Carin León Signs Exclusive Global Publishing Agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group

Carin León has a new worldwide publishing deal…

The 34-year-old Mexican singer-songwriter and Regional Mexican star has signed an exclusive global publishing agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG).

Carin LeonA leading force in the música mexicana genre, the Sonora-born artist has established himself as one of Mexican music’s most versatile and eclectic artists today recording in norteño, banda, R&B and pop.

“There is no doubt, Carin León is one of the most talented artists currently,” Yadira Moreno, UMPG managing director of Mexico and Central America & vp of new business development for Latin America, said in a statement. “He can blend R&B, Folk, Country and Mexican Music easily and gracefully. We are excited to collaborate with Carin and foster his composing career internationally.”

“I feel deeply honored to embark on this creative journey alongside Universal Music Publishing Group. This partnership marks a thrilling new chapter in my career, and I’m eagerly looking forward to expressing my passion and creativity through the art of music,” added Leon.

Since launching his solo career in 2018, León has helped usher a new era for regional Mexican music. With three career entries on the Billboard Hot 100 and 12 on the Hot Latin Songs tally, he scored his first top 10 on the Top Latin Albums chart with Colmillo de Leche, released in May. It was the first studio album released on the singer-songwriter’s own label, Socios Music, which he launched late last year.

Jody Gerson, UMPG chairman and CEO, said: “Carin León’s career is limitless and transcends Música Mexicana. His soulful voice, songwriting, live shows and ambition goes beyond language. I look forward to working with Jorge Juarez and our entire global team to support Carin as he opens doors creatively across musical genres and geographies.”

León joins UMPG’s roster, which includes other regional Mexican powerhouses such as Juan Gabriel, Espinosa Paz, Horacio Palencia, Grupo Firme, Yahritza Y Su Esencia and Ivan Cornejo, among others.

Feid to Perform at Los Angeles’ Calibash Festival in January

Feid is feelin’ (Cali)bashful…

The 31-year-old Colombian singer and songwriter is among an all-star lineup of Latin music luminaries set to take the stage at the Calibash festival.

FeidFeid is part of a roster than includes YandelFarrukoPrince RoyceYoung MikoMaria Becerra and Darell.

The event will take place on Friday, January 12, at the Crypto.com Arena in the heart of Los Angeles, and is presented by SBS Entertainment, LaMusica and Mega 96.3 FM.

“Calibash is the iconic live concert event of the year for Latin music fans,” stated Alessandra Alarcón, president of SBS Entertainment, in a press release. “We could not be happier with the lineups and with creating a spinoff of Calibash that reflects the totality of where music stands today.”

SBS Entertainment is expanding its horizons with the launch of Calibash MX, a Mexican live music concert brand that promises to showcase the brightest stars in Mexican music.

This inaugural counterpart is scheduled for Saturday, January 13, and will feature a stellar lineup that includes Grupo Frontera, Edgardo NuñezYng LvcasYahritza y Su Esencia and Conexión Divina.

“Mexican music has taken global music charts by storm and our generation is breathing new life into some of the formats’ biggest subgenres,” continued Alarcón. “The corrido-boom, as we like to call it, inspired us to grow the Calibash franchise with Calibash MX, a live concert that will showcase some of the hottest artists who are adding a unique and special twist to the different kinds of Mexican music.”

Tickets for this event will go on sale Friday, October 27, at 7:00 am PT. Open the LaMusica app or tune in to KXOL-FM Mega 96.3 for more updates leading to Calibash 2024.

Becky G Releases New Album “Esquinas”

Becky G is turning a new corner(s)

The 26-year-old Mexican American singer/rapper has released the new album Esquinas via Kemosabe Records/RCA Records.

Becky GBeck G’s new album is a heartfelt exploration of her dual identity as a proud 200 percenter. The title translates to “corners,” symbolizing the meeting point between two cultures.

Celebrating her Mexican and American roots, the Inglewood native weaves a vibrant musical tapestry that spans corridos, rancheras and baladas while showcasing her deep reverence for her heritage.

For instance, “2ndo Chance,” featuring Ivan Cornejo’s haunting vocals, kicks off the album with a dreamy, nostalgic ballad that sets the tone for an introspective journey through her bicultural upbringing. Then there’s the cheeky “Cries in Spanish,” a whimsical duet with fellow Mexican-American DannyLux, that’s set to sad sierreño. The album’s latest single, “Querido Abuelo,” stands as a touching tribute to her late grandfather, a gut-wrenching balada which honors the sacrifices made by our ancestors as children of immigrants. Becky’ Gs vocals are at their most poignant here, manifesting her maturity and emotional depth.

Also starring Yahritza y Su Esencia, Chiquis, Angela and Leonardo Aguilar, Peso Pluma, and Gabito Ballesteros, her third studio album is a testament to her growth as a “genreless” artist, she claims, and her commitment to representing her bloodline proudly.

Carin León Earns Fourth No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay Chart with “Indispensable”

Carin León has another indispensible hit…

The 34-year-old Mexican singer-songwriter has earned his fourth No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart as his latest single, “Indispensable,” climbs 5-1 to lead the August 19-dated ranking.

Carin Leon“Indispensable” is the only song from León’s third studio album Colmillo de Leche to enter Regional Mexican Airplay so far.

The 18-track set, a collage of genres that have influenced the Hermosillo-born singer-songwriter, took him to a top 10 on both Top Latin Albums and Regional Mexican Albums charts, at No. 5 high and No. 10, respectively, on charts dated June 3.

“Indispensable” takes the lead on Regional Mexican Airplay with Greatest Gainer honors, thanks to a 22% gain in audience impressions, to 7.7 million, earned in the U.S. during the August 4-10 according to Luminate.

With the leap, the song ejects Yahritza y Su Esencia’s “Frágil,” with Grupo Frontera, from the top slot following a one-week reign. The track falls to No. 5.

With “Indispensable,” León earns his fourth No. 1 on the radio list and first as a soloist, unaccompanied by any other collaborator. He previously ruled with the six-week champ “Que Vuelvas,” with Grupo Frontera (between January-March), and through a guest spot on Banda MS’ “Ojos Cerrados” for three weeks in 2022. His first ruler, though, arrived with “El Tóxico,” with Grupo Firme, which dominated for two weeks in 2021.

Beyond its Regional Mexican Airplay coronation, “Indispensable” rises from No. 11 to its new No. 6 peak on the overall Latin Airplay survey, giving León his sixth top 10 there.

Grupo Frontera Releases Debut Album “El Comienzo”

Grupo Frontera is starting something

The Regional Mexican band has officially released their debut studio El Comienzo.

Grupo FronteraGrupo Frontera originally gained virality with their Morat cover of “No Se Va” and then took advantage of the momentum to release original music — which has earned them seven titles on the Billboard Hot 100, and 10 on the Hot Latin Songs chart (including a No. 1 hit).

Home to 11 tracks, the Rio Grande Valley-based group delivers a traditional norteño-cumbia set with some very heartfelt and relatable lyrics — mostly about love and heartbreak.

Most notable are the star-studded collaborations. For “Alta Voz,” Grupo Frontera brings back Junior H in his sad boy era, singing about missing someone and calling them despite the hour; in “Las Flores,” the band and Yahritza y Su Esencia’s second collaborative effort, we find an upbeat, ‘90s-inspired grupero melody backing a vocal about regretting falling in love; and on focus single “El Amor de Su Vida,” with Grupo Firme, a man makes his peace that the love of his life is with another person.

El Comienzo also includes previously released collabs “Que Vuelvas” with Carin León, “Ojitos Rojos” with Ke Personajes, and the Bad Bunny-assisted “Un X100to,” which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 earlier this year.

Yahritza Martinez to Receive Special Recognition at SESAC Latina Awards

Yahritza Martinez is officially breaking through

The 16-year-old Mexican American Regional Mexican artist, the lead singer of Yahritza y Su Esencia, will receive a special honor at the upcoming SESAC Latina Awards 2023.

Yahritza MartinezSESAC will award Martinez with its breakthrough songwriter award.

Argentine producer Federico Vindver is set to receive special honors at the event. He has worked with artists such as Jennifer Lopez, Ricky MartinMarc Anthony and, most recently, Christina Aguilera for her Spanish-language album Aguilera, which was nominated for album of the year at the Latin Grammys 2022.

The ceremony, which will take place on June 27 in Los Angeles, where the song of the year, publisher of the year and songwriter of the year — for both regional Mexican and pop/Latin rhythm — winners will also be announced.

“We love every opportunity to recognize our talented affiliates within the Latin songwriting community and l look forward to bringing everyone together for a night of celebration,” said Sam Kling, chief creative officer, SESAC Performing Rights. “The songs and spirit at the SESAC Latina Music Awards always make it a wonderfully special and unique evening.

“Vindver is a one-of-a-kind versatile producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist that has worked with some of the biggest names in music,” said Celeste Zendejas, VP of SESAC Latina. “Additionally, we are recognizing all that Yahritza has done in her career at such a young age — she has broken several records not only as an artist but as a songwriter as well.”

With “Soy El Único,” Yahritza y Su Esencia’s debut single, Martinez made chart history as the youngest Latin performer to enter the Billboard Hot 100 when the track debuted at No. 20 last year. Subsequently, their seven-track debut EP, Obsessed, peaked at No. 1 on the Regional Mexican Albums chart (dated May 7, 2022). Martinez is just one of the two women (the other being Karol G) who have reached No. 1 on the Latin Songwriters chart.

Peso Pluma & Eslabon Armado Make Billboard Hot 100 Chart History with “Ella Baila Sola”

Peso Pluma and Eslabon Armado are making Billboard Hot 100 history…

The 23-year-old Mexican singer and the American Regional Mexican group have each logged their first Top 10 on the Hot 100 with “Ella Baila Sola” on the chart dated April 22, 2023.

Peso Pluma & Eslabon ArmadoEslabon Armado and Peso Pluma’s “Ella Baila Sola” soars 17-10, led by 24.4 million streams, up 30%, as it wins the Hot 100’s top Streaming Gainer trophy, and jumps 6-3 on Streaming Songs.

Quartet Eslabon Armado, from California, and Peso Pluma, from Mexico, each reach the Hot 100’s top for the first time – as “Ella Baila Sola” makes history as the first regional Mexican song ever to hit the Hot 100’s top 10.

The genre has surged this decade, due in part to exposure on TikTok and other social media, with Gera MX and Christian Nodal’s “Botella Tras Botella” having become the first regional Mexican Hot 100 hit in May 2021, peaking at No. 60.

After “Ella Baila Sola,” Peso Pluma also has the second-highest-charting regional Mexican Hot 100 hit: “La Bebe,” with Yng Lvcas, rises to a new No. 17 best on the latest, April 22-dated chart.

The next-highest-peaking such hits: Yahritza y Su Esencia’s “Soy El Unico” (No. 20, April 2022 – it debuted at that rank, the highest entrance for a regional Mexican song) and Fuerza Regida and Grupo Frontera’s “Bebe Dame” (No. 25, this January).

Among Latin genres, regional Mexican’s arrival in the Hot 100’s top 10 follows that of Latin pop, which, after English-language hits by Gloria Estefan in the 1980s (plus Los Lobos’ “La Bamba,” in Spanish) surged in the late ‘90s and beyond thanks to songs (in varying degrees of English and Spanish) by Enrique Iglesias, Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin, among other stars.

At the same time, Marc Anthony helped tropical break through on the chart. In more recent years, Daddy Yankee and Luis Fonsi’s pop-centered, mostly-Spanish-language “Despacito,” featuring Justin Bieber, spent a then-record-tying 16 weeks at No. 1 in 2017, while, this decade, Bad Bunny, with Spanish-language songs, has carried the torch for Latin rhythm in the top 10.

As for Latin music overall, Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma earn the Hot 100’s third Spanish-language top 10 this year, following two Latin pop hits: Bizarrap and Shakira’s “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” (No. 9, January) and Karol G and Shakira’s “TQG” (No. 7, March).

“Ella Baila Sola” was released on Prajin Parlay/DEL Records, both of which likewise appear in the Hot 100’s top 10 for the first time.

The collaboration concurrently achieves a second week at No. 1 on the multi-metric Hot Latin Songs chart, where it became the first leader for both Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma.

“We didn’t expect for the song to make so much noise!” Pedro Tovar, lead singer for the former act, and the song’s sole author, told Billboard upon its coronation. “I really liked the song when I first wrote it, but I didn’t really expect it to be such a big hit. I previewed it on my stories on Instagram and, two days after, it went viral on TikTok, and that’s when I knew that the song was going to do big numbers.”

“Normally I don’t expect to chart with songs,” Peso Pluma marveled. “We just enjoyed the process of doing it.”

The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. streaming (official audio and official video), radio airplay and sales data.

Yahritza y Su Esencia Teams Up with Grupo Frontera to Release New Single “Frágil”

It’s a fragile time for Yahritza y Su Esencia.

The Mexican regional music group has joined voices with Grupo Frontera for their first collaborative effort, “Frágil.

Yahritza y Su EsenciaThe captivating norteño track is charged with unanswered questions, soul, and emotion.

“Sorry, I don’t know the reason and I put my heart where I shouldn’t have/ I didn’t see the sign,” Yahritza starts off, backed by weeping guitars. “It was I who got their hopes up and though it didn’t work out, I gave you my life,” responds Payo in the first 28 seconds.

The track then transitions into a hard-hitting norteño and cumbia fusion — a sound that’s become signature to Grupo Frontera but new for the siblings’ group that’s known for their sad sierreño style.

Notably are the heartfelt lyrics about having a fragile heart and not knowing how to handle a breakup.

“Why don’t I have a heart like that?/ Like the one they gave you because the one I have is fragile, that’s why you easily broke it,” chants the 16-year-old singer-songwriter.

“Frágil” comes with a simple yet special music video featuring both acts.

DannyLux Named to New Class of Fender Next

DannyLux’s got (Fender) next

The 19-year-old Latino musician has been announced as a member of the new class of Fender Next, an artist development program designed to elevate rising musicians that are pushing guitar forward in music.

DannyLux,Born Daniel Balderrama, DannyLux was born and raised in Palm Springs, California. His love of music began at 6 years of age when his father brought home a guitar that had seen better days.

Daniel’s goal: to write powerful music that will calm you and make you feel better. To inspire people and help them in their time of need, is worth more to him than any amount of money.

But DannyLux isn’t the only Latin act making the grade.

Yahritza Y Su Esencia have been announced as part of the new class of Fender Next.

“When I play my guitar, I am able to dream out loud,” Yahritza says about being part of this program. “I drift into a space that is just me, my guitar and my thoughts and it is a big part of how I roll these ideas out, when writing music.”

Mexico’s Bratty is also part of the new class. He’s a bedroom pop / garage / surf rock project of guitarist and singer-songwriter

This year marks its fifth installment, with previous artist alumni being Sam FenderPhoebe Bridgers, Wet Leg and others.

The 25 artists have been chosen from across North America, Australia, Europe, Asia and Latin America.

This year’s honorees include:

Dayglow (US)
Cafune (US)
Jean Dawson (US)
Bartees Strange  (US)
Adi Oasis (US)
Momma  (US)
Wallice  (US)
Yahritza y Su Esencia  (US)
DannyLux  (US)
Devon Gilfillian  (US)
49 Winchester  (US)
Cecilia Castleman  (US)
Luna Li (CA)
Bratty (MX)
Samm Henshaw (UK)
The Mysterines (UK)
Ruti (UK)
Deyaz (UK)
Tommy Lefroy (UK)
Grentperez (AU)
Ruel (AU)
BREIMEN (JP)
Chili Beans. (JP)
Sunset Rollercoaster (TW)
Wen Zhaojie (CN)

 

Artists involved in Fender Next receive a welcome pack which includes a guitar from the Player Series, loaded with a commemorative gold pick guard, a Custom Fender Road Case and guitar strap, a Mustang Micro, a pedal from Fender’s Hammertone TM series (which will be selected to match to each artists unique sound), as well as PreSonus HD9: Professional Monitoring Headphones.

Those involved will be boosted through Fender’s marketing and social content on TikTok and Instagram, as well as being included on official Fender playlists on music streaming services.

To check out more from this year’s artists, check out the Fender Next playlist on Spotify.

Karol G Rises to No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Songwriters Chart

Karol G has the write stuff…

The 32-year-old Colombian singer/songwriter soars to No. 1 on Billboards Latin Songwriters chart dated March 11, becoming just the second woman to rule the ranking.

Karol GKarol G leads for the first time due to an impressive 16 songwriting credits on the latest Hot Latin Songs chart, all via songs on her new LP Mañana Será Bonito.

The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, making history as the first all-Spanish-language leader by a woman. The only other all-Spanish-language No. 1 albums are Bad Bunny’s El Último Tour del Mundo and Un Verano Sin Ti.

The only other woman to have hit No. 1 on Latin Songwriters is Regional Mexican teen sensation Yahritza Martinez, who tallied four weeks on top in April 2022 due to Yahritza y Su Esencia’s breakthrough single, “Soy El Unico.”

Here’s a recap of Karol G’s entries on the latest Hot Latin Songs chart:

Rank, Title
No. 1, “TQG,” with Shakira
No. 4, “X Si Volvemos,” with Romeo Santos
No. 8, “Mientras Me Curo del Cora”
No. 9, “Gucci Los Paños”
No. 10, “Tus Gafitas”
No. 11, “Gatúbela,” with Maldy
No. 13, “Cairo,” with Ovy on the Drums
No. 14, “Pero Tú,” with Quevedo
No. 16, “Ojos Ferrari,” with Justin Quiles & Ángel Dior
No. 17, “Besties”
No. 19, “Mañana Será Bonita,” with Carla Morrison
No. 24, “Amargura”
No. 25, “Karmika,” with Bad Gyal & Sean Paul
No. 26, “Mercurio”
No. 29, “Danamos Los Amistad”
No. 33, “Carolina”

In the history of the Hot Latin Songs chart, only Bad Bunny and Ozuna have charted at least 16 songs simultaneously. Bad Bunny holds the record for the most in one week: 24, on May 21, 2022, concurrent with the chart start for Un Verano Sin Ti.