Sanz Teams Up with Alejandro Fernandez for New Single “A Que No Me Dejas”

Are two Alejandros better than one? The answer is yes if you’re talking about Alejandro Sanz and Alejandro Fernandez.

The 46-year-old Spanish singer-songwriter has joined voices with the 44-year-old Mexican singer for his new ballad, “A Que No Me Dejas.”

Alejandro Sanz & Alejandro Fernandez

It’s the second single from Sanz’s latest album Sirope, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart upon its release in May, and topped a nine-year-old sales high in his native Spain.

“Aside from flamenco, some songs have a touch of folk or R&B. It’s a very eclectic sound,” Sanz recently told Billboard about his new album. “It’s a mix of many styles, searching, perhaps, for different path by mixing sounds. I’m looking for each song to tell me something and have a sense. The sound is completely at the service of the songs.”

Sanz shared a 40-second teaser of the video for the soon-to-be-released track.

Sanz’s tour in support of Sirope kicks off July 30 in Córdoba, Spain. He’ll pause from the tour to serve as one of the judges (along with Laura Pausini and Ricky Martin) on Univision’s new reality talent competition series, La Banda, premiering this September. Following his run on the show, Sanz will embark on a tour of Latin America and the U.S. in the summer of 2016.

Martin Featured in Time Magazine’s “Letters From Dad” Series

Let(ter) Ricky Martin entertain you with his words of wisdom…

With Father’s Day this upcoming Sunday (June 21), Time magazine has revealed its annual Letters From Dad series, with the 43-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter participating in the project.

Ricky Martin

The magazine typically asks several influential dads to write open letters to their children — and this year, Martin was among them.

In his heartfelt letter, former member of the all-boy band Menudo starts off by telling his twins Matteo and Valentino, now six, that being a father was something he always dreamed of. He also credits them with positively changing his life.

“Above all, my beautiful sons, your love gave me the strength to live an honest life,” writes Martin, who came out as a gay man in 2010, after years of scrutiny about his sexuality. “A life of courage and transparency, which fills me with great pride and peace. What an amazing gift you have given me, and I’m forever thankful to you.

Before signing off, Martin adds, “If there is anything I want you to live with, aside from knowing that you are unconditionally loved and adored by me and our family and friends, it is that you can be YOURSELF. Don’t ever let anyone or anything make you feel like you can’t be your true self.”

But Martin isn’t the only Latino dad participating this year.

In an equally sweet letter, Colombian superstar Juanes goes through the emotions he felt when each of his children came into this world and what they have taught him.

“I would feel a mixture of joy and nerves come over me that I could not describe with words alone,” writes Juanes to Luna, Paloma and Dante, his three children with TV personality Karen Martinez. “And then, in the blink of an eye, as when a candle is lit in the darkness, you would appear, illuminating the whole place.”

Later in the piece, he writes, “At first, I imagined that my mission as a father would be to teach you everything I knew about life: the physical, the intellectual, the spiritual. But as the days passed, I realized that I would be learning from you. Yes, you read that right—I would also be your student. The purity of your souls, your innocence, reminded me that I, too, one day came to this world like you, innocent and with a pure soul. I felt myself reconnecting with my father and mother, completing this mysterious and magical circle of existence.

Juanes’ letter is also available in Spanish. As the Colombian rock star’s short bio points out, he is about to head on his Loco de Amor tour, for which he is currently rehearsing.

Martin is getting ready for Univision’s La Banda, a new reality singing competition series airing in September in search of the next big Latin boy band. Martin will serve as a judge, along with Alejandro Sanz and Laura Pausini, and he is also credited as a producer.

Other musical figures invited by Time to pen letters for their kids this year include Pete Wentz and Russell Simmons.

Click here to read the letters in full.

Gabriel Scores First Top Latin Albums in Nearly Two Decades

It’s been a long time coming, but Juan Gabriel is back at the top of the charts…

The iconic 65-year-old Mexican singer/songwriter climbs to No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums (dated March 7) with Los Duo, scoring his first chart-topping set in 18 years, after debuting last week at No. 2.

Juan Gabriel

The new duets album — which features a variety of guests like Juanes and Marco Antonio Solis — is helping Gabriel cover his own classics — sold 9,000 units in its second week, according to Nielsen Music.

Rising to the top despite a 61 percent decline in sale, the album opened with 23,000 copies (Gabriel’s biggest sales week since Nielsen started tracking sales in 1991) but was bested by Ricky Martin’s No. 1-debuting A Quien Quiera Escucharwhich arrived with 25,000. Both sets saw an expected second-week dip, with Martin dropping 72 percent (to 7,000), allowing Gabriel to take the top spot with the smaller sales decrease.

Gabriel, whose career launched in the early 1970s, last claimed the top spot in 1997 (with his only other No. 1 album) when Juntos Otra Vez, a collaborative set with Spanish singer Rocio Durcal, spent a week at the top.

It garnered a similar second-week climb to No. 1 after debuting the prior week at No. 7. (The Top Latin Albums chart launched in July of 1993.)

Over on Latin Pop Airplay, the new album’s lead single “Querida,” featuring Juanes, steps 26-25 with a two percent increase at the plays-based format.

Among Los Duo’s collaborations is “Se Me Olvido Otra Vez” with Solis, as the pair team up for a cover of Gabriel’s classic song that was first released in 1974.

Other artists from multiple Latin genres that join Gabriel on the set include regional Mexican singer-songwriter Espinoza Paz (duetting on “Siempre En Mi Mente,” the title track from Gabriel’s 1978 album) and Italian pop star Laura Pausini. The latter lends her powerful voice to “ Juan Gabriel,” the title track from a No. 2-peaking Gabriel album released in 2000.

Additional duets with the likes of Vicente Fernandez, Natalia Jimenez, Alejandra Guzman and Fifth Harmony also help to shape Gabriel’s chart-topping set.

Bosé to Pay Tribute to This year’s Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year Joan Manuel Serrat

Miguel Bosé is heading back to this year’s Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year tribute event.

The 58-year-old Spanish musician/actor, last year’s honoree, is among the performers set to pay tribute to this year’s Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year Joan Manuel Serrat.

Miguel Bose

Bosé joins a roster of performers that includes Panamanian salsa singer Rubén Blades and Puerto Rico’s Calle 13.

The Barcelona-born Serrat will also be in the company of other fellow artists including Peruvian songstress Tania Libertad and singer/songwriter/poet Joaquín Sabina who will gather during a gala and tribute dinner on November 19 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

The tribute dinner and concert is being executive produced by Jose Tillan, with Greg Fera serving as the event’s producer. Dan Warner will be the night’s musical director and Gustavo Borner is the audio/mix supervisor.

Last year Bosé was the person of the year and was given musical tributes by Laura Pausini, Ricky Martin, Carlos Vives, Carlos Santana, Juanes and Alejandro Sanz, among others.

Other previous honorees include Shakira, Plácido Domingo, Gloria Estefan, Gilberto Gil, Juan Luis Guerra, Carlos Santana, and Caetano Veloso.

Martin to Serve as a Coach on the New Season of “La Voz… México”

Ricky Martin is switching Voices

The 42-year-old Puerto Rican singer has been announced as the fourth and final judge for the upcoming fourth season of La Voz… México.

Ricky Martin

Martin will join Yuri, Julion Alvarez and Italian singer Laura Pausini as the judges for the reality singing competition.

Mexico’s Televisa network announced that Martin will serve as the fourth judge in a statement Thursday, saying that “all his experience and musical abilities will be available for the next season of La Voz… México.”

Martin previously served as a coach on The Voice Australia.

The new season of La Voz… México begins on September 7.

Anthony to Perform at the Billboard Latin Music Awards

Marc Anthony won’t just be a favorite at this year’s Billboard Latin Music Awards, he’ll also be a performer.

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter, the biggest selling tropical salsa artist of all time, has joined the star-studded list of performers at this year’s upcoming awards ceremony, which includes recent additions Prince Royce and Franco de Vita.

Marc Anthony

The Grammy- and Latin-Grammy winning artist has reached the No. 1 spot on the Tropical Airplay chart 23 times, and has eight No. 1s on the Top Latin Albums chart.

The 15-time finalist last year chose the Billboard Latin Music Awards stage for the worldwide premiere of “Vivir Mi Vida,” which spent 17 weeks at the top of the Hot Latin Songs chart and became his eighth No.1 hit.

Anthony, Prince Royce and de Vita join previously announced performers Laura Pausini, Ricky Martin, David Bisbal, Juanes, Luis Fonsi, La Arrolladora Banda El Limon De Rene Camacho, Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga and 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Andrea Bocelli.

The Billboard Latin Music Awards, the longest-running Latin music awards show, will be broadcast live on Telemundo, Thursday, April 24 at &:00pm ET from the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami.

The complete list of finalists, plus exclusive content on this year’s event, can be found at Telemundo.com/PremiosBillboard.

Fonsi Sharing the Stage with David Bisbal at the Billboard Latin Music 25th Anniversary Concert

Luis Fonsi is ready to Liv it up this month…

The 35-year-old Puerto Rican Latin Grammy-winning singer will share the stage with Spanish pop star David Bisbal for the Billboard Latin Music 25th Anniversary Concert, taking place April 23 at Liv Nightclub in Miami Beach.

Luis Fonsi

Billboard organized the one-of-a-kind show as a milestone to celebrate it’s longest-running event, the Billboard Latin Music Conference.

The conference, which takes place April 21-24 at the JW Marriot Marquis in Miami, will feature the top executives and artists in the industry—including Enrique Iglesias, Laura Pausini, Carlos Vives and Gloria Trevi—over three days of panels and showcases.

The conference culminates with the Billboard Latin Music Awards, which will air live April 24 on the Telemundo.

The 25th anniversary concert will be hosted by Telemundo personalities Jorge Bernal and Kimberly Dos Ramos.

“A 25th anniversary is not something that happens every day, so we really made an effort to bring the very best artists we could,” says Leila Cobo, executive director for Latin content and programming at Billboard. “The fact that Fonsi and Bisbal were both in Miami, that they both are in the midst of releasing new albums and that they are friends just made this occasion even more special. This is truly a one-of-a-kind event.”

Bisbal last week released his new album, Tu y Yo, which topped Spain’s sales charts and immediately went double platinum, also reaching No. 1 in six other countries.

Fonsi will release his new studio album, 8, later this spring. His new single, “Corazón en la maleta,” is No. 8 this week on Billboard’s Latin Pop Airplay chart.

Iglesias to Participate in the Billboard Latin Music Conference

Enrique Iglesias will now take your questions…

The 38-year-old Spanish singer-songwriter will make an appearance at the Billboard Superstar Q&A during the upcoming Billboard Latin Music Conference in Miami.

Enrique Iglesias

Iglesias will be interviewed by Billboard‘s Executive Director of Latin Content and Programming Leila Cobo, during an intimate conversation highlighting the singer/songwriter’s career.

“Enrique has spent 19 years on our charts and has placed 24 tracks at No. 1 on our Hot Latin Songs chart, more than any other artist,” says Cobo. “His chart history is unique and he is the perfect artist to celebrate our anniversary with.”

The conference, being held April 21-24 at Miami’s JW Marriott Marquis, will also include the participation of music stars Gloria Trevi, Kat Dahlia, recent Grammy-winner La Marisoul, Laura Pausini and Leslie Grace.

Iglesias, who has sold more than 100 albums worldwide, is a multiple Billboard Latin Music and Billboard Music Awards winner in a career dating back to 1995. Iglesias, whose biggest hits include “Bailamos,” “Hero,” “I Like It” and “Tonight (I’m Loving You),” is the first male performer to have the most No. 1s on Billboard‘s Dance Club Songs chart. He also has seven No. 1s on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart and multiple No. 1s across the Billboard charts.

Additionally, Iglesias has the Billboard record for the most No. 1 singles on the Hot Latin Songs chart with 24, which includes the recent hits “El Perdedor” featuring Marco Antonio Solis and “Loco” featuring Romeo Santos; both songs are featured on his tenth album SEX and LOVE, which was released this week. The new project includes 16 tracks including “I’m a Freak” featuring Pitbull, “Noche y Dia” featuring Yandel and Juan Magan and “Beautiful” featuring Kyle Minogue.

For more information about the 2014 Billboard Latin Music Conference, please visit BillboardLatinConference.com.

Juanes to Perform at the Billboard Latin Music Awards

Juanes will be bringing La Luz to a Billboard stage…

The 41-year-old Colombian musician will perform at the 2014 Billboard Latin Music Awards.

Juanes

Other confirmed performers include Laura Pausini, David Bisbal and La Arrolladora Banda El Limon De Rene Camacho.

Juanes will appear at the ceremony in the wake of the March 11 release of his widely anticipated and critically lauded album Loco de Amor. His single “La Luz” leapt to the top of Billboard Latin Airplay chart earlier in the month, securing his ninth No. 1 on the chart.

Juanes has placed eight songs atop the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, including “Me Enamora,” which spent 20 weeks at the top of the chart. He has reached No. 1 with four albums on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart.

The Billboard Latin Music Awards will be produced and broadcast live by Telemundo on Thursday, April 24 at 7:00 pm ET from the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami.