Ricardo Montaner Earns First No. on Billboard’s Latin Airplay Chart with “Para Que Seas Feliz”

Ricardo Montaner has new reason to be feliz…

The 69-year-old Venezuelan singer, who has placed eight career No. 1s across the Billboard charts over his long career, has earned his first champ on the overall Latin Airplay chart, as “Para Que Seas Feliz” jumps 3-1 on the list dated October 3.

Ricardo MontanerThe new milestone arrives nearly three decades after the singer debuted on the ranking in 1996, marking the longest wait for a first No. 1 in the history of the 32-year-old chart. (Montaner’s overall history on Billboard‘s charts dates back to the late 1980s.)

“My story with Billboard is fascinating,” Montaner tells Billboard. “Honestly, it gives me immense pleasure to know that we have crossed generations throughout this career. I say it with humility and great pride.”

“Para Que Seas Feliz” rises to No. 1 on Latin Airplay with a 39% surge in audience impressions, reaching 8.9 million in the United States during the September 18-24 tracking week, according to Luminate.

It edges past Romeo Santos and Prince Royce’s “Ay San Miguel,” which slips to No. 2 after one week at the summit.

The coronation marks Montaner’s 21st Latin Airplay entry, dating back to “Soy Tuyo” in 1996.

With nine top 10s on Latin Airplay—including his first, “Es Así,” in 1997—he finally claims the crown after going as high as No. 2 twice: with “El Poder de Tu Amor” in 1999 and “Yo Puedo Hacer” in 2002.

The 30-year wait to No. 1 marks the longest to summit Latin Airplay since the chart’s inception in 1994—surpassing Los Ángeles Azules’ 27-year journey from their 1997 debut to their first chart-topper in July 2024.

“My story with Billboard began in the late ’80s, when my music began playing in the United States with ‘Tan Enamorados’,” Montaner says of the song that earned him a first top 10 on the charts, reaching No. 9 on Hot Latin Songs in 1988. “Billboard was perhaps the only representation we Latinos had in the music industry. We came to conquer the United States and knock on doors, earning the support of all the programmers and DJs of the time.”

“Tan Enamorados” was the launchpad of a successful five-decade Billboard song career.

“We broke through and made a huge impact,” says the singer who placed four No. 1s on the multimetric Hot Latin Songs chart, including “Castillo Azul,” which topped the list for nine consecutive weeks in 1992.

“One of the joys was that, back then, we were able to promote as many as three or four singles from each album, which gave us greater staying power,” recalls Montaner, who has also earned four Latin Pop Airplay No. 1s and two leaders on Top Latin Pop Albums: Ricardo Montaner (1989) and Ida y Vuelta (2016). “Music wasn’t segmented the way it is now—with reggaetón on one side, ballads on another, and regional Mexican music elsewhere. Back then, all genres converged on a single chart, and that made me incredibly happy because we managed to place so many songs in the top spots.”

Montaner’s new reign extends across Latin radio. “Para Que Seas Feliz” adds a third week at No. 1 on Latin Pop Airplay, while it also rises to the top of the Regional Mexican Airplay, largely powered by its regional Mexican remix with Edén Muñoz. The achievement marks Montaner’s first leader on the chart—and first appearance on the tally.

“Fifteen minutes ago, I was speaking with Edgar Barrera, who co-wrote this song with Horacio Palencia and Nathan Galante, about what it means to me—not only to return to Latin Airplay, but also to conquer the No. 1 spot on the regional Mexican chart,” the singer shares. “Do you know what that means? It’s an extraordinary achievement because, alongside the ballad, the duet I recorded with Edén also made a very strong impact in the regional Mexican market, and I feel immensely proud.”

Nicky Jam Releases El Shadow-Collaboration “La Foto”

Nicky Jam is flashin’ new music…

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American singer has released the new single “La Foto” in collaboration with El Shadow, with the track premiering exclusively on Billboard on Wednesday, August 12.

Nicky Jam,Released via Plus Media and EMM, the track blends acoustic guitars with rhythmic Afrobeats, charged with Caribbean breeze and feel-good melodies.

Lyrically, the track composed by El Shadow (real name Raudel Gómez Hernández) is about crushing on someone and finding the courage to make the first move.

“Nothing is impossible here/ I wrote to her that I liked her,” chants the Puerto Rican artist in the opening verse. The chorus further cements that sentiment of infatuation and uncertainty: “You’ve got me liking your photo/ You’ve got me losing my mind.”

Nicky Jam, who has a 30-plus year career with various No. 1 Billboard hits and collaborations with the likes of Enrique Iglesias, Bad Bunny and Romeo Santos, is now supporting up-and-coming talent like El Shadow, a Cuban newcomer who has 15,000 Instagram followers at the time of publishing.

The most curious thing about this collaboration is the way it naturally happened: El Shadow shared a snippet of the track on his Instagram in February and invited his followers to tag Nicky Jam in the comments.

Nicky replied within hours, and the rest is history.

“I’ve done all my releases almost completely solo, but that day I wanted to upload a reel and tag an artist I know fits the song perfectly,” El Shadow tells Billboard. “Nicky popped into my head, and I knew he could hear it because he already had Cubans in his algorithm.” (Nicky previously collaborated with Cuban duo Charly y Johayron.)

He continues: “A week later, he called me to say he was laying down the vocals, and I thought, ‘Wow, it’s actually happening!’ It’s amazing — especially considering the situation on the island. Our country is facing so many problems — there’s no power, no internet connection, everything is a struggle, but Nicky showed his humility and his value to me.”

Residing in Camagüey, Cuba’s third-largest city, El Shadow is a 26-year-old artist who kicked off his career when he was only 15, creating urban music. In recent years, the Billboard On The Radar Latin artist has found his lane in the Latin Afrobeats realm, lacing it with his husky yet crisp and dulcet vocals.

“My idol is Kapo,” he expresses of the Colombian hitmaker. “I watched his interviews and was really inspired by his story, and that’s the same message I try to convey to new talent: that it is possible. If you focus and do things with love and passion, you can make it.”

Maluma Earns Second No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay Chart with “Tu Recuerdo”

Maluma has added another chart-topper to his resume…

The 32-year-old Colombian singer/songwriter has earned another Billboard Tropical Airplay chart champ as “Tu Recuerdo” ascends 2-1 on the chart dated July 25, marking his fifth career leader and the second No. 1 from the album Loco X Volver.

MalumaThe champ, released on PARIS LG/Sony Music Latin, trades places with Romeo Santos and Prince Royce’s “Dardos,” as the latter slides to No. 2 after seven weeks in charge.

“Tu Recuerdo” is the second ruler from Maluma’s seventh studio album Loco X Volver, following “1+1,” with Kany García, which became his first salsa No. 1 among his five coronations on Tropical Airplay.

His featured turn on Elvis Crespo’s merengue “Ole Brazil,” marked his first No. 1 on the tally in 2014.

“Tu Recuerdo” reaches No. 1 with 5.4 million audience impressions, up 6%, earned across the tropical-reporting stations in the United States during the tracking week ending July 16, according to Luminate.

The song is the second by a core Latin rhythmic artist to top Tropical Airplay in 2026, following Arcángel’s merengue cut “Hoy Se Guaya,” which led for a week in June.

Maluma becomes one of only three solo acts, with no accompanying billed artist, to reach No. 1 among the chart’s eight leaders this year, joining Arcángel and Carlos Vives, whose “Te Dedico” ruled for three weeks between May and June.

Beyond its Tropical Airplay success, “Tu Recuerdo” earns Maluma a 34th top 10 on the overall Latin Airplay chart, with a 13-10 jump.

The track also climbs to a new No. 2 high on Hot Tropical Songs and rises 40-37 on Hot Latin Songs. Both tallies combine radio airplay, streaming data and digital sales into their formulas.

Romeo Santos Earns 23rd No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay Chart with Prince Royce-Collaboration “Lokita Por Mí”

Romeo Santos is extending his own record…

The 44-year-old Dominican American singer-songwriter has logged his 23rd No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart with “Lokita Por Mí,” alongside Prince Royce, extending his own record for the most No. 1s among acts that primarily record tropical music.

Romeo Santos

The track surges 5-1 on the chart dated December 27.

Royce, meanwhile, banks his 20th champ.

“Lokita Por Mí” was released on November 28 on I Love Amiguita/Sony Music Latin, as one of 13 bachatas on Santos and Royce’s collaborative album Better Late Than Never.

The set debuted at No. 1 on the Top Tropical Albums and at No. 2 on the Top Latin Albums charts (dated Dec. 13).

“Lokita Por Mi” rises to No. 1 after an 11% increase in audience impressions, to 8.2 million, earned in the United States on the December 12-18 tracking week, as reported by Luminate.

t sends Feid’s “Se Lo Juro Mor” to No. 7, after the latter’s 32% dip in impressions (to 6.1 million).

With the latest achievement, Santos strengthens his record for the most No. 1s among tropical acts, with 23 champs. This comes just eight months after his “Khé?” with Rauw Alejandro, claimed the top spot for a week in March.

Royce, meanwhile, holds the second spot among tropical acts with 20 No. 1s. He also ties with Karol G for the 10th-most No. 1s across all genres.

Additionally, the song climbs from No. 3 to No. 1 on the Tropical Airplay chart.

Here are the 11 acts with the largest collection of No. 1s on the overall Latin Airplay chart since its inception in 1994:

Count, Artist
39, J Balvin
36, Ozuna
32, Enrique Iglesias
30, Bad Bunny
29, Daddy Yankee
25, Maluma
24, Shakira
24, Wisin
23, Romeo Santos
20, Karol G
20, Prince Royce

Bruno Mars Earns 11 MTV Video Music Award Nominations

Bruno Mars is embracing the rule of eleven…

The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards nominations have been revealed, with the 39-year-old part-Puerto Rican multi-Grammy-winning singer/songwriter earning 11 nods, the most of any Latino artist.

Bruno MarsMars, a five-time MTV VMAs winner, earned nominations for his two recent chart-topping collaborations – “Die with a Smile” with Lady Gaga and “APT.” with Rosé – sometimes with both songs nominated in the same category.

Mars is up for Video of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Collaboration and Best Pop for both songs. That’s eight of his 11 nods.

Bad Bunny, meantime, has earned four nods.

The 31-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning superstar, a two-time MTV VMAs winner, is nominated for Artist of the Year.

He’s also up for Best Latin for “Baile Inolvidable,” Best Album for Debí Tirar Más Fotos and Best Long Form Video for Debí Tirar Más Fotos  (Short Film).

Gigi Perez has earned her first MTV VMA nominations following her hit single “Sailor Song.”

The 25-year-old Cuban American singer-songwriter is up for Best New Artist, MTV Push Performance of the Year and Best Alternative for “Sailor Song.”

Maria Zardoya and her The Marias band mates have earned their first-ever MTV VMA nominations.

In addition to Best New Artist, Zardoya and her band mates are up for Best Alternative for “Back to Me.”

Selena Gomez has earned two nods…

The 33-year-old Mexican American singer is up for Best Collaboration for her single with Benny Blanco, “Sunset Blvd,” as well as Video for Good for her Benny Blanco-collab “Younger and Hotter Than Me.”

Daniela Avanzani and her KATSEYE members have earned their first nod.

The Venezuelan and Cuban singer and her mates are up for MTV Push Performance of the Year for “Touch.”

Mariah Carey earned one nod this year.

The 56-year-old half-Venezuelan American Grammy-winning singer/songwriter is up for Best R&B for “Type Dangerous.”

Meanwhile, the Best Latin category features major Latin superstars beyond Bad Bunny.

The other nominees include; J Balvin (“Rio”), Karol G (“Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”), Peso Pluma (“La Patrulla”), Rauw Alejandro & Romeo Santos – (“Khé?”) and Shakira (“Soltera“).

The Moonman statuettes will be handed out during the VMAs ceremony on September 7 at the USB Arena in New York City. CBS and MTV will simulcast the event live, and Paramount+ will stream it.

Here are the nominees for the 2025 MTV VMAs: 

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Ariana Grande – “Brighter Days Ahead”
Billie Eilish – “Billie Eilish – “Birds of a Feather”
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die with a Smile”
Rosé & Bruno Mars – “Apt.”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless”

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Bad Bunny
Beyoncé
Kendrick Lamar
Lady Gaga
Morgan Wallen
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd

SONG OF THE YEAR
Alex Warren – “Ordinary”
Billie Eilish – “Birds of a Feather”
Doechii – “Anxiety”
Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire”
Gracie Abrams – “I Love You, I’m Sorry”
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die with a Smile”
Lorde – “What Was That”
Rosé & Bruno Mars – “Apt.”
Tate McRae – “Sports Car”
The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless”

BEST NEW ARTIST
Alex Warren
Ella Langley
Gigi Perez
Lola Young
Sombr
The Marías

BEST POP ARTIST
Ariana Grande
Charli xcx
Justin Bieber
Lorde
Miley Cyrus
Sabrina Carpenter
Tate McRae

MTV PUSH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
August 2024 – Shaboozey – “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
September 2024 – Ayra Starr – “Last Heartbreak Song”
October 2024 – Mark Ambor – “Belong Together”
November 2024 – Lay Bankz – “Graveyard”
December 2024 – Dasha – “Bye Bye Bye”
January 2025 – Katseye – “Touch”
February 2025 – Jordan Adetunji – “Kehlani”
March 2025 – Leon Thomas – “Yes It Is”
April 2025 – Livingston – “Shadow”
May 2025 – Damiano David – “Next Summer”  
June 2025 – Gigi Perez – “Sailor Song”
July 2025 – Role Model – “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out”

BEST COLLABORATION
Bailey Zimmerman with LuLke Combs – “Backup Plan (Stagecoach Official Music Video)”
Kendrick Lamar & SZA – “Luther”
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die with a Smile”
Post Malone ft. Blake Shelton – “Pour Me a Drink”
Rosé & Bruno Mars – “Apt.”
Selena Gomez, Benny Blanco – “Sunset Blvd”

BEST POP
Alex Warren – “Ordinary”
Ariana Grande – “Brighter Days Ahead”
Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire”
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die with a Smile”
Rosé & Bruno Mars – “Apt.”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”

BEST HIP-HOP
Doechii – “Anxiety”
Drake – “Nokia”
Eminem ft. Jelly Roll – “Somebody Save Me”
GloRilla ft. Sexyy Red – “Whatchu Kno About Me”
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
LL Cool J ft. Eminem – “Murdergram Deux”
Travis Scott – “4X4” – Cactus Jack/Epic Records

BEST R&B
Chris Brown – “Residuals”
Leon Thomas & Freddie Gibbs – “Mutt (Remix)”
Mariah Carey – “Type Dangerous”
Partynextdoor – “N o C h i l l”
Summer Walker – “Heart of a Woman”
SZA – “Drive”
The Weeknd, Playboi Carti – “Timeless”

BEST ALTERNATIVE
Gigi Perez – “Sailor Song”
Imagine Dragons – “Wake Up”
Lola Young – “Messy”
MGK & Jelly Roll – “Lonely Road”
Sombr – “Back to Friends”
The Marías – “Back to Me”

BEST ROCK
Coldplay – “All My Love”
Evanescence – “Afterlife (From the Netflix Series ‘Devil May Cry’)”
Green Day – “One Eyed Bastard”
Lenny Kravitz – “Honey” – Roxie Records
Linkin Park – “The Emptiness Machine”
Twenty One Pilots – “The Contract”

BEST LATIN
Bad Bunny – “Baile Inolvidable”
J Balvin – “Rio”
Karol G – “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”
Peso Pluma – “La Patrulla”
Rauw Alejandro & Romeo Santos – “Khé?”
Shakira – “Soltera“

BEST K-POP
Aespa – “Whiplash”
Jennie – “Like Jennie ”
Jimin – “Who”
Jisoo – “Earthquake”
Lisa ft. Doja Cat & Raye – “Born Again”
Stray Kids – “Chk Chk Boom”
Rosé – “Toxic Till the End”

BEST AFROBEATS
Asake & Travis Scott – “Active”
Burna Boy ft. Travis Scott – “TaTaTa”
Moliy, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea – “Shake It to the Max (Fly) (Remix)”
Rema – “Baby (Is It a Crime)”
Tems ft. Asake – “Get It Right”
Tyla – “Push 2 Start”
Wizkid ft. Brent Faiyaz – “Piece of My Heart”

BEST COUNTRY
Chris Stapleton – “Think I’m in Love With You”
Cody Johnson with Carrie Underwood – “I’m Gonna Love You”
Jelly Roll – “Liar”
Lainey Wilson – “4x4xU”
Megan Moroney – “Am I Okay?”
Morgan Wallen – “Smile”

BEST ALBUM
Bad Bunny – Debí Tirar Más Fotos
Kendrick Lamar – GNX
Lady Gaga – Mayhem
Morgan Wallen – I’m the Problem
Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet
The Weeknd – Hurry Up Tomorrow

BEST LONG FORM VIDEO
Ariana Grande – “Brighter Days Ahead”
Bad Bunny – “Debí Tirar Más Fotos (Short Film)”
Damiano David – “Funny Little Stories”
Mac Miller – “Balloonerism”
Miley Cyrus – “Something Beautiful”
The Weeknd – “Hurry Up Tomorrow”

VIDEO FOR GOOD
Burna Boy – “Higher”
Charli xcx – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish”
Doechii – “Anxiety”
Eminem ft. Jelly Roll – “Somebody Save Me”
Selena Gomez, Benny Blanco – “Younger and Hotter Than Me”
Zach Hood ft. Sasha Alex Sloan – “Sleepwalking”

BEST DIRECTION
Ariana Grande – “Brighter Days Ahead”
Charli xcx – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish”
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”
Rosé & Bruno Mars – “Apt.”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”

BEST ART DIRECTION
Charli xcx – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish”
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”
Lorde – “Man Of The Year”
Miley Cyrus – “End of the World”
Rosé & Bruno Mars – “Apt.”

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Ariana Grande – “Brighter Days Ahead”
Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire”
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”
Miley Cyrus – “Easy Lover”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”

BEST EDITING
Charli xcx – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish”
Ed Sheeran – “Sapphire”
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
Tate McRae – “Just Keep Watching (From ‘F1 The Movie’)”

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Doechii – “Anxiety”
FKA Twigs – “Eusexua”
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”
Tyla – “Push 2 Start”
Zara Larsson – “Pretty Ugly”

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Ariana Grande – “Brighter Days Ahead”
Lady Gaga – “Abracadabra”
Rosé & Bruno Mars – “Apt.”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Manchild”
Tate McRae – “Just Keep Watching” (From ‘F1 The Movie’)
The Weeknd – “Hurry Up Tomorrow”

Grupo Frontera Makes Impressive NPR ‘Tiny Desk’ Debut

Grupo Frontera is celebrating a small feat…

The Regional Mexican band visited the NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C., for their Tiny Desk debut, which premiered on Thursday, April 24.

Grupo FronteraDressed in light blue denim and white shirts, the borderland band opened the set with its Billboard Hot 100 No. 5 hit “Un x100to.” Backed by a gospel-inspired choir, the group infused the upbeat norteño song with a touch of R&B, incorporating sparkling keys and slowing the tempo.

Midway through the performance, the band transitioned back to the its signature cumbia norteña rhythm.

Accompanied by two female backup singers wearing cowboy hats, a trumpet player and Grupo Frontera’s signature ensemble of accordion, keyboards and guitars, the band delivered a dynamic and cohesive performance.

“It’s a very special song for us, because we didn’t even know he was going to be on the song until we shot the video,” frontman Payo said about Bad Bunny’s feature in “Un x100to.” “The video came to us as a surprise, and [Benito] said, ‘Have you heard the song, the full version, with me in it?’ And we said, ‘What version?!’,”

The band’s collaborator, Bad Bunny, had also stopped by the NPR offices earlier in the month to perform a few songs himself.

Grupo Frontera continued the set with “Hecha Pa’ Mi,” during which the richness of the accordion shone.

The band followed up with the bachata-infused “Ángel,” originally recorded with Romeo Santos, and the laid-back reggae-bop “Por Qué Será,” which features Maluma in the original version, showcasing their skill in blending norteño music with diverse genres.

Grupo Frontera rounded out the set with “El Amor de Su Vida,” originally starring Grupo Firme.

Earlier this week,, the Texas-based group received a nomination for best group or band at the 2025 Heat Latin Music Awards.

Natti Natasha to Receive Unstoppable Artist Award at Billboard Latin Women in Music Event

Natti Natasha is about to get her flowers…

The 38-year-old Dominican singer, songwriter, and composer will be honored at the third annual Billboard Latin Women in Music event, Billboard and Telemundo have announced.

Natti NatashaNatti Natasha is part of a roster of new honorees that includes Ha*Ash and Belinda.

The artists join Olga Tañón, Chiquis and Anitta, who were previously announced as honorees for this year.

Hosted by Mexican star Ana Bárbara, the two-hour ceremony will air live exclusively on Telemundo on April 24 at 9:00 pm ET and will celebrate “groundbreaking women shaping the future of Latin music,” according to a press statement.

The show will also stream on the Telemundo app, Universo and Peacock.

Natti Natasha will be honored with the Unstoppable Artist Award, a nod to her sustained influence in the music industry. Natti initially burst onto the Billboard charts when she earned her first No. 1 in 2012 as a featured artist on Don Omar’s hit “Dutty Love.” Since then, she has amassed 34 career entries on the overall Latin Airplay ranking, including 17 top 10 hits, 10 of which soared to No. 1.

On the album front, her debut studio project, Iluminatti, reached new heights in 2019, breaking into the top 10 on both the Top Latin Albums and Latin Rhythm Albums charts, with a peak at No. 3. More recently, her LP Natti Natasha en Amargue, produced by Romeo Santos, earned her a top 10 debut on the Tropical Albums chart.

Mexican American sister-duo Ha*Ash, comprised of Hanna and Ashley, will receive the Unbreakable Award, celebrating the collaboration between Latin women artists who have made an indelible impact on the music industry. Honored for their resilience, innovation and empowerment, Ha*Ash made an impressive debut in 2004, scoring their first top 10 hit on Latin Pop Airplay with “Estés Donde Estés,” which peaked at No. 9.

Over the years, they have proven their staying power, accumulating a total of 16 entries on the chart, four of which reached the top 10. The sisters recently made a notable comeback with “El Cielo Te Mandó Para Mí,” a standout track from Haashville, which reached a No. 7 high on Latin Pop Airplay. Currently, the duo is on their Haashville Tour across the U.S. and Canada.

Meanwhile, Belinda is set to be honored with the Evolution Award, a special honor that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional growth, transformation, and innovation throughout their artistic journey, and an enduring impact and commitment to evolving their vision and voice. Belinda’s self-titled debut album catapulted her into the spotlight in 2003, earning her a first top 10 entry on a Billboard chart as the set reached a high of No. 6 on the Latin Pop Albums tally.

Since then, she’s had three additional top 10 albums, including Catarsis, which peaked at No. 2 in 2013. Showcasing versatility, Belinda has most recently dabbled in Regional Mexican music, specifically in corridos bélicos, collaborating with the likes of Natanael Cano, Tito Double P and Netón Vega.

Anitta will receive the Vanguard Award, Chiquis the Impact Award and Olga Tañón will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, with the remaining honors to be announced soon.

Rauw Alejandro’s Romeo Santos-Collaboration “Khé?” Rises to No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay Chart

Rauw Alejandro is a man on top…

The 32-year-old Puerto Rican singer and songwriter has landed his first No. 1 single from Cosa Nuestra, his fifth studio album, on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart, as “Khé?,” with Romeo Santos, rises from No. 3 for its first week at the summit dated March 29.

Rauw Alejandro, Romeo SantosThe song is the fourth from the set to rank on the overall tally, two of which previously reached the top 10.

“Khé?” is the most heard song among Latin-formatted radio stations thanks to a 5% bump in audience impressions, equating to 7.9 million earned in the U.S. during the March 14-20 tracking week, according to Luminate.

The song reigns over previous No. 1 “El Amor de Mi Herida” by Carín León, which drops to No. 8 with a 22% dip in impressions.

“Khé?” is Rauw Alejandro and Romeo Santos’ first collaboration and, coincidentally, their first No. 1 on Latin Airplay since 2023.

While Rauw Alejandro last led through “Party,” with Bad Bunny, Santos’ previous coronation arrived via another team-up, “El Pañuelo,” with Rosalía. The two leaders were only two weeks away from each other.

For Santos, while “Khé?” puts him in a tie with Wisin (22) for the ninth-most champs overall since Latin Airplay began in 1994, the new coronation expands his already-established No. 1 record among tropical acts –way ahead of his next competitor, Prince Royce, who has achieved 17 No. 1s to date.

Before “Khé?” topped the Latin Airplay chart, Rauw’s No. 1 album Cosa Nuestra delivered the No. 23-peaking “Touching The Sky” (Aug. 2024), while “Tú Con Él” landed at No. 7 and “Qué Pasaría,” with Bad Bunny, reached No. 3 high on the February 15- and the March 8-dated charts, respectively.

Karol G Tops Multiple Billboard Charts at Once with “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”

Karol G is pulling triple duty…

The 33-year-old Colombian singer has attained a new milestone across the Billboard charts as her latest single, “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido,” lands at No. 1 on the Hot Latin Songs and Latin Airplay charts, while ruling the Tropical Airplay chart for a second week, on the rankings dated July 29.

Karol GThe new chart achievements land as Karol G wrapped up her Mañana Será Bonito Tour, with four sold-out shows at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid on July 23.

On the multimetric Hot Latin Songs chart, “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” ascends 2-1 with streaming and radio gains. In the tracking week of June 12-18, the song collected 12 million official U.S. streams, up 15%, according to Luminate.

The sum yields a 47-44 rise on the overall Streaming Songs chart, plus her ninth No. 1 on Latin Streaming Songs with the Greatest Gainer award of the week.

Despite a 1% slip in digital sales, “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” remains at No. 1 on Latin Digital Song Sales, with 1,000 downloads sold during the same tracking frame.

In the radio world, the song reinforces its position as a summer hit, lifting 2-1 on the overall Latin Airplay tally with an 8% gain in audience impressions, to 8.2 million logged in the tracking window.

There, Karol collects an 18th champ, placing her closer to her only female contender among acts with the most No. 1s: Shakira, who continues to rule among women, with 23 No. 1 songs since the overall radio ranking launched in 1994.

Diving further into the new champ, the merengue-based track wins a new term atop Tropical Airplay –and its fourth week in the upper region– after the song jumped 3-1 and Karol became the second solo woman to rule Tropical Airplay on her own this decade.

As if the new No. 1s weren’t enough, as “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” makes a splash across Billboard charts, Karol becomes the first artist to be No. 1 simultaneously on Hot Latin Songs, Latin Airplay and Tropical Airplay charts in over a decade.

The last artist to pull the trick was Romeo Santos when “Odio,” featuring Drake, took over the three charts on the May 10, 2014-dated recap.

Notably, just seven months prior, Santos also seized the No. 1 slot across the three surveys with the ubiquitous “Propuesta Indecente,” on the chart dated Oct. 5, 2013.

Preceding Santos, four other artists accomplished the multilateral ruling in 2013 through three songs: Prince Royce with “Darte Un Beso” (Sept. 7, 2013), Marc Anthony through “Vivir Mi Vida” (11 weeks at No. 1, June 1-Aug. 10, 2023-dated lists), and Tito El Bambino and El Patron by “Por Qué Les Mientes,” where Marc is also featured (Jan. 19, 2013).

With “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” hitting No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs, Karol G racks up another chart-topper unaccompanied by another artist – a rarity for a female act. On the airplay-, streaming data- and digital sales-blended list, only three women have ruled the 50-deep tally on her own since 2010.

Here’s a review of the four female solo occupants of the summit since 2010:

Artist, Title, Peak Date, Weeks at No. 1
Gloria Estefan, “Hotel Nacional,” Jan. 14, 2012, one
Paulina Rubio, “Me Gustas Tanto,” Feb. 11, 2012, one
Kali Uchis, “Telepatía,” May 22, 2021, eight
Karol G, Provenza,” May 14, 2022, one
Karol G, “Mi Ex Tenía Razón,” Aug. 26, 2023, one
Karol G, “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido,” July 27

Beyond its Latin charts’ coronation, “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” makes worldwide improvements, moving from No. 7 to its new No. 5 peak on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. tally, with 53.8 million non-U.S. weekly streams, up 10%.

On the Billboard Global 200, the song boasts 65 million worldwide streams, but slips 12-13 despite a 10% gain.

Prince Royce & Gabito Ballesteros’ “Cosas de la Peda” Rises to No. 1 on Billbaord’s Latin Airplay Chart

Prince Royce and Gabito Ballesteros are celebrating the success of their collaboration on a second Billboard chart…

Ten weeks after the 34-year-old Dominican American bachata star and the 24-year-old Mexican singer-songwriter and record producer monopolized Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart with “Cosas de la Peda,” the song slides to the top of the overall Latin Airplay chart dated April 27, up from No. 3 a week ago.

Prince Royce & Gabito Ballesteros The hit is the seventh single from Royce’s album, Llamada Perdida, the 23-track set that placed the bachata singer back in the top five on Tropical Albums after a four-year pause (No. 2 debut in March).

“Cosas De La Peda” shoots to No. 1 on the overall Latin Airplay chart due to a 27% boost in audience impressions, to 10.9 million, logged in the U.S. in the week ending April 18, according to Luminate. With almost 2 million additional impressions, the song wins the weekly Greatest Gainer award on the Latin radio ranking for the largest increase in audience among its 50 titles.

Further, thanks to its radio surge, “Cosas De La Peda” debuts at No. 46 on the multi-metric Hot Latin Songs, which ranks the most popular Latin songs of the week by blending streaming, airplay, and sales activity.

Royce and Ballesteros’ first team-up gives the regional Mexican soloist his maiden No. 1 on Latin Airplay. The new achievement arrives 10 weeks after he picked up his first champ on any Billboard radio ranking, as “Cosas de la Peda” rose to the top of Tropical Airplay on the February 24-dated list, where it has held strong since.

“Cosas de la Peda” is a cause for celebration for Ballesteros, who joins a select group of regional Mexican artists who likewise achieved their premiere No. 1 on Latin Airplay in 2024 among the seven rulers this year including a regional Mexican act (whether through a regional Mexican song or a collab outside the genre). Those new highfliers comprise Xavi, whose “La Diabla” led for two weeks (starting with the February 10-dated list) and siblings Leonardo and Angela Aguilar through their Becky G collab, “Por El Contrario,” for one week atop (March 9).

Prince Royce moves ahead with 17 No. 1s on Latin Airplay and breaks from a tie with Carlos Vives for the second-most champs among tropical artists in the survey’s almost 30-year history, where Romeo Santos continues at the lead with 21 No. 1 hits.

Here are those chart toppers:

21, Romeo Santos
17, Prince Royce
16, Carlos Vives
14, Marc Anthony
11, Gloria Estefan
6, Juan Luis Guerra

In its 10th consecutive week atop Tropical Airplay, “Cosas de la Peda” continues to hold the record for the longest-leading song in 2024 thus far.