Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito” Scores 30th Week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs Chart

Posted on September 1, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Make that 30 weeks at the top for Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee…

The 39-year-old Puerto Rican singer and 40-year-old Puerto Rican rapper’s smash single “Despacito,” featuring Justin Bieber, scores its 30th week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart (dated September 9), becoming just the third song to reach the 30-week mark in the chart’s 31-year history.

“Despacito,” which also earns a record-tying 16th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, ties Nicky Jam and Enrique Iglesias’ “El Perdon” for the second-longest reign at No. 1 on the Hot Latin Songs chart. The all-time leader, Iglesias’ “Bailando,” featuring Descemer Bueno and Gente de Zona, spent 41 weeks at No. 1 from May 2014 to February 2015.

“Despacito” first topped the Hot Latin Songs chart on the February 18-dated list and has ruled the chart ever since.

Most Weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Latin Songs Chart
Weeks at No. 1, Title, Artist
41, “Bailando,” Enrique Iglesias Featuring Descemer Bueno & Gente de Zona
30, “Despacito,” Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber
30, “El Perdon,” Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias
25, “La Tortura,” Shakira Featuring Alejandro Sanz
22, “Ginza,” J Balvin
20, “Te Quiero,” Flex
20, “Me Enamora,” Juanes
20, “A Puro Dolor,” Son By Four

Camila Cabello to Perform at This Year’s iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina

Posted on August 30, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Camila Cabello is ready for a Fiesta…

The 20-year-old Cuban and Mexican singer and former Fifth Harmony member is set to perform at this year’s iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina.

Cabello, whose forthcoming debut solo album will be released in September, joins a lineup that includes CNCO, Don Omar, Gente de Zona and Nacho.

Cabello, the new face of Guess’ 2017 Fall campaign, performed for the first time as a solo artist at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards.

The fourth annual iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina will take place at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami on November 4 and will be broadcast as a special at a later date on Telemundo. This is the third year the fest takes place in Miami.

The event will be hosted by radio personality Enrique Santos, who is also the chairman and chief creative officer of iHeartLatino.

Mexican stars Reik and Jesse & Joy are also slated to perform and more acts will be announced soon.

In addition to the special re-broadcast on Telemundo, iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina will video stream live exclusively on Telemundo.com and broadcast live on iHeartMedia Spanish-Pop, Tropical and regional Mexican music.

Bad Bunny Signs Exclusive Booking Deal with Cardenas Marketing Network

Posted on July 30, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Bad Bunny is ready to take Latin America by storm…

The 23-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton, a rising Trap star, has signed an exclusive booking deal with Cardenas Marketing Network (CMN) for select Latin American territories.

CMN, which also books Marc Anthony, Gente de Zona and Nicky Jam among other artists, will have exclusive booking rights for Bad Bunny in Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela.

The deal underscores the growing impact of Latin trap, which only a year ago, was the stuff of local clubs. Now, a roster of acts that includes Ozuna, Bryant Myers and Farruko is delivering the music to a much broader audience, and last April, the Billboard Latin Music Conference hosted its first-ever Latin trap panel.

“We are proud to add Bad Bunny to our booking roster, as he is continuing an upward trend playing in new venues, countries and continents,” said Henry Cardenas, CEO of Cardenas Marketing Network in a statement.

Bad Bunny is signed to indie Hear This Music. His current single, “Soy Peor,” is at No. 22 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart.

The song — a powerful get-even rant (“If I used to be an SOB now I’m worst, because of you,” says the chorus) — has generated dozens of “response” videos online from women who’ve created their own lyrics. In doing so, it underscores Bad Bunny’s growing popularity.

“This is a step in the right direction and I know it will help my career continue to grow exponentially,” said Bad Bunny in a statement.

La Mega 97.9’s Alex Sensation Signs with Magnus Talent Agency

Posted on May 16, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Alex Sensation has new representation…

The Colombian DJ, who hosts two programs on SBS’ La Mega 97.9 FM, the most-listened-to station in New York City, has signed with Magnus Talent Agency for exclusive booking.

Alex Sensation’s performances as a recording artist and DJ (as well as other public appearances) will now be handled by Magnus in the national and international markets.

He’s the latest addition to MTA, which was launched in January as a division of Magnus Media, the entertainment company founded by Marc Anthony.

He joins a roster that already includes Gente de Zona, Motiff, Nacho, Il Volo for Latin America and, Anthony, among other acts.

“I’m very grateful to Marc and his team for making me feel at home and for being part of an exciting new chapter in my career,” said Sensation in a statement.

The Colombian-born DJ is also signed as a recording artist with In-Tu-Linea, the indie label distributed by UMLE, and is slated to release a solo album soon.

Magnus was launched in early 2015 and aside from its talent agency, also includes a label, management, publishing, merchandising and distribution divisions. MTA is run directly by Michel Vega, Magnus’ CEO, who as the longtime former head of Latin music at WME booked some of Latin music’s premiere acts for years.

“Opening an agency made complete sense to us as part of our overall portfolio,” Vega told Billboard. “And we absolutely want to grow. This is a big focus of ours.”

Nicky Jam Wins Big with Six Awards at the Billboard Latin Music Awards

Posted on April 28, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a jammin’ year for Nicky Jam…

The 36-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American reggaeton star, who rose to stardom after a decade of silence battling drug addiction, turned out to be the big winner at the Billboard Latin Music Awards, taking home six awards.

Nicky Jam, who claimed his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart earlier this year with Fenix, his first set in a decade, lived up to the album’s name. He was named Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Male and Latin Rhythm Songs Artist of the Year, Solo.

His hit song “Hasta el amanecer” won Hot Latin Song of the Year — an award that includes radio airplay, sales and streams, underscoring Nicky Jam’s popularity across all platforms. “Hasta el amanecer” also won Digital Song of the Year, Streaming Song of the Year and Latin Rhythm Song of the Year.

Following in wins was the late Juan Gabriel, who won the coveted Artist of the Year award, as well as Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Male and Latin Pop Albums Artist of the Year, Solo. Gabriel’s album Los Dúo 2 won Top Latin Album of the Year as the top-selling release and Latin Pop Album of the Year.

Enrique Iglesias took home four awards, including Latin Pop Songs Artist of the Year, Solo. Iglesias and reggaeton star Wisin both won three awards for their hit collaboration “Duele el corazón”: Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event; Airplay Song of the Year; and Latin Pop Song of the Year.

Also winning three awards each were Banda Sinaloense MS De Sergio Lizarraga, CNCO, Gente de Zona and Los Plebes del Rancho de Ariel Camacho. CNCO — a bilingual/bicultural pop group spawned from a TV reality show — were the winners in the coveted Artist of the Year, New category. The group, mentored by Ricky Martin and produced by Wisin, is currently playing its first major tour.

Special awards of the evening went to Ricardo Arjona, the iconic Guatemalan singer/songwriter, who was given the lifetime achievement award for a career that continues to be one of the most successful in Latin music. Luis Fonsi won the Spirit of Hope Award for his work with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Jennifer Lopez, who also won social artist of the year, was given the Telemundo Star Award.

Find the full list of winners below:

ARTIST CATEGORIES

Artist of the Year:

Juan Gabriel

Artist of the Year, New:

CNCO

Tour of the Year:

Marc Anthony

Social Artist of the Year:

Jennifer Lopez

Crossover Artist of the Year:
• Justin Bieber

SONG CATEGORIES

Hot Latin Song of the Year:

Nicky Jam, “Hasta El Amanecer”

Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event:

Enrique Iglesias feat. Wisin, “Duele El Corazón”

Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Male:

Nicky Jam

Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Female:

Shakira

Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:

Banda Sinaloense MS De Sergio Lizárraga
Hot Latin Songs Label of the Year:
Sony Music Latin

Hot Latin Songs Imprint of the Year:

Sony Music Latin

Airplay Song of the Year:

Enrique Iglesias feat. Wisin, “Duele el Corazón”

Airplay Label of the Year:

Sony Music Latin
Airplay Imprint of the Year:
Sony Music Latin

Digital Song of the Year:

Nicky Jam, “Hasta El Amanecer”

Streaming Song of the Year:

Nicky Jam, “Hasta El Amanecer”

ALBUM CATEGORIES

Top Latin Album of the Year:

Juan Gabriel, Los Dúo 2
Latin Compilation Album of the Year:
Varios/Various, Las Bandas Románticas de América 2016

Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Male:

Juan Gabriel

Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Female:

Selena
Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Los Plebes del Rancho de Ariel Camacho

Top Latin Albums Label of the Year:

Universal Music Latin Entertainment

Top Latin Albums Imprint of the Year:

Fonovisa

LATIN POP CATEGORIES

Latin Pop Song of the Year:

Enrique Iglesias feat. Wisin, “Duele el Corazón”

Latin Pop Songs Artist of the Year, Solo:

Enrique Iglesias
Latin Pop Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
CNCO

Latin Pop Airplay Label of the Year:

Sony Music Latin

Latin Pop Airplay Imprint of the Year:

Sony Music Latin

Latin Pop Album of the Year:

Juan Gabriel, Los Dúo 2
Latin Pop Albums Artist of the Year, Solo:
Juan Gabriel

Latin Pop Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:

CNCO
Latin Pop Albums Label of the Year:
Universal Music Latin Entertainment

Latin Pop Albums Imprint of the Year:

Fonovisa

TROPICAL CATEGORIES

Tropical Song of the Year:

Deorro feat. Pitbull & Elvis Crespo, “Bailar”
Tropical Songs Artist of the Year, Solo:
Prince Royce
Tropical Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Gente de Zona
Tropical Songs Airplay Label of the Year:
Sony Music Latin

Tropical Songs Airplay Imprint of the Year:

Sony Music Latin
Tropical Album of the Year:
Gente de Zona, Visualízate

Tropical Albums Artist of the Year, Solo:

Marc Anthony

Tropical Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:

Gente de Zona

Sello Discográfico del Año, “Tropical Albums” Tropical Albums Label of the Year:

Sony Music Latin

Tropical Albums Imprint of the Year:

Sony Music Latin

REGIONAL MEXICAN CATEGORIES

Regional Mexican Song of the Year:

Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizárraga, “Solo Con Verte”
Regional Mexican Songs Artist of the Year, Solo:
Gerardo Ortiz
Regional Mexican Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Regional Mexican Airplay Label of the Year:
Universal Music Latin Entertainment

Regional Mexican Airplay Imprint of the Year:

Fonovisa

Regional Mexican Album of the Year:

Los Plebes del Rancho de Ariel Camacho, Recuerden Mi Estilo

Regional Mexican Albums Artist of the Year, Solo:

Joan Sebastian

Regional Mexican Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:

Los Plebes del Rancho de Ariel Camacho

Regional Mexican Albums Label of the Year:

Universal Music Latin Entertainment

Regional Mexican Albums Imprint of the Year:

Fonovisa
LATIN RHYTHM CATEGORIES

Latin Rhythm Song of the Year:

Nicky Jam, “Hasta El Amanecer”

Latin Rhythm Songs Artist of the Year, Solo:

Nicky Jam

Latin Rhythm Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:

Zion & Lennox

Latin Rhythm Airplay Label of the Year:

Sony Music Latin
Latin Rhythm Airplay Imprint of the Year:
Sony Music Latin

Latin Rhythm Album of the Year:

J Balvin, Energía

Latin Rhythm Albums Artist of the Year, Solo:

J Balvin

Latin Rhythm Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:

Zion & Lennox

Latin Rhythm Albums Label of the Year:

Sony Music Latin

Latin Rhythm Albums Imprint of the Year:

Capitol Latin
WRITERS/PRODUCERS/PUBLISHERS CATEGORIES

Songwriter of the Year:

Horacio Palencia Cisneros
Publisher of the Year:
DEL World Songs, ASCAP
Publishing Corporation of the Year:
Sony/ATV Music
Producer of the Year:
Saga Whiteblack

Fonsi Earns First Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 with “Despacito” Remix, Featuring Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber

Posted on April 25, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Luis Fonsi is making history with an assist from the Biebs…

For the first time in more than 20 years, a mostly Spanish-language song ranks in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, as the 39-year-old Puerto Rican singer and Daddy Yankee‘s smash “Despacito” vaults 48-9 (on the May 6-dated chart), driven by a new remix featuring Justin Bieber.

The last time such a song hit the top 10 was in 1996, when Los Del Rio‘s “Macarena,” powered by its Bayside Boys remix, spent 14 weeks at No. 1.

While Bieber notches his 12th Hot 100 top 10, Fonsi and Daddy Yankee each earn their first.

It’s “such an incredible honor to have a Spanish song in the top 10 of the Hot 100 chart. It’s been an incredible ride since the very first day we released the song, seeing how the world just connected to it,” said Fonsi to Billboard after learning about the song’s race to the top 10.

“Despacito” isalready a huge success on Billboard‘s Latin charts, and this week it spends a 12th week atop Hot Latin Songs. The release of the remix (on April 17) spurs a 129 percent surge in U.S. streams, to 24.1 million (in the tracking week ending April 20, according to Nielsen Music), more than doubling its own record for the most weekly streams for a core Spanish song. The original version of “Despacito” earned 10.9 million streams on the April 15-dated chart.

Digital sales for “Despacito” soar 510 percent to 60,000, as the track re-enters at No. 8 on the all-genre Digital Song Sales chart (where it had previously peaked at No. 48). It tallies a 10th week atop the Latin Digital Song Sales chart, where it logs the highest sales frame for a mostly Spanish-language song (with no accompanying primarily English version) in the chart’s seven-year history. Enrique Iglesias‘ “Bailando,” featuring Descemer Bueno and Gente de Zona, peaked with a prior-best 76,000 downloads (Aug. 16, 2014); notably, those sales also included Iglesias’ mostly English version of the song.

Globally, “Despacito” has forged record-breaking feats. According to Spotify, it’s the first Spanish-language song to reach No. 1 on the streaming service’s Global Chart and is that chart’s highest-ranking Spanish-language record to date.

Further, upon the release of the official remix audio clip on YouTube, it became the top music debut of 2017, accumulating more than 20 million views in its first 24 hours, according to the platform. It has reached 76 million worldwide views so far.

Meanwhile, the song’s original music video surpassed 1 billion global views on April 20, becoming the second-fastest music clip to reach the milestone across all genres (following its Jan. 12 release). Only Adele‘s “Hello” made a quicker ascent to the 1 billion mark.

Of its worldwide accolades, Fonsi adds that “the billion views in four months, No. 1 on Spotify Global and Justin Bieber jumping on-board with the remix have taken the song to another level. This is great for Latin music!”

Daddy Yankee to Perform at This Year’s Billboard Latin Music Awards

Posted on April 22, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Daddy Yankee is readying for another performance on the big stage…

The 40-year-old Puerto Rican superstar is confirmed to perform at the 2017 Billboard Latin Music Awards, taking place April 27 at the University of Miami‘s Watsco Center.

Daddy Yankee and Luis Fonsi will take the stage for the worldwide television premiere of their monster hit “Despacito.” The pair recently dropped a new remix featuring Justin Bieber, and after just 24 hours on YouTube, it became the biggest musical debut on the streaming platform, surpassing 20 million worldwide views.

During Daddy Yankee’s performance, the five-time finalist will also debut a new track.

Other performers throughout the night include J Balvin, Nicky Jam, Gente de Zona, Zion y Lennox, Alejandro Fernández and Morat.

Mexican actress Kate del Castillo, from the Netflix series Ingobernable, and Puerto Rican actor and singer Carlos Ponce will host the awards ceremony that will air live on Telemundo. Presenters include ChocQuibTown, Sofía Reyes, Olga Tañón, Sin Bandera, Juan Luis Guerra and Ednita Nazario, among others.

The Billboard Latin Music Awards are the culmination of the Billboard Latin Music Conference, taking place April 24-27 at the Ritz Carlton Miami Beach.

Iglesias Earns Record-Extending 29th No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay Chart

Posted on April 7, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Enrique Iglesias is extending his chart reign…

The 41-year-old Spanish singer-songwriter’s latest single “Subeme La Radio,” featuring Descemer Bueno and Zion & Lennox, steps 2-1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart (dated April 15).

The track rises 4 percent to 21.5 million audience impressions (in the week ending April 2, according to Nielsen Music), extending Iglesias’ record for the most No. 1s ever on the 22-year-old list to 29.

Iglesias holds a large lead, with 13 more chart-topping hits than Ricky Martin, who is in second place with 16.

Iglesias first topped the chart in 1995 when “Si Tu Te Vas” spent eight weeks at No. 1.

Iglesias not only holds the most No. 1s on the Latin Airplay chart, he has also spent the most weeks at the top of the chart: 159 weeks. Seven of his songs have exceeded 10 weeks at No. 1.

Only one other act has had multiple songs spend 10 or more weeks at No. 1: Juanes, who notched two long-running chart leaders with “Me Enamora” (20 weeks in 2007) and “Nada Valgo Sin Tu Amor” (12 weeks in 2004).

Iglesias’ longest-running chart-topper, “Bailando,” featuring Bueno and Gente de Zona, led the list for 20 weeks. (Shakira holds the record for longest-running No. 1, 25 weeks, earned in 2005 with “La Tortura,” featuring Alejandro Sanz).

Artists with the most weeks at No. 1 on Latin Airplay:
Artist, Total weeks at No. 1

Enrique Iglesias, 159
Shakira, 63
Juanes, 56
Marc Anthony, 45
Ricky Martin, 44
Romeo Santos, 42
Don Omar, 40

Over on the multi-metric Hot Latin Songs chart, “Subeme” rises 4-3, aided in part by a 4 percent increase in streams, to 3.2 million — its best streaming week yet. The single became Iglesias’ 40th career hit on the chart when it debuted at No. 3 on the March 18-dated ranking.

Iglesias’ “Bailando” Music Video Breaks YouTube Record with Two Billion Views

Posted on April 3, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Enrique Iglesias is still bailando his way to the bank…

The 41-year-old Spanish singer-songwriter’s hit “Bailando,” featuring Descemer Bueno and Gente De Zona, has established a new record, hitting two billion views on YouTube. The song was released in 2014.

Back in August 2015, the song achieved its first billion views (becoming the first Spanish-language song to hit the digit) and now, 20 months after, it reaches the new figure.

Iglesias revealed the news in his social media. “Thank you to all my fans! I love you guys!” he wrote.

“Bailando” holds the record as the longest-running No. 1 ever in the history of Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart. It not only spent 41 weeks at the top of the chart, but also rose to No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, aided by a Spanglish remix (featuring a Sean Paul guest rap), a rare feat for a predominantly Spanish track.

“You never know where a hit is going to come from. There’s just something about this song,” Iglesias told Billboard in a previous interview.

Lopez to Perform in the Dominican Republic for First Time Ever

Posted on March 30, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez is heading to La República…

The 47-year-old Puerto Rican Singer/actress will perform for the first time ever in the Dominican Republic on April 15, according to Billboard .

Jennifer Lopez

J.Lo’s highly anticipated concert will officially kick off concert season at the Altos de Chavón Amphitheater at Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, where artists like Gente de Zona, Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony and Carlos Vives were among the Latin acts on last year’s roster.

“This will be my first concert in your beautiful country,” JLo wrote on social media. “It will be an unforgettable night.”

Hotel packages and and individual tickets for the show are available for purchase here.

Currently, the Shades of Blue star is also working on her forthcoming Spanish album, produced by ex-husband Anthony.

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