Rubén Blades to Receive Billboard Icon Award at Billboard Latin Music Awards

Rubén Blades is preparing for an iconic moment…

The 78-year-old Panamanian musician, singer, composer, actor, activist and politician will be recognized with the Billboard Icon Award at the 2026 Billboard Latin Music AwardsBillboard and Telemundo have announced.

Ruben BladesBlades will receive the honor during the October 22 ceremony, which will be broadcast live from Miami.

The Billboard Icon Award recognizes an artist whose career has not only remained relevant over time but has also established them as one of the most distinguished figures in their genre, celebrated worldwide for achieving both musical and commercial success.

Over more than five decades, Blades has been one of the most influential voices in Latin music, contributing to the redefinition of salsa through a unique combination of musical innovation and powerful storytelling.

As a central figure in New York’s salsa revolution of the 1970s, the Panamanian singer, songwriter and musician expanded the horizons of classic Afro-Cuban salsa by incorporating influences from rock, jazz, pan-Latin music and sounds from various parts of the world.

His songs have stood out not only for their unforgettable melodies but also for their socially conscious lyrics and memorable characters that turned everyday life stories into timeless music. Who could forget classics from his repertoire like “Pedro Navaja,” “Decisiones” or “El Padre Antonio y Su Monaguillo Andrés”?

“I am grateful to everyone who has contributed over the course of more than fifty years to making it possible for my work to be recognized today,” Blades said in a statement. “No one succeeds without help. It is important to acknowledge the contributions of all the musicians, arrangers, composers and engineers I have worked with, as well as the group that has been by my side on this journey for the past 16 years, Roberto Delgado y Orquesta de Panamá.”

Blades will also sit down for the exclusive Icon Q&A at Billboard Latin Music Week with Billboard‘s co-chief content officer Leila Cobo for what promises to be one of the most anticipated moments of the week.

Blades continues to record and tour internationally, most recently releasing País Portátil with Roberto Delgado y Orquesta. The album brings together eight interconnected songs that explore themes including migration, corruption, incarceration, social responsibility and hope, continuing Blades’ longstanding tradition of using music to examine the social realities of Latin America while encouraging reflection and change.

Broadcast live from the James L. Knight Center in Miami, the 2026 Billboard Latin Music Awards ceremony will air on Telemundo on Thursday, October 22, at 8:00 pm ET.

Fans will also be able to watch the show live via the Telemundo app, Peacock and Telemundo Internacional across Latin America and the Caribbean. Tickets to attend the event are now available through Ticketmaster.

This year, Peso Pluma leads the list of finalists with 17 mentions, followed by Tito Double P with 15 and Fuerza Regida with 12. Karol G is a nine-time finalist, Prince Royce has eight nods and Bad Bunny seven.

Produced by Telemundo and MBS Special Events, the 2026 Billboard Latin Music Awards coincide with Billboard Latin Music Week, which returns to Miami Beach on Oct. 19-22 with a stellar program featuring Fuerza Regida, Greeicy, Jay Wheeler, Kany García, Maluma, Pitbull, Rawayana, Ryan Castro, Trueno, Zhamira and many more.

Pitbull to Headline “Superstar Q&A” at This Year’s Billboard Latin Music Week

Pitbull is preparing for a special Q&A…

The 45-year-old Cuban American artist has joined the 2026 Billboard Latin Music Week lineup for a “Superstar Q&A.”

PitbullFresh off a history-making run during which he earned a Guinness World Record at London’s BST Hyde Park for the largest gathering of people wearing bald caps, performed before a record-breaking crowd of nearly 70,000 fans and sold-out I’m Back Tour shows across North America and Europe, Pitbull is bringing his momentum to Billboard‘s event, which returns October 19-22 to the iconic Faena Forum Miami Beach.

He joins a lineup that includes Greeicy, Jay Wheeler, Jessi Uribe, Kany García, Lola Índigo, Paola Jara, RaiNao, Rawayana, Ryan Castro, Trueno and Zhamira, with more talent to be announced in the coming weeks.

Globally known as Pitbull, Armando Christian Pérez is a Grammy-winning independent international superstar, entrepreneur, education ambassador and motivational speaker whose influence extends far beyond music.

Currently on his global I’m Back Tour with Lil Jon, he continues to captivate audiences around the world — with billions of audio streams and video views, hundreds of Gold and Platinum certifications and a career that has redefined global crossover success.

Beyond the stage, Pitbull has built a thriving business portfolio as the founder of the Mr. 305 record label and Voli 305 Vodka, while also launching Globalization, his SiriusXM channel dedicated to global rhythmic hits.

A passionate advocate for education, he cofounded SLAM! (Sports Leadership Arts Management), a nationally recognized tuition-free public charter school network that now serves more than 10,000 students across 14 campuses throughout the United States, empowering the next generation through innovative learning and leadership.

Taking place October 19 to 22, Billboard Latin Music Week is recognized as the longest-running, highest profile and most influential gathering in Latin music. This year’s edition, with the theme “Global Consolidation,” will once again spotlight the genre’s continued worldwide expansion with multiple days of performances, exclusive conversations, panels, workshops, showcases, networking and fan experiences.

Pitbull Breaks Guinness World Record for Largest-Ever Gathering of People Wearing Bald Caps

Pitbull is celebrating a bald-tastic world record…

After vowing to host the largest-ever gathering of people wearing bald caps, the 45-year-old Cuban American Grammy-winning singer, rapper, songwriter, actor and entrepreneur set a Guinness World Record on Friday night when thousands of his fans showed up to his headlining set at BST Hyde Park in their signature Pit drag of bald caps, aviator shades, white shirts, black ties and fake beards, an homage to his look in the “Back in Time” video from Men in Black 3.

PitbullBefore the kick-off of the show in London’s Hyde Park, fans gathered by the main stage for the official Guinness headcount, according to NME, with the record-keeping organization later confirming that 22,141 people set a new high bar for bald-ing out, though reports on the ground said it looked like way more than that many fans were dressed to impress.

“WE DID IT BALD-ES! We officially set the @guinnessworldrecords for the largest gathering of bald caps with @pitbull at American Express presents @bsthydepark 2026 ,” read a post from BST Hyde Park featuring a snap of Pitbull celebrating the certification on stage with two fans who helped make it happen.

The “Give Me Everything” rapper had been hyping the record attempt on his Instagram in the week leading up to the show, giving his faithful instructions on how to be properly counted and posting videos of his many female baldies getting into costume and dancing to “Hey Baby (Drop it to the Floor).”

He also posted a video of the moment when the record attempt became official.

When the Guinness representative announced the final count, Pitbull broke out into a joyous shout of “We did it baldies!” Asked how it feels to be a world record holder, Pit said, “I’ll tell you what. I’m speechless at this point, but I can tell you this much: I say it to the Baldies all the time at the shows, when ya’ll put on them bald caps you know you’re about to have the TIME OF YOUR LIVES! And now you’re officially in the Guinness Book of World Records. Dale!”

Speaking backstage after receiving the Guinness plaque, Pit spoke of the importance of bringing fans together for a special moment.

“Who would ever thought first generation Cuban would be able to be in London record-breaking and record making, it’s history in the making,” said Mr. Worldwide.

In addition to the Guinness high mark, Pitbull’s show set a new record for the most-attended gig ever in Hyde Park, with park officials reporting more than 77,000 tickets sold.

Backed by a full band and his six “Most Bad Ones” dancers, Pitbull’s two-hour show was an extended homage to his baldie baddies and the virtues of “flying high like bald eagles.”

Speaking to the BBC earlier this year, Pitbull said the long-running bald cap trend, which is especially prevalent among his female fans, is a sign to him that a good time is in the offing.

“Every time I’m at a show, I let them know that when you put on a bald cap, I hope you’re ready to have the time of your lives – it feels deeper than just music,” he said. “It’s the ultimate trophy to be able to go on stage and see all the hard work that you put into the music. I’ve been in the game for 25 years and to see every demographic, everybody [dressing up] at the shows is priceless.”

In addition to his Baldie Nation, Pitbull was joined at the show by special guest Kesha, who donned a bald cap over her pink hair for the first joint live performance in 13 years of their hit “Timber.

The Miami-based star also took a moment to pay homage to the tune that has become the anthem of the English soccer team’s deep FIFA World Cup run, Oasis’ “Wonderwall.

He told the audience, “Being here I thought, what was the best way to represent you all. And a good friend of mine said, I think you should do this record. So, let’s not just talk about it, let’s do it …”

The cover came one night before The Three Lions punched their card to the semifinals with a 2-1 win over Norway on Saturday night (July 11); England will meet Argentina in the second semifinal match on Wednesday (July 15).

Spotify’s Fan Life Campaign Features Bad Bunny’s “Baile Inolvidable” & His Fandom

Bad Bunny’s music and his fandom are getting a Spotify shout out…

The 31-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning Latin music superstar’s music forms part of Spotify’s Fan Life initiative.Bad BunnyThe latest installment is a follow-up to the launch in April of its multi-media campaign putting a spotlight on the unique rituals, styles and celebrations of fandoms of some of the world’s most popular performers.

Bad Bauuny’s “Baile Inolvidable” soundtracks a sweet mini glimpse of a man dancing with his abuela in the kitchen.

In addition to Bad Bunny, the second go-round, which launched on Tuesday, August 26, shines the light on real-life fans of Charli xcx, Lil Uzi Vert, Rezz, Sleep Token, Megan Moroney and Pitbull as they celebrate their favorite artists in their own unique fashion.

“When we launched the first Fan Life campaign a few months back, we knew we’d tapped into something real when fans were literally ripping the ads off walls to take them home,” says Spotify’s vice president of marketing and partnerships Marc Hazan about the second stage of a campaign that launched in April with billboards celebrating the rituals of seven global fandoms for Chappell Roan, Doechii, Oasis, Olivia Rodrigo, Rosalía, SEVENTEEN and Turnstile.

“That’s the energy we wanted to build on. The whole idea has always been for fans to see themselves in what we create, and with this second launch, we wanted to take it even further,” adds Hazan. “These seven films go deep into fandom in its rawest form… We didn’t want to just show fandom, we wanted people to feel it – the sweat, the sound, the inside jokes. Every detail is real: the clothes came from fans’ closets, the music was what they actually love, and the energy came from the fans who live this every day. At Spotify, we’re not just observers, we’re fans too. This campaign is our love letter to the communities that make music culture so powerful.”

The accompanying films tell the rich story of that fandom, from a pair of giddy Charli xcx fans doubling-up on a city bike festooned with pink balloons laughing their way through a sunrise ride cued to “party 4 u,” to a group of female Pitbull diehards rocking out to their favorite rapper on a city bus while dressed in Mr. Worldwide drag featuring bald caps, black suits and drawn-on goatees.

There are also films showing Lil Uzi Vert followers just losing it in a sweaty mosh pit, two Rezz fanatics doing last minute make-up touch-ups in a club bathroom, goth-y Sleep Token devotees solemnly spraying painting pink flamingos black and Megan Moroney besties singing along to “Tennessee Orange.”

The campaign will begin to roll out this week on Spotify’s socials, as well as on billboards and in subway stations around the world.

The Fan Life campaign will also feature local artist fandoms that connect with regional audiences around the world, including followers of Italian rapper Kid Yugi, French-Malian singer Aya Nakamura, U.K. rapper/singer PinkPantheress, Brazilian vocalist Pabllo Vittar and Mexican indie pop band Latin Mafia, among others.

Bad Bunny

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8H6hB_aj_w

Pitbull

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StCOimcz6wU

Pitbull to Perform at the 2025 NCAA March Madness Music Festival

Pitbull is embracing the madness this month…

With March Madness right around the corner, the NCAA and TNT Sports Live Events have announced that the 44-year-old Cuban American rap superstar is among the star-studded line-up of artists performing at 2025 NCAA March Madness Music Festival in conjunction with the Division I Men’s Final Four.

PitbullThe three-day event will take place at Tower Park in San Antonio, Texas.

To kick things off, on April 4, Pitbull will headline the AT&T Block Party, following performances by Billboard Woman of the Year Doechii and R&B star Ravyn Lenae.

On April 5, Jelly Roll will take the stage at Coca-Cola Live!, in addition to performances by T-Pain and Willow Avalon.

 

Finally, on April 6, Chris Stapleton will headline Capital One JamFest. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats as well as Brothers Osborne are also set to take the stage at the event.

For more details about the weekend and streaming availabilities, fans can stay up to date by visiting ncaa.com/marchmadness/musicfest.

To tune in to the March Madness fun, CBS Sports and TNT Sports will also provide live coverage of all 67 games from the 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship across four national television networks – TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV – as well as NCAA March Madness Live.

Games airing on CBS will also stream live on Paramount+, and games airing on TBS, TNT and truTV will also stream live on Max.

The Final Four will air on CBS, beginning with the National Semifinals on Saturday, April 5, and the National Championship on Monday, April 7.

Pitbull Announces Las Vegas Residency for 2024-2025

Pitbull is taking over Sin City…

The 43-year-old Cuban American rap superstar will bring his Miami swagger to Las Vegas for a new musical residency.

PitbullThe Pitbull: Vegas After Dark the Residency will debut on November 8 at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, where Pitbull will take the stage at the BleauLive Theater for a series of eight weekend concerts between the end of this year and the beginning of the next.

The dates are November 8-9, January 24-25, and March 7, 8, 14 and 15.

Tickets go on presale on Tuesday (September 24) and to the general public the next day at 9:00 am PT/12:00 pm ET on the Fontainebleau website.

“Fontainebleau’s legacy of top-tier entertainment stems from its Miami Beach roots,” said Fontainebleau Las Vegas Senior Vice President of Entertainment, Fedor Banuchi, in a press release. “We are honored to have Mr. 305 himself bring his Miami flair to BleauLive Theater for this iconic limited engagement.”

Pitbull is in the midst of his Party After Dark Tour, a 26-city trek that began on August 21 in Virginia and ends on October 5 in Albuquerque, NM.

His new show in Las Vegas will include “state-of-the-art visuals, pyrotechnics,” and a repertoire of hits such as “Give Me Everything,” “Timber,” “Time of Our Lives,” “International Love,” “Feel This Moment,” “Fireball” and “Hey Baby (Drop It to the Floor).”

“Backed by his incredible band, The Agents, and his dynamic dancers, The Most Bad Ones, the fusion of music, lights and special effects will create a sophisticated, high-energy party for everyone in attendance,” according to the press release.

Pitbull, who frequently performs in Las Vegas, opened a SLAM charter school in Nevada in 2016, expanding his commitment to education that began with the first SLAM school in Miami. According to the release, the schools — whose name is an acronym for Sports, Leadership, Arts and Management — now serve nearly 10,000 students in various states.

The artist’s last residency in Sin City was Time of Our Lives, which opened at The AXIS on September 23, 2015, and closed on May 25, 2019.

Shakira Among Headlining Acts for This Year’s Bésame Mucho Festival in Los Angeles

Shakira is embracing the besos

The Bésame Mucho Festival has unveiled its 2024 lineup, with the 47-year-old Colombian global superstar among this year’s headlining acts.

Shakira Returning December 21 to Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles for its third year, other confirmed headliners include Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull, Los Tigres del Norte, Juanes, Banda MS, Carlos Vives, Gloria Trevi, Paulina Rubio and more.

Bésame Mucho has established itself as a popular multi-generational event thanks to the variety of artists who perform across different stages.

For its 2024 edition, Latin rock lovers will be able to enjoy acts such as Elefante, Belanova and Enanitos Verdes.

Música Mexicana fans can catch Ana Barbara, El Fantasma, Grupo Pesado and Alicia Villarreal.

The tropical junkies can dance the night away to Elvis Crespo, Bacilos and Proyecto Uno.

This will mark Shak’s second appearance at the festival.

Earlier this year, she made a surprise announcement via a video message during Grupo Frontera’s set at the first inaugural Bésame Mucho Festival in Austin, Texas, in March.

The artist used the festival grounds to tease fans with a preview of her Frontera collaboration “(Entre Paréntesis)” ahead of the release of her seventh studio album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran.

“Hola mi gente de Bésame Mucho, I leave you with my friends from Grupo Frontera and a preview of our next song ‘(Entre Paréntesis),’” Shakira said in Spanish. The group then went on to play around half a minute of the norteño track.

Bésame Mucho Festival

Early access to presale tickets begins at 10:00 am PT on Friday, May 24 via BesameMuchoFestival.com.

Pitbull to Perform During “Keep The Party Going: A Tribute to Jimmy Buffett” Concert at Hollywood Bowl

Pitbull is hitting the Buffett line…

The 43-year-old Cuban American rap superstar will take part in Keep The Party Going: A Tribute to Jimmy Buffett, which will take place at the Hollywood Bowl on Thursday, April 11.

PitbullThe one-night tribute concert will celebrate the iconic singer-songwriter’s life and career.

Buffett passed away at the age of 76 on September 1, 2023.

In addition to Pitbull. the show lineup will include performances by Paul McCartneyEaglesJon Bon Jovi, Zac Brown, Jackson Browne, Brandi Carlile, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Sheryl Crow, Scotty Emerick, Jack Johnson, Caroline Jones, Mac McAnally, Jake Owen, Jake Shimabukuro and The Coral Reefer Band.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, March 15, at 10:00 am PT at Ticketmaster.com.

American Express Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Wednesday, March 13, at 10:00 am through Thursday, March 14, at 10:00 pm. A variety of other presales will also be available during this time.

With a recording career that spanned more than 50 years and included hits such as Margaritaville, Come Monday, and It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere, Buffett filled arenas with “Parrot Heads.”

He released more than 30 albums, nine were certified platinum or multiplatinum. In addition, Buffett was a best-selling author, actor, and entrepreneur.

Yandel & Myke Towers’ “Borracho y Loco” Rises to No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay Chart

Yandel is back on top…

The 47-year-old Puerto Rican singer and songwriter and the half-member of the reggaeton duo Wisin & Yandel and Myke Towers have notched another No. 1 on Billboard’Latin Airplay chart as “Borracho y Loco” crowns the list dated February 17.

Yandel & Myke TowersIt’s the first collaboration by two Latin rhythm acts to top the chart in 2024.

Yandel and Towers’ track advances from the runner-up slot with 10.3 million audience impressions earned in the U.S. in the week ending February 8 (up 18%), according to Luminate.

It sends last week’s No. 1, Xavi’s “La Diabla” down to No. 7 after one week in charge. The latter declined 26% to 7.1 million in audience.

“The truth is that it makes me very happy that with so many years making music my songs still reach the first places and top lists in the United States and other parts of the world,” Yandel told Billboard.

As “Borracho y Loco” lands at the summit, it becomes the pair’s second No. 1 team-up. The Puerto Ricans last ruled the overall Latin Airplay ranking through a Nio Garcia, Casper Mágico, Ozuna, Wisin and Flow La Movie collab, when “Travesuras” topped the tally for one-week in 2021.

With “Borracho y Loco” Yandel scores his 16th champ on Latin Airplay. Further, he ties with Nicky Jam for the seventh-most No. 1s among male urban artists since the tally launched in 1994.

Here’s a review of the winners:

36, J Balvin
33, Ozuna
28, Daddy Yankee
24, Bad Bunny
24, Maluma
22, Wisin
16, Nicky Jam
16, Yandel

“I am beyond grateful for my fans, my producers and the artists I have had the joy of collaborating with,” Yandel adds. “Now another No. 1 arrives through ‘Borracho y Loco.’ Myke Towers, thanks brother! Here we go, another No. 1 for the books!”

For Towers, the rapper and singer-songwriter lands his 10th No. 1 with his 31st chart appearance. He last topped the chart with the viral TikTok hit “Lala,” which spent two weeks at No. 1 in September 2023.

“Borracho y Loco” takes over Latin Airplay in its 18th week, marking the second-longest climb to the top for both artists. Previously, Yandel placed three songs at the summit each one in its 20th week, including two featured roles: through Maluma’s “El Perdedor,” and in IAmChino’s “Ay Dios Miío,” which also featured Pitbull and Chacal, and with “Nunca Me Olvides,” all in 2016.

Tower’s, meanwhile, secured two songs at No. 1 in 22 weeks each: “Bandido” with Juhn, and “Bésame,” with Luis Fonsi, in June and Nov. 2021, respectively.

Enrique Iglesias & Influence Media Partners Agree to Major Partnership Deal

Enrique Iglesias has a new influence

The 48-year-Spanish superstar and Influence Media Partners have agreed to a major partnership deal.

Enrique IglesiasInfluence and Iglesias have partnered on the rights management of his pre-2021 recorded music rights, according to a press release, including his independent masters and his Universal recorded music royalties, along with name, image and likeness (NIL) rights to expand future licensing opportunities for the singer.

This marks the first NIL deal for Influence Media, which last year partnered with Black Rock and Warner Music Group for funding and infrastructure.

“My songs hold immense significance for both my fans and me,” Iglesias said in a statement. “I’m excited to be working with the Influence Media team. I feel confident we will build an enduring partnership for my music and future projects.”

“Enrique is a global icon and having him as a part of our Influence Media family is a game-changing moment for us,” added Lylette Pizarro, Influence Media founder/co-managing partner. “For a quarter of a century, he has captivated fans globally with chart-topping and record-breaking hits. From ‘Experiencia Religiosa’ to ‘Hero’ and ‘Bailando’ to ‘I Like It’ and  ‘Be With You,’ there are few artists who come close to accomplishing what Enrique has achieved commercially. He has played a pivotal role in introducing bilingual music to the masses. We couldn’t be more excited to partner with one of the most recognizable figures in modern music.”

“It has been an honor to be part of Enrique’s team for more than two decades,” said John Branca, partner/head of music at Ziffren Brittenham, who represented Iglesias in the deal. “As the most successful Latin artist of all time he is also one of the most accomplished and beloved artists of his generation. Enrique was highly selective in choosing a partner with whom he will enhance his already monumental legacy.”

With a career that spans over three decades, Iglesias is one of the first Spanish-language acts to successfully cross over into the English-language market. He has placed five top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including “I Like It,” “Tonight (I’m Lovin’ You)” and “Hero.” He’s also placed three top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 (EscapeEuphoria and Sex And Love) and 27 No. 1 hits on the Hot Latin Songs chart.

Currently on the U.S. Trilogy Tour with Pitbull and Ricky Martin, Iglesias most recently scored his eighth No. 1 on the Tropical Airplay chart with his bachata collab “Así Es La Vida” with Maria Becerra. He is set to drop his new album, Final Vol. 2, next year.

Influence Media previously acquired the commercially-released master recording catalog of Blake Shelton for his 2001-2019 output, Future’s song publishing catalog and Puerto Rican songwriter-producer Tainy’s song publishing catalog from 2005-2021, among other investments.