Selena Gomez’s Rema-Collaboration “Calm Down” Surpasses One Billion Streams on Spotify

Selena Gomez is celebrating a music milestone…

The 31-year-old Mexican American actress/singer’s collaboration with Rema, “Calm Down,” has hit one billion streams on Spotify.

Selena Gomez, Rema, Calm Down“I’m so grateful,” declared Gomez via Instagram Stories and Twitter. “Love you @heisrema!”

The billion-stream milestone is particularly special for Rema, as it’s the first time an African artist-led track has reached the number, per a press release.

“It’s a blessing. It’s not just a big win for me, my team and family, it’s also a big one for the culture. I feel really happy and I’m really proud of the fans as well for going back to the song and putting people on the song. Shout out to the DJs and everyone who made this possible,” the singer said in a press statement.

Over on the Billboard charts, “Calm Down” fared particularly well.

The crossover hit topped Billboard’s Adult Pop Airplay chart dated May 13, marking Rema’s first leader on the list. It also topped the all-format Radio Songs chart and Pop Airplay chart.

“Calm Down” also topped the Rhythmic Airplay chart for four weeks in May-June. On the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, the song has hit No. 3, becoming Rema’s first entry and Gomez’s ninth top 10.

Rema, from Nigeria, released the original version of “Calm Down” in February 2022 as a single from his debut solo LP, Rave & Roses. Its remix with Gomez arrived last August, and that version’s official video premiered in September.

Cardi B Re-Teaming with Megan Thee Stallion for New Single “Bongos”

Cardi B is marching to the beat of her own drum

The 30-year-old half-Dominican American Grammy-winning rap superstar is joining forces with Megan Thee Stallion once again, this time on the new track “Bongos.”

Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, BongosCardi B’s new track will be released on Friday (September 8, with the new track available to be pre-saved now via streaming services Spotify and Apple Music.

Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion unveiled the “Bongos” artwork with the announcement. The colorful visual shows the two rappers in coordinating blue and purple one-pieces and high heels, with their hair styled in playful, multi-colored curls, and lollipops in hand.

Cardi and Megan Thee Stallion haven’t shared further details yet, but this is their second collaboration — so fans are already hyped.

Their first song together — the NSFW smash hit “WAP,” released on Atlantic Records — spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2020.

“Y’all remember when the FCC almost sued me cuz I performed WAP at the Grammys? What about when all the republicans literally harassed me over it? On the news everyday… Y’all remember? Oooohhh cuz I do,” Cardi reminisced over the summer.

Last week, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion won a court ruling tossing out a lawsuit that accused them of stealing the lyrics to “WAP” and Megan The Stallion’s “Thot Shit” from an earlier track called “Grab Em by the P—-.”

Last month, Cardi B also gave an update on her sophomore album that interestingly turned out to be a decoy — or maybe “Bongos” just came to be very recently.

“I’m not going to release any more collaborations,” she said for her Vogue México y Latinoamérica cover story. “I’m going to put out my next solo single. Right now, I’m working on the cover art and ideas for the next record because it’s definitely coming up. Everyone always tells me I should put the record out now. They did when I released ‘WAP’ [with Megan Thee Stallion] and when I released ‘Up,’ but I always let them know I’m not going to wait long after all these singles. So stay tuned because it’s coming out very soon.”

Bad Bunny Celebrates History-Making 1 Billion Spotify Streams for “Tití Me Preguntó”

Bad Bunny is celebrating his the latest streaming hit…

The 29-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning superstar recently visited Spotify’s newly launched Billions Club series.

Bad BunnyBad Bunny stopped by the series to enjoy a “Billions Brunch” with some of his closest friends and collaborators.

“The feeling of having 1 billion streams for this song right now is the same emotion I felt when I got 5,000 plays for the first time,” Bad Bunny said. “For me, it’s just as big knowing that there are people who want to listen and want to enjoy what you make.” 

The song in question is “Tití Me Preguntó,” a track from his historic Un Verano Sin Ti album that officially reached 1 billion Spotify streams on January 23.

According to Spotify, Bad Bunny has 12 songs with more than 1 billion streams each on the platform — more than any other artist in Spotify history. He has accumulated 58 billion streams on the service, reigning as Spotify’s most-streamed artist of the year for the past three years.

In the video, Bad Bunny feasted on a lavish meal set on several plaques that commemorated his other songs with over 1 billion Spotify streams, including “Yonaguni,” “Dákiti” (with Jhayco) and “MIA” (with Drake).

In addition to basking in his record-breaking streaming success, the “Después de la Playa” singer also recounted the story behind the creation of “Tití Me Preguntó.” When tasked with telling the story of the song in 10 seconds, he replied, “That’s impossible. That’s a lifetime of love and romance.”

“It’s a song that was born very spontaneously,” he added. “All of the people mentioned in the song exist in real life. Nothing I say in that song is a lie, including the part where I say I want to fall in love, but I can’t.”

Nonetheless, Bad Bunny declined to specify which aunt he was singing about, because “they’ll get jealous and create a mess.”

Toward the end of his Billions Club episode, Bad Bunny made sure to thank his fans for their continued support, as well as his mother and father for believing in him “not just in music, but with every decision [he’s] made” in his life.

Bad Bunny has earned 11 top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including his sole No. 1 single “I Like It” (with Cardi B & J Balvin). On the Billboard 200, he has notched five top 10 projects, two of which have reached the ranking’s summit: El Ultimo Tour Del Mundo (one week) and Un Verano Sin Ti (13 weeks).

Shakira to Receive Video Vanguard Award at This Year’s MTV Video Music Awards

Shakira is being celebrated for leading the way…

The 46-year-old Colombian superstar singer-songwriter will receive the Video Vanguard Award at MTV‘s 2023 Video Music Awards on September 12, becoming the first South American artist to earn the award.

ShakiraShakira will accept the award and perform at the ceremony for the first time since 2006.

The “Hips Don’t Lie” singer is a four-time VMA winner and 30-time nominee.

She won her first VMA — the award for International Viewer’s Choice — Latin America (North) — in 2000 for “Ojos Así.” She snagged the same award in 2002 for “Whenever, Wherever/Suerte” and also scooped up the trophy for Best Choreography in a Video for 2006’s “Hips Don’t Lie” as well as Most Earth-Shattering Collaboration for 2007’s “Beautiful Liar” with Beyoncé.

Shakira has also earned three Grammys and 12 Latin Grammys in her career.

The Video Vanguard Award, named after Michael Jackson, went to Nicki Minaj last year. Previous winners include Beyoncé, Jennifer LopezKanye WestDavid BowieMadonna and RihannaThe Beatles and A Hard Day’s Night director Richard Lester won the award at the first VMAs in 1984.

Shakira is nominated for four VMAs this year: Artist of the Year, Best Collaboration and Best Latin for “TQG” with Karol G, and Best Latin for “Acróstico.”

Earlier this year, her hit collaboration with Bizarrap, “Music Sessions Vol. 53,” set a number of streaming records on Spotify and YouTube.

Shakira first performed at the VMAs in 2002 with her rendition of “Objection (Tango),” and was the first artist to perform a song entirely in Spanish at the ceremony alongside Alejandro Sanz when they sang “La Tortura” in 2005.

Taylor Swift leads this year’s VMA nominations with eight, while SZA comes in second with six nominations. Nicki Minaj, Doja CatMiley CyrusSam SmithOlivia Rodrigo and Kim Petras each have five nominations, and Blackpink and Diddy tie Shakira’s four. Demi Lovato, Karol G, Måneskin, and Stray Kids are confirmed to perform at the ceremony, with MTV announcing more performers soon.

Camila Cabello’s “Breathe Into It” Sessions for Calm Now Available on Spotify

Camila Cabello is embracing the calm

The 26-year-old Mexican-Cuban American singer’s Breathe Into It sessions for Calm are available on Spotify as part of a partnership to make mindfulness more accessible in day-to-day life.

Camila CabelloEleven of the meditation app’s shows are now on the streaming platform, specially curated to support mental wellbeing by helping improve sleep, reducing stress and anxiety and building mindful habits. Therefore, those without a Calm subscription can still enjoy the practices the platform has to offer.

In Cabello Breathe Into It sessions, he “Havana” singer discusses the unpredictable nature of life, and how she found grace, peace and positivity amid struggles with boundaries and social media.

The superstar has often cited meditation as a useful practice in her life, noting that turning off social media and opting to meditate “helps me so much.”

Those looking for a dose of mindfulness can also enjoy episodes of Calm for Sleep, Calm for Stress & Anxiety, Calm for Meditation, Calm for Beginners, Calm for Kids, and episodes of Daily Mindfulness featuring voices from Jay Shetty, Mel Mah and Tamara Levitt.

Stream Cabello’s Breathe Into It episodes on Spotify here , and if you’re looking for more, sign up for Calm here.

Jennifer Lopez Teases That “This Is Me … Now” Album About Ready for Release

Jennifer Lopez’s highly anticipated new album may be released in the near future…

After first teasing her new album in November, the 53-year-old Puerto Rican superstar announced on Instagram that This Is Me … Now is just about ready for release.

Jennifer LopezLopez kept things vague in her post, simply sharing a black and white photo of her posing in front of a wall emblazoned with the title This Is Me…Now.

“Album delivery day ✨ #THISISMENOW,” she wrote in her caption.

It’s unclear what she means by “delivery day,” but J.Lo did confirm earlier this year that fans could definitely expect her ninth studio album by the end of the summer season.

“My upcoming album This Is Me … Now is coming out this summer,” she shared in March for Spotify’s new Countdown Pages feature. “Yes, you heard it here first. I’m super excited.”

This Is Me … Now serves as a follow-up to Lopez’s similarly titled 2003 record This Is Me … Then, which was dedicated to her partner at the time, Ben Affleck. The two were engaged in 2002 before parting ways in early 2004 — that is, until 2022, when the couple rekindled their romance. Now married to Affleck, Lopez has confirmed that This Is Me … Now is also inspired by Affleck and their stronger-than-ever relationship.

“The reason we’re here is because I want to capture this moment in time because it is even better than the first time,” the “Jenny From the Block” musician told Zane Lowe last year. “We captured me at this moment in time when I was reunited with the love of my life, and we decided we were going to be together forever. The whole message of the album then is this love exists. This is a real love.”

Amazon Prime Releases Trailer for Justina Machado’s New Series “The Horror of Dolores Roach”

Justina Machado is bringing the Horror…

Amazon Prime has released the official trailer for its new series The Horror of Dolores Roach, starring the 50-year-old Puerto Rican actress, premiering on July 7.

Justina Machado The trailer for the eight-episode series previews the capabilities of Dolores Roach’s “magic hands.”

The Amazon Original based on the Spotify podcast of the same name and created by Aaron Mark’s one-woman play Empanada Loca, is a contemporary Sweeney Todd-inspired story.

Machado plays Dolores Roach, a woman just released after an unjust 16-year prison sentence, and she returns to a gentrified Washington Heights.

Dolores reunites with an old stoner friend, Luis (Alejandro Hernández), who lets her live and work as a masseuse in the basement under his empanada shop. When the promise of her newfound stability is quickly threatened, “Magic Hands” Dolores is driven to shocking extremes to survive.

Mark created, wrote and directed the original podcast and penned the series’ pilot script.

The new series comes from Mark, who also serves as co-showrunner and executive producer with Dara Resnik, alongside executive producers Daphne Rubin-Vega; Jason Blum, Chris McCumber, Jeremy Gold, and Chris Dickie for Blumhouse Television; Dawn Ostroff, Mimi O’Donnell, and Justin McGoldrick for Spotify; Gloria Calderón Kellett for GloNation Studios; and Roxann Dawson, who directed the pilot.

The Horror of Dolores Roach also stars Kita Updike, K. Todd Freeman, Jean Yoon, Marc Maron, Judy Reyes and Jeffery Self.

Maron is set to play “Gideon Pearlman”, Luis and Dolores’ Long Island-based landlord who is the new owner of the building where they reside and is the home of Empanada Loca. Yoon will play “Joy,” who has owns the laundromat next door, while Reyes will play “Marcie,” who runs the neighborhood weed business and becomes Dolores’ nemesis.

Bizarrap Named to Time Magazine’s 2023 Next Generation Leaders List

Bizarrap is leading the next generation through his music…

The 24-year-old Argentine DJ, producer and hitmaker has been named to Time magazine’s 2023 “Next Generation Leaders” list this week, which spotlights 10 global trendsetters and trailblazers.

Bizarrap, Bizarrap can usually be spotted in the background of his videos, back to the camera, shades obscuring his eyes, giving the floor—or, more accurately, the mic—to the artists he invites on the mega-popular YouTube music video series he started four years ago.

In an article titled “Viral Hitmaker Bizarrap Wants His Music to Speak for Itself,” Bizarrap—known for his fiery “BZRP Music Sessions” with Shakira, Nicky Jam, Quevedo and Nathy Peluso, to name a few—opened up to about the importance of people getting to know his music.

“I make music every day,” he told TIME. “I like thinking about ideas for my videos, making teasers. I’m always thinking about the next step.”

His numbers are impressive: 7.2 billion views on YouTube, 41.8 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Several of his videos and songs have hundreds of millions of views and streams. And Bizarrap, real name Gonzalo Julián Conde, has done it all without releasing an album.

 

But Bizarrap isn’t the only Latinx artist to be named to the list…

Rene Silva, a Brazilian journalist, is highlighted for launching his own newspaper covering the entire favela, as Brazil’s informal ­neighborhoods are known, at the age of 11.In 2005,

Silva persuaded teachers at his school in the Complexo de Alemão district to let him join the student newspaper—despite protests from older kids who thought he was too young. Within months he outgrew that gig, recruiting four other children to help him launch his own newspaper.

“I used to look through papers and I didn’t see the favela I knew represented,” he says. “The media only ever talked about drug trafficking, violence, death—so people from outside thought that’s all there is here.”

Eighteen years later, Voz  das Comunidades continues to chip away at those stereotypes. Now formally recognized as an NGO, it has 35 staff members who cover stories on culture, politics, sports, education, and problems of state neglect.

Click here to see the complete list.

Ice Spice Teams Up with Taylor Swift for “Karma” Remix

Ice Spice has landed an out of this world collaboration…

The 23-year-old Dominican American rapper/singer, whose real name is Isis Naija Gaston, has joined voices with Taylor Swift on the remix to “Karma” from Swift’s Midnights album.

Ice SpiceThe single was released at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, May 26.

The fresh-faced star in mainstream hip-hop, who collected her first top 10 hits after going viral last fall, co-signs Swift’s philosophy that what goes around comes back around, in her favor: “It’s okay, baby, you ain’t gotta worry, karma never gets lazy / So, I keep my head up, my bread up, I won’t let up,” she raps.

“Collaborating with Ice Spice on ‘Karma’ was one of the most natural things,” Swift said in an audio snippet, shared by Spotify’s official Twitter account. “She reached out through her team, just kind of saying, ‘Hey, Ice has been a big fan of Taylor’s since she was a little kid, would love to collaborate if that was ever something that came about.’”

As it turned out, the feelings were mutual. “I had been listening to her nonstop, like getting ready for my [Eras] tour, I was just listening to Ice Spice constantly,” revealed the “Anti-Hero” singer. “So I immediately got her number and said, ‘Hey, would you wanna do your version of ‘Karma’? Do you relate to this?’ So she jumped in headfirst.”

“Getting to know her has been so special because I am blown away by her,” Swift echoed in her Spotify segment. “In my opinion, she’s the one to watch. Watching her work ethic and how thoughtfully she approaches her career, she’s like my new favorite artist and I’m so honored that she’s on the song.”

Ice also called Swift the “sweetest person ever” following the remix announcement, and on Friday shared an adorable photo to her Instagram Stories with the singer in the studio.

The remix appears on Swift’s Midnights (The Til Dawn Edition).

Peso Pluma Celebrating Historic Selection to Spotify RADAR Program

Peso Pluma is on the radar

The 23-year-old Mexican singer/songwriter, at the center of today’s Regional Mexican music wave, is officially part of the Spotify RADAR program, which is dedicated to spotlighting and supporting emerging artists at all stages of their development.

Peso Pluma“It’s pretty big to me because I’m the first Mexican artist to do this. I’m so proud and very thankful,” says Peso Pluma of his selection. “It’s big for the country, the genre and the industry in general. We’re doing pretty good and we’re going to keep working to share our music.”

In the past, the program has provided a platform for artists across the globe, including The Kid LAROI, Zach Bryan, Doechii, Quevedo, PinkPatheress, and over 500 others since its start in in 2020.

For many, Peso Pluma appeared out of nowhere. “Ella Baila Sola,” Eslabon Armado’s smash hit with Peso Pluma, was as explosive a collaboration in the Spanish-language music space. Peso Pluma quickly became the de facto face of a movement overnight, much to his own surprise.

“I knew this was gonna happen, but I didn’t know at what level and what speed,” he tells Billboard. “I knew I was gonna do good in Mexico and the Spanish-speaking countries, but this went worldwide [so fast]. I’m thankful for that.”

For his early fans, Peso Pluma has been creating earworm collaborative anthems for a handful of years, through early hits like “El Belicón alongside Raúl Vega  – which went viral on social media and brought in 10 million views on YouTube in a single month – and projects including his debut set, Ah y Qué?

To date, “Ella Baila Sola” has secured a number of firsts, most notably becoming the first regional Mexican song to reach the top 10 of the Hot 100 chart — peaking at No. 5 – and the first to top Billboard‘Streaming Songs chart in its 10-year history.

Peso Pluma and Eslabon Armado also broke a number of Spotify records, becoming the all-time most-streamed música mexicana track in one day globally and the most streamed Latin track in the U.S in one single day last month.

“Música mexicana is no longer regional – it’s global,” says Spotify head of U.S. Latin artist partnerships Eddie Santiago, noting the genre’s growth of 431% over the last five years. “It’s been incredible supporting Peso Pluma’s meteoric rise, and look forward to this next phase of his career.”

While the effect of “Ella Baila Sola” has led to unprecedented global attention on the regional Mexican space, it’s important to note that the regional Mexican genre isn’t exactly a genre. Encompassing an array of unmistakably Mexican styles of music, including norteño, corridos, banda, rancheras, mariachi and more, regional Mexican serves as an overarching umbrella term for a set of genres that had never before been afforded nuance on a mainstream level.

Growing up on artists like Ariel Camacho, Peso Pluma, born Hassan Laija, developed his love for música mexicana as a kid spending his early years growing up in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Later, the influence of hip-hop and reggaeton also found their way into the songs he’d write. Today, he painstakingly stitches together 19th century Mexican sounds with modern genres, bringing both to the Spotify stage ahead of his upcoming debut album, and a single that he’s been teasing on social media.

So what does Peso Pluma want to do next?

“I just wanna go to the Grammys and win something, you know? There’s too many things I wanna accomplish,” says the artist. “I want to have my album be welcomed by the people, I want it to have the same streams as singles do. I’m showing another part of la doble p to people.”