Los Ángeles Azules to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at Billboard Latin Music Awards

Posted on August 29, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Los Ángeles Azules have earned an extra special honor…

The Mexican cumbia group will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards.

The band, known for songs like “El Listón de Tu Pelo,” “Cómo Te Voy a Olvidar” and “Mi Niña Mujer,” among many other cumbia anthems, will be recognized for their enduring, exceptional career that has expanded the reach of Latin music worldwide.

The award will be presented at the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards, where they will also hit the stage with a special performance.

The ceremony will be held Thursday, October 5, and will be broadcast live on Telemundo from the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Fla.

“We are very honored to receive this award,” the group — led by the Mejía-Avante brothers — said in a statement. “It is a recognition to our music, which we have shared with our audiences throughout all these years.”

With a 40-year musical career, Los Ángeles Azules have achieved great success, including 14 entries on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart, with three songs in the top 10. They also have 16 entries on Latin Airplay, of which six reached the top 10, including “Nunca es Suficiente,” with Natalia Lafourcade, which peaked at No. 3 in 2019. Their 2020 album De Buenos Aires Para El Mundo debuted at No. 8 on the Regional Mexican Albums chart, making it the band’s 12th album to reach the top 10 on the tally.

Past recipients of the Billboard Lifetime Achievement Award include Raphael, Paquita la del Barrio, Armando Manzanero, Miguel Bosé, Los Temerarios, Intocable, José José, Marco Antonio Solís, Ricardo Arjona and Maná, among others.

Besides airing live on Telemundo, the Billboard Latin Music Awards will air simultaneously on the Hispanic entertainment cable channel, Universo, Peacock, the Telemundo App, and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean on Telemundo Internacional.

Peso Pluma leads the list of finalists with 21 nods across 15 categories including artist of the year, songwriter of the year, Global 200 Latin artist of the year, and Top Latin Album of the year.

Alejandro Fernández Earns 10th No. 1 on on Billboard’s Latin Airplay Chart with “No Es Que Me Quiera Ir”

Posted on August 3, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a perfect 10 for Alejandro Fernández.

The 52-year-old Mexican singer has collected his 10th No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart as “No Es Que Me Quiera Ir” rises 13-1 to lead the August 5-dated survey.

The song follows the two-week champ “Caballero,” his first career No. 1 this decade (Feb. 2020).

“No Es Que Me Quiera Ir” conquers Latin Airplay after it gained 9.1 million in audience impressions, a 50% rise from the week prior, earned in the U.S. during the July 21-27 tracking week, according to Luminate.

The song’s main supporters include Univision stations, KSCA Los Angeles and WOJO Chicago, as monitored by Mediabase, which provides Luminate data for Billboard charts.)

The ranchera singer, released May 19 and written by Eden Muñoz, ejects Prince Royce’s “Me EnRD” from the lead after its one term at No. 1, as the bachata dips 1-5 with 17% drop in audience impressions, to 8.4 million.

Further, “No Es Que Me Quiera Ir” earns Universal Music Latino/UMLE its second No. 1 in 2023, after the label dominated the chart with Karol G and Shakira’s “TQG” for two weeks between May and July.

As mentioned, with “No Es Que Me Quiera Ir” capturing the crown on Latin Airplay, Fernández scores his 10th ruler, the second-most among regional Mexican acts, trailing Marco Antonio Solis who continues to lead with 11 champs on his Latin Airplay account.

Plus, “No Es Que Me Quiera Ir” becomes his first win since “Cabaellero” in 2020. In between he’s placed five top 10s, for a total of 23 top 10s since “A Pesar de Todo” reached No. 10 high in December 1994.

Here’s a full recap of Fernández’s 10 leaders dating back to his first in 1997:

Peak, Title, Artist, Weeks at No. 1
Oct. 18, 1997, “Si Tú Supieras,” six
Dec. 27, 1997, “En El Jardín,” featuring Gloria Estefan, six
March 14, 1998, “No Se Olvidar,” eight
July 18, 1998, “Yo Nací Para Amarte,” five
Aug. 21, 1999, “Loco,” one
Dec. 1, 201, “Tantita Pena,” six
Oct. 23, 2004, “Me Dedique A Perderte,” two
Feb. 06, 2010, “Se Me Va La Voz,” one
Jan. 04, 2020, “Caballero,” two
Aug. 05, 2023, “No Es Que Me Quiera Ir,” one

Notably, “Que Me Quiera Ir” marks a new milestone achievement for singer-songwriter Eden Muñoz, who captures his first No. 1 on Latin Airplay as a songwriter. Previously he scored a No. 2 high as a songwriter through Banda Carnaval’s “Esa Vez Soy Yo” (Jan. 2020).

Elsewhere, “No Es Que Me Quiera Ir” advances 7-1 on Regional Mexican Airplay as the week’s Greatest Gainer. Fernández wins his sixth champ, the fifth-most among regional Mexican soloists.

Grupo Frontera Earns Second No. 1 on Billboard Latin Airplay Chart with Bad Bunny-Collab “Un x100to”

Posted on May 17, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Grupo Frontera have earned a place in music history…

The Regional Mexican group has achieved a feat unseen on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart in more than a decade, becoming the first act to place two Regional Mexican songs at No. 1 in a single year.

The group claims the first such double win since Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizárraga in 2009.

Grupo Frontera’s “Un x100to,” with Bad Bunny, hits No. 1 on the Latin Airplay chart dated May 20 due to a 20% boost in audience impressions, to 10.7 million, in the United States in the week ending May 11, according to Luminate.

The quintet secured its first champ on Latin Airplay as “Bebe Dame,” with Fuerza Regida, capped the March 25-dated ranking.

The last regional Mexican act to post two No. 1s on the tally in the same year was Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizárraga, whose “Te Presumo” and “Me Gusta Todo de Ti” ruled for six and five weeks beginning the February 28 and December 26, 2009-dated lists, respectively.

Since Latin Airplay launched in November 1994, Grupo Frontera logs just the fifth instance of an act notching two regional Mexican No. 1s in a single year. Marco Antonio Solis first achieved the feat in 1996 and is the only artist to have earned the honor twice.

Here’s the full list below:

Acts With 2 Regional Mexican No. 1s on Latin Airplay in a Single Year:
Grupo Frontera, 2023: “Un x100to,” with Bad Bunny, “Bebe Dame,” with Fuerza Regida
Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizárraga, 2009: “Me Gusta Todo De Ti,” “Te Presumo”
Conjunto Primavera, 2007: “Basta Ya,” “Ese”
Marco Antonio Solis, 1997: “La Venia Bendita,” “Así Como Te Conocí”
Marco Antonio Solis, 1996: “Recuerdos, Tristeza Y Soledad,” “Que Pena Me Das”

Bad Bunny, meanwhile, captures his 21st Latin Airplay champ, the seventh-most among all acts since the chart’s inception in 1994. J Balvin leads with 35 No. 1s, followed by Enrique Iglesias and Ozuna (32 each), Daddy Yankee (28), Maluma and Wisin (22 each).

Expanding on the regional Mexican genre’s momentum, as Grupo Frontera reached the No. 1 slot with “Bebe Dame” in March, the quintet brought back the format to Latin Airplay’s top spot following a three-year gap, after La Adictiva Banda San José de Mesillas’ “Escondidos” crowned for one week on January 18, 2020.

This decade, so far, four regional Mexican songs have secured a spot at No. 1. “Escondidos” succeeded Alejandro Fernández’s “Caballero,” which began its two-week reign on the Jan. 4, 2020, chart, prior to Grupo Frontera’s two leaders this year.

Looking back to the Latin Airplay chart’s 1994 inception, the ’90s dispensed the most regional Mexican chart-toppers in a single decade: 18 (despite the chart debuting nearly halfway through the decade), led by the likes of Solis, Rocio Durcal, Alejandro Fernández, Juan Gabriel, Los Tigres del Norte and Selena. Almost as many – 17 – ruled during the 2000s, while nine led in the ‘10s, continuing a rich legacy for the genre.

The 2020s are on pace for around 12 regional Mexican No. 1s by the end of the decade, although the genre’s unprecedented heights on the Billboard Hot 100, led by “Un x100to” and Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma’s “Ella Baila Sola” – the first regional Mexican top 10s ever on the chart, where they currently rank at Nos. 7 and 4, respectively – suggest an even greater ceiling.

A new wave of acts is fusing mariachi, norteño, banda, sierreño and corridos, as well as collaborating with artists, such as Bad Bunny, generally outside the genre.

Keityn Named Songwriter of the Year at ASCAP Latin Music Awards

Posted on May 4, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

(Te) Felicito-ciones are in order for Keityn…

The Colombian songwriter and musical artist who co-wrote Karol G’s “Provenza” and Shakira and Rauw Alejandro’s “Te Felicito,” was named songwriter of the year at the 2023 ASCAP Latin Music Awards.

“Me Porto Bonito” — performed by Bad Bunny & Chencho Corleone and co-written by ASCAP songwriter Master Joe — won song of the year, while Universal Music Publishing Music Group took the publisher of the year honor.

Winners at the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers’ annual awards — which recognize the songwriters, producers and publishers behind Latin music’s biggest hits — where announced on May 3 at an invitation-only event in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

A first-time ASCAP winner, Keityn (real name: Kevyn Mauricio Cruz Moreno) has also been behind chart-topping hits such as “Tusa” by Karol G and Nicki Minaj, Maluma‘s “Hawái” and J Balvin and Tainy’s “Agua,” to name a few.

In October 2021, he signed an exclusive deal with Warner Music Latina, and since then, he has released songs as a performer like “El Egoísmo” with Mike Bahía and Dekko, “Anoche” and “Nueva Versión.”

Song of the year honoree “Me Porto Bonito” — a reggaetón track infused with Latin pop and sandungueo, in which two men promise to behave nicely if the woman they’re after asked them to — spent 20 weeks at the top of Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart. It also reached No. 1 on Latin Airplay, peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts, and hit the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.

Universal Music Publishing Music Group was recognized as publisher of the year for hits including “Después de la Playa,” “Efecto,” “La Corriente,” “Me Porto Bonito,” “Moscow Mule,” “Neverita,” “Ojitos Lindos,” “Party,” “Tarot,” “Tití Me Preguntó” and “Un Ratito” — all part of Bad Bunny’s uber-successful Un Verano Sin Ti, the second album in Spanish to ever top the Billboard 200.

Other 2023 ASCAP Latin Music Award-winning songwriters include Daddy Yankee (“Remix”), Jhayco (“Sensual Bebé”), Marc Anthony (“Mala”), Marco Antonio Solís (“Si Te Pudiera Mentir”), GALE (her first ASCAP Latin Award for “Ley Seca”) and Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Dos Oruguitas”).

Karol G to Perform at This Year’s Latin Grammys Awards Show

Posted on November 14, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Karol G is taking the stage at this year’s Latin Grammys…

The 31-year-old Colombian singer and songwriter has joined the list of performers for the upcoming Latin Grammys awards show, according to the Latin Recording Academy.

The “Provenza” singer appears on roster of new performers that includes Romeo Santos for the show, which will take place on November 17 at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas.

Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation scholarship recipients Xavier Cintrón, Valentina Garcia, Nicolle Horbath and Sergio De Miguel Jorquera will also take the stage alongside previously announced performer, Nicky Jam.

Karol G is nominated in three categories including record of the year and song of the year for her and Ovy on the Drums’ “Provenza.”

Romeo Santos is a nominee in the best long-form music video category for his documentary “Romeo Santos: King of Bachata”; and as a member of Aventura, he is nominated for best urban fusion/performance.

They join previously announced artists Banda Los Recoditos, Camilo, Ángela Aguilar, Elvis Costello, Chiquis, Jorge Drexler, Silvana Estrada, Gente de Zona, Goyo, Jesse & Joy, John Legend, Carin León, Los Bukis, Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández, Aymée Nuviola, Julio Reyes Copello, Sin Bandera, Carlos Vives, Sebastián Yatra, Nicole Zignago and the 2022 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year, Marco Antonio Solís.

The lineup also boasts Christina Aguilera, who is up for seven awards, Rauw Alejandro, Rosalía, Marc Anthony and Christian Nodal.

The night’s most-nominated artists are Bad Bunny, who has a total of 10 nods, and Mexican-American composer Edgar Barrera, who holds nine.

Additionally, the Academy shared its bill of presenters, which includes Maria Becerra, Becky G, Eden Muñoz and Farina, in addition to Macarena Achaga, Yalitza Aparicio, Cami, Miguel Angel Muñoz, Fonesca, Luis Figueroa, Kany García, Kurt, Ludmilla, Victor Manuelle, Fito Páez, Georgina Rodríguez, Alison Solís, Marla Solís, Luisa Sonza, Tainy and Adrián Uribe.

The 23rd Latin Grammys, which “celebrate the present and embrace the future of Latin music,” will be hosted by current nominee Anitta, Latin-Grammy winners Luis Fonsi and Laura Pausini, and by the Latin Recording Academy’s President’s Award recipient Thalia.

Latin Grammy winner Julio Reyes Copello will be the night’s musical director.

The telecast will air on Univision on November 17, at 8:00 pm ET/PT (7 p.m. CT), and will air on cable channel TNT at 7:00 pm (MEX) / 8:00 pm (PAN-COL) / 9:00 pm (VEN) / 10:00 pm (ARG/CHI/BRAZIL), and on Televisa on Channel 5. The show will also be available on HBO Max in Spanish only.

Rosalía to Perform at This Year’s Latin Grammys Awards Show

Posted on November 7, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Rosalía is readying to take Latin music’s biggest stage…

The 30-year-old Spanish Grammy– and Latin Grammy-winning singer and songwriter has been added to the roster of artists set to take center stage at the 23rd annual Latin Grammys on November 17.

Rosalia is among a new wave of confirmed performers that includes Silvana Estrada, Gente de Zona, Goyo, Los Bukis, Aymée Nuviola, Julio Reyes Copello, Carlos Vives and Nicole Zignago.

Copello, a seven-time nominee, joins the event as musical director of the show’s house band.

At this year’s ceremony, eight-time nominee Rosalía is up for record of the year and album of the year; Vives, a five-time nominee, is up for record of the year and song of the year; Gente de Zona and Nuviola are nominated in the tropical categories; and both Estrada and Zignago, are up for the coveted best new artist.

The newly announced artists set to take the stage join previously announced performers such as Ángela Aguilar, Christina Aguilera, Rauw Alejandro, Marc Anthony, Banda Los Recoditos, Camilo, Elvis Costello, Chiquis, Jorge Drexler, Nicky Jam, Jesse & Joy, John Legend, Carin León, Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández, Christian Nodal, Sin Bandera, Sebastián Yatra, and the 2022 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year, Marco Antonio Solís.

The Latin Grammy Awards — which “promise to honor the legacy, celebrate the present and embrace the future of Latin music, with deliberate consciousness, paying-it-forward to the next generations of music creators,” according to a press statement — will be held on November 17 at the Michelob Ultra Arena at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, and will air live on Univision beginning at 8:00 pm ET.

The Latin Grammy Premiere, a non-televised ceremony in which the winners in most categories are announced, will take place before the broadcast.

Christina Aguilera to Perform at This Year’s Latin Grammys Awards Show

Posted on November 1, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Christina Aguilera has a date with the Latin Grammys…

The 41-year-old half-Ecuadorian American singer, actress and television personality has been added to the performers list for this year’s Latin Grammys awards show.

In addition to Aguilera, the celebration of the best in Latin music will also feature appearances by new lineup additions Camilo, Elvis Costello, Jorge Drexler, John Legend, Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández and Christian Nodal.

They have all been confirmed by the Latin Recording Academy to take the stage at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on Thursday, November 17.

The musical acts joined previously announced stars like Ángela Aguilar, Rauw Alejandro, Marc Anthony, Banda Los Recoditos, Chiquis, Nicky Jam, Jesse & Joy, Carin León, Sin Bandera, Sebastián Yatra and the 2022 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year, Marco Antonio Solís.

The 23rd Annual Latin Grammy Awards promise to honor the legacy, celebrate the present and embrace the future of Latin music, with deliberate consciousness, paying it forward to the next generations of music creators.

Univision will air the ceremony on Thursday, November 17 starting at 8:00 pm ET with the red carpet coverage starting an hour earlier.

Bad Bunny leads the nominations list for the 2022 Latin Grammys scoring 10 mentions including Album of the Year for his chart-topping Un Verano Sin Ti. Edgar Barrera was the second most mentioned artist with 9 nods and Rosalía and Rauw Alejandro tied in third with eight nominations.

Carin León to Perform at This Year’s Latin Grammy Awards Show

Posted on October 24, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Carin León is preparing to take the Latin Grammys stage…

The Latin Recording Academy have revealed additional performers for the 23rd annual Latin Grammy Awards, with the 33-year-old Mexican singer making the list.

Leon is part of a roster of newly added performers that includes Ángela Aguilar, Marc Anthony, Banda Los Recoditos, Nicky Jam and Sin Bandera — all current nominees and past Latin Grammy winners.

Leon, a first-time Latin Grammy nominee, is nominated for best regional song for “Como Lo Hice Yo.”

Aguilar is nominated for best ranchero/mariachi album for Mexicana Enamorada and best regional song for “Ahí Donde Me Ven.” Marc Anthony is up for four awards including record of the year and album of the Year; previous Latin Grammy winners Banda Los Recoditos are up for best banda album with Me Siento A Todo Dar.

Meanwhile, Latin Grammy winner Nicky Jam is up for best urban song and best reggaeton performance and two-time Latin Grammy winners Sin Bandera are shortlisted for best traditional pop vocal album and best short form music video.

The newly-announced artists set to take the stage join previously announced performers such as Rauw Alejandro, Chiquis, Jesse & Joy, Sebastián Yatra, and this year’s Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year, Marco Antonio Solís.

The Latin Grammy Awards will be held November 17 at the Michelob Ultra Arena at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, and will air live on Univision beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

The Latin Grammy Premiere, a non-televised ceremony in which the winners in most categories are announced, will take place before the broadcast. Additional details about this ceremony will be announced soon.

Rauw Alejandro to Perform at This Year’s Latin Grammy Awards

Posted on October 17, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Rauw Alejandro will be taking the Latin Grammys stage…

The 29-year-old Puerto Rican singer and songwriter will perform as part of this year’s Latin Grammy Awards show, the Latin Recording Academy.

He’s among the first batch of confirmed artists that includes Chiquis, Jesse & Joy and Sebastián Yatra.

In addition, the 2022 Person of the Year, Marco Antonio Solís, will also perform.

All are nominated for the 23rd annual Latin Grammy Awards, which will be held on November 17 at the Michelob Ultra Arena at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

Alejandro, who was a 2020 best new artist nominee and won his first golden gramophone last year, has eight nominations this year that include recording of the year and song of the year for “Te Felicito” with Shakira, and “Agua” with Daddy Yankee and Nile Rodgers, respectively.

Yatra, previously nominated for a Grammy and nine Latin Grammys, is a four-time nominee this year, including album of the year for Dharma and song of the year for “Tacones Rojos.”

Jesse & Joy, winners of the Grammy and six Latin Grammys, are nominated this time for best pop vocal album for Clichés; and Latin Grammy winner Chiquis is nominated for best banda music album for Abeja Reina.

Solís, meanwhile, has been honored with five Latin Grammys and nominated for six Grammys, and this year is recognized as Person of the Year 2022 by the Latin Recording Academy.

The 23rd Annual Latin Grammy Awards will air live on Univision on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, beginning at 8:00 pm ET.

The Latin Grammy Premiere, a non-televised ceremony in which the winners in most categories are announced, will take place before the broadcast. Additional details about this ceremony will be announced soon.

Bad Bunny Replaces Himself at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs Chart with “Titi Me Preguntó”

Posted on October 11, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Bad Bunny is flip-flopping…

The 28-year-old Puerto Rican superstar has replaced himself at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart as “Titi Me Preguntó” rises from No. 2 (after 20 nonconsecutive weeks in the runner-up slot).

It’s the third song from Bad Bunny’s No. 1 album Un Verano Sin Ti to top the all-metric tally. It bumps the set’s second No. 1, “Me Porto Bonito,” down to No. 2 after 20 straight weeks on top.

“Titi Me Preguntó” rises to the summit boosted by gains in streams and digital downloads. The song earned 15.3 million U.S. official streams, up 2%, in the U.S. in the tracking week ending October 6, according to Luminate.

The track also sold 1,000 downloads, a 4% gain, in the same tracking period. Plus, at radio, “Titi Me Pregunto” earned 7.1 million audience impressions, down 1%, earned in the week ending October 9.

“Titi Me Pregunto” trades places with “Me Porto Bonito,” with Chencho Corleone, for the No. 1 spot after the latter’s 20 weeks in charge. The last artist to replace himself at No. 1? Bad Bunny, when “Moscow Mule” ceded the throne after its one-week reign and “Me Porto Bonito” began its command (May 28-dated survey). Thus, for the last 22 weeks, since the May 21 chart, only songs by Bad Bunny have been No. 1.

Further, as “Titi Me Pregunto” lands in the penthouse in its 22nd week, it marks an exceptionally slow climb to the top. Only seven songs, including “Titi Me Pregunto” have taken at least 22 weeks to reach No. 1. The slowest trek to the top was tallied by both Marco Antonio Solis’ “Mas Que Tu Amigo” and Azul Azul’s “La Bomba,” when each took a leisurely 32 weeks to No. 1 in 2004 and 2001, respectively.

“Titi Me Pregunto” gives Bad Bunny his 12th No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs. He breaks from a tie with Marco Antonio Solis, Ricky Martin, and Shakira for the fourth-most since the chart launched in 1986. Here’s a look at the scoreboard:

27, Enrique Iglesias
16, Luis Miguel
15, Gloria Estefan
12, Bad Bunny
11, Marco Antonio Solis
11, Ricky Martin
11, Shakira

Elsewhere, “Titi Me Pregunto” rebounds 16-13 on the overall Billboard Hot 100 chart, after its No. 5 debut and peak in May.

“Titi Me Pregunto” is the third single from Bad Bunny’s No. 1 album Un Verano Sin Ti. The set continues its No. 1 ruling with 22 weeks (and counting) on Top Latin Albums and 13 weeks on the all-genre Billboard 200 – the most for any Latin album.

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