Latin
Vicente Fernandez, Towering Icon of Mexican Music, Dies at 81
Vicente Fernández, the towering icon of Mexican ranchera music whose powerful voice defined the lives of generations of fans throughout Latin America, died Sunday morning (Dec. 12) in a hospital in Guadalajara, his family confirms. The cause was complications following surgery for a cervical spine injury after a bad fall last August. Fernández had remained hospitalized since then in stable but serious condition. Over the last 24 hours, his condition deteriorated, according to official posts from his medical team on his official Instagram account. He was 81 years old. Explore See latest videos, charts and news Immediately recognizable for his elegant charro outfits and hat, his bold mustache and his dazzling smile, Fernández was only five-foot-7 but had the stature and bearing of a giant. H...
5 Uplifting Moments in Latin Music This Week (December 11)
From career milestones and new music releases to major announcements and more, Billboard editors highlight the latest news buzz in Latin music every week. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week. Maestro Cares Foundation Gala After a two-year, pandemic-forced hiatus, Marc Anthony and Henry Cárdenas’ Maestro Cares Foundation gala returned live and full force. Colombian star Fonseca performed as the first guest of the evening, and Maestro Cares co-founder Anthony closed with a performance with his full band and special guest Will Ferrell, who played the cowbell on “I Need to Know.” The actor and producer was honored earlier in the evening with the Courage to care award for his philanthropic efforts. “The last time I was here was at my quiceañera,” quipped the actor ...
Inside Badchella: Highlights From Bad Bunny’s ‘P FKN R’ Concert in Puerto Rico
Bad Bunny went big and went home at his “P FKN R” show in Puerto Rico on Friday night (Dec. 10), which also marked his first concert in over two years since his X100Pre Tour. Lines at San Juan’s Estadio Hiram Bithorn began to wrap around the stadium hours before gates opened at 4 p.m. Unofficially coined “Badchella” because of its Coachella-inspired aesthetics, the Puerto Rican artist gave attendees the ultimate fan experience. Explore Explore Bad Bunny See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news As soon as doors opened, fans walked through the Bad Bunny museum that included two huge Bad Bunny inflatables and displayed actual belongings of the artist such as his Bugatti car and countless awards, to name a few. Outside the stadium, a carnival atmosphere with variou...
The Year in Charts: Los Bukis, Grupo Firme & More Top Latin Tours of 2021
Touring in the Latin realm returned in a big way after live music was sidelined by the ongoing pandemic, which shut down any iteration of an in-person concert for nearly 18 months. With the numbers to prove that Latin music is in demand and that fans are more than ready to see their favorite Latin artists live — even if that means having to wear a mask during the entirety of the show — nine of the 40 top tours of 2021 were by a Latin act. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Landing a top 10 spot on the list is Mexican grupero band Los Bukis, who reunited after 25 years for a sold-out stadium tour produced by Live Nation. A week after announcing a three-date tour in June, and selling out those dates in a matter of hours, Los Bukis added additional d...
Latin Artist on the Rise: How Micro TDH Took His Music From the Andes to the World
Venezuelan singer-songwriter and rapper Micro TDH presents today (Dec. 9) his sophomore studio album called Nueve. The 14-track set, which comes four years after Inefable, is his debut album under Warner Music Latina. “It has music for all kinds of people, for all kinds of tastes,” Micro tells Billboard. “An album made with a lot of sweat, a lot of effort, and a lot of blood.” But most importantly, he says, the set “contemplates all the facets of Micro TDH and preserves the essence of the beginning and also my sound today.” Explore Explore Micro TDH See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The Dec. 9 release date is appropriate, as Micro, who has studied numerology for many years, says the number nine is representative to his career and ideology. “You begin to ...
Christian Nodal Merges Past and Present of Regional Mexican Music for ‘Botella Tras Botella’ Tour
At 22 years old, Christian Nodal has rewritten the rules of regional Mexican music, navigating between traditional music and hip-hop and setting a record of No. 1s (13) for a solo act on the Billboard Regional Mexican Airplay chart. On the heels of his chart success, Nodal brought his Botella Tras Botella Tour to Inglewood on Friday Night (Dec. 3), performing his biggest hits to a sold-out crowd at the YouTube Theater, and was joined by surprise guests, including Mexican hip-hop acts Gera MX and Akwid. Explore See latest videos, charts and news Nodal is a Gen-Z sensation who is refreshing regional Mexican music with his mariacheño (mariachi and norteño) sound. And despite using social media to air his grievances to break free from Universal Music, Nodal won a Latin Grammy in September and ...
Carlos Vives’ Despues De Todo Tour Launches With a Colombian Parranda in Miami
It was 1:00 a.m. and Carlos Vives was hosting a meet-and-greet with fans at the FTX Arena (formerly American Airlines Arena) in Miami. Backstage, he was happy and tireless just moments after wrapping up the first show of his highly-awaited Despues de Todo tour on Friday (Dec. 3). Explore See latest videos, charts and news Marking his first U.S. trek since 2018, Vives was itching to hit the road. He dubbed it Despues de Todo because “after everything we have been through, returning to North America, to so many beloved places, to see unforgettable friends and special audiences again, makes this truly a historic moment for me,” the Colombian singer-songwriter said. That same backstage energy was seen when he stepped onstage. Vives officially launched his Despues de Todo tour at 10 p.m. follow...
Everything to Know About Wisin & Yandel’s New Single, Tour & Album — Is This Their Last?
Reggaetón’s duet kings – Wisin & Yandel — have gotten back together for the first time since the pandemic for the new single “Recordar,” an Afrobeat jam co-produced by EDM king David Guetta. The pair have a new album due out in March or April, La Ultima Misión, featuring all new, previously unreleased tracks, including “Recordar.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news In an exclusive Instagram Live chat with Billboard, the pair – speaking from Wisin’s La Base studios in Puerto Rico — spoke to us about the new single, their upcoming tour and whether this could be their last album. Is La Ultima Misión the last Wisin and Yandel álbum? It’s ambiguous. Wisin: We have to think of a memorable end. We have a great album, with great friends, colleagues. Our intention is to close with ...
Sony Latin Iberia Chief Afo Verde Talks Adele, Taking Risks & Cooking on ‘Latin Hitmaker’ Podcast
Afo Verde has been chairman and CEO for Sony Music Latin Iberia since 2012, overseeing the music careers of more than 400 artists, including superstars like Ricky Martin, Shakira, Marc Anthony, Maluma, Ozuna, Romeo Santos, Carlos Vives, Camilo and Rauw Alejandro. Explore Explore Afo Verde See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news But before being a music executive, Verde was a producer and musician — he played guitar with Argentine reggae band La Zimbabwe — who also considered becoming a professional soccer player and an architect and whose life changed after performing as an opening act at a UB40 concert. Verde is featured in this week’s episode of “Latin Hitmaker,” the Billboard podcast that tells the stories of the visionary executives behind the artists and ...
Gigolo y La Exce & Jay Wheeler Show the ‘Dark Side’ of Love in ‘Chantaje’ Video Premiere
Gigolo y la Exce and Jay Wheeler have joined forces for “Chantaje,” premiering exclusively on Billboard below. Kicking off with the melancholic lyrics “You were my sadness and my happiness/ A thorn that I can’t remove,” “Chantaje” (Blackmail) brings to the forefront “the dark side of a relationship that is going through difficult situations,” as described by the Puerto Rican duo in a statement. Wheeler’s dulcet vocals fit in this new romantic reggaeton that follows Gigolo y la Exce’s old-school reggaeton “De La Mata.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The music video, helmed by director Joseph Cavallini and produced by his company Sleeping on Mars, shows all three acts going about their days as a mysterious woman follows them around and snaps pho...
What Some Latin Artists Are Thankful For & Thanksgiving Traditions They Celebrate
The holiday season is upon us, and as we take this time to unwind, spend time with family and friends, it’s also time to express gratitude. “I am most thankful for me and my family being healthy,” Joel Deleon tells Billboard. “During these hard times anything can happen, so I’m very grateful for that and also grateful for my fans. Without them, I wouldn’t be doing what I love and I’m overall grateful for my whole life.” To celebrate Thanksgiving, Latin artists such as Deleon, Justin Quiles, Carolina Ross and Sebastian Yatra told Billboard what they are most thankful for this year, how they celebrate Thanksgiving, and some of the holiday traditions they hold near and dear to their hearts. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news See the heartfelt answers...
Karol G to Make Acting Debut in Upcoming Netflix Series
Karol G will soon make her acting debut, she revealed last week — just a day after her “Bichota” won a Latin Grammy for best reggaeton performance. “I have a lot of things that I want to do in my life,” she told Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show late last week. “I want to push myself as a woman and see how far I can go in everything.” During the interview, the Colombian singer teased fans about her forthcoming onscreen venture. “I’m going to act,” she spilled. “I have a surprise for my people in January. I’m going to start shooting a series for Netflix. It’s not about my life. I’m acting. I have a character, so I’m preparing myself for that.” Explore Explore Karol G See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news She’s already hired an acting coach and enrolled in busi...
