Romeo Santoshas proven to have the winning Formula…
The 39-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American singer, known as “the King of Bachata,” will be honored with the Billboard Top Latin Albumof the Decade Award at the 2020 Billboard Latin Music Awards, taking place on October 21.
Announced by Telemundo and Billboard, Santos will be honored with the award thanks to his chart-topping album Formula: Vol. 2.
Santos — who is up for six awards this year, including artist of the year and streaming song of the year — achieved the No. 1 spot on Billboard‘s Top Latin Albums Decade-End chart with his album Formula: Vol. 2, which also scored Santos his third No. 1 on the Top Latin Albums chart, ruling for 11 weeks starting March 15, 2014.
Additionally, Formula: Vol. 2 achieved the record for the album with the most weeks on the Top Latin Albums chart with a total of 288 weeks and counting. It also holds the record for the album with the most weeks in the top 10, with a total of 168. On the Billboard 200chart, the album earned Santos his highest debut at No. 5.
The Billboard Latin Music Awards will kick off at 7:00 pm ET with a red carpet preshow followed by the three-hour awards show, featuring live performances by today’s top Latin artists to honor the most popular albums, songs and performers in Latin music.
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,
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.”
ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) has revealed the winners of the most performed songs of the past year in Latin music, with the 26-year-old Puerto Rican singer and rapper taking the top honor for the first time in his career.
Bad Bunny, who’d previously won the ASCAP Song of the Year award for his Cardi B & J Balvin collaboration “I Like It.,” was named the ASCAP Songwriter of the Year at the ASCAP Latin Music Awards. He won the prestigious award on the strength of seven of his recognized singles, including “Callaita,” “La Cancion,” “Que Pretendes,” and “Solo de Mi.”
Romeo Santos picked up the Songwriter/Artist of the Year award. The 38-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American singer earned the honor for penning the recognized singles “Aullando,” “Canalla,” and “Inmortal.”
The Song of the Year award went to Daddy Yankee’s “Con Calma,” featuring Snow.
The 43-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton rapper/singer’s uptempo reggaeton and dancehall song, a reimagination of Snow’s chart-topping single “Informer,” was YouTube’s most viewed music video of 2019.
Other recognized artists include Gerado Ortiz (“Aerolinea Carrillo”), Becky G (“Bubalu”), Farruko & Pedro Capo (“Calma (Remix)”), Marc Anthony (“Parecen Viernes”),Jhay Cortez (“Reggaeton,” “Hola” ) and Carlos Vives(“Si Me Das Tu Amor”).
Universal Music Publishing Group was bestowed the Publisher of the Year award and the Independent Publisher of the Year award went to Kobalt Songs Music Publishing.
Due to the coronavirus, this year’s winners were announced via ASCAP’s social media platforms: @ASCAPLatino and @ASCAP. The innovative virtual format allowed fans, friends and peers to join in the online celebration.
The virtual event, hosted by Greeicy Rendón and Mike Bahía, also included special performances and appearances by: Marc Anthony, Descemer Bueno, Pedro Capó,Desmond Child, Jhay Cortez, Darrell, Natalia Lafourcade, Lunay, Silverio Lozada andSebastián Yatra, among other music creators.
The complete list of winners is available on the ASCAP website.
Prince Roycenow has a handful of chart-topping albums…
The 30-year-old Dominican American singer has earned his fifth No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart dated February 22 as Alter Ego debuts at the summit.
The set earned 11,000 in equivalent album units in the week ending February 13, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. Of that sum, 8,000 were in album sales, while the bulk of the remainder was generated by streaming activity.
The double album consisting of the chapters Genesis and Enigma is the first set by a tropical music act to bow at No. 1 since Romeo Santos’ Utopíadebuted atop the tally nearly a year ago (April 20, 2019-dated chart.)
“I made this double album to give the fans a different musical journey,” Royce tells Billboard. “It feels great that people have embraced it, that it has debuted at No. 1.”
Royce’s sixth studio album, released via Sony Music Latin on February 7, got a sales boost in its first week thanks to eight in-store appearances the artist made during its release week in Florida, New York, Los Angeles, Illinois and Texas.
It’s the biggest sales week for a Latin album since Santos’ Utopía, which sold 9,000 units in its opening week (April, 20, 2019-dated chart).
Top Latin Albums ranks the most popular Latin albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units. Units comprise traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA).
Alter Egoregistered 3,000 SEA units, which equates to 4.8 million on-demand streams for the set’s tracks in its debut week.
Alter Ego is Prince Royce’s fifth No. 1, and third consecutive set to debut at No. 1. He previously hit No. 1 with Five(March 18, 2017), Soy El Mismo(October 26, 2013), Phase II (April 28, 2012) and his self-titled album (April 23, 2011). HIs only charting album to miss the top was a greatest hits package titled #1’s, which peaked at No. 3 on December 8, 2012.
The new album was preceded by four songs on theHot Latin Songs chart, which blends airplay, streams and digital sales, starting with “El Clavo,” featuring Maluma (No. 13 high, September 2018), “Adicto,” with Marc Anthony(peaked at No. 33, December 2018), “Cúrame,” with Manuel Turizo (No. 31, July 2019) and “Morir Solo” (No. 35, October 2019).
“It also feels great that I will soon be performing these songs in more than 40 U.S. cities on my Alter Ego Tour,” the 30-year-old adds. “All of this happening 10 years into my career is a wonderful blessing.“
Beyond its Top Latin Albums coronation, Alter Ego concurrently debuts at No. 1 on Tropical Albums, the first No. 1 debut of the year on the chart.
Aventurais making its triumphant return to the Big Apple…
The bachata group, comprised of Romeo Santos, Lenny Santos, Henry Santos and Max Agende Santos, is returning for its first U.S. tour in more than 10 years and the band just added the date for the New York City show.
Aventura’s NYC fans were concerned that the tour’s initial announcement didn’t include a date for the city, a major base of support for them. But, the wait is over as the group has officially revealed thatthey’ll perform at Radio City Music Hall on March 16.
Produced by Live Nation, the tour will kick off on February 6 in Los Angeles and make stops in Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Boston and Washington D.C., and Miami.
Tickets for the New York City date are officially on sale at LiveNation.com.
The 34-year-old Colombian reggaeton singer and rapper’s collaboration with DJ Snakeand Tyga, “Loco Contigo,”rises 2-1 on the BillboardLatin Airplaychart dated November 2.
With the move, J Balvin goes into a four-way tie with Daddy Yankee, Ricky Martinand Romeo Santosfor the second-most No. 1s in the chart’s history , all with 17 (Enrique Iglesiascontinues at the helm with 30).
“Loco Contigo” arrives at the summit almost a year after DJ Snake claimed his first leader on the tally with “Taki Taki” (on the December 8, 2018-dated chart). Meanwhile, it marks the first No. 1 for American rapper Tygaon any BillboardLatin chart.
The Spanglish track released via DJ Snake/Geffen/Interscopeon June 14, lands in the penthouse in its 14th week on the chart with 12.7 million in audience impressions (up 1%) earned in the week ending October 27, according to Nielsen Music.
Written by J Balvin, Tyga, Justin Quilesand DJ Snake, “Loco Contigo” is the sixth single off DJ Snake’s Carte Blanchealbum, which debuted at No. 2 on the Top Dance/Electronic Album Saleschart (August 10-dated list).As “Loco Contigo” arrives at the pinnacle of Latin Airplay, it makes progress on other Latin rankings. The song climbs an equal 2-1 on both the Latin Pop Airplayand Latin Rhythm Airplaycharts.vaScript
Luis Figueroa is ready to expand his musical empire…
After announcing his affiliation with Magnus Media, the Puerto Rican singer/songwriter, who was born and raised in Philadelphia, has joined Sony Music Latin.
“Luis has diligently developed every facet of his career including singing, songwriting, producing, acting, live performance and promotion,” says Alex Gallardo, President of Sony Music US Latin. “We are very pleased to join him in this next major step of his development.”
Figueroa graduated from Berklee College of Music, was Romeo Santos’ backing and featured vocalist during the last two international tours and, in 2017, performed at Billboard Latin Music Awards.
“I feel honored to sign with Sony because my favorite artists growing up, like Marc Anthonyand Romeo Santos, are here,” adds Figueroa.
Also, in the past year, Figueroa has been working as a songwriter on tracks like “Por Perro” with Sebastián Yatraand Lary Over, and “Telepatía” with the Norwegian EDM star Matoma. Plus, he appears as a featured artist on Yashua’s “Pa Las Babies” which was co-written by Cris Chill.
“I am ready to have a record out, and ready to have an album out,” concludes Figueroa, who will release his debut single “La Especialista” on October 4.
Ozuna will be taking the stage at least once at this year’s Latin AMAs…
The 27-year-old Puerto Rican Latin trap and reggaeton singerhas been confirmed as a performer for the fifth annual Latin American Music Awards, taking place at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles on October 17, according to Telemundo.
In addition to Ozuna, the network also announced that Colombian American artist Kali Uchis will perform.
For the second consecutive year, Ozuna leads the list of nominees for the 2019 Latin American Music Awards with nine nods. He’s followed by Bad Bunny and Romeo Santos with eight nods each; Anuel AA with seven nominations; and Banda MS with five. Daddy Yankee, Maluma, Luis Fonsi, Sebastian Yatra, T3R Elemento and Marc Anthony each landed four nominations this year.
Fans can vote for their favorite artist online here.
The 2019 Latin AMAsnominees are based on key fan interactions with music, including sales, streaming and social activity, according to Billboard‘s analysis through their data allies Nielsen Musicand Next Big Sound, covering the period from August 10, 2018, to July 25, 2019. The awards will be broadcast live on Telemundo from the Dolby Theater in Hollywood on Thursday, October 17 at 8:00 pm ET.
The 25-year-old Puerto Rican Latin trap and reggaeton singer has landed six songs concurrently in the top 10 of Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, setting a new record for the most songs by an artist in the top 10 at the same time.
On the chart — which blends airplay, sales and streaming data to rank to the most popular Latin songs of the week — all eight of Bad Bunny’s Oasis’ songs, his No. 1 joint album with J Balvin, debut on the list dated July 13.
The Oasis parade is led by “Qué Pretendes,” which debuts at No. 2. Another Oasis track, “La Cancion,” bows within the top 10, at No. 10.
So, that’s two Bad Bunny cuts in the top 10, which joins four other Bad Bunny songs already in the region, at No. 3 (“Callaita,” with Tainy), No. 4 (“MIA,” featuring Drake), No. 5 (“Soltera,” with Lunayand Daddy Yankee) and No. 8 (“No Me Conoce,” with Jhay Cortezand J Balvin).
With that, Bad Bunny notches his six songs concurrently in the top 10. The previous record was four, held by six acts (Bad Bunny, Ozuna, Anuel AA, Joan Sebastian, Romeo Santosand Wisin & Yandel).
Further, Bad Bunny sets another record: He’s the first act with four songs in the top five at the same time, as he holds Nos. 2-5.
The 40-year-old Puerto Rican singer is back at the top of Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart after nearly eight years.
He debuts at No. 1 on the list dated February 16 with his 10th studio album Vida, earning him his third No. 1 and first since Tierra Firmespent three consecutive weeks at No. 1 in July 2011.
Vida, which was released February 1 via Universal Music Latino/UMLE, opens with 22,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending February 7, according to Nielsen Music, with 16,000 of those comprising album sales.
Vida earns the biggest week for a Latin pop album since Shakira‘s El Doradolaunched at No. 2 with 29,000 units on the June 24, 2017-dated tally.
Vida also logs the biggest sales week for any Latin album since Romeo Santos’ Goldenbowed with 26,000 in its premiere frame (August 12, 2017).
“Vidais the culmination of many achieved dreams and goals,” Luis Fonsi tells Billboard.“The celebration of being alive and breaking boundaries through music. I thank each and every one who collaborated in this project, and above all, I thank my audience deeply for being part of my life.”
Vida’s first week was boosted by sales at Fonsi’s shows in Dallas (February 4) and San Diego (February 5), where CDs were available to purchase at merch stands at the venue. Luis Fonsi also generated sales alongside a performance at The Mall of San Juanin Puerto Rico (February 2) and an appearance at the Mayagüez Mall(February 3) in Mayagüez, also in Puerto Rico.
Concurrently, Vidadebuts at No. 18 on the Billboard 200chart; his second-highest-charting album ever, behind only 2008’s Palabras de Silencio(which debuted and peaked at No. 15 on September 13, 2008). Vidaalso notches the highest debut by a Latin album since Ozuna’s Aura(No. 7, September 8, 2018).
