Tag Archives: Telemundo

Maná to Receive Icon Award at This Year’s Billboard Latin Music Awards

Posted on by
Reply

Maná has officially reached icon status…

The Mexican rock band, considered one of the best-selling Latin music artists of all time, will be honored with the Icon Award at the 2021 Billboard Latin Music Awards, according to Billboard and Telemundo.

Mana

The chart-topping and Grammy-winning band will be recognized for “having carved out a career that has not only remained relevant through time but has also made them the most distinguished band in their genre, celebrated globally for achieving both musical and commercial success.”

Comprised of Fher Olvera, Alex González, Sergio Vallín and Juan Calleros, Maná will be honored during the awards ceremony set to take place on September 23 live on Telemundo.

Maná will also deliver an exclusive performance of their new single, a remake of the classic “El Reloj Cucú” featuring 12-year-old vocalist Mabel, during the awards show.

Additionally, Maná’s frontman will be joined by Mabel to host the Inside the Soul of the Artist panel, which will honor single mothers and discuss growing up fatherless and the role heartbreak plays in the creative process, at the Billboard Latin Music Week — which returns to Miami September 20-24.

Natti Natasha to Take Part in Special Motherhood Talk During This Year’s Billboard Latin Music Week

Posted on by
Reply

Natti Natasha is opening up about being a new mom…

The 34-year-old Dominican singer and songwriter will be taking part in a special talk entitled “There’s No Hood Like Motherhood” at this year’s Billboard Latin Music Week.

Natti Natasha

Returning to Miami in September, the weeklong event unites the top Latin hitmakers, influencers and industry leaders, and features live performances and conversations with superstars.

Natti Natasha will appear alongside Telemundo’s Adamari López for a candid conversation on wellness, babies and superstardom.

The “Antes Que Salga El Sol” singer gave birth to her first child, a baby girl named Vida Isabelle, in May with longtime manager and fiancé Raphy Pina of Pina Records.

Recently announced panels include the “Mano a Mano” panel with Rauw Alejandro and Myke Towers, during which both chart-topping artists will discuss new projects, upcoming tours and the challenges and advantages for the new wave of reggaetón artists; “Making the Hit, Live” masterclass with Lunay and his longtime producers Chris Jedi and Gaby Music; and the “Coming Out Latin” panel with Raymix, Esteman, Erika Vidrio and Johnny Caz of Grupo Firme for an insightful and heartfelt conversation on the challenges and rewards of coming out as a Latin music act.

The star-studded 2021 Latin Music Week lineup — headlined by Daddy Yankee, Karol G and Nicky Jam — also includes participation by Anitta, Elena Rose, Myke Towers, Nicki Nicole, Rauw Alejandro, Esteman, Raymix, Kany García, Tainy and Tini, with more to be announced in the coming weeks.

The 2021 Latin Music Week will take place from September 20 to 24 at the Faena Forum in Miami and coincides with the 2021 Billboard Latin Music Awards broadcasting live via Telemundo on September 23.

To register and for more information, visit BillboardLatinMusicWeek.com.

Bad Bunny Leads Pack of Billboard Latin Music Awards Finalists with 22 Nominations

Posted on by
1

Bad Bunny is celebrating a banner year…

The 27-year-old Puerto Rican Latin trap and reggaeton superstar leads the list of finalists for the 2021 Billboard Latin Music Awards – with a bullet!

Bad Bunny

Bad Bunny earned a whopping 22 nods in 13 categories, including artist of the year, songwriter of the year, Hot Latin Songs artist of the year, top Latin rhythm album and top Latin album of the year — with three of his releases up for awards.

It’s a stellar showing that caps an incredible year for Bad Bunny, who was able to place three albums — El Último Tour del Mundo, YHLQMDLG and Las Que No Iban a Salir — atop the Billboard charts during the eligibility period for the awards (Feb. 1, 2020, through the Aug. 7, 2021, charts).

Following Bad Bunny in the double digits is Maluma with 11 nods, including artist of the year and Hot Latin Songs artist of the year, with his global hit “Hawái” up for six awards, including airplay song of the year and Hot Latin Song of the year.

Other multi-finalists include J Balvin with nine nods, and Karol G, Anuel AA and Black Eyed Peas with eight each.

Finalists and winners will be honored at the annual Billboard Latin Music Awards, which will broadcast live on Telemundo from the Watsco Center in Miami on Thursday, Sept. 23, and which will cover 59 categories across the major music genres of Latin pop, tropical, Latin rhythm and regional Mexican.

Balvin and Anuel AA are both up for artist of the year in a category that also includes fellow reggaetón star Ozuna, who is up for seven awards. Balvin also garnered four nods for “Ritmo (Bad Boys for Life),” the blockbuster track with Black Eyed Peas, who are also four-time finalists with “Ritmo.”

Fellow Colombian Karol G is a four-time finalist for her smash “Tusa” (with Nicki Minaj), while Anuel is up for Hot Latin Songs artist of the year and Top Latin Albums artist of the year, primarily on the strength of his sophomore album, Emmanuel.

But while urban music continued to drive the beat of Latin music, regional Mexican music wasn’t far behind, thanks to a new crop of acts who are revamping the genre’s sound and branding.

Leading the way is the group Eslabon Armado with seven nods that include three of their albums: Corta Venas, Tu Veneno Mortal and Vibras de Noche. They’re followed by Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga with four nods, including song of the year for “Que Maldición,” and Los Dos Carnales, who are up for three awards, including regional Mexican song of the year, where they compete against themselves with “El Envidioso” and “Cabrón y Vago.”

Beyond the growing strength of regional Mexican, another highly visible trend in this year’s list of finalists is mainstream music’s growing interest in Latin acts. The leaders of the pack are the Black Eyed Peas, whose album Translation featured mostly Latin acts, and which has two tracks, “Mamacita” and “Ritmo,” up for awards in addition to the Peas’ nod in the crossover artist of the year category. In addition, The Weeknd has seven nods on the strength of “Hawái,” his collaboration with Maluma; Minaj has six on the strength of “Tusa” alongside Karol G; and Snoop Dogg is a finalist for regional Mexican song of the year for “Que Maldición,” his collaboration with Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga.

The Billboard Latin Music Awards were not immune to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligibility for the awards, whose finalists and eventual winners are based exclusively on performance on the Billboard charts, was extended from its usual one-year period to 18 months (from the rankings dated Feb. 1, 2020, through the Aug. 7, 2021, charts), as the 2020 awards were delayed by the pandemic.

And this year, given the pause in touring of the past 18 months, there is no touring category.

But there is a live awards show that will be broadcast once again on the Telemundo network at 8:00 pm ET and preceded by the red carpet one-hour preshow “La Alfombra de Premios Billboard.” The music special will also broadcast simultaneously on Spanish entertainment cable network Universo and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean on Telemundo Internacional.

 

BILLBOARD 2021 LATIN MUSIC AWARDS FINALISTAS

Artista del Año / Artist of the Year:

  • Anuel AA
  • Bad Bunny
  • J Balvin
  • Maluma
  • Ozuna

 Artista del Año, Debut / Artist of the Year, New:

  • Camilo
  • Eslabon Armado
  • Kali Uchis
  • Myke Towers
  • Rauw Alejandro

 Artista Crossover del Año / Crossover Artist of the Year:

  • Black Eyed Peas
  • Dua Lipa
  • Ne-Yo
  • Nicki Minaj
  • The Weeknd

SONG CATEGORIES 

“Hot Latin Song” Canción del Año / Hot Latin Song of the Year:

  • Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, “Dákiti”
  • Black Eyed Peas & J Balvin, “Ritmo (Bad Boys For Life)”
  • Kali Uchis, “Telepatía”
  • Karol G & Nicki Minaj “Tusa”
  • Maluma & The Weeknd, “Hawái”

   “Hot Latin Song”, Colaboración Vocal del Año / Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event:

  • Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, “Dákiti”
  • Bad Bunny & Rosalía, “La Noche De Anoche”
  • Black Eyed Peas & J Balvin, “Ritmo (Bad Boys For Life)”
  • Karol G & Nicki Minaj “Tusa”
  • Maluma & The Weeknd, “Hawái”

 “Hot Latin Songs” Artista del Año, Masculino / Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Male:

  • Anuel AA
  • Bad Bunny
  • J Balvin
  • Jhay Cortez
  • Maluma

“Hot Latin Songs” Artista del Año, Femenina / Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Female:

  • Kali Uchis
  • Karol G
  • Natti Natasha
  • Rosalía
  • Selena Gomez

 “Hot Latin Songs” Artista del Año, Dúo o Grupo / Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:

  • Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
  • Calibre 50
  • Eslabon Armado
  • Grupo Firme
  • Los Dos Carnales

 “Hot Latin Songs” Sello Discográfico del Año / Hot Latin Songs Label of the Year:

  • Epic
  • Interscope
  • Rimas
  • Sony Music Latin
  • Universal Music Latin Entertainment

“Hot Latin Songs” Casa Disquera del Año / Hot Latin Songs Imprint of the Year:

  • Aura Music
  • Duars
  • Rimas
  • Sony Music Latin
  • Universal Music Latino

 Canción del Año, Airplay /Airplay Song of the Year:

  • Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, “Dákiti”
  • Karol G & Nicki Minaj “Tusa”
  • Maluma & The Weeknd, “Hawái”
  • Ozuna, Karol G & Myke Towers, “Caramelo”
  • Prince Royce, “Carita de Inocente”

 Sello Discográfico del Año, Airplay / Airplay Label of the Year:

  • Remex
  • Rimas
  • Sony Music Latin
  • Universal Music Latin Entertainment
  • Warner Latina

 Casa Disquera del Año, Airplay / Airplay Imprint of the Year:

  • Aura
  • Fonovisa
  • Rimas
  • Sony Music Latin
  • Universal Music Latino

 Canción del Año, Ventas / Sales Song of the Year:

  • Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, “Dákiti”
  • Black Eyed Peas & J Balvin, “Ritmo (Bad Boys For Life)”
  • Black Eyed Peas, Ozuna & J. Rey Soul “Mamacita”
  • Karol G & Nicki Minaj, “Tusa”
  • Maluma & The Weeknd, “Hawái”

 Canción del Año, Streaming / Streaming Song of the Year:

  • Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, “Dákiti”
  • Bad Bunny “Yo Perreo Sola”
  • Bad Bunny, “Vete”
  • Bad Bunny, Jowell & Randy & Ñengo Flow, “Safaera”
  • Maluma & The Weeknd, “Hawái”

ALBUM CATEGORIES 

“Top Latin Album” del Año /Top Latin Album of the Year:

  • Anuel AA, Emmanuel
  • Bad Bunny, El Último Tour del Mundo
  • Bad Bunny, Las Que No Iban a Salir
  • Bad Bunny, YHLQMDLG
  • Maluma, Papi Juancho

 “Top Latin Albums” Artista del Año, Masculino / Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Male:

  • Anuel AA
  • Bad Bunny
  • J Balvin
  • Ozuna
  • Romeo Santos

 “Top Latin Albums” Artista del Año, Femenina / Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Female:

  • Becky G
  • Kali Uchis
  • Karol G
  • Selena Gomez
  • Shakira

 “Top Latin Albums” Artista del Año Dúo o Grupo / Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:

  • Aventura
  • Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
  • Black Eyed Peas
  • Eslabon Armado
  • Los Legendarios

 “Top Latin Albums” Sello Discográfico del Año / Top Latin Albums Label of the Year:

  • Glad Empire
  • Rancho Humilde
  • Rimas
  • Sony Music Latin
  • Universal Music Latin Entertainment

 “Top Latin Albums” Imprint del Año / Top Latin Albums Imprint of the Year:

  • Del
  • Real Hasta La Muerte
  • Rimas
  • Sony Music Latin
  • Universal Music Latin Entertainment


LATIN POP CATEGORIES 

Artista “Latin Pop” del Año, Solista / Latin Pop Artist of the Year, Solo:

  • Camilo
  • Enrique Iglesias
  • Kali Uchis
  • Luis Fonsi
  • Shakira

Artista “Latin Pop” del Año, Dúo o Grupo /  Latin Pop Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:

  • CNCO
  • Maná
  • Mau y Ricky
  • Piso 21
  • Reik

 Canción “Latin Pop” del Año / Latin Pop Song of the Year:

  • Black Eyed Peas, Ozuna & J.Rey Soul “Mamacita”
  • Kali Uchis “Telepatía”
  • Reik, Farruko & Camilo “Si Me Dices Que Sí”
  • Sebastián Yatra, Rauw Alejandro & Manuel Turizo “TBT”
  • Shakira & Anuel AA “Me Gusta”

 “Latin Pop Airplay” Sello Discográfico del Año / Latin Pop Airplay Label of the Year:

  • Epic
  • Rimas
  • Sony Music Latin
  • Universal Music Latin Entertainment
  • Warner Latina

 “Latin Pop Airplay” Casa Disquera del Año / Latin Pop Airplay Imprint of the Year:

  • Real Hasta La Muerte
  • Rimas
  • Sony Music Latin
  • Universal Music Latino
  • WK

       Álbum “Latin Pop” del Año / Latin Pop Album of the Year

  • Camilo, Mis Manos
  • Camilo, Por Primera Vez
  • Kali Uchis, Sin Miedo (Del Amor y Otros Demonios)
  • Piso 21, El Amor En Los Tiempos del Perreo
  • Selena Gomez, Revelación

 “Latin Pop Albums” Sello Discográfico del Año /Latin Pop Albums Label of the Year:

  • Interscope Geffen A&M
  • Sony Music Latin
  • Thirty Tigers
  • Universal Music Latin Entertainment
  • Warner Latina

 “Latin Pop Albums” Casa Disquera del Año / Latin Pop Albums Imprint of the Year:

  • Capitol Latin
  • Hecho a Mano
  • Sony Music Latin
  • Universal Music Latino
  • Warner Latina

TROPICAL CATEGORIES 

Artista Tropical del Año, Solista / Tropical Artist of the Year, Solo:

  • Carlos Vives
  • Elvis Crespo
  • Marc Anthony
  • Prince Royce
  • Romeo Santos

 Artista Tropical del Año, Dúo o Grupo / Tropical Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:

  • Aventura
  • Gente de Zona
  • La Sonora Dinamita
  • Monchy & Alexandra
  • N’Klabe

        Canción Tropical del Año / Tropical Song of the Year:

  • Daddy Yankee & Marc Anthony, “De Vuelta Pa’ La Vuelta”
  • Marc Anthony, “Un Amor Eterno”
  • Nio García, Casper Mágico, Ozuna, Wisin & Yandel, Myke Towers & Flow La Movie, “Travesuras”
  • Prince Royce, “Carita de Inocente”
  • Prince Royce, “Lotería”

 “Tropical Airplay” Sello Discográfico del Año /Tropical Airplay Label of the Year:

  • El Cartel
  • LP
  • Pina
  • Sony Music Latin
  • Universal Music Latin Entertainment

 “Tropical Airplay” Casa Disquera del Año / Tropical Airplay Imprint of the Year:

  • El Cartel
  • Hecho a Mano
  • Pina
  • Sony Music Latin
  • WK

Álbum Tropical del Año / Tropical Albums of the Year:

  • El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, En Cuarentena
  • Frankie Ruiz, TheGreatest Salsa Ever, Vol. 1
  • Gloria Estefan, Brazil305
  • Prince Royce, Alter Ego
  • Sonora Ponceña, Hegemonía Musical

“Tropical Albums” Sello Discográfico del Año / Tropical Albums Label of the Year:

  • Discos Fuentes
  • Sony Music Latin
  • The Orchard
  • Universal Music Latin Entertainment
  • Zacarías Ferreira

 “Tropical Albums” Casa Disquera del Año / Tropical Albums Imprint of the Year:

  • Norte
  • Premium Latin
  • Sony Music Latin
  • The Orchard
  • Top Stop

REGIONAL MEXICAN CATEGORIES 

Artista Regional Mexicano del Año, Solista /Regional Mexican Artist of the Year, Solo:

  • Christian Nodal
  • El Fantasma
  • Junior H
  • Lenin Ramírez
  • Natanael Cano

 Artista Regional Mexicano del Año, Dúo o Grupo / Regional Mexican Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:

  • Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
  • Calibre 50
  • Eslabon Armado
  • Los Ángeles Azules
  • Los Dos Carnales

 Canción Regional Mexicana del Año / Regional Mexican Song of the Year:

  • Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga & Snoop Dogg, “Que Maldición”
  • El Fantasma & Los Dos Carnales, “Cabrón y Vago”
  • Lenin Ramírez, featuring Grupo Firme, “Yo Ya No Vuelvo Contigo”
  • Los Dos Carnales, “El Envidioso”

“Regional Mexican Airplay” Sello Discográfico del Año / Regional Mexican Airplay Label of the Year:

  • Afinarte
  • Lizos
  • Remex
  • Sony Music Latin
  • Universal Music Latin Entertainment

 “Regional Mexican Airplay” Casa Disquera del Año / Regional Mexican Airplay Imprint of the Year:

  • Afinarte
  • Disa
  • Fonovisa
  • Lizos
  • Remex

 Álbum Regional Mexicano del Año / Regional Mexican Albums of the Year:

  • Christian Nodal, Ayayay!
  • Eslabon Armado, Corta Venas
  • Eslabon Armado, Tu Veneno Mortal
  • Eslabon Armado, Vibras de Noche
  • Junior H, Atrapado En Un Sueño

“Regional Mexican Albums” Sello Discográfico del Año /Regional Mexican Albums Label of the Year:

  • Afinarte
  • DEL
  • Rancho Humilde
  • Sony Music Latin
  • Universal Music Latin Entertainment

 “Regional Mexican Albums” Casa Disquera del Año / Regional Mexican Albums Imprint of the Year:

  • Afinarte
  • DEL
  • Fonovisa
  • Lizos
  • Rancho Humilde

LATIN RHYTHM CATEGORIES  

Artista “Latin Rhythm” del Año, solista / Latin Rhythm Artist of the Year, Solo:

  • Anuel AA
  • Bad Bunny
  • J Balvin
  • Maluma
  • Ozuna

 Artista “Latin Rhythm” del Año, Dúo o Grupo / Latin Rhythm Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:

  • Jowell & Randy
  • Los Legendarios
  • Play-N-Skillz
  • Wisin & Yandel
  • Zion & Lennox

 Canción “Latin Rhythm” del Año Latin / Rhythm Song of the Year:

  • Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, “Dákiti”
  • Bad Bunny “Yo Perreo Sola”
  • Black Eyed Peas & J Balvin, “Ritmo (Bad Boys For Life)”
  • Karol G & Nicki Minaj “Tusa”
  • Maluma & The Weeknd, “Hawái”

“Latin Rhythm Airplay” Sello Discográfico del Año /Latin Rhythm Airplay Label of the Year:

  • Glad Empire
  • Rimas
  • Sony Music Latin
  • Universal Music Latin Entertainment
  • Warner Latina

“Latin Rhythm Airplay” Casa Disquera del Año /Latin Rhythm Airplay Imprint of the Year:

  • Aura
  • La Industria
  • Rimas
  • Sony Music Latin
  • Universal Music Latino

 Álbum “Latin Rhythm” del Año / Latin Rhythm Album of the Year:

  • Anuel AA, Emmanuel
  • Bad Bunny, El Último Tour del Mundo
  • Bad Bunny, Las Que No Iban a Salir
  • Bad Bunny, YHLQMDLG
  • Maluma, Papi Juancho

“Latin Rhythm Albums” Sello Discográfico del Año /Latin Rhythm Albums Label of the Year:

  • Glad Empire
  • Rich
  • Rimas
  • Sony Music Latin
  • Universal Music Latin Entertainment

 “Latin Rhythm Albums” Casa Disquera del Año /Latin Rhythm Albums Imprint of the Year:

  • Aura
  • Real Hasta La Muerte
  • Rimas
  • Sony Music Latin
  • Universal Music Latino

WRITERS/PRODUCERS/PUBLISHERS CATEGORIES 

Compositor del Año / Songwriter of the Year:

  • Anuel AA
  • Bad Bunny
  • Edgar ‘Edge’ Barrera
  • J Balvin
  • Tainy

 Editora del Año / Publisher of the Year:

  • RSM Publishing, ASCAP
  • Sony Discos Music Publishing LLC, ASCAP
  • Universal Music Corp, ASCAP
  • WC Music Corp, ASCAP

    Corporación Editora del Año / Publishing Corporation of the Year:

  • Kobalt Music
  • RSM Publishing
  • Sony Music Publishing
  • Universal Music
  • Warner Chappell Music

 Productor del Año / Producer of the Year:

  • Mora
  • Ovy On The Drums
  • Sky Rompiendo
  • Súbelo Neo
  • Tainy

Florencia Lozano to Appear in Netflix’s Drama Series “Breathe”

Posted on by
Reply

Florencia Lozano is breathe-ing easy…

The 51-year-old Latina actress, best known for portraying Téa Delgado on ABC’s daytime series One Life to Live, has landed a recurring role in Breathe, Netflix’s one-hour drama series from Blindspot creator Martin Gero and writer-executive producer Brendan Gall, and Warner Bros. Television.

Florencia Lozano

Lozano will recur alongside 40-year-old Colombian actor Juan Pablo Espinosa on the series, which stars Melissa Barrera.

In Breathe, written by Gero and Gall, when a small plane crashes in the middle of the Canadian wilderness, a lone woman (Barrera) must battle the elements and odds to survive. Barrera’s Liv is a razor-sharp Manhattan attorney who finds herself profoundly out of her comfort zone when her plane crashes and she must battle for survival.

Lozano and Espinosa will play Liv’s mother and father, respectively.

Lozano co-wrote and stars in Life After You, which was awarded Best Feature and Best Actress at the Nice International Film Festival. She will next be seen in the feature Here After. Her previous television credits include the starring role of Claudia Messina on Netflix’s Narcos, as well as Madam Secretary, The Blacklist, Blue Bloods, Law & Order: SVU, among others.

Espinosa most recently starred in Focus Features’ comedy Half Brothers. His other recent credits include Apple TV’s Acapulco, Cocaine Godmother opposite Catherine Zeta Jones, and a recurring role as Luis Carlos Galán on Netflix’s Narcos. In Latin America, he’s known for his work on El Secretario, A Corazon Abierto and La Fan with NBC/Telemundo, among others.

Osvaldo Benavides to Star in Upcoming Fifth Season of ABC’s “The Good Doctor”

Posted on by
Reply

Something Good is happening for Osvaldo Benavides.

The 41-year-old popular Mexican actor has joined the cast of ABC’s The Good Doctor as a series regular for the upcoming fifth season.

Osvaldo Benavides

Benavides will portray Dr. Mateo Rendón Osma, an incredibly skilled trauma surgeon, who has spent many years working in Guatemala for a Doctors-Without-Borders type of organization. But Mateo hasn’t always been a hero; some rash actions during his residency will be back to haunt him and could complicate things.

He was introduced in The Good Doctor‘s two-part Season 4 finale. The two-episode arc came with a Season 5 series regular option for Benavides, which was picked up after The Good Doctor was renewed last month.

In Part 1 of the Season 4 finale, which aired last week, Mateo met the San Jose St. Bonaventure team and was assisting them with the surgical mission in Guatemala.

Osvaldo Benavides, The Good Doctor

Along with the humanitarian work, sparks flew between Mateo and Dr. Audrey Lim (Christina Chang). After he joined her for a taxi ride from a local bar to the hotel the night before the first surgeries, the duo were kidnapped by a desperate man, and they teamed up to deliver a baby for the man’s niece who was in distress. The two then spent the night together, and judging by the promo for Part 2 of the finale, which airs tonight, June 7, it would not be a one-night stand.

Osvaldo is one of three new series regular additions for Season 5; The Good Doctor recently promoted Season 4 recurring players Noah Galvin, who plays Asher Wolke, and Bria Samoné Henderson (Jordan Allen).

The trio are being named series regulars at the end of a season that is bidding farewell to two original Good Doctor cast members, Nicholas Gonzalez, who exited after the season premiere, and Antonia Thomas, whose final episode is this week.

This marks the first major English-language role for Benavides who has built a formidable resume of Spanish-language starring film and TV roles in Mexico, as well as series for U.S. networks like Univision and Telemundo and global streamers like Netflix.

His most recent credits include Netflix’s Monarca and La suerte de Loli, which is currently airing on Telemundo.

Maluma Becomes First Celebrity to Fully Design a Collection for Balmain

Posted on by
Reply

Maluma is getting some real hands on fashion design experience…

The 27-year-old Colombian singer has teamed up with fashion house Balmain to launch a limited edition collection that’ll be available from April 12 through June 1 in all Balmain stores, including brick and mortar and online.

Maluma

The collection, which includes sneakers, blazers, t-shirts, pants and other ready-to-wear clothing, will also be available at Saks Fifth Avenue as of April 15.

This marks Balmain’s second-ever celebrity collaboration (the first was with Beyonce), and the first time ever that the brand has collaborated with a celebrity in the actual designing of a collection.

Maluma x Balmain

Although Balmain has featured other celebrities in advertising campaigns and runway shows, it has never actually enlisted a celebrity to help design a full, name-branded line.

The brand’s high profile, along with the haute-couture retail price of the collection, underscores how entrenched Maluma is now in the global fashion world and how valuable his endorsement and name is perceived by high fashion.

Maluma x Balmain

“Maluma, more than being an incredible singer, is bringing a lot to the fashion community with his joy and his happiness and the fact that he’s always playing his style from different kinds of houses from around the world, mixing different cultures as well,” Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing told Billboard. “For Balmain, which is a French brand from Paris, the collaboration with Maluma is obviously [adding] to Balmain and pushing the aesthetic more internationally.”

“It’s been one of my goals to work with a respected fashion house on a collection, but this journey was more exciting, as Olivier pushed me to design with him and sketch looks that I personally will wear off the stage and showcase high couture with a bit of Papi Juancho,” says Maluma, referencing both his album name and alter ego.

Maluma x Balmain

Items in the Balmain + Maluma collection range from a black cotton T-shirt that retails for $495, to $1,500 high top sneakers to a $2,555 multi-color print bomber jacket. Photos and billboards of Maluma wearing the new line will be featured at Balmain stores and at Saks.

Maluma, a Balmain fan who’s often worn the brand in high-profile appearances, first collaborated with Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing for his 2020 performance at the MTV Video Music Awards.

“From that, point we just exchanged texts and were like, ‘Why don’t we work together? Because your aesthetic and your vision of music can really combine with my fashion world,’” says Rousteing.

“We ended up riffing on the sherbet tones, sexy styling and ’80s silhouette of Crockett and Tubbs for Maluma’s amazing performance of Hawái,” says Rousteing in a statement. “And, after the success of that VMA appearance, we knew we had to push our partnership further.”

Initially, the plan was to design a collection that Maluma would wear for his 2020 tour. When Covid-19 shifted those dates, “we decided to release our Balmain-Maluma collaboration as a special, limited-edition collection,” as Rousteing explains.

Maluma has long publicly spoken of his desire to partner with a fashion brand and he is known for wearing couture in his tours and photo shoots. At a Billboard Latin Music Conference in 2018, he specifically said he wanted to launch his own line clothing with a high fashion brand.

While Balmain would not disclose financials on the deal, Maluma, as a creative partner and face of the line, will be compensated in some way.

Most immediately, he is expected wear his new line during the Latin American Music Awards that air live April 15 on Telemundo.

“This process was exciting, as I have always dreamt to design one day, and I was happy to have a friend like Olivier let me express creatively through fashion,” Maluma says.

Alejandro Fernández to Receive Icon Award at Latin American Music Awards

Posted on by
Reply

Alejandro Fernández has officially reached icon status…

The 49-year-old Mexican singer will receive the Icon Award during the sixth edition of the Latin American Music Awards, Telemundo has announced.

Alejandro Fernandez

With a career that spans more than four decades, the son of regional Mexican legend Vicente Fernández has sold over over 35 million records and has collaborated with artists like Beyoncé, Plácido Domingo, Christina Aguilera and Marc Anthony.

Most recently, his Grammy-nominated 2020 album Hecho En México debuted at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Latin Albums chart becoming the first act to achieve No. 1s on the tally in the 1990s, ‘00s, ‘10s, and ‘20s.

The Icon Award is given to an artist who interprets our life in their songs, forms an important part of Latin America’s history, and is considered a musical hero whose name exceeds all generations, according to statement by Telemundo.

“In addition to his immense contribution to Latin music, his service to those most in need, coupled with his constant support for Latino immigrants in the United States, make him worthy of the Latin AMAs Icon Award.”

The Jalisco-born star will also perform at this year’s Latin AMAs, which will take place on April 15 and will be broadcast live from the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida.

Fernández joins the previously-announced star-studded lineup that includes Ozuna, Maluma, Banda MS, Camilo, Carlos Vives, Eslabon Armado, Karol G, Los Dos Carnales, José Luis “El Puma” Rodríguez and Piso 21. The ceremony will also include a special tribute to the late regional Mexican singer-songwriter Joan Sebastian.

Following safety protocols to protect the health and safety of all involved, the 2021 awards show will honor some of the most influential Latin artists of today, as voted by fans in 25 categories including pop, urban, tropical, regional Mexican and the newly-added favorite virtual concert.

This year’s top nominees include Karol G and J Balvin with nine nods each, followed by Bad Bunny with eight, Ozuna with seven, and Anuel AA and Camilo with six each.

The 2021 Latin AMAs, hosted by actress Jacqueline Bracamontes, will air at 7:00 pm ET on Thursday, April 15, via Telemundo and will broadcast simultaneously on Universo and throughout the Americas on Telemundo Internacional.

Anitta to Perform at This Year’s Latin American Music Awards

Posted on by
Reply

Anitta will be bringing the heat to the Latin AMAs…

Telemundo has announced the second wave of performers to take center stage at the 2021 Latin American Music Awards next month, with the 27-year-old Brazilian singer/songwriter making the list.

Anitta

Anitta joins a roster of new additions to the lineup that includes Carrie Underwood, Juanes, Manuel Turizo, Pitbull, Ricky Martin, Wisin, Yandel, Ziggy Marley, Alaina Castillo, Cami, Carlos Rivera, Juhn, Mariah Angeliq, Natanael Cano, Sofía Reyes and Yendry.

Underwood will join David Bisbal for their first-ever television performance of “Tears of Gold,” Ricky and Carlos Vives, as well as Ziggy and Maluma, will present their upcoming collaborations, Juanes will serenade fans with a new song from his soon-to-be-released album, and Karol G will take the stage with Mariah Angeliq for an exclusive TV premiere, to name a few.

They join the first wave of performers, which included Ana Bárbara, Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga, Camilo, Carlos Vives, Bisbal, Eslabon Armado, Gerardo Ortiz, Joss Favela, Karol G, Los Dos Carnales, Maluma, Myke Towers, Nicky Jam, Piso 21 and a special tribute to the late Regional Mexican singer-songwriter Joan “El Poeta del Pueblo” Sebastian.

Following safety protocols to protect the health and safety of all involved, the 2021 awards show will honor some of the most influential Latin artists of today, as voted by fans in 25 categories including pop, urban, tropical, regional Mexican, and the newly added favorite virtual concert.

The 2021 Latin AMAs, hosted by actress Jacqueline Bracamontes, will air at 7:00 pm ET on Thursday, April 15, from the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida, via Telemundo and will broadcast simultaneously on Universo and throughout the Americas on Telemundo Internacional.

Ozuna to Receive Extraordinary Evolution Award at the Latin American Music Awards

Posted on by
Reply

It’s an extraordinary time for Ozuna…

The 29-year-old Puerto Rican urban singer will receive the Extraordinary Evolution Award during the sixth edition of the Latin American Music Awards, according to Telemundo.

Ozuna

With seven Latin AMAs nominations this year — including artist of the year and collaboration of the year — the “Caramelo” singer will be honored for his achievements as an artist who has demonstrated change and accelerated growth to reach the pinnacle of success in a short period of time. Previous recipients of the award include Becky G (2019) and Maluma (2018).

The chart-topping artist, who most recently dropped the joint album Los Dioses with Anuel AA and is featured on the new animated film Tom and Jerry, will also perform at this year’s Latin AMAs, which will take place on April 15 and will be broadcast live from the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida.

Ozuna joins the previously announced star-studded lineup that includes Maluma, Banda MS, Camilo, Carlos Vives, Eslabon Armado, Karol G, Los Dos Carnales, José Luis “El Puma” Rodríguez and Piso 21. The ceremony will also include a special tribute to the late regional Mexican singer-songwriter Joan Sebastian.

Following safety protocols to protect the health and safety of all involved, the 2021 awards show will honor some of the most influential Latin artists of today, as voted by fans in 25 categories including pop, urban, tropical, regional Mexican and the newly added favorite virtual concert.

This year’s top nominees include Karol G and J Balvin with nine noms each, followed by Bad Bunny with eight, Ozuna with seven, and Anuel AA and Camilo with six each.

The 2021 Latin AMAs, hosted by actress Jacqueline Bracamontes, will air at 7:00 pm ET on Thursday, April 15, via Telemundo and will broadcast simultaneously on Universo and throughout the Americas on Telemundo Internacional.

José Luis Rodríguez, aka “El Puma,” To Receive Legend Award at Latin American Music Awards

Posted on by
Reply

José Luis Rodríguez is ready for a legendary experience…

Acclaimed singer The 78-year-old Venezuelan singer and actor, commonly known as “El Puma,” is set to receive the Legend Award during the sixth edition of the Latin American Music Awards, according to Telemundo.

José Luis Rodríguez

Presented to artists who have endured the test of time, “El Puma” has serenaded fans for six decades with anthemic ballads like “Culpabloe Soy Yo,” “Dueño De Ti” and “Agárrense De Las Manos.”

The chart-topping artist has also recorded more than 60 albums and has participated in more than 34 soap operas, movies and international series.

Rodriguez will also perform at this year’s Latin AMAs, which will take place on April 15 and will be broadcast live from the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida.

Rodriguez joins the previously announced star-studded lineup that includes Maluma, Banda MS, Camilo, Carlos Vives, Eslabon Armado, Karol G, Los Dos Carnales and Piso 21.

The ceremony will also include a special tribute to the late regional Mexican singer-songwriter Joan Sebastian.