Karol G’s “El Makinon” Video Joins YouTube’s Billion Views Club

Posted on November 22, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Karol G is celebrating a big (machine) streaming hit…

Two years after its music video was released, the 32-year-old Colombian superstar and Mariah Angeliq’s girl-power anthem “El Makinon” has surpassed the billion-views mark on YouTube.

The three-minute clip for “El Makinon” is Karol G’s seventh entry to the Billion Views Club as a lead, featured artist or collaborator. She also claims No. 10 on YouTube’s Global Top Artists and No. 15 on U.S. Top Artists.

Featured on Karol’s 2021 KG0516 album, the infectious head-bopping, hip-swaying reggaetón song produced by Neo is about breaking all the rules with the girls.

“El Makinon,” slang for a “big machine,” tells the story of a girl who’s been independent since she was 16 years old, and now that she’s older, she still depends solely on herself.

“El Makinon” debuted at No. 9 on Hot Latin Songs and later peaked at No. 6 on the tally.

Most recently, Karol G performed a medley (“QLONA,” “Labios Mordidos” and “Ojos Ferrari”) at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday, November 19. She also won two awards: top Latin female artist and top Latin touring artist. During her acceptance speech, she thanked her loyal fanbase.

“These awards mean the connection is there between all of you and me. I think you’re more than fans — you’re part of the team and the family. I give you half of all this because nothing would’ve been possible without you,” she said. “I always say awards are special because they’re an extra validation to what we do, but like I said before, to have your unconditional love, with or without music, with or without a tour, that will always be the best present ever and that’s what I hope will never fail or go away.”

Bad Bunny Becomes First Artist to Spend 100 Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Songwriters Chart

Posted on November 22, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Bad Bunny is making songwriter history…

The 29-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning superstar becomes the first person to spend 100 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s latest Latin Songwriters chart dated November 25.

He continues his record-setting run thanks to 14 writing credits on the latest Hot Latin Songs chart, including “Monaco,” which tallies a fifth week at No. 1.

Here’s a look at all of Bad Bunny’s songwriting credits on the latest November 25-dated Hot Latin Songs chart.

Rank, Artist Billing, Title:
No. 1, Bad Bunny, “Monaco”
No. 5, Bad Bunny & Feid, “Perro Negro”
No. 11, Bad Bunny, “Un Preview”
No. 12, Bad Bunny & Young Miko, “Fina”
No. 16, Bad Bunny, “Where She Goes”
No. 22, Drake ft. Bad Bunny, “Gently”
No. 28, Bad Bunny, “Baby Nueva”
No. 29, Bad Bunny, “Mr. October”
No. 30, Bad Bunny & Mora, “Hibiki”
No. 33, Bad Bunny, “Cybertruck”
No. 38, Bad Bunny & Bryant Myers, “Seda”
No. 40, Bad Bunny & Luar La L, “Telefono Nuevo”
No. 43, Bad Bunny & YONVNGCHIMI, “Mercedes Carota”
No. 47, Bad Bunny, “No Me Quiero Casar”

“Monaco” is Bad Bunny’s 14th career No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs (the fourth-most of all time), and his eighth to spend five-or-more weeks on top.

Across Billboard’s 13 weekly songwriter charts, Bad Bunny is just the second artist to spend 100 or more weeks at No. 1. Kirk Franklin, who has led Gospel Songwriters for 121 weeks, tallied his 100th week at No. 1 in March.

Reaching 100 weeks atop any of Billboard’s 13 producer charts is just as rare. Only two producers have achieved the feat: Joey Moi, with 122 weeks atop Country Producers, and Tainy, with 119 frames at No. 1 on Latin Producers.

Billboard launched the Hot 100 Songwriters and Hot 100 Producers charts, as well as genre-specific rankings for country, rock & alternative, R&B/hip-hop, R&B, rap, Latin, Christian, gospel and dance/electronic, in June 2019, while alternative and hard rock joined in 2020, along with seasonal holiday rankings in 2022. The charts are based on total points accrued by a songwriter and producer, respectively, for each attributed song that appears on the Billboard Hot 100. The genre-based songwriter and producer charts follow the same methodology based on corresponding “Hot”-named genre charts. As with Billboard’s yearly recaps, multiple writers or producers split points for each song equally (and the dividing of points will lead to occasional ties on rankings).

Espinoza Paz Signs Global Deal with Virgin Music Group

Posted on November 21, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Espinoza Paz has a new global deal…

The 42-year-old Latin Grammy-nominated Mexican musician and composer has signed a global deal with Virgin Music Group.

Born Isidro Chávez Espinoza in Sinaloa, Mexico, the prolific singer-songwriter is known for his deep and emotional songs penned for other artists – such as Jenni Rivera and Banda MS – and for himself.

“What I value most about this music company, Virgin Music, is that they respect my artistic vision and my career,” Paz said in a statement. “From the first moment, I was certain that they not only believed in my music, but also in my ability to create, grow and evolve as an artist.”

After spending years as songwriter for regional Music artists, he released his first album as a singer in 2008 and since, he’s scored a total of five No. 1 albums on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Albums chart. And five top 10 hits on the Hot Latin Songs chart, including “Lo Intentamos,” “Un Hombre Normal,” and “El Culpable.”

“Espinoza Paz has proven for more than a decade to be one of the most prolific Mexican singer-songwriters of the genre. Being able to have his entire catalog and his future projects within Virgin Music represents having a large part of the history of the Regional Mexican genre of the last 15 years,” added Victor González, president of Virgin Music Group Latin America & Iberian Peninsula. “We are very proud to be part of this new stage in his career where he will undoubtedly continue to surprise us with his talent.”

In 2021, Paz released three back-to-back albums titled Que Te Duela Más Que a Mí, volumes one, two and three.

Most recently, he’s released collaborations with Memo Garza (“La Sonrisa Obligatoria”), Luis R Conriquez (“Ciega Por El”) and Pipe Bueno (“El Original”).

Grupo Frontera Signs Management Deal with Habibi

Posted on November 21, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Grupo Frontera is under new management…

The Regional Mexican group has signed a management deal with Habibi, Noah Assad’s management firm.

Raymond 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.”

Carin León Signs Exclusive Global Publishing Agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group

Posted on November 6, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Carin León has a new worldwide publishing deal…

The 34-year-old Mexican singer-songwriter and Regional Mexican star has signed an exclusive global publishing agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG).

A leading force in the música mexicana genre, the Sonora-born artist has established himself as one of Mexican music’s most versatile and eclectic artists today recording in norteño, banda, R&B and pop.

“There is no doubt, Carin León is one of the most talented artists currently,” Yadira Moreno, UMPG managing director of Mexico and Central America & vp of new business development for Latin America, said in a statement. “He can blend R&B, Folk, Country and Mexican Music easily and gracefully. We are excited to collaborate with Carin and foster his composing career internationally.”

“I feel deeply honored to embark on this creative journey alongside Universal Music Publishing Group. This partnership marks a thrilling new chapter in my career, and I’m eagerly looking forward to expressing my passion and creativity through the art of music,” added Leon.

Since launching his solo career in 2018, León has helped usher a new era for regional Mexican music. With three career entries on the Billboard Hot 100 and 12 on the Hot Latin Songs tally, he scored his first top 10 on the Top Latin Albums chart with Colmillo de Leche, released in May. It was the first studio album released on the singer-songwriter’s own label, Socios Music, which he launched late last year.

Jody Gerson, UMPG chairman and CEO, said: “Carin León’s career is limitless and transcends Música Mexicana. His soulful voice, songwriting, live shows and ambition goes beyond language. I look forward to working with Jorge Juarez and our entire global team to support Carin as he opens doors creatively across musical genres and geographies.”

León joins UMPG’s roster, which includes other regional Mexican powerhouses such as Juan Gabriel, Espinosa Paz, Horacio Palencia, Grupo Firme, Yahritza Y Su Esencia and Ivan Cornejo, among others.

Manuel Turizo to Make Performance Debut at This Year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Posted on November 2, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Manuel Turizo is making a special Thanksgiving debut…

The 23-year-old Colombian singer will perform at this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Turizo exploded onto the scene in 2018 with his smash single “Culpables.” Numerous hits like “Esperándote” and “Una Lady Como Tú” and high-profile collaborations like “El Merengue” with Marshmello & the reggaeton single “Copa Vacía” with Shakira soon followed. Fast forward to 2022: Turizo’s biggest hit “La Bachata” reached No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot Latin chart and earned Global Song of the Year honors at the Latin Billboard Awards. His recently released “Dem Time Deh” with Sean Paul is bound to keep the accolades coming.

But Turizo isn’t the only Latinx artist expected to take part in the parade.

Kirstin Maldonado and her Pentatonix group mates will be performing as well.

The 31-year-old part-Spanish and half-Mexican American singer and her group mates have redefined a cappella. The three-time Grammy-winning vocal quintet have reached unprecedented heights, selling 10 million albums worldwide.

The group was named “The Most Streamed Holiday Artist of 2022” and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023. Pentatonix is set to embark on their 2023 North American Christmas tour, The Most Wonderful Tour of the Year, this November in support of their recently released holiday greatest hits album, The Greatest Christmas Hits.

Other artists set to perform include Cher and Jon Batiste, as well as the Broadway casts of & Juliet, Back to the Future, How To Dance In Ohio, Shucked and Spamalot.

The parade and the NBC broadcast will kick off at 8:30 am ET on Thursday, November 23, a half-hour earlier than the traditional 9:00 am start.

The 97th Macy’s Parade lineup will include 5,000 volunteers, 16 featured character balloons, 26 floats, 32 heritage and novelty balloons, more than 700 clowns, 12 marching bands and nine performance groups, according to parade officials.

Karol G Earns 16th No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay Chart with “Mi Ex Tenía Razón”

Posted on October 7, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Karol G is celebrating her sweet sixteen…

The 32-year-old Colombian singer has earned her 16th No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart with “Mi Ex Tenía Razón,” which rises 3-1 in its seventh chart week to lead the October 7-dated ranking.

“Mi Ex Tenía Razón” was released on August 11 as part of Karol G’s Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season), which took her to No. 1 on Top Latin Albums (August 26-dated list).

The track arrives at the summit on the overall Latin Airplay after it earned 9.8 million audience impressions in the U.S. in the week ending September 28, according to Luminate, a 16% gain from the week prior.

It ejects Chencho Corleone’s “Un Cigarrillo” from the lead and sends it to No. 9, after one week in charge (6.41million in audience, down 28%)

With the new leader, Karol G becomes the first woman to achieve a No. 1 as a soloist, unaccompanied by any other act, in 2023. The last woman to do so was Rosalía, who accomplished the feat through “Despechá” in October 2022.

In total, among Karol G’s 16 No. 1s, she’s led the Latin Airplay chart five times, unaccompanied by another act. Her first leader overall was “Mi Cama,” with J Balvin, featuring Nicky Jam, in 2018.

Prior to “Mi Ex Tenia Razón,” “Provenza” became Karol G’s last totally solo ruler, for one week in charge in July 2022. In between, “TQG,” a collaboration with Shakira, spent two weeks at No. 1.

The new peak of “Mi Ex Tenia Razón” on Latin Airplay, arrives after its one-week coronation on Hot Latin Songs (August 26-dated list), where it dips 5-6 on the current chart with a 7% decrease in streams, to 7.56 million, and an 18% fall in sales during the same period.

Beyond its Latin Airplay coronation, “Mi Ex Tenia Razón” also pushes up Regional Mexican Airplay, climbing 39-23. The song earned Karol G a first entry on the chart when it debuted at No. 39 (September 30-dated list).

Bad Bunny Extends Record for Most Top 10 Tracks on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs Chart with “Un Preview”

Posted on October 4, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Bad Bunny has extended his lead…

The 29-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning superstar has extended his top 10 record on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart to 63 top 10s with “Un Preview,” as the song debuts at No. 8 on the October 7-dated list.

After Bad Bunny dropped the Tainy, MAG and La Paciencia-produced track on his WhatsApp channel as a look of what’s coming in 2024, the song debuted in the upper region fueled almost entirely by streams.

According to Luminate, “Un Preview” registered 7.6 million official U.S. streams in its first four days of activity as it was released September 25 — four days after the launch of the September 22 tracking week (ending September 28).

The 7.6 million streams in its first week yields a No. 5 start on Latin Streaming Songs, also for his record-extending 68th top 10 on the streaming list.

Sales, meanwhile, concurrently assist “Un Preview’s” high start on the multimetric tally: It sold 1,000 downloads, enough for a No. 2 start on Latin Digital Song Sales.

Bad Bunny ups his top 10 career count to 63 on Hot Latin Songs, way ahead of Enrique Iglesias and Luis Miguel, who are tied for second place with 39 top 10s.

As Bad Bunny continues to lap the competition, here’s the scoreboard for the artists with the most top 10s on Hot Latin Songs since the chart launched in 1986:

63, Bad Bunny
39, Enrique Iglesias
39, Luis Miguel
37, Daddy Yankee
35, J Balvin
35, Shakira
29, Chayanne
29, Cristian Castro
29, Ozuna

Further, “Un Preview” debuts at No. 37 on Billboard Global 200 with 26.3 million streams worldwide, while logs 18.8 million outside the U.S. for a No, 42 on Global Excl. U.S.

Peso Pluma Earns Third No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs Chart with Gabito Ballesteros & Junior H Collab “Lady Gaga”

Posted on September 26, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Peso Pluma has another chart-topper…

The 24-year-old Mexican singer-songwriter’s “Lady Gaga,” his collaboration with Gabito Ballesteros and Junior H, rises 3-1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart dated September 30.

The song, one of 17 tracks from Peso Pluma’s Top Latin Albums No. 1 Génesis, gives Ballesteros and Junior H their first champ on the chart.

“Lady Gaga” advances to No. 1 on the multi-metric tally fueled by a streaming surge during the September 15-21 tracking week. According to Luminate, the song registered 13 million U.S. official streams; a 23% gain from the week prior. The gain pushes the song from No. 36 to No. 25 on the overall Streaming Songs chart and No. 2-1 on Latin Streaming Songs.

Sales also helped push the song up Hot Latin Songs: “Lady Gaga” gained a 33% in digital sales, to a little over 500 downloads sold, jumping 7-6 on Latin Digital Songs. Hot Latin Songs blends streaming data, digital sales, and airplay.

Ballesteros and Junior H nab their first No. 1s on Hot Latin Songs. Ballesteros previously reached No. 6 through the three-way collab “AMG,” also with Peso Pluma and Natanael Cano, in February. Junior H’s highest peaking song arrived with the co-billed “Luna,” likewise with Peso Pluma (chart dated July 8).

Pluma, meanwhile, claims his third champ and replaces himself at No. 1 as “Qlona,” with Karol G, drops 1-2, while “Ella Baila Sola,” with Eslabon Armado, falls 2-3.

Beyond its coronation on Hot Latin Songs, “Lady Gaga” rebounds 53-37 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 after its debut and peak at No. 35 in July, while concurrently ascends to a new peak on Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, from No. 24-16 on the current chart.

Bad Bunny Releases New Single “Un Preview”

Posted on September 26, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Bad Bunny is offering a preview…

The 29-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning superstar has released his new single, the reggaetón banger “Un Preview.”

On the track, Bad Bunny is smitten, singing about a girl that has him head over heels.

“Baby, I’m no longer scared of tasting you and falling in love again … we’re crazy at the club, I get closer to you dancing, and I kiss your neck, with you, I’ll deal with fire.”

At the beginning of the music video, which has a cowboy aesthetic, Bad Bunny explains that this song, as its name would suggest, is just a preview of what’s to come. “Ven acá,” he begins. “I’ll give you a preview of what will come after.” He expanded on that message on his WhatsApp channel where he wrote: “This is possibly the last song I release this year. It’s a little preview of what’s to come next year.”

Bad Bunny officially confirmed the release date of his new song on Sunday, when he posted a 17-second snippet and wrote in Spanish, “In case you like it and are interested to know, [the song] comes out tomorrow Monday at 8 p.m. Puerto Rico time.”

“Un Preview,” produced by Tainy and La Paciencia, comes on the heels of Bunny’s “Where She Goes,” which he released in May. The Jersey Club-inspired beat (a hybrid of house and hip-hop) reached No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 and Latin Airplay charts.

Earlier this year, Bunny also teamed up with Grupo Frontera on “un x100to,” which marked his first time dipping his toes in the norteño-cumbia realm. The song earned Grupo Frontera its highest debut on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, entering at No. 3 on the April 29-dated ranking, and later hitting No. 1 on both the Latin Airplay chart and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart.

Bad Bunny is a 15-time finalist at the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards, which are set to take place on Thursday, October 5. He is up for artist of the year, tour of the year, Global 200 Latin artist of the year and Global 200 Latin song of the year for “Titi Me Preguntó.”

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