J Balvin to Headline This Year’s Billboard Latin Music Week

J Balvin is helping celebrate Latin music…

The 39-year-old Colombian singer will headline the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Week.

J BalvinThis year’s 35th annual event will take place from October 14-18 at The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater. 

Known for his massive influence on Colombian reggaetón and global Latin music, the Medellín superstar — who is fresh off releasing his sixth solo studio album Rayo — will host a special night titled “Next Gen Reggaetón: An Evening Curated by J Balvin” during the week.

The event promises an exciting lineup of surprise performances and guests, all chosen by Balvin himself.

The global superstar and entrepreneur is a highly decorated and critically acclaimed cultural icon who has won multiple Billboard Music Awards and plenty of chart accolades, including nine No. 1 tracks on the Hot Latin Songs chart like “Mi Gente” with Beyoncé, “Ginza,” “RITMO (Bad Boys For Life)” with Black Eyed Peas) and a No. 1 on the Hot 100 (“I Like It” with Cardi B and Bad Bunny).

Apart from his curation, Balvin will engage in an exclusive Superstar Q&A moderated by Leila Cobo, chief content officer for Latin/Español at Billboard, providing deeper insights into his music and influence. The session aims to foster intimate and enlightening discussions.

“Latin music is living its most successful and globally recognized moment ever this year. But Billboard has been proudly at its side for over 35 years as the main flagbearer, supporter and ultimate opinion maker for Latin music around the world,” said Cobo in a press release. “During a year when Latin music is dominating the charts and the cultural zeitgeist, we are thrilled to return to Miami Beach, the global capital of Latin music, for this exciting week-long event.”

The announcement also highlighted the expansive lineup for this legacy event, featuring a blend of established stars and emerging talents including Bad Gyal, DANNA, Danny Ocean, Domelipa, Fat Joe, Gloria Estefan, JOP, Keityn, Lele Pons, Luis Alfonso, Maria Becerra, Mau y Ricky, Mon LaFerte, N.O.R.E., Paola Jara, Peso Pluma, Pipe Bueno, Sophia Talamas, Yeison Jiménez, and Yeri Mua, with more to be announced in the coming months.

Tickets are now available here.

Cardi B Earns 10 BET Hip Hop Awards Nominations including MVP of the Year

It’s a Perfect 10 for Cardi B

The 25-year-old half-Dominican American rap star leads the ladies field of nominees for the 2018 BET Hip Hop Awards with 10, behind only Drake, who earned 11.

Cardi B

Cardi B, the big winner at last year’s ceremony with five awards including Best New Hip Hop Artist, is up for Hot Ticket Performer, MVP of the Year, Hustler of the Year and the Made-You-Look Award, aka Best Hip Hop Style. 

Cardi B’s Invasion of Privacy has earned a nod in the Album of the Year category,while she’s up for the Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse award for her part on “Motorsport” (Migos feat. Cardi B & Nicki Minaj).

Meanwhile, Carbi B’s “I Like It” collaboration with Bad Bunny and J Balvin has earned nods in the Best Hip-Hop Video, Best Collab, Duo or Group and Single of the Year.

For the second consecutive year, the awards ceremony will return to The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater on October 6.BET Networkswill premiere the annual telecast on October 16 (8 p.m. ET/PT).

Here’s the complete list of the 2018 nominees:

Best Hip-Hop Video
Cardi B – “I Like It” feat. Bad Bunny & J Balvin
Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Drake – “God’s Plan”
Kendrick Lamar – “Loyalty” feat. Rihanna
Migos – “Walk It Talk It” feat. Drake

Hot Ticket Performer
Cardi B
Childish Gambino
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Travis Scott

Album of the Year
Cardi B – Invasion of Privacy
Drake – Scorpion
Cole – KOD
Migos – Culture II
The Carters – Everything Is Love 

Video Director of the Year
Benny Boom
Dave Meyers & The Little Homies
Director X
Eif Rivera
Hiro Murai
Karena Evans

Lyricist of the Year
Childish Gambino
Drake
J. Cole
Kendrick Lamar
Travis Scott

MVP of the Year
Cardi B
Childish Gambino
Drake
J. Cole
Travis Scott

Producer of the Year
Ben Billions
DJ Esco
DJ Mustard
Metro Boomin
Pharrell Williams

Best Collabo, Duo or Group
21 Savage & Offset & Metro Boomin – “Ric Flair Drip”
Blocboy JB – “Look Alive” feat. Drake
Cardi B – “I Like It” feat. Bad Bunny & J Balvin
Post Malone – “Rockstar” feat. 21 Savage
The Carters – “Apes**t”

Single of the Year
“Apesh*t” – Produced by Pharrell (The Carters)
“God’s Plan” – Produced by Cardo, Young Exclusive and Boi-1da (Drake)
“I Like It” – Produced by Craig Kallman, JWhiteDidIt and Tainy (Cardi B Feat. Bad Bunny & J Balvin)
“Nice for What” – Produced by Murda Beatz (Drake)
“This Is America” – Produced by Donald Glover & Ludwig Goransson (Childish Gambino)

Best New Hip Hop Artist
Blocboy JB
Juice Wrld
Lil Baby
Rich the Kid
XXXTentacion

Best Mixtape
BlocBoy JB – Simi
Future – Beast Mode 2
Juicy J – Shut Da F* Up
Lil Wayne – Dedication 6: Reloaded
Zoey Dollaz – Sorry Not Sorry 

Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse
21 Savage – “Bartier Cardi” (Cardi B feat. 21 Savage)
Cardi B – “Motorsport” (Migos feat. Cardi B & Nicki Minaj)
Drake – “Look Alive” (Blocboy JB feat. Drake)
Kendrick Lamar – “New Freezer” (Rich the Kid feat. Kendrick Lamar)
Nicki Minaj – “Big Bank” (YG feat. 2 Chainz, Big Sean & Nicki Minaj)

Impact Track
Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Dej Loaf & Leon Bridges – “Liberated”
Lecrae – “I’ll Find You” feat. Tori Kelly
Meek Mill – “Stay Woke” feat. Miguel
N.E.R.D – “1,000” feat. FUTURE

DJ of the Year
Calvin Harris
DJ Envy
DJ Drama
DJ Khaled
DJ Mustard

Made-You-Look Award (Best Hip Hop Style)
Cardi B
Migos
Nicki Minaj
Remy Ma
Travis Scott

Best Hip Hop Online Site/App
ALLHIPHOP
Complex
Hot New Hip Hop
Worldstar
XXL

Hustler of the Year
Cardi B
DJ Khaled
Drake
Jay Z
Kendrick Lamar
Travis Scott

Estefan to Receive WorldArts “Discovery of the Year Award”

Emily Estefan is the next big thing…

The 21-year-old Cuban American singer/songwriter, the daughter of daughter of Gloria and Emilio Estefan, will be recognized by the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame and WorldArts.

Emily Estefan

Estefan will receive the first annual WorldArts Discovery of the Year Award during the 2016 La Musa Awards ceremony.

The new award is given to promising young talent at the start of their careers.

“Emily has created a unique sound incorporating all the incredible music she grew up with and the sounds of her own generation with the ease of an artist far beyond her years. I would like to sincerely congratulate her on this prestigious new award from WorldArts which is totally deserved,” said Desmond ChildLSHOF Chairman/CEO, in a statement.

“Emily is one of the most exciting and dynamic new singer-songwriters to emerge on the scene and we look forward to watching her steadily rise and keep bringing her amazing music to the world far into the future,” added Larry Underwood, founder and CEO of WorldArts.

The fourth annual La Musa Awards will take place October 13 at the The Fillmore Miami Beach Jackie Gleason Theater.

Estefan, a Berklee College of Music graduate, recently signed a partnership with RED Distribution via her indie label, Alien Shrimp Records.

She’s set to release her new single “Reigns (Every Night)” this month and has a new album due in 2017.

“I am beyond thrilled to call Sony/RED Distribution my new musical home. They took on this little Alien Shrimp with no questions asked, and opened the door to my U.F.O.”

Shakira Among Finalists for This Year’s Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame

Shakira is known for her stellar songwriting… And, it could soon land her in the annals of history.

The 39-year-old Colombian singer-songwriter appears on the list of nominees in the performers (singer/songwriters) category to the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame 2016.

Shakira

Shakira, who penned several of her hit singles, including “Inevitable,” “She Wolf,” and “Whenever, Wherever,” joins a list that includes fellow performers Juanes, Marco Antonio Solis and Draco Rosa.

Shakira won the Latin Grammy for Song of the Year in 2006 for her massive international hit “La Tortura.”

Non-performer (composers) finalists include Kike Santander, Carlos Lara, Chico Navarro and Alejandro Jean.

The final list of artists and composers chosen to be inducted into the LSHOF will be announced at the 2016 Latin Billboard Music Conference taking place in April.

The selected six winners will then be inducted into the esteemed hall during the fourth annual La Musa Awards at the Filmore Miami Beach Jackie Gleason Theater on October 13.

Here’s the full list of LSHOF 2016 nominees:

PERFORMERS
Alejandro Lerner  (Argentina)
Caetano Veloso  (Brazil)
Juanes  (Colombia)
Shakira  (Colombia)
Chucho Valdés  (Cuba)
Joaquín Sabina  (España)
José Mara Cano  (España)
Marco Antonio Solís  (Mexico)
Los Temerarios  (Mexico)
Ruben Blades  (Panama)
Draco Rosa  (Puerto Rico)
Vico C  (Puerto Rico)

NON-PERFORMING
Claudia Brant  (Argentina)
Chico Novarro  (Argentina)
Erasmo Carlos  (Brazil)
Kike Santander  (Colombia)
Jorge Luis Piloto  (Cuba)
Alejandro Jaen  (España)
Jose Enrique (Chelique) Sarabia  (Venezuela)
Carlos Lara  (Mexico)
Miguel Luna  (Mexico)
Cheo Zorrilla  (República Dominicana)
Luis Fernando Ochoa  (USA)
K.C Porter  (USA)

The non-profit organization was founded by songwriters/producers Desmond Child and Rudy Perez in 2012 to celebrate and honor Latin music creators.

Servando & Florentino Book Historic Miami Concert

Servando & Florentino have booked an extra special gig…

The Venezuelan sibling duo will perform for first time at The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater on Friday, November 13, according to Billboard.

Servando & Florentino

“Each concert is like a renewal of vows, and to perform at such a prestigious theater — where each sound is completely different — gives us the opportunity to feel vindicated with the people that accompany us every time,” said Florentino.

Servando & Florentino became popular in the late ’90s after their first single, “Una Fan Enamorada,” became a fan anthem in Latin America and spent six weeks at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Tropical Songs chart.

The duo was one of the youngest acts to hit No. 1 on the charts (Servando was 17 at the time and Florentino 16).

The Miami show is part of the pair’s current tour. They’ll be performing in Lima, Peru (Oct. 17); Bogota, Colombia (Nov. 5); Barranquilla, Colombia (Nov. 7) Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (Dec. 17).

“Fads are temporary, but, thank God, we’ve been able to remain relevant,” said Servando.  “I’ve been singing with my brother now for 20 years.”

Nazario Among This Year’s Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame Finalists

Ednita Nazario may soon earn a special spot in Latin music history…

The 59-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter has been named a finalist for the third annual La Musa Awards 2015. The eventual winners will be inducted into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame in a ceremony on October 15 at the Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami Beach.

Ednita Nazario

Nazario, a Latin Grammy nominee, received the Latin Heritage Award from ASCAP in 2004, as well as the Recording Academy Honors from NARAS in 2005.

A total of 12 nominees were announced in both the performers (or singer/songwriters) and non-performers categories. Other names included Joan Sebastian, Diego Torres, Juan Gabriel Myriam Hernandez, Roberto Carlos and Ruben Blades in the performers category and Lalo Schifrin, Gustavo Santaolalla, Leo Brouwer and Ramon Arcusa in the composers category.

Voting, which is open to LSHOF members at latinsonghall.com, began January 28, immediately following the finalist announcement during a press conference at the YoungArts Jewel Box in Miami, and will close March 15 at midnight. The artists and composers chosen for induction in the Hall of Fame will be announced during the 2015 Billboard Latin Music Conference in April.

Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational organization founded by renowned songwriter/producers Desmond Child and Rudy Pérez in 2012 to honor and celebrate Latin music creators. Created under the auspices of the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, its nominating committee is comprised by songwriters, performers, musicians, producers, engineers, music critics, and industry executives.

Many of these were present during the press conference announcing the nominees. Those in attendance included Latin Grammy winner for best new artist Mariana Vega, Colombian singer/songwriter Cabas, singer/songwriter Yunel Cruz, composer/producer Julio Reyes and both Child and Perez.

LSHOF 2015 Full List of Nominees

PERFORMERS  

Diego Torres               (Argentina)
Roberto Carlos             (Brazil)
Caetano Veloso            (Brazil)
Myriam Hernandez      (Chile)
Pablo Milanes               (Cuba)
Álvaro Torres                (El Salvador)
Juan Gabriel                  (México)
Joan Sebastian              (México)
Rubén Blades                (Panamá)
Ednita Nazario              (Puerto Rico)
Camilo Sesto                 (Spain)
Franco de Vita              (Venezuela)

NON-PERFORMERS

Chico Navarro                                   (Argentina)
Gustavo Santaolalla                            (Argentina)
Lalo Schifrin                                       (Argentina)
Erasmo Carlos                                     (Brazil)
Alberto Plaza                                       (Chile)
Héctor Ochoa Cárdenas                        (Colombia)
Leo Brouwer                                       (Cuba)
Rubén Fuentes                                    (México)
Ramón Arcusa                                     (Spain)
Luis Gomez Escolar                             (Spain)
Jose Maria “Chema” Puron                   (Spain)
Jose Enrique “Chelique” Sarabia            (Venezuela)