Scott Mescudi to Star in Disney+’s Sci-Fi Adventure “Crater”

Scott Mescudi is preparing for a crate(r) experience…

The 37-year-old part-Mexican American actor/singer, known as Kid Cudi in the music world, has joined the ensemble of sci-fi adventure Crater for Disney Plus.

Kid Cudi

Mescudi will star opposite Isaiah Russell-Bailey, Billy Barratt, Orson Hong, Thomas Boyce and Gifted’s Mckenna Grace in the film.

Kyle Patrick Alvarez is on board to direct.

The film will be overseen by Disney’s live-action team with hopes to shoot in the spring. Shawn Levy and Dan Levine will produce through their 21 Laps Entertainment banner.

Crater is described as a coming-of-age story about a boy growing up on a lunar colony who takes a trip to explore a mysterious crater with his four best friends. Mescudi will play Russell-Bailey’s dad.

John Griffin penned the script. The film was originally set up at 20th Century Fox with Levy circling the directing chair, but after it moved to Disney Levy chose to focus on producing duties as the film gained momentum.

Mescudi has been busy in the past year most recently seen in HBO and Luca Guadagnino series We Are Who We Are, earning some of the best reviews of his career. On the film side, he was last seen in Bill & Ted Face The Music. He can be seen next in the drama Dreamland opposite Gary Oldman. He most recently finished production on the Ti West horror pic X

Kid Cudi Launches Production & Music Management Company ‘Mad Solar’

Kid Cudi is expanding his entertainment empire…

The 36-year-old half-Mexican American Grammy-winning recording artist and actor, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, has partnered with Dennis Cummings and Karina Manashil to launch the production and music management company Mad Solar with the backing of Bron, which provides corporate back office and production support, including financing, marketing, and sales.

Kid Cudi

“Beyond excited to be launching my production company Mad Solar and partnering with Bron, whose creative vision and storytelling has transformed the industry,” Mescudi said. “I am so very proud of the slate that we are developing and can’t WAIT for you all to see what we got cookin’.”

Mad Solar is producing the upcoming Netflix animated series Entergalactic, which Mescudi co-created alongside Kenya Barris. Based on original music by Mescudi, the series, which Mescudi writes, executive produces and stars in, follows a young man on his journey to discover love.

Additionally, Mad Solar has teamed with A24 and Bron Studios on the horror film X. Written and directed by Ti West, X stars Mia Goth, Mescudi and Jenna Ortega. Mescudi is an executive producer on the film, which will begin production early 2021.

“Scott Mescudi’s growth as a creative and an entrepreneur has been impressive,” said Aaron L. Gilbert, Bron chairman. “For Bron, the strategic relationship with Mad Solar is key in our efforts to support the entertainment industry’s top creatives, as well as expand Bron’s access to the best in class music and sports talent through Mad Solar’s management division.”

Mescudi can be seen in Season 3 of HBO’s Westworld and Nick Jarecki’s indie feature Dreamland opposite Gary Oldman. He also had a key supporting role in MGM’s Bill & Ted Face The Music and played one of the leads of Luca Guadagnino’s HBO series We Are Who We Are.

Jenna Ortega In Talks to Star in the Horror Thriller “X”

X marks the spot for Jenna Ortega.

The 18-year-old Puerto Rican and Mexican American actress is in final talks to star opposite Scott Mescudi (aka Kid Cudi) and Mia Goth in X, the next horror thriller from director Ti West.

Jenna Ortega

The film will be a co-production between A24 and BRON Studios, who will also co-finance.

West will write and direct the pic with A24, Jacob Jaffke, Kevin Turen, Sam Levinson, and Ashley Levinson producing through their Little Lamb Productions. Mescudi will executive produce.

Plot details are being kept under wraps but the film is expected to bare similarities of West’s past films that put him on the map.

Production is expected to start at the top of 2021.

Ortega was most recently seen in the Netflix sequel, The Babysitter: Killer Queen, and several films she has coming out in 2021 including Paramount and Spyglass’s Scream 5, which has her as one of the leads.

Mescudi was most recently seen in HBO and Luca Guadagnino series We Are Who We Are, earning some of the best reviews of his career. On the film side, he was last seen in Bill & Ted Face The Music. He can be seen next in the drama Dreamland opposite Gary Oldman.

Karol G Sizzles in Just-Released “X” Music Video Alongside the Jonas Brothers

Karol G is the Lady in Red phoning it in…

The 29-year-old Colombian reggaeton singer appears in the energetic music video for “X,” her new single with the Jonas Brothers.

Karol G

Set against a white background, the video features the JoBros dancing, enjoying a drink and playing instruments inside individual phone screens. Karol G soon appears on a fourth screen, wearing a sizzling all-red ensemble as she sings her verses.

“She said oh oh oh, kiss me like your ex is in the room,” they sing in the infectious hook.

The Jonas Brothers and Karol G will perform the new song on The Voice’s two-hour finale airing at 9:00 pm EST/PST Tuesday (May 19) on NBC.

Karol G Teaming Up with the Jonas Brothers for New Single “X”

Karol Gis doing more than keeping up with the Jonases

The 29-year-old Colombian reggaeton singer-songwriter is joining voices with the Jonas Brothers for the band of brothers’ new single “X.”

Karol G

The JoBros revealed the artwork for the new single, which shows a white outlines letter X on top of red lips, on their social media accounts.

Without giving too many details, the Jonas Brothers also announced that “X” will be released this Friday, May 15.

On release day, KevinJoe, and Nick Jonas will take part in and answer fan questions in a virtual SiriusXM Hits 1 Celebrity Session hosted by The Morning Mash Up, where they’ll interact with an audience of frontline healthcare workers and their families from across the country. 

The Jonas Brothers will talk about their music, including their upcoming collaboration with Karol G.

Their Karol G-assisted track marks the second time the Jonas Brothers have teamed up with a Latin act, following the 2019 summer bop “Runaway” with Sebastian Yatra,Daddy Yankee and Natti Natasha.

Demi Lovato & Clean Bandit’s “Solo” the Most Shazamed Song of the Year

Demi Lovato is the queen of identification…

More people Shazamed Clean Bandit and the 26-year-old part-Mexican American​’s single “Solo” than any other song this year, according to year-end data from the music-identifying company, Shazam.

Demi Lovato

Nicky Jam and J Balvins “X” and Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa‘s “One Kiss” followed in the second and third rankings, respectively.

Meanwhile, Cardi B has two singled in the Top 10. The 26-year-old half-Dominican American rap superstar’s collaboration with Maroon 5, “Girls Like You,” comes in at No. 7. Her chart-topping single “I Like It,” featuring J Balvin and Bad Bunny comes in at No. 10.

Artist discovery on the platform was up 13.2 percent this year from last, with more than 2 million artists Shazamed in 2018.

J Balvin was the second most Shazamed artist of the year, behind Drake.

Top 10 Most Shazamed Songs

1. “Solo”, Clean Bandit Feat. Demi Lovato​
2. “X”, Nicky Jam & J Balvin
3. “One Kiss”, Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa
4. “In My Mind”, Dynoro & Gigi D’Agostino
5. “Perfect”, Ed Sheeran
6. “Leave A Light On”, Tom Walker
7. “Girls Like You”, Maroon 5 Feat. Cardi B
8. “Friends”, Marshmello & Anne-Marie
9. “Flames”, David Guetta & Sia
10. “I Like It”, Cardi B & Bad Bunny & J Balvin

Most Shazamed Songs by Genre
Pop: “Perfect”, Ed Sheeran
Hip-Hop: “I Like It”, Cardi B & Bad Bunny & J Balvin
Rock/Alternative: “Feel It Still”, Portugal. The Man
Dance: “Solo”, Clean Bandit Feat. Demi Lovato
Country: “You Make It Easy”, Jason Aldean
R&B/Soul: “Love Lies”, Khalid & Normani
Latino: “X”, Nicky Jam & J Balvin
K-Pop: “FAKE LOVE”, BTS

Ozuna & J Balvin Lead the Pack of Latin American Music Awards Nominees with Nine Each

Ozuna and J Balvin are the men of the hour…

The 26-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton and Latin trap singer and the 33-year-old Colombian reggaeton singer lead the list of nominees for the 2018 Latin American Music Awards (Latin AMAs) with nine nods each.

Ozuna & J Balvin

Close behind is Nicky Jam with eight nods; Daddy Yankee with six; Bad Bunny, Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga and Christian Nodal with five; and Luis Fonsi, Maluma, Romeo Santos, Shakira and Wisin with four nods each.

In the tradition of the American Music Awards (AMAs), the Latin AMAs pay tribute to the top Latin artists in the market today with fans voting for the ultimate winners.

In terms of nominations, 10 artists are up for artist of the year: Bad Bunny, Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga, Christian Nodal, Daddy Yankee, J Balvin, Luis Fonsi, Maluma, Nicky Jam, Ozuna and Shakira.

Ozuna and Balvin are also both up for favorite artist-male, favorite artist, urban and favorite album-urban and album of the year for Odisea and Vibras, respectively. In addition, Ozuna is up for song of the year and favorite song-urban for “Escápate Conmigo,” his hit with Wisin. “Me Niego,” by Reik featuring Ozuna and Wisin is up for favorite song –pop, and “Sobredosis,” by Romeo Santos featuring Ozuna is up for favorite song – tropical.

On his end, Balvin’s “Mi Gente” with Willy William featuring Beyonce is up for song of the year and favorite song-urban, while “X” by J Balvin with Nicky Jam is up for song of the year and favorite song-urban.

This year’s new artist of the year category is particularly competitive, with Bad Bunny, Manuel Turizo, Raymix and Sebastian Yatra vying for the award.

The Latin AMAs honors artists in pop/rock, regional Mexican, urban, and tropical genres. Nominees are based on key fan interactions with music, including sales, airplay, streaming and social activity tracked by Billboard through its data partners Nielsen Music and Next Big Sound for data covering the periods of Aug. 11, 2017 through Aug. 9, 2018. Winners are decided by fan votes.

The Latin AMAs are scheduled to air live October 25 on Telemundo from The Dolby Theater in Hollywood.

Here’s the full list of nominees:

Artista del Año / Artist of the Year
Bad Bunny
Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Christian Nodal
Daddy Yankee
J Balvin
Luis Fonsi
Maluma
Nicky Jam
Ozuna
Shakira

Nuevo Artista del Año / New Artist of the Year
Bad Bunny
Manuel Turizo
Raymix
Sebastián Yatra​

Sencillo del Año / Song of the Year
Becky G feat. Bad Bunny – “Mayores”
Daddy Yankee – “Dura”
J Balvin & Willy William feat. Beyoncé – “Mi Gente”
Luis Fonsi & Demi Lovato – “Échame La Culpa”
Maluma & Nego do Borel – “Corazón”
Nicky Jam & J Balvin – “X”
Wisin feat. Ozuna – “Escápate Conmigo”

Álbum del Año / Album of the Year
Christian Nodal – Me Dejé Llevar
J Balvin – Vibras
Nicky Jam – Fénix
Ozuna – Odisea
Wisin – Victory

Artista Favorita – Femenina / Favorite Artist – Female
Becky G
Jennifer Lopez
Karol G
Natti Natasha
Shakira

Artista Favorito – Masculino / Favorite Artist – Male
Daddy Yankee
J Balvin
Maluma
Nicky Jam
Ozuna​

Dúo o Grupo Favorito / Favorite Duo or Group
Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Calibre 50
CNCO
La Arrolladora Banda El Limón de René Camacho
Zion & Lennox

Artista Favorito – Pop / Favorite Artist – Pop
CNCO
Luis Fonsi
Shakira

Álbum Favorito – Pop / Favorite Album – Pop
CNCO – CNCO
Juanes – Mis Planes Son Amarte
Sebastián Yatra – Mantra

Canción Favorita – Pop / Favorite Song – Pop
Carlos Vives & Sebastián Yatra – “Robarte Un Beso”
Enrique Iglesias feat. Bad Bunny – “El Baño”
Luis Fonsi & Demi Lovato – “Échame La Culpa”
Reik feat. Ozuna & Wisin – “Me Niego”
Shakira & Nicky Jam – “Perro Fiel”

Artista Favorito – Regional Mexicano / Favorite Artist – Regional Mexican
Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Calibre 50
Christian Nodal

Álbum Favorito – Regional Mexicano / Favorite Album – Regional Mexican
Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga – La Mejor Versión De Mí
Christian Nodal – Me Dejé Llevar
T3r Elemento – Underground

Canción Favorita – Regional Mexicano / Favorite Song – Regional Mexican
Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga – “Tu Postura”
Calibre 50 – “Corrido de Juanito”
Christian Nodal – “Me Dejé Llevar”
La Arrolladora Banda el Limón de René Camacho – “Entre Beso y Beso”
Raymix – “Oye Mujer”

Artista Favorito – Urbano / Favorite Artist – Urban
J Balvin
Maluma
Ozuna

Canción Favorita – Urbano / Favorite Song – Urban
Becky G feat. Bad Bunny – “Mayores”
Daddy Yankee – “Dura”
J Balvin & Willy William feat. Beyoncé – “Mi Gente”
Nicky Jam & J Balvin – “X”
Wisin feat. Ozuna – “Escápate Conmigo”

Álbum Favorito – Urbano / Favorite Album – Urban
J Balvin – Vibras
Ozuna – Odisea
Yandel – #Update

Artista Favorito – Tropical / Favorite Artist – Tropical
Gente de Zona
Nacho
Romeo Santos
Canción Favorita – Tropical / Favorite Song – Tropical
Nacho – “Báilame”
Romeo Santos feat. Nicky Jam & Daddy Yankee – “Bella y Sensual”
Romeo Santos feat. Ozuna – “Sobredosis”
Silvestre Dangond & Nicky Jam – “Cásate Conmigo”
Steve Aoki, Daddy Yankee, Play-N-Skilz & Elvis Crespo – “Azukita”

Álbum Favorito – Tropical / Favorite Album – Tropical
Carlos Vives – VIVES
Orquesta Akokán – Orquesta Akokán
Victor Manuelle – 25/7

Artista Favorito – Crossover / Favorite Crossover Artist
Camila Cabello
Cardi B
Demi Lovato

Tour Favorito / Favorite Tour
Enrique Iglesias & Pitbull
Jennifer Lopez
Luis Miguel
Romeo Santos
Timbiriche

Video Favorito / Favorite Video
Anitta “Medicina”
Juanes “Pa Dentro”
Nacho “No te Vas”
Residente & Dillon Francis Feat. iLe “Sexo”
Ricardo Arjona “El Cielo a Mi Favor”

Cardi B Tops YouTube’s Top 10 Songs of the Summer lists in the US and Globally

Cardi B is the Queen of Summer on YouTube

Summer nay be drawing to a close, and most people couldn’t get enough of the 25-year-old half-Dominican American’s Cardi B’s “I Like It” featuring Bad Bunny and J Balvin.

Cardi B

YouTube has revealed its Top 10 Songs of the Summer lists in the U.S. and globally, naming the top songs that were most popular around the world during the hot weather months.

The songs are ranked by their global and U.S. views across YouTube between May 28, 2018, and August 25, 2018.

“I Like It” nabbed the No. 1 spot in the U.S., becoming the favorite song for many people living in states like Florida, California, Texas, New York and Nevada.

Meanwhile, the “Te Bote” remix with Casper, Nio Garcia, DarellNicky Jam, Bad Bunny and Ozuna, lands the No. 2 spot in the global list, following Maroon 5’s“Girls Like You” featuring Cardi B.

But the “I Like It” and “Te Bote” squads were not the only ones putting Latinos in the forefront this summer. In fact, five of the Top 10 Songs of the Summer on the global list belong to Latin artists.

Becky G andNatti Natasha’s “Sin Pijama” lands at No. 4. Followed by Cardi B’s “I Like It” featuring J Balvin and Bad Bunny at No. 5. Nicky Jam and J Balvin stand strong at No. 6 with “X” and Daddy Yankee sits at No. 7 with his catchy single, “Dura,” further proving that Latin music is the perfect go-to for a summer playlist.

Here are the complete YouTube lists:

YouTube Top 10 Songs of the Summer US List:

  1. Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin – “I Like It”
  2.  Juice WRLD – “Lucid Dreams”
  3. Maroon 5 – “Girls Like You” ft. Cardi B
  4. Drake – “In My Feelings”
  5. Ella Mai – “Boo’d Up”
  6. XXXTENTACION – “SAD!”
  7. Tyga – “Taste” (Official Video) ft. Offset
  8. 6ix9ine, Nicki Minaj, Murda Beatz – “FEFE”
  9. Casper – “Te Bote” (Remix) feat Nio García, Darell, Nicky Jam, Bad Bunny, Ozuna
  10. 10. Post Malone – “Psycho” ft. Ty Dolla $ign

YouTube Top 10 Songs of the Summer Global List:

  1. Maroon 5 – “Girls Like You” ft. Cardi B
  2. Casper – “Te Bote” (Remix) feat Nio García, Darell, Nicky Jam, Bad Bunny, Ozuna
  3. BLACKPINK – “‘뚜두뚜두” (DDU-DU DDU-DU)
  4. Becky G, Natti Natasha – “Sin Pijama”
  5. Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin – “I Like It”
  6. Nicky Jam x J. Balvin – “X” (EQUIS)
  7. Daddy Yankee – “Dura”
  8. Neha Kakkar, Dhvani Bhanushali & Ikka Singh – “Dilbar”
  9. Drake – “In My Feelings”
  10. Ed Sheeran – “Perfect”

Nicky Jam Becomes Hublot’s First Latin Music Ambassador

Nicky Jam is having a Hublot time…

The 37-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American reggaetón star has joined Hublot’s ambassador club, as the brand’s first Latin music ambassador.

Nicky Jam

“It’s an immense privilege for me, as a real watch enthusiast, to become the ambassador for a Swiss watchmaking brand like Hublot,” Nicky Jam said in a statement. “In Latin America, Hublot is an absolute reference thanks to the technical quality and incomparable aesthetics of its watches.”

Nicky Jam joins a select group of Hublot “ambassadors” that includes Usain Bolt,Eli Manning and Floyd Mayweather.

Only two of the ambassadors Hublot has listed on its website are music artists: pianist Lang Langand Depeche Mode. And only two others have Latin American roots: soccer star Peléand Arturo Fuentecigars.

“Nicky is driven by a talent that has made him into a global star, with his hits getting the whole world dancing,” said Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot, in a statement. “A positive energy leading to success, a value shared by Hublot. And we will certainly commemorate this Football World Cupby celebrating with his music!”

Guadalupe was referring to the fact that the FIFA World Cupanthem “Give It Up!” is performed by Nicky Jam, with Will Smithand Kosovar singer Era Istrefi.

That song, however, is not the only Nicky Jam hit on Switzerland’s charts: “X,” his hit with J Balvin, landed in the country’s top 20.

J Balvin Earns 10th No. 1 on Billboard Latin Airplay Chart with “Ambiente”

Make that a Perfect 10 for J Balvin

The 33-year-old Colombian urban singer has earned his 10th  No. 1 on the Billboard Latin Airplay chart with “Ambiente,” the fourth single off his latest studio album, Vibras.

J Balvin

The track zooms 10-1 in its 11thweek on the chart dated July 7, and earns the week’s Greatest Gainer honors thanks to a 70 percent increase in audience (to 16.74 million in the week ending July 1), according to Nielsen Music.

The nine-position leap is the biggest jump to No. 1 since March 10, when Wisin’s “Todo Comienza En La Disco,” featuring Yandel and Daddy Yankee, rose 11 ranks (12-1).

“Ambiente,” which was released on April 13, is Balvin’s third No. 1 of the year. It follows “X” with Nicky Jam, which topped the list on the April 28-dated chart, ruling for two weeks, and “Machika” with Neon and Anitta which led for one week on March 24.

“I’m extremely grateful for so many blessings, for seeing how every day we are reinventing ourselves musically,” Balvin tells Billboard. “Thankful as we go surprising the audience with different sounds and “Ambiente” has not been the exception. I am very happy with this 10th  No. 1. Thank you for everything, onwards with the Latin culture.”

For a second week in a row, Balvin has three songs in the top 10 (“Ambiente” at No. 1, “X” with Nicky Jam steady at No. 2, and “I Like It” with Cardi B and Bad Bunny moving 7-10).

Further, for the first time in his career, Balvin holds down the top two at the same time — an achievement only seven other acts have managed in the chart’s 23-year history. Balvin is also just the fifth act to be both Nos. 1 and 2 as a lead artist, and the first since Pitbull in 2011 (Oct. 15, 2011: “Rain Over Me,” featuring Marc Anthony was No. 1, and “Give Me Everything,” featuring Ne-Yo,Afrojack and Nayer was No. 2).

“Ambiente” also lands atop the Latin Rhythm Airplay chart, rising 8-1. It’s Balvin’s 10th No. 1.

Earlier this week, Balvin earned his first-ever No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 alongside Cardi B and Bad Bunny with their hit single “I Like It.”