Luis Vázquez Becomes Youngest Soloist to Top Billboard’s Tropical Airplay Chart with “Tu Fan”

He may not be old enough to drive, but Luis Vázquez is already making a splash in the music world…

The 15-year-old Puerto Rican singer has notched his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart as “Tu Fan” rises 3-1 on the July 3-dated survey.

Luis Vázquez

At 15, Vázquez becomes the youngest soloist to arrive at the summit since the chart began in October 1994. He beats out previous record-holder Leslie Grace, who was 17 when “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” topped the chart in October 2012.

“I’m beyond happy that at the beginning of my career I already have a No. 1 on the Tropical Airplay chart,” Vázquez tells Billboard. “Thankful to God for helping me achieve this dream with my first song and to my family for all the support and love. Grateful also to the public who has supported the song from the beginning and to my second family, JAK Entertainment.”

“Tu Fan” tops the chart with 3.8 million in audience impressions earned in the week ending June 27, up 39%, according to MRC Data. The song is Vázquez’s first entry on any Billboard chart.

“We, at JAK Capitol, are extremely proud of Luis’ great achievement!“ Andy Martinez, CEO, JAK Entertainment tells Billboard. ‘We believe in his talent and our mission is to continue working hard so the tropical genre sees more young talent.”

As it lands atop the summit, “Tu Fan” joins a list of five other tracks that have topped the Tropical Airplay chart in 2021.

Song, Artist, Debut/ Peak Date
“De Vuelta Pa’ La Vuelta,” Daddy Yankee & Mark Anthony, Jan. 2
“Travesuras,” Nio García, Casper Mágico, Ozuna, Wisin & Yandel, Myke Towers, Flow La Movie, March 6
“Un Amor Eterno,” Marc Anthony, March 20
“Víctimas Las Dos,” Victor Manuelle & La India, May 29
“Si Supieras,” Prince Royce, June 5
“Tu Fan,” Luis Vázquez, July 3

“I’m super excited for this No. 1 because from the beginning this project sounded incredible and ambitious with a great artist who exceeded my expectations even at such a young age,” Juan Miguel, the song’s producer, tells Billboard. “I am sure that Luis will be a salsa icon and I will be very happy in the future to have been part of his history.”

Beyond its Latin Airplay coronation, “Tu Fan” also sees progress on the all-genre Latin Airplay chart, where the track advances 41-32.

“Tu Fan” is part of Vázquez’s debut studio album, Comienzos. The eight-track set, released February 12, debuted and peaked at No. 17 on the Tropical Albums chart.

Abraham Mateo Becomes Youngest Solo Male Artist to Lead Billboard’s Latin Airplay Chart

It’s a big first for Abraham Mateo

The 19-year-old Spanish singer-songwriter has earned his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart.

Abraham Mateo

Mateo’s single “Se Acabó El Amor,” featuring Yandeland Jennifer Lopezarrives leaps 7-1 on the chart dated June 16 with a 61-percent gain in airplay audience in the week ending June 10, according to Nielsen Music.

Mateo is the youngest solo male artist to lead the Latin Airplay chart, which launched in 1994.

The youngest solo artist to top the list remains Leslie Grace, who hit No. 1 in 2012 with “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” when she was 17 years old.

“Se Acabó El Amor” is the second chart entry for Mateo, who made his chart debut last November with “Loco Enamorado,” featuring Farrukoand Christian Nodal. It peaked at No. 12 on the January 13, 2018-dated list.

“Se Acabó El Amor” is also the 11th No. 1 for Yandel, while it’s the seventh for Lopez. It’s also Lopez’s second No. 1 of 2018 — the first time she’s notched two No. 1s in a calendar year.  She previously ruled the tally for one week with “Amor, Amor, Amor” featuringWisin(Feb. 3).

Concurrently, “Se Acabó El Amor” jumps to the top of the Latin Rhythm Airplaychart and ranks in the top 10 of the Latin Pop Airplaychart. It also ascends eight ranks on the Hot Latin Songstally, to No. 19, besting Mateo’s lone previous entry on the chart with “Loco,” which peaked at No. 22 (Jan. 13).

Grace Lands Recording Deal with Sony Music U.S. Latin

Leslie Grace has a new recording contract…

The 20-year-old Dominican-American singer, the youngest female to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Latin charts, has signed a recording deal with Sony Music U.S. Latin.

Leslie Grace

Under the new deal, Grace – who scored two No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart before she was 19 years old –will release an EP of new material likely in June. A first single will hit radio in May.

Grace, who was previously signed to Top Stop Music, the label launched by producer Sergio George (and also the first home of Prince Royce), tells Billboard in an exclusive interview that her new material will follow the bachata/pop vein of her previous fare.

“It will be very infused with lots of R&B and it’s infused with my roots, which are bachata,” says Grace, who speaks and sings in both English and Spanish. “We have a song called ‘Crazy Crazy’ and the introduction is very R&B and it has drums in there. But when the verse starts, it goes straight to bachata. It’s the two worlds I come from.”

Grace was born in New York City to Dominican parents and was raised straddling both cultures, much like Romeo Santos and Prince Royce.

She came to prominence with her debut single, a bilingual cover of “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,” which reached No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart in 2012. Grace released two albums on Top Stop, but going to Sony, she says, will allow her to take her music to other markets.

“A big focus is opening new markets for Leslie,” adds Sony Music U.S. Latin president Nir Seroussi, noting that Grace is also “very appealing” to brands.

Working with her, adds Seroussi, “is like a dream come true.”