessie Reyezis making the list… And, it’s a prestigious one at that!

The 40-album list for the 2020 Polaris Music Prize— an annual award that celebrates the best Canadian albums released over the past year – has been released, with 29-year-old Colombian singer-songwriter earning a place.

Jessie Reyez

Reyez was recognized for her acclaimed debut Before Love Came To Kill Us, which was released in March. It debuted at No. 13 on the Billboard 200.

Reyez’s album includes collaborations with Eminem and 6LACK, with the deluxe edition including additional features from Rico NastyMelii, JID, and A Boogie Wit da Hoodie

But Reyez isn’t the only Latina honoree…

Lido Pimienta has made the list for her album Miss Colombia, which was released earlier this year.

The 34-year-old Colombian singer rose to prominence after her 2016 album, La Papessa, won the Polaris Music Prize in 2017.

To qualify for this year’s honor, albums must have been released between June 1, 2019, and May 31, 2020. A total of 223 albums were considered for the 2020 long list, as determined by a 201-member jury comprised of music journalists, broadcasters and bloggers.

The long list will eventually be culled down to a short list of 10 albums, set to be announced July 15 during a CBC Music radio special. Eleven members of the jury will then be selected to serve on a grand jury that will choose this year’s winner.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, the 2020 Polaris winner — normally revealed during a splashy awards ceremony — will be announced live on the CBC Gem streaming service and via the CBC Music website during a “special cinematic event” this fall. Like every year, the winner will receive $50,000 CAD, while shortlisted artists will receive $3,000 CAD each courtesy of Slaight Music.

The Polaris Music Prize is considered one of Canada’s most prestigious music awards; in addition to the cash prize, winners receive a level of attention and renown that is highly coveted in the Canadian music industry.

The 2020 Polaris Music Prize long list is: 
Allie X – Cape God Anachnid – Dreamweaver
Aquakultre – Legacy
Marie-Pierre Arthur – Des feux pour voir
Backxwash – God Has Nothing To Do With This Leave Him Out Of It
Badge Époque Ensemble – Badge Époque Ensemble
Begonia – Fear
Chocolat – Jazz engagé
Louis-Jean Cormier – Quand la nuit tombe
Corridor – Junior
dvsn – A Muse In Her Feelings
Jacques Greene – Dawn Chorus
Sarah Harmer – Are You Gone
Ice Cream – FED UP
Junia-T – Studio Monk
Kaytranada – Bubba
Flore Laurentienne – Volume 1
Cindy Lee – What’s Tonight To Eternity?
Men I Trust – Oncle Jazz
nêhiyawak – nipiy
OBUXUM – Re-Birth
Owen Pallett – Island
Pantayo – Pantayo
Lido Pimienta – Miss Colombia
Joel Plaskett – 44
William Prince – Reliever
Jessie Reyez – BEFORE LOVE CAME TO KILL US
Andy Shauf – The Neon Skyline
Riit – ataataga
Super Duty Tough Work – Studies in Grey
U.S. Girls – Heavy Light
Leif Vollebekk – New Ways
Wares – Survival
The Weeknd – After Hours
WHOOP-Szo – Warrior Down
Witch Prophet – DNA ActivationZen Bamboo – GLU

Jessie Reyez to Perform at This Year’s Bonnaroo Festival

Jessie Reyez is headed to The Farm.

The 26-year-old Colombian-Canadian singer-songwriter will perform at the 17th annual Bonnaroo Festival, taking place June 7-10 in Manchester, Tennessee, Superfly and A.C. Entertainment announced today.

Jessie Reyez

Reyez, who appears on Calvin Harris’ single “Hard to Love,” joins a roster of more than 150 artists who will perform during the festival on “The Farm” at Great Stage Park, the 700-acre event space located 60 miles southeast of Nashville.

EminemThe Killers and Muse will be the festival’s headliners. Other performers include Future, Bassnectar, Sturgill Simpson, Bon Iver “performing two unique sets,” Khalid, Kaskade, Paramore, Alt-J, Dua Lipa, Sheryl Crow, Anderson.Paak, Sylvan Esso, Nile Rogers & Chic, Playboi Carti, Broken Social Scene, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Thundercat, Mavis Staples, Amadou & Miriam, T-Pain and many more.

Tickets go on sale Friday, January 12 at 10:00 am ET, exclusively via www.bonnaroo.com.

Here’s the complete list of artists:

BONNAROO 2018 LINEUP:

Eminem
The Killers
Muse
Future
Bassnectar
Sturgill Simpson
Bon Iver (playing 2 unique sets)
Khalid
Kaskade
Paramore
Alt-J
Dua Lipa
Sheryl Crow
Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals
Sylvan Esso
Rebelution
The Revivalists
Virtual Self
Nile Rogers & CHIC
Rufus Du Sol
Chromeo
STS9
Alison Wonderland
Moon Taxi
Carnage
BROCKHAMPTON
Old Crow Medicine Show
Playboi Carti
The Glitch Mob
Rag‘N’Bone Man
Broken Social Scene
Superjam
Grand Ole Opry
First Aid Kit
Jungle
Tash Sultana
T-Pain
Manchester Orchestra
Brothers Osborne
Gryffin
What So Not
Rich Brian
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Billie Ellish
Daniel Caesar
Kali Uchis
Kayzo
Slander
ARIZONA
St. Paul & The Broken Bones
Lany
Thundercat
Mavis Staples
Hippie Sabotage
Big Wild
Shiba San
Sir Sly
Denzel Curry
Moses Sumney
Snakehips
Tyler Childers
Mr. Carmack
Valentino Khan
Amadou & Mariam
Midland
Opiou
Japanese Breakfast
Jessie Reyez
K?D
R.LUM.R
Noura Mint Semali
Gogo Penguin
Lissie
Chris Lake
Billy Kenny b2b Mija
Durand Jones & The Indications
Space Jesus
Manic Focus
Boogie T b2b Squnto
Ikebe Shakedown
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong
Spafford
Said the Sky
Elohim
Melvv
Alex Lahey
Knox Fortune
Lewis Capaldi
Ron Gallo
Pond
Loudpvck
Conway + Westside Gunn
CloZee
Chase Atlantic
Leven Kali
Everything Everything
Frenship
Droeloe
Taska Black
Mikky Echo
The Spencer Lee Band
Justin Jay’s Fantastic Voyage
Blank Range
Bayonne
Bruno Major
Duckwrth
The War and Treaty
Cyn
Arlie
Dreamers
Spencer Ludwig
The Brummies
Jalen N’Gonda
Jaira Burns
OkeyDokey
Zeshan B
The Regrettes
Tobi Lou
Shey Baba
Chastity Brown
Topaz Jones
Kyle Dion
The Texas Gentlemen
Michael Blume
Post Animal
Southern Avenue
Larkin Poe
Colin Elmore & The Danville Train
The Blue Stones
Michigan Rattlers
Matt Maeson
Fletcher
Matt Holubowski
Victory Boyd
Saro
FLOR
Oliver Hazard
Jade Bird
John Splithoff
Colin MacLeod
*repeat repeat
Low Cut Connie
Davie
Biyo
Walden
Hundred Hand

Mars Named One of the Most Popular Artists in the World

It’s no wonder the National Football League picked Bruno Mars to perform the halftime show at this year’s Super Bowl.

The 28-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer-songwriter, who just earned his second Grammy at this year’s awards show, has been named as one of the most popular artists in the world in the past year.

Bruno MarsBruno Mars

Mars ranks No. 4 – behind One Direction, Eminem and Justin Timberlake – on the IFPI’s Global Recording Artists of 2013 list.

The list, recently created by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, honors the most popular recording artists across music downloads, streaming and physical format sales

“This is a global IFPI award for a new era of music consumption, based on a new metric of global success. Our chart for the first time measures the popularity of artists across the many different ways in which fans choose their music,” said Frances Moore, chief executive of IFPI.

The chart takes into account all the artist’s music sales – across digital, CD and vinyl formats; singles, both downloaded and physical; on-demand streams and music videos. And it’s been independently verified, according to the IFPI.

The IFPI’s Global Recording Artists Of 2013:

  1. One Direction
  2. Eminem
  3. Justin Timberlake
  4. Bruno Mars
  5. Katy Perry
  6. P!nk
  7. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
  8. Rihanna
  9. Michael Bublé
  10. Daft Punk

Shakira Releases Steamy Video for Her “Can’t Remember to Forget You” Duet with Rihanna

Shakira isn’t afraid to get up close and personal with her “Can’t Remember to Forget You” collaborator…

In the just-released official music video for their new duet, the 36-year-old Colombian singer and Rihanna are shown in bodysuits and atop bed sheets, cuddling and smoking cigars as they sing of a post-breakup longing.

Rihanna & Shakira

The clip, which also shows Shakira playing an electric guitar and drums, was directed by Joseph Kahn, who also helmed Mariah Carey and Miguel’s “#Beautiful,” as well as “Love the Way You Lie” by Eminem and Rihanna.

“Can’t Remember to Forget You” was released on January 13 as the first single from Shakira’s self-titled inaugural album with Sony label RCA Records, which is also her first since 2010’s Sale el Sol.

She has said in an interview that Shakira is dedicated to Spanish soccer player Gerard Piqué, her partner and the father of her son Milan, reports Billboard.

The singer’s video release comes just weeks before she returns as a coach on NBC’s The Voice, which is back for a sixth season on February 24.

The music video has already registered more than 1.47 million views on VEVO.

Shakira will be released on March 25.

Pitbull & Ke$ha’s “Timber” Tops the Billboard Hot 100 Chart

Timber! Pitbull and Ke$ha have chopped down a Monster hit…

After four weeks of playing second fiddle, the 32-year-old Cuban American singer and the pop starlet have climbed to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart with their hit single “Timber,” giving Pitbull the second chart topper of his career.

Pitbull & Ke$ha

The new leader had held the No. 2 spot while Eminem and featured artist Rihanna reigned for four frames with “The Monster.”

“Timber,” the No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Songs chart, adds the Hot 100’s top Streaming Gainer award, vaulting 6-2 on Streaming Songs with a 21% gain to 5.3 million U.S. streams, according to Nielsen BDS. It likewise lifts 6-2 on the subscription services-based On-Demand Songs chart (1.8 million, up 40%).

On Radio Songs, “Timber” returns to its No. 5 peak, from No. 6, with an 8% gain to 109 million all-format audience impressions, according to BDS.

“Timber” concurrently takes over atop Hot Rap Songs, which “Monster” had led for nine weeks.

Pitbull’s previous Billboard Hot 100 topper was “Give Me Everything” featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer.