Feid Among the Headlining Acts for This Year’s Sueños Music Festival

Posted on February 4, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Feid is living his sueños…

The 30-year-old Colombian singer and songwriter will be among the headlining acts at the second edition of Sueños Music Festival.

In addition to Feid, headlining acts include Wisin y Yandel, Grupo Firme and Nicky Jam, who will all grace the stage on the weekend of May 27 and 28 in Chicago’s Grant Park.

The exclusively all-Latin music festival — which highlights regional Mexican and urbano powerhouse performers in the same roster — will also host reggaeton icon Ivy Queen, as well as Becky G, Eladio Carrion, Chencho Corleone, Junior H, Gera MX, Ryan Castro, Young Miko, Pao Pao and more.

From the founders of Mexico’s Baja Beach Fest, Sueños made its debut in 2022 with headlining acts J Balvin, Ozuna, and Farruko. Returning acts include Puerto Rican rapper Myke Towers, Dominican dembow purveyor El Alfa, as well as reggaeton pioneers Wisin y Yandel who will be headlining for a second year in a row.

“We’re thrilled to be coming back to Chicago for our second annual Sueños festival,” Aaron Ampudia and Chris Den Uijl, co-founders of Sueños, told Billboard Español in an email. “Last year was such a moment, you could feel the energy and excitement from fans no matter where you were at in the festival. It just felt like we were meant to be there, celebrating Latin music and culture with Chicago’s thriving Latino community – and this year we’re bringing even more.”

Wisin y Yandel kicked off their farewell tour La Última Misión last year, while showcasing their latest 2022 album of the same name. In December, the dynamic duo broke their own record at Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot (a.k.a. El Choli) with a series of 14 homecoming shows, which included a New Year’s Eve performance, the first time ever the iconic venue held a show on said date.

Feid, who entered the Billboard 200 chart in October for his successful (and leaked!) LP Feliz Cumpleaños Ferxxo: Te Pirateamos el Álbum, is poised to make an impact in 2023. Late last year, Feid embarked on his first headlining U.S. tour, produced by Live Nation, selling out numerous dates.

The Mexican band Grupo Firme, who has been elevating norteña music to higher grounds, made a splash at last summer at Baja Beach Fest in Rosarito when the group surprised audiences with its performance of “Cada Quien” alongside Medellín superstar Maluma.

“We can’t wait to see what Grupo Firme, Wisin Y Yandel, Feid, Nicky Jam and all the phenomenal artists on the lineup bring to the Sueños stage this Memorial Day Weekend!” added the founders.

For more info, visit SuenosMusicFestival.com.

Justin Quiles Teams Up with Myke Towers for New Single “Whiskey y Coco”

Posted on January 13, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Justin Quiles is back with new music…

The 32-year-old Puerto Rican singer has joined voices with Myke Towers for the new single “Whiskey y Coco,” which could become this year’s anthem for ladies.

Released via Warner Music Latina, the track was produced by BK, Dimelo Flow and Slow Mike.

The new track merges classic reggaeton beats with synthetic sounds, in an anthem that is both vibrant and catchy. The song gets its title from one of Justin’s favorite drink combinations that’s extremely popular in Puerto Rico.

The track also celebrates the beauty of all women as depicted in the visuals.

“Whiskey y Coco” is anchored by Justin Quiles’ singular voice coupled with Myke Towers’ unparalleled flow.

“Last year was such an incredible year for me in many ways creatively and professionally. I can’t think of a better way to start the new year than to release this track that my good friend and collaborator Myke Towers and I have worked so hard on. I’m ready for everyone to see and hear what we have in store for 2023,” said Justin Quiles.

“For me, doing this track with Justin was an honor because he is one of the most respected songwriters in the game, as well as being an artist. We had never been able to collaborate on a song before, so I hope this song will be a classic and a crowd pleaser. It is the first time that El Young King and La Nueva Promesa get together and in the song you can feel the essence of Puerto Rico very strongly!” said Myke Towers.

Filmed in Puerto Rico, the official music video stars both reggaeton superstars in a dynamic visual story set against lush landscapes. The dreamy cinematography transports viewers to green open fields and whimsical beaches. The video features a diverse cast of women in a celebration of female beauty and empowerment. Known also for being a fashion trendsetter, Justin Quiles wears a variety of clothing that enhances the visual storytelling.

“Whiskey y Coco” comes shortly after the release of his rendition of Juan Gabriel’s “Así Fue,” and his tropical Christmas hit “Alegría.”

Karol G Releases New Single “Cairo”

Posted on November 14, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Karol G is ready to rock like an Egyptian…

The 31-year-old Colombian superstar has released her new track “Cairo,” an infectious track produced by her go-to producer Ovy On the Drums.

Penned by the team behind “Provenza” — Karol, Ovy and Keityn — “Cairo” is a head-bobbing earworm that thrives on a fusion of dance beats and Afrobeat. In the song, Karol sings about allowing herself to love again, even after swearing she wouldn’t.

“I’m not in love yet, but soon I will be,” she confesses.

“Cairo” follows Karol G’s “Gatubela,” which dropped in August. With the track, in collaboration with Maldy, the Colombian artist banked her 16th top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs with a No. 4 debut on the September 10-dated ranking.

Billboard recently revealed that Karol G‘s $Trip Love tour had grossed $69.9 million and sold 410,000 tickets across 33 shows in North America (through the end of October), according to numbers reported to Billboard Boxscore. With those figures, she has now earned the highest U.S.-grossing tour by a female Latin act.

With $Trip Love, the “Provenza” singer surpasses Jennifer Lopez‘s $50 million grossing It’s My Party World Tour in 2019. Meanwhile, Shakira grossed $28.2 million in 2018 with her El Dorado World Tour. This year, Rosalía’s Motomami world tour has grossed $28.1 million through the end of October.

Karol G is currently working on her forthcoming album, which will follow her chart-topping, Grammy-nominated 2021 set, KG0516. She’s also slated to headline the 16th annual Calibash, taking place Jan. 21-22 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. She joins a previously billed group of headliners that includes Ozuna, Myke Towers and Farruko.

The song dropped alongside a music video, shot in Cairo, directed by WEOWNTHECITY.

Bad Bunny Becomes First Latino Artist Named Apple Music’s Artist of the Year

Posted on November 10, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Bad Bunny is the apple of Apple’s eye…

Apple Music has named the 28-year-old Puerto Rican superstar its 2022 Artist of the Year.

It’s the first time since the Apple Music Awards launched in 2019 that a Latin artist has been recognized as AOTY, and the first time only one artist is named for the award.

Bad Bunny — whose Un Verano Sin Ti Album is also Apple Music’s most streamed album this year and the biggest Latin album of all time — is acknowledged for his excellence and influence on global culture in 2022. He now joins previous AOTY honorees including Billie Eilish, Lil Baby, Megan Thee Stallion, Taylor Swift and The Weeknd.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate the achievements of Bad Bunny, whose influence on every corner of culture could not be ignored in 2022,” said Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Apple Music and Beats, in a statement. “Watching Bad Bunny ascend from an Apple Music Up Next artist in 2018 to our Artist of the Year this year has been nothing short of extraordinary. We congratulate him on his record-breaking year and for continuing to bring Latin music to a massive global audience.”

In addition to becoming Apple Music’s biggest Latin artist of all time by streams worldwide, Bad Bunny’s “Moscow Mule” holds the record for the biggest Latin song of all time by first-day streams worldwide.

He broke the record for most simultaneous entries by a single Latin artist with 22 songs on the Daily Top 100; reached No. 1 on the Daily Top 100 in 34 countries worldwide, more than any other Latin artist; and holds the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 Latin albums by first-day streams, just to name a few milestones.

“When I started, I didn’t have a global fan base,” he told Apple Music in an exclusive film. “I’m grateful for everything I’ve accomplished and everything I’ve experienced. The Latin music movement has grown so much. I would never take full credit or say, ‘It’s because of me.’ No, it’s every one of us. A whole generation. Our energy and presence are always felt.”

In celebration, the “Me Porto Bonito” singer curated a “La Fórmula” playlist with tracks from Myke Towers and Rauw Alejandro, among others, and fans can tune in to Apple Music 1, where it’s Bad Bunny Day with exclusive programming, specials, and more.

Rosalia Added to Headliners Roster for Los Angeles’ Calibash

Posted on October 24, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Rosalia is Bash-ful…

The 30-year-old Spanish singer/songwriter has been confirmed as a headliner for the annual Calibash, taking place January 21 and 22 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

In a display of women’s increasing clout in the Latin urban landscape, Rosalia will be joined by Karol G as a headlining act.

They join a previously billed group of headliners that also includes Ozuna, Myke Towers and Farruko.

The Latin urban megafest, widely known as the pioneer and still the most storied in a crowded Latin urban festival landscape, will also feature performances by Ivy Queen and Becky G, as well as Jhayco, Nío García, Zion & Lennox, Blessd, Sech and Feid.

Rosalía and Karol G will both perform one-offs, as their U.S. tours will have concluded by January. Tickets are already on sale.

All told, seven artists will perform per night at Calibash, a departure from the fest’s early years of dozens of acts on the bill, and also a departure from more crowded rosters. It’s part of an effort to more carefully curate Calibash, says Alessandra Alarcón, president of SBS Entertainment, which created and promotes the show.

Alarcón says that when she took over Calibash, “I thought the audience would be OK with there being less acts but more quality sets. I thought if we could edit this down and give the headliners half hour, 45 minutes, I think people would be stoked to see that. And I’m happy to say I was right.”

Last year, Calibash sold out three nights at Crypto.com Arena, even though the shows took place in the midst of a COVID-19 surge.

Calibash was the first Latin music festival devoted to urban music that not only took place consistently every year and always on the West Coast, but also became known for its performances — planned and unplanned — by mainstream artists like French Montana, Cardi B and memorably in 2016, Justin Bieber, in addition to a slew of other stars.

Both Calibash performances will kick-off with a pre-show fan festival that celebrates Latin music and culture at L.A. Live with surprise performances, experiences and more.

Calibash is owned and operated by SBS Entertainment’s parent company, Spanish Broadcasting System, which owns and operates some of Latin music’s top radio stations in the country, including Los Angeles’ KXOL-FM La Mega 96.3, the event’s official station.

Tainy Renews Worldwide Publishing Agreement with Sony Music Publishing

Posted on July 10, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Tainy is staying with Sony…

Sony Music Publishing has renewed its worldwide publishing agreement with the 32-year-old Puerto Rican chart-topping songwriter and producer.

The deal extends the company’s longstanding relationship with the hitmaker, which began in 2005 when he launched his career in Puerto Rico.

“I am grateful that my career has allowed me to reach new heights not only on the artistic and creative side, but also on the business side,” Tainy (real name Marco Masis) said in a statement. “And I appreciate having such great partners on the publishing end. Excited for the next chapter with the SMP family.”

Since kicking off his career, Tainy has become a go-to collaborator for artists such as Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Zion & Lennox and Wisin & Yandel. Most recently, Tainy produced nine songs on Bad Bunny’s record-breaking album, Un Verano Sin Ti, including “Ojitos Lindos” with Bomba Estéreo and the Rauw Alejandro-assisted “Party.”

In October, Tainy made history by becoming the first person to spend 100 weeks at No. 1 on any of Billboard‘s producers charts thanks to tracks like Bad Bunny’s “Yonaguni,” Bad Bunny and JhayCo‘s “Dákiti” and Kali Uchis‘ “Telepatía.”

“Tainy is one of the leading songwriters, artists, and producers in music today. He also happens to be a fantastic human being – as humble as he is talented. I have seen firsthand how he works with other artists and brings out the best in them, while at the same time adding just the right touch to the production or song to make it a lasting global hit,” added Jorge Mejia, Sony Music Publishing president & CEO, Latin America and U.S. Latin. “As an artist, he continues to rack up success after success. We are truly honored to have Tainy be part of our family and can’t wait to see what’s next in his stellar career.”

Currently, Tainy is working on Myke Towers’ upcoming record, according to SMP.

Farruko to Perform at This Year’s Vibra Urbana Festival in Orlando

Posted on March 20, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Farruko is bringing some vibra to the summer season…

The 30-year-old Puerto Rican singer and songwriter will be performing at this year’s Vibra Urbana, the popular reggaeton festival returns to Orlando in the summer.

Farruko, who rose to fame collaborating with Daddy Yankee, J Balvin, Don Omar and J Álvarez, joines a lineup that includes Myke Towers, Arcangel, Nio Garcia, Eladio Carrion, Lunay, Feid and many more.

For its second consecutive year in Orlando, the event will take place on June 11-12 at the Central Florida Fairgrounds.

Vibra Urbana will first make its debut stop at Las Vegas in April and will wrap the year in the winter in Miami.

For Orlando’s full lineup and ticket information, visit www.vibraurbanafest.com.

Luis Fonsi Releases New Album “Ley De Gravedad”

Posted on March 11, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a grave new world for Luis Fonsi.

The 43-year-old Puerto Rican singer has released Ley De Gravedad, his latest album from Universal Music Latino.

Always the romantic, Fonsi taps into his core as a singer/songwriter who writes tracks armed first and foremost with his guitar, in this collection of songs about love won and lost and reclaimed.

There are several danceable songs on the album, like the airy “Vacaciones” alongside Manuel Turizo and “Bésame,” which highlights a lighter side of Myke Towers.

And Fonsi definitely has developed a penchant for cross-genre collaborations.

On Ley De Gravedad he joins forces with a veritable who’s who of the urban world, including Rauw Alejandro, Nicky Jam, and Dalex.

But the heart of the album is the soulful ballads, like “Iglú” and the final “Girasoles,” where Fonsi sings simply accompanied by just his guitar in a hopeful reflection of the power of love and life.

Camila Cabello to Release Third Solo Album “Familia” on April 8

Posted on March 3, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Camila Cabello is celebrating her birthday with a special announcement…

Om Thursday, March 3, the Cuban & Mexican singer and former Fifth Harmony member celebrated her 25th birthday by announcing that her third studio album, Familia, will be released next month on April 8.

“2 facts: it’s my birthday and this album is my whole f–king heart,” Cabello wrote on Twitter and Instagram, with a photo of the album’s cover art attached — an intimate snap of her in a sequined black dress with a multicolored ruffled skirt, holding a smiling young girl in her arms. “FAMILIA. Out April 8.”

In addition to the cover art, the singer shared a link for fans and followers to pre-save the album on Spotify and Apple Music.

The news of Familia‘s release date comes after the three-time Grammy nominee started teasing the release of her forthcoming single, “Bam Bam” featuring Ed Sheeran, via TikTok and Instagram.

2 facts: it’s my birthday and this album is my whole fucking heart.

FAMILIA. Out April 8. https://t.co/3JhxdwADrG pic.twitter.com/eU8XTPHOGE

— camila (@Camila_Cabello) March 3, 2022

The single is preceded by “La Buena Vida,” “Don’t Go Yet” and “Oh Na Na” with Myke Towers and Tainy, though it is unclear if the collaboration is part of the album.

Speaking with Billboard News in November about the forthcoming album release, Cabello said Familia “means community, I guess the opposite of you on your own.” She continued, “It’s more you with other people land sharing in that joy and success, whatever that means. Interdependence realizing how important everybody is in your life. A lot of it is inspired by my relationships: My relationships to my family, my relationship to my friends, my relationship to my partner … it’s all about connections with other people, hence, Familia.”

J Balvin to Co-Headline ‘Sueños,’ Chicago’s New Reggaeton & Latin Trap Festival

Posted on February 10, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

J Balvin is livin’ the sueño(s)…

The 36-year-old Colombian singer and rapper will co-headline Sueños, a new reggaeton and Latin trap festival in Chicago.

J Balvin will co-headline with Ozuna and Wisin y Yandel, when the festival takes place during Memorial Day Weekend (May 28-29).

The first-ever edition of Sueños — presented by the producers behind Baja Beach Fest and Lollapalooza, respectively, and Chicago’s Reventon Promotions — will also include sets by artists like Myke Towers, El Alfa, Tokischa, Sech, Natanael Cano, Fuerza Regida, Jhay Cortez, Blessd, Jowell & Randy, and DJ Luian.

“We’re honored to work with the producers of Lollapalooza and Reventon to bring a premier Latin festival to Grant Park in Chicago,” said Aaron Ampudia of Baja Beach Fest. “Reggaetón is a massive genre, but remains underserved by live festivals in the U.S. We’re extremely proud to expand to the US and serve our community and everyone who enjoys Latin music.”

Reventon Promotions’ Enrique Medrano added: ”Over a decade ago, I started Reventon Promotions with a dream of bringing authentic and diverse Hispanic entertainment to Chicago. Now I am excited and proud to be part of the first Sueños festival, an event that celebrates the Hispanic presence in the city, in addition to being held in the iconic and representative Grant Park right in the heart of downtown. What better place is there for thousands of people from different Latin American countries to meet, share, and celebrate with artists of the likes of J Balvin, Ozuna, and many more.”

Sueños’ inaugural edition will be the first of two back-to-back reggaeton festivals set to take place for the first time ever in Chicago over the summer.

The also new Más Flow three-day reggaeton fest — featuring headliners Don Omar and Ivy Queen — is confirmed for July 15 to July 17, and produced by Grass Root Events, a local production company.

Sueños and Más Flow join Chicago’s very own Ruido Fest, a Latin alternative music festival that launched in 2015, as the third and second Latinx music festivals to find a home in the Midwestern city, where Latinos are now the second-largest racial or ethnic group, growing by 5% from roughly 779,000 in 2010 to nearly 820,000 in 2020, according to census data.

Tickets for Sueños will be available via pre-sale beginning Friday, February 11, at 1:00 pm ET with the official on-sale launching at 3:00 pm at www.suenosmusicfestival.com.

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