Latin
El Dany, Of Cuban Duo Yomil y El Dany, Dies at 31
Daniel Muñoz Borrego, better known as El Dany and one half of Cuban urban duo Yomil y El Dany, died Saturday morning (July 18) at a hospital in Havana, sources confirm. He was 31 years old. Billboard could not confirm the cause of death. Together with Yomil (real name Roberto Hidalgo Puentes), Muñoz found fame creating a sound he and Hidalgo dubbed “Trapton,” which the duo once described to Billboard as “our brand. It’s a mix of trap with dembow and reggaetón.” That brand allowed Yomil y El Dany to enter the charts in 2016 with their album Sobredosis, which spent one week on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart at No. 8. Most recently, the duo teamed up with Lenier, El Chacal, Srta. Dayana, El Micha and Maurofor the single “No Volveré,” which entered the...
Tom Morello, Los Van Van, Ozomatli & 60 More to Perform at Concert for Cuba
The two-day event to honor Cuban doctors will stream July 18-19. Cuban artists including Los Van Van and Alexander Abreu, plus Tom Morello, Michael McDonald and Ozomatli are among 60 acts that will join together for a free two-night concert to honor Cuba’s doctors. The Concert for Cuba is a two-night, six-hour streaming festival set for this weekend (July 18-19). It will rally to garner a Nobel Prize for the international efforts of Cuban medical professionals during the pandemic and advocate for the end of the U.S. embargo while showcasing performances by Cuban artists and international acts who will lend their support for the event’s messages. Other artists — including Orquesta Aragon, Mezcla, Síntesis, Dayramir Gonzalez, Omara Portuondo and Orquesta Failde — will perform fro...
Here’s How Two Local Youth Music Programs Are Keeping Traditional Mexican Music Alive
From son jarocho to mariachi, Los Cenzontles Cultural Arts Academy in the Bay Area and the Mariachi Heritage Foundation in Chicago are preserving and keeping traditional Mexican sounds alive through music programs and young musicians. The importance of cultural preservation, specifically sounds that aren’t considered mainstream or don’t get much radio airplay, is what motivated Eugene Rodriguez (founder of Los Cenzontles) and Cesar Maldonado (Mariachi Heritage Foundation) to launch their music programs. “It was a way of connecting my Mexican side to my American side,” says Rodriguez, a musician and educator. “And it just became so natural for me to want to keep this music alive and to see younger people engaged and excited about, makes me happy.” &#...
Selena’s ‘Ones’ Surges on Billboard Charts After Its Vinyl Reissue
Set is first Latin title to hit No. 1 on nine-year old Vinyl Albums chart. Selena’s Ones is back in the top five on the Top Latin Albums chart (dated July 18) thanks to its 8,000 equivalent album units (up 198 percent) earned in the week ending July 9, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. Of that sum, nearly 6,000 are in album sales. The bulk of its surge was driven by the release of a limited-edition vinyl picture edition of the greatest hits album. Of the album’s 6,000 total sales for the week across all formats (CD, vinyl, digital download, etc.), the vinyl edition of the album accounted for 99 percent of it sales. The Top Latin Albums chart ranks the most popular Latin albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units...
Ruido Fest 2020 Is Officially Canceled, But Already Has 2021 Dates and a Headliner
Café Tacvba announced as headliner for next year’s edition. Ruido Fest 2020 has officially canceled this year’s edition due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’re very disappointed that we won’t be celebrating with you this summer, but the progress of the COVID-19 pandemic means that our primary focus is everyone’s health and safety,” organizers of the Chicago independent festival said in a statement. As coronavirus cases continue to surge across the country, Ruido Fest is moving to Aug. 20-22, 2021, with Café Tacvba announced as a headliner for next year’s festival. The Latinx-focused event’s cancellation joins other fests such as Los Dells, Coachella and Lollapalooza, who all officially canceled their 2020 editions. Launched in 2015, Ruido Fest has feat...
Karol G Confirms She Has Coronavirus
Karol G took to social media to confirm that she has tested positive for COVID-19. During an Instagram live watched by more than 100,000, the “Tusa” singer said that she tested positive two or three weeks ago but had not made it public so her parents wouldn’t worry. “First of all, thank you to all the people that have reached out to me. I hadn’t said anything because my parents are far away and I didn’t want them to worry about me,” she says. “Because my new single [Ay DiOs Mío] was coming out, I didn’t want coronavirus to be the news. Now that the news is out, my parents are very nervous and if it was under any other circumstance, they’d be here by my side.” Karol G went on to say that she is feeling well compared to others...
Kany Garcia Takes Fans on a ‘Mesa Para Dos’ Journey in Heartfelt Virtual Concert
Kany Garcia found many creative ways to keep in touch with her fans during the global pandemic. Thanks to social media, she offered fans weeks of activities, including a day of self-care, cooking, fitness and acoustic sessions. But on Saturday (July 11), Garcia took it to the next level, hosting a virtual concert from San Juan’s new arena, Coca-Cola Music Hall. She also became the first female artist to perform at the new Puerto Rican venue. In a one-hour live stream, produced by Move Concerts and made available on Live Pass Play, the award-winning singer-songwriter debuted live songs from her new Mesa Para Dos album. “Join me on the slope, in the open wound, in the uncertainty, in the frustration, in the crying,” Garcia’s voice kicked off the show. “Join me on a stage full of empty seats,...
Fans Choose Anitta’s ‘Tocame’ as This Week’s Favorite New Music
Anitta‘s “Tocame,” featuring Arcangel and De La Ghetto, tops this week’s new music poll. Music fans voted in a poll published on Friday (July 10) on Billboard, picking the new single from Anitta as their favorite. “Tocame” and its sultry reggaeton melodies brought in over 28% of the vote. The collaboration was written by Anitta, Arcangel, and De La Ghetto, and it was produced by Ryan Tedder. Following “Tocame” was Katy Perry‘s latest track, “Smile,” with 24% of the vote. Juice WRLD‘s posthumous album Legends Never Die placed in third, with 17% of the vote. See the final results from this week’s favorite new music poll below. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we rei...
Which Latin Couple Has the Best Music Video of 2020 (So Far)? Vote!
Love is in the air and many Latin music stars are making sure their fans know that. Being unable to travel and with the lack of resources because of the current health crisis, music artists have gotten very creative with their music videos, featuring none other than their significant others in their clips. Following Karol G and Anuel’s quarantine-born homemade video “Follow,” and Camilo’s “Favorito,” showcasing his honeymoon with Evaluna, Becky G dropped “My Man,” next to her boyfriend, soccer player Sebastian Lletget. But they’re not the only lovebirds starring in cute video clips. Check out seven Latin couples below and vote for your favorite one of 2020 (so far). Becky G & Sebastian Lletget in “My Man” [embedded content] Camilo & Evaluna in “Favorito̶...
5 Uplifting Moments in Latin Music This Week (July 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: “Michael X” Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, the Puerto Rican rapper turns his feelings into song rapping about racism and police brutality. In his new song “Michael X,” Myke Towers raps about slavery and having dealt with discrimination himself. Towers kicks off the track with words from Malcolm X’s famous 1962 speech: “We are oppressed. We are exploited. We are downtrodden.” He then goes on saying he needs to speak out against racism and can no longer hide how he’s feeling. The song drops amid natio...
Maluma Talks ‘Extra Special’ 16th No. 1 on Latin Airplay Chart With ‘ADMV’
The song also lands atop the Latin Pop Airplay chart. Maluma’s “ADMV” hits No. 1 on the Latin Airplay chart as the song jumps 4-1 on the July 11 survey. It’s his 16th No. 1 on the all-genre list which dates back to his former three-week leader “Borro Cassette” in November 2015. “I’m super happy,” Maluma tells Billboard. “This 16th No. 1 is extra special because ‘ADMV’ is a ballad that is very close to my heart and it means a lot at this time when the world is going through so much. It’s also amazing that my first Latin Airplay No. 1 was less than five years ago, so I am so thankful for the fans and everyone at radio that have been so supportive.” “ADMV” (abbreviation for “Amor de mi vida,” which translates to “love of my life”) marks Maluma’s second No. 1 of the year. He previously landed ...
Marisa Monte Signs Global Agreement With Universal Music Publishing
Brazilian star Marisa Monte, the elegant singer, songwriter, producer and instrumentalist known for her distinctive vocals and ability to span multiple genres of Brazilian music, has signed a global administration agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group. The deal encompasses Monte’s impressive catalog of songs on Monte Songs, spanning an almost four-decade career, including hits like “Ainda Bem,” “Depois,” “Beija Eu,” “Amor I Love You,” “Não Vá Embora,” “Já Sei Namorar,” “Velha Infância,” “Passe em Casa” and “Não é Fácil.” Long regarded as one of Brazil’s leading female acts, Monte is also a much-admired artist globally who has worked with the likes of David Byrne, Phillip Glass, Arnaldo Antunes and Carlinhos Brown. The latter once described her voice as “one of the most perf...
