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Bad Bunny Wins Five Latin Grammy Awards, Including Album of the Year

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Bad Bunny is celebrating a special first…

The 31-year-old Puerto Rican superstar was the big winner at Thursday night’s Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas, taking home five trophies, including album of the year for his acclaimed Debí Tirar Más Fotos, a project which embraced his island’s musical heritage – and paved the way for him to be named the performer for next year’s Super Bowl halftime show.

Bad BunnyIt’s Bad Bunny’s first-ever win in the album of the year category.

Dedicating the award to “all the youth of Latin America” he added: “There are many ways of being patriotic and defending our homelands. We chose music.”

Argentinian duo Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso also claimed five awards; with other winners including Alejandro Sanz, Gloria Estefan and Karol G.

The rapidly growing Latin music sector generated a record $1.4bn (£1.06bn) in 2024, making up 8.1% of total U.S. music revenue, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which said it was shaping culture faster than any other genre.

Bad Bunny, real name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has been at the forefront of that movement. For three consecutive years between 2020 and 2022, he was the most-streamed artist in the world.

Debí Tirar Más Fotos is his sixth album, and fuses live instrumentation with the hip-swaying pulse of reggaetón and traditional Puerto Rican styles like plena.

At the Latin Grammys, the title track earned him best urban song and best urban performance. He also picked up best reggaetón performance for “Voy a llevarte pa PR,” and best urban music album for Debí Tirar Más Fotos.

He’s nominated for six awards at the mainstream Grammys, which take place in February, including the three major categories of album, song and record of the year.

Bad Bunny recently wrapped up a barnstorming concert residency in Puerto Rico; and is about to kick off his world tour in the Dominican Republic.

However, he made headlines when he said the tour would not include any dates on the US mainland because he was concerned his fans might be targeted by immigration raids.

His subsequent booking for next year’s Super Bowl rankled some US conservatives.

President Donald Trump called the decision “absolutely ridiculous” and that he had “never heard” of the star – who has 74 million monthly listeners on Spotify.

The Latin Grammy ceremony kicked off with a star-studded tribute to Mexican-American guitarist Carlos Santana, with Maluma, Edgar Barrera, Grupo Frontera and Christian Nodal playing a medley that began with his hit single “Oye Como Va.”

Karol G and Marco Antonio Solís also took the stage for a sweet duet on “Coleccionando Heridas;” while Gloria Estefan played songs from her latest record Raíces, which went on to win best tropical album.

But Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso were judged to have the stand-out moment of the evening, with a colourful, off-the-wall medley of their hits “El Impostor,” “#Tetas,” “La Que Puede,” “Puede” and “El Día Del Amigo.”

The duo dominated the alternative music categories – winning best alternative album and best alternative song. They also picked up best short-form and best long-form video, and pop song of the year for “El Día Del Amigo.”

Speaking backstage, the childhood friends expressed their gratitude to each other.

“The most important thing here is that we’ve known each other since we were six years old,” said Amoroso.

“All of this wasn’t planned, it just happened. I want to tell Ca7riel that he’s my friend, that I love him.”

Ca7riel then surprised Paco with a long and seemingly passionate kiss.

Elsewhere, Paloma Morphy, a 25-year-old Mexican singer, won best new artist after her debut album, Au, seduced listeners with its catchy melodies and vulnerable stories of heartbreak.

Karol G won song of the year for “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido,” a lilting love song with a Merengue flavor, from her blockbuster fifth album Tropicoqueta.

And Spanish superstar Alejandro Sanz picked up record of the year for his beautiful ballad “Palmeras en el Jardín” – unexpectedly beating Bad Bunny’s smash hit “Baile Inolvidable.”

Here are the winners of the 26th Latin Grammy Awards:

Record Of The Year
Palmeras En El Jardín — Alejandro Sanz

Album Of The Year
Debí Tirar Más Fotos – Bad Bunny

Song Of The Year
‘Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido’
Edgar Barrera, Andres Jael Correa Rios & Karol G, songwriters (Karol G)

Best New Artist
Paloma Morphy

Best Contemporary Pop Album
¿Y Ahora Qué? — Alejandro Sanz

Best Traditional Pop Album
Bogotá — Andrés Cepeda

Best Pop Song
‘El Día Del Amigo’
Papota — Rafa Arcaute, Gino Borri, CA7RIEL, Ulises Guerriero,
Amanda Ibanez, Vicente Jiménez & Federico Vindver,
songwriters (CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso)

Best Latin Electronic Music Performance
‘Veneka’
Rawayana Featuring Akapellah

Best Urban/Urban Fusion Performance
‘Dtmf’
Debí Tirar Más Fotos — Bad Bunny

Best Reggaeton Performance
‘Voy A Llevarte Pa Pr’
Debí Tirar Más Fotos — Bad Bunny

Best Urban Music Album
Debí Tirar Más Fotos — Bad Bunny

Best Rap/Hip Hop Song
‘Fresh’
Trueno, songwriter (Trueno)

Best Urban Song
‘DtMF’
Debí Tirar Más Fotos — Bad Bunny, Marco Daniel Borrero, Scott Dittrich,
Benjamin Falik, Roberto Jose Rosado Torres, Hugo Rene
Sencion Sanabria & Tyler Spry, songwriters (Bad Bunny)

Best Rock Album
Novela — Fito Paez

Best Rock Song (TIE)
‘La Torre’
R — RENEE, songwriter (RENEE)
&
‘Sale El Sol’
Novela — Fito Paez, songwriter (Fito Paez)

Best Pop/Rock Album
Ya Es Mañana — Morat

Best Pop/Rock Song
‘Desastres Fabulosos’
Conociendo Rusia, Jorge Drexler & Pablo Drexler,
songwriters (Jorge Drexler & Conociendo Rusia)

Best Alternative Music Album
Papota — CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso

Best Alternative Song
‘#Tetas’
Paco Amoroso, Rafa Arcaute, Gino Borri, CA7RIEL,
Gale, Vicente Jiménez ‘Vibarco’ & Federico Vindver,
songwriters (CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso)

Best Salsa Album
Fotografías — Rubén Blades y Roberto Delgado & Orquesta

Best Cumbia/Vallenato Album
El Último Baile — Silvestre Dangond & Juancho De La Espriella

Best Merengue/Bachata Album
Novato Apostador — Eddy Herrera

Best Traditional Tropical Album
Raíces — Gloria Estefan

Best Contemporary Tropical Album
Puñito De Yocahú — Vicente García

Best Tropical Song
‘Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido’
Edgar Barrera, Andres Jael Correa Rios & Karol G,
songwriters (Karol G)

Best Singer-Songwriter Album
Cancionera — Natalia Lafourcade

Best Singer-Songwriter Song
‘Cancionera’
Natalia Lafourcade, songwriter (Natalia Lafourcade)

Best Ranchero/Mariachi Album
¿Quién + Como Yo? — Christian Nodal

Best Banda Album
4218 — Julión Álvarez y su Norteño Banda

Best Tejano Album
Bobby Pulido & Friends Una Tuya y Una Mía (Vol.1/En Vivo) — Bobby Pulido

Best Norteño Album
La Lotería — Los Tigres Del Norte

Best Contemporary Mexican Music Album
Palabra De To’s (Seca) — Carín León

Best Regional Song
‘La Lotería’
Luciano Luna, songwriter (Los Tigres Del Norte)

Best Instrumental Album
Y El Canto De Todas — Rafael Serrallet Featuring Lviv Philharmonic
Orchestra

Best Folk Album
Joropango — Kerreke, Daniela Padrón

Best Tango Album
En Vivo 20 Años — Tanghetto

Best Flamenco Album
Flamencas — Las Migas

Best Roots Song
‘Aguacero’
Luis Enrique Mejia, Fernando Osorio & Rodner Padilla,
songwriters (Luis Enrique, C4 Trío)

Best Latin Jazz/Jazz Album (TIE)
Hamilton De Holanda Trio – Live In NYC — Hamilton De Holanda
&
Cuba & Beyond — Chucho Valdés & Royal Quartet

Best Christian Album (Spanish Language)
Legado — Marcos Witt

Best Portuguese Language Christian Album
Memóri4s (Ao Vivo) — Eli Soares

Best Portuguese Language Contemporary Pop Album
Caju — Liniker

Best Portuguese Language Rock or Alternative Album
O Mundo Dá Voltas — Baianasystem

Best Portuguese Language Urban Performance
‘Caju’
Caju — Liniker

Best Samba/Pagode Album
Sorriso Eu Gosto No Pagode Vol.3 – Homenagem Ao Fundo De Quintal (Gravado Em Londres) — Sorriso Maroto

Best MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira)/MAPB (Música Afro Portuguesa Brasileira) Album
Um Mar Pra Cada Um — Luedji Luna

Best Sertaneja Music Album
José & Durval — Chitãozinho & Xororó

Best Portuguese Language Roots Album
Dominguinho — João Gomes, Mestrinho e Jota.pê

Best Portuguese Language Song
‘Veludo Marrom’
Caju — Liniker, songwriter (Liniker)

Best Children’s Album
Los Nuevos Canticuentos — Canticuentos, Coro de Ríogrande

Best Classical Album
Kaleidoscope – Contemporary Piano Music By Female Composers From Around The World — Isabel Dobarro; Javier Monteverde, album producer

Best Classical Contemporary Composition
‘Revolución Diamantina – Act I: The Sounds Cats Make,
Act II: We Don’t Love Each Other, Act III: Borders And
Bodies, Act IV: Speaking The Unspeakable’
Gabriela Ortiz: Revolución Diamantina — Gabriela Ortiz, composer (Gustavo Dudamel, Los
Angeles Philharmonic & Los Angeles Master Chorale)

Best Music For Visual Media
Cien Años De Soledad (Banda Sonora De La Serie De Netflix) — Camilo Sanabria (Camilo Sanabria, artist); Camilo Sanabria, composer

Best Arrangement
‘Camaleón’
Cesar Orozco, arranger (Cesar Orozco & Son Ahead)

Best Recording Package
‘Cuarto Azul’
Christian Molina, art director (Aitana)

Songwriter of the Year
Edgar Barrera
‘Atención’ – Ivan Cornejo
‘Contigo Al Cielo’ – Christian Nodal
‘Ese Vato No Te Queda’ – Carin León Featuring Gabito Ballesteros
‘Hoy No Me Siento Bien’ – Alejandro Sanz & Grupo Frontera
‘Milagros’ – Karol G
‘Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido’ – Karol G
‘Soltera’ – Shakira
‘Tommy & Pamela’ – Peso Pluma, Kenia Os
‘Una Noche Contigo’ – Juanes

Best Engineered Album
Cancionera — Jack Lahana, engineer; Jack Lahana, mixer; Bernie
Grundman, mastering engineer (Natalia Lafourcade)

Producer of the Year (TIE)
Rafa Arcaute, Federico Vindver
‘El Día Del Amigo’ – CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso
‘Impostor’ – CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso
‘La Noche De Tu Amor’ – ATGGT, Victoria May
‘Los Ejes De Mi Carreta’ – ATGGT, Victoria May
‘Re Forro’ – CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso
‘#Tetas’ — CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso
&
Nico Cotton
‘Agridulce’ – Bhavi, Duki
‘Carne Viva’ – Blair, Dillom
‘Cuarto Azul’ – Aitana
‘Desastres Fabulosos’ – Jorge Drexler, Conociendo Rusia
‘Latinaje’ – Cazzu
‘Museo Del Prado’ – Manuel Carrasco
‘Perfecto Final’ – Conociendo Rusia, Nathy Peluso
‘Una Noche Contigo’ – Juanes
‘Ya Es Mañana’ – Morat

Best Short Form Music Video
‘#Tetas’
CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso
Martin Piroyansky, video director; Pío Filgueira Risso &
Lula Meliche, video producers

Best Long Form Music Video
Papota (Short Film)
CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso
Martin Piroyansky, video director; Federico Ameglio,
Chino Fernández & Lula Meliche, video producers

J Balvin Extends Record for Most No. 1s on Billboard’s Latin Airplay Chart with “Rio”

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J Balvin has extended his lead… 

The 40-year-old Colombian superstar has extended his unmatched record on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart, as “Rio” soars 11-1 on the July 12-dated list, becoming his 38th chart-topper, the most among all acts.

J Balvin“I am so incredibly happy,” Balvin tells Billboard. “Every single one of those 38 songs represents a huge milestone in my career. I can’t wait for the next ones.”

“Rio,” named after Balvin’s son, was issued on Jan. 24 via Sueños Globales/Capitol/ICLG.

It surges 11-1 in its 12th week in on the overall Latin Airplay ranking after a 57% increase in audience impressions, to 8.1 million, earned in the United States during the June 27-July 3 tracking week, according to Luminate.

“Balvin continues to redefine what global success looks like in Latin music,” Nir Seroussi, Executive VP of Interscope Capitol, tells Billboard. “His 38th No. 1 is more than a record — it’s a testament to his relentless creativity, cultural influence, and unwavering connection with fans around the world. We’re proud to stand beside an artist whose vision continues to push boundaries and shape the future of music.”

A significant portion of “Rio’s” audience growth is driven by four Univision stations: KVVF-FM (San Jose) leads, followed by KQMR-FM (Phoenix), KAMA-FM (Houston), and WVIV-FM (Chicago) rounding out the list.

“Rio” becomes the fourth song in 2025 to rise 10 or more positions on the chart to No. 1.

So far, Myke Towers’s “Otra Noche” claims the biggest jump to the summit this year. The song, which features Darell, climbed 12 rankings (13-1) in February. Meanwhile, Gerardo Coronel’s “No Se Dice” and Gloria Estefan’s “Raices” both hiked 11 and 10 slots, respectively, to No. 1 in May.

As “Rio” takes the lead on Latin Airplay, Balvin extends his record for the most No. 1s on the chart, with a 38th leader. Here’s a peak at those artists with the most No. 1s on the almost 31-year-old tally:

38, J Balvin
35, Ozuna
32, Enrique Iglesias
28, Bad Bunny
28, Daddy Yankee
24, Maluma
24, Shakira

“Rio” also jumps 3-1 on Latin Rhythm Airplay, where Balvin secures his record-extending 38 rulers.

Balvin performed “Rio” for the first time at the LVMH Charity Gala during the Paris Men’s Fashion Week 2025.

Gloria Estefan Releases New Single “Raíces” from First Spanish-Language Album in 18 Years

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Gloria Estefan is embracing her raíces…

In the lead up to the release of her first Spanish-language album in 18 years, the 67-year-old Cuban Grammy-winning singer, actress and businesswoman has released the first single from the set, written by her producer-husband Emilio Estefan and aptly titled “Raíces.”

Gloria Estefan“Always enjoy the moments because you never know what surprises life will bring,” Estefan sings, expressing how love and life are very much like planting seeds. “If you want a good harvest, you need to know how to sow/ With faith and dedication, that tree will grow roots.”

“The song ‘Raíces’ touched my soul the first moment I heard it,” Gloria Estefan tells Billboard Español. “Being a Virgo, my connection with nature is strong, and I see life as a garden, with love as the seed. I believe that what you cultivate with kindness, patience, and faith will one day bloom into joy.”

She adds: “It is important not to miss the opportunity to express love because every sincere word and gesture plants the roots of a beautiful tomorrow — and that is what this song is all about.”

Recorded at their Crescent Moon Studios in Miami, “Raíces” is a tribute to the rhythms that have defined Estefan’s sound: salsa, tropical beats, classic Latin music.

The song will also give its title to her new album — the 30th in a 50-year career — which will be released at the end of May under Sony Music. It will be her first fully Spanish-language album in 18 years, since 90 Millas, which debuted and spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart in October 2007.

“For me, recording in Spanish again was a contribution to our music,” Emilio Estefan tells Billboard Español, noting that they worked with “great musicians, engineers, and industry professionals” and that he personally wrote almost the entire album because “I wanted it to reflect our essence: Gloria’s sound and mine.”

“[When we started], I remember people telling us that our sound would never work and that we should change our last name. But we understood the value of our culture and our roots,” he explains, referring to their beginnings in the mid-1970s with the Miami Sound Machine. “When Gloria reached the top of the charts worldwide [singing in English], we took a big risk and decided to record Mi Tierra, an album that represented one of our greatest victories.”

The iconic first LP by Gloria Estefan in Spanish from 1993, which included hits like “Mi Tierra” and “Con Los Años Que Me Quedan,” spent a whooping 58 weeks at No. 1 on Top Latin Albums.

More than three decades later, the renowned Cuban producer and musician along with the singer-songwriter present “a letter of gratitude to the fans, to the press, to those who believed in us, and to the city of Miami, which watched us grow and then allowed us to bring our music to the whole world.”

“It is a moment full of emotions for Gloria and me, a celebration of our culture and our audience,” Emilio Estefan says. “The most beautiful thing about a career is being able to leave a legacy of gratitude.”

Amazon Music Launches Regional Mexican Initiative with Release of Ángela Aguilar-Version of Mariachi Classic “Bésame Mucho”

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Ángela Aguilar is helping launch Amazon‘s new regional Mexican initiative.

Amazon Music has kicked off a new effort to celebrate regional Mexican music with new content spotlighting established and emerging artists, including the 17-year-old Mexican-American Grammy-nominated singer, who have “built and redefined the genre,” according to Amazon Music.

Angela Aguilar

The campaign launches with a new mariachi version of beloved classic “Bésame Mucho,” reimagined by Aguilar, as well as exclusive videos that bring customers a different look into the works of leading artists including Banda MS and Calibre 50.

Exclusive content includes Album Spotlight, Anatomía de Un Hit breakdown, Raíces, which celebrates decades-spanning careers of artists, and Rompe, spotlighting rising artists.

“Latin music is so diverse, and Regional Mexican is one genre leading the way in redefining itself while still being true to its roots,” said Rocio Guerrero, global head of Latin at Amazon Music. “We’re committed to supporting the genre and its many talented artists by celebrating their work through this dedicated initiative across various channels. It is truly an embodiment of ‘La Música Que Nos Conecta.’ This campaign is just the beginning and we can’t wait to see how the genre continues to evolve.”

Learn more about Amazon Music LAT!N at amazon.com/latinmusic.

Amazon Music Launches Amazon Music LAT!N Hub, Featuring Exclusive Music, Videos & More From Artists Like Natanael Cano

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Natanael Cano has found a new connection…

Amazon Music is putting a big focus on Latin music with the launch of “Amazon Music LAT!N,” featuring the 19-year-old Mexican singer in a new editorial video series, Género101,

Natanael Cano

The Latin music brand features a broad umbrella that includes over 100 new and revamped playlists, an emerging artist program, merchandise, video and multiple catalog programs among many other initiatives.

Using the tagline “La Musica que nos conecta” — a reference to the fact that Latinos come from many countries and cultures but are connected by music and language — the LAT!N hub, which includes music in Spanish and Portuguese, will live within Amazon at amazon.com/latinmusic.

It seeks to establish Amazon as a major player in Latin music streaming and content, as well as retail.

“The big differentiator [with other streaming services] is the ability to work cross functionally with the other Amazon verticals and services like Twitch and Prime Video,” explains Rocío Guerrero, who assumed the newly created position of global head of Latin music at Amazon in January.

“We can do things 360. It’s unparalleled and it will live within the Amazon.com ecosystem.”

Prior to Guerrero’s arrival, Amazon Music had been relatively perfunctory with its approach to Latin music, offering playlists and a big catalog but little else. Latin content was hardly ever marketed  The launch of LAT!N marks a major investment and commitment to the music.

“What they want is to expand with even more audiences and fans and engage them with Latin music,” Guerrero says. A major thrust is positioning Amazon as a destination that focuses not only on reggaetón and urban music, which dominate the major Latin playlists around the world, but on all genres of Latin music, aiming for Amazon’s “broader” — as Guerrero calls it — audience, including older listeners.

“For instance, genres like bachata, salsa and Regional Mexican are big in Amazon Music,” she says. “We have a spotlight now. And we can shine a light on all the genres of Latin music.”

Guerrero came to Amazon from Warner Music Latin, but previously spent years overseeing U.S. Latin content in Spotify. Since joining Amazon in late 2019 she has expanded the Latin music global team, hiring Ana Martinez as label relations and Cristina Martin to head marketing for Latin music global and retaining Amaya Mendizabal as senior music curator.

After planning for the first half of the year, the official LAT!N kickoff features an original, acoustic version of Maluma’s global hit “Hawái.” It will be followed by exclusive weekly releases of new renditions by Karol G, Christian Nodal and Romeo Santos during Hispanic Heritage Month, with more planned moving forward.

At the same time, a catalog program called “Raices” will kick off with a spotlight on Marc Anthony that includes a mini documentary shot in his home, and will highlight Latin catalog content on a monthly basis. Likewise, an emerging artist program, “Rompe,” which is similar to Amazon’s “Breakthrough” program in the U.K., will highlight a local emerging artist every month, beginning with Colombia’s Las Villa and Interscope artist Nobeat.

New content will go beyond music to include five new editorial video series, available in English and Spanish. The first, Género101, will highlight different sub-genres of Latin music, beginning with an episode on corridos tumbaos explained by Natanael Cano. An Alexa component is also in development that will allow listeners to ask their virtual assistant questions and get replies in different artists’ voices.

The core of LAT!N, of course, will continue to be playlists — now expanded to 100 — including Latin global hits playlist Platino (formerly titled Fuego Latino), new music playlist Hoy, and a Clásicos playlist that features classics for each genre. Says Guerrero: “We cannot commit to just one audience only.”