Harvey Guillén to Star in Audible’s Original Podcast “The King of the Peso”

Harvey Guillén is making a special run for the border…

The 34-year-old Mexican American actor has joined the voice cast of Audible’s original podcast The King of the Peso.

Harvey Guillén,The project is an adaptation of Pietro La Greca Jr.’s memoir Pesos: The Rise and Fall of a Border Family, which tells the story of an Italian immigrant and con man who ran Mexico’s biggest money laundering scheme during the worst economic period in the country’s history.

In addition to Guillen, the voice cast also includes  Peter Stormare and Teresa Ruiz.

The eight-part series stars Guillén as Picho, who serves as guide.

Stormare plays Pietro La Greca, who was on a relentless quest for power, marrying into a Mexican dynasty for some extra spice, and he hopes, wealth beyond his wildest dreams.

His wife and Picho’s mother Maya, played by Teresa Ruiz serves as the fountain of unconditional love, fighting to protect her son, while also becoming the unsuspecting heiress to both love and deception.

The series showcases dueling patriarchs, high-finance scams, murderous drug cartels, and government corruption, while also depicting the emotional decades-long father-son struggle over the boundaries of loyalty and love. It also features strong female characters: from the mother who stands up to her bullying husband to save her son, to the tough-as-nails manager of the currency exchange at the border who keeps the money moving, equally at home in both the legitimate business world and in the shadows of criminality.

The cast also features Alejandro Edda as Maya’s social butterfly brother Nando and Daniel Mora as her powerful border-controlling father, Don Fernando.

It launches on Thanksgiving – November 28.

The Audible Original was created and directed by Louise Abbou and is executive-produced by Leopoldo Gout, Pietro La Greca, John Rogers, and Lisa Gallagher.

The book is also being actively discussed as the basis for a TV series.

“I’m thrilled to see The King of the Peso brought to life in this Audible Originals series based on my memoir and life story” said Pietro la Greca Jr. “With 36 voices capturing the intensity and complexity of this saga, and the incredible talents of actors like Peter Stormare, Harvey Guillén and Teresa Ruiz, we’ve created a dynamic experience that honors the raw truth of my family’s history. I can’t wait for listeners to experience this journey of loyalty, betrayal, and the high-stakes world that shaped it.”

Miel San Marcos to Release Special Holiday-Themed ‘Spotify Singles’ Track “Emmanuel”

Miel San Marcos is getting into the holiday spirit.

The Guatemalan Christian music group, comprised of three brothers Josh, Luis and Samy Morales, is among the artists releasing holiday songs this Christmas season on Spotify.

Miel San MarcosMiel San Marcos perform the single “Emmanuel” as part of the music streamer’s five Spotify Singles, which will be released at the stroke of midnight local time on Tuesday, October 15. 

This year’s annual singles collection — which arrives a little earlier than usual this time — will feature four other artists and their covers of holiday tunes, including Kesha, Max Richter and Dasha.

The featured musicians and their yuletide songs are:

“Emmanuel” by Miel San Marcos
“Holiday Road” by Kesha
“Driving Home for Christmas” by Dasha
“River” by Max Richter
“Run Rudolph Run” by Mark Ambor

“As you’ll hopefully hear, each single really showcases the personality and style of each artist — often reinventing holiday classics in an entirely new way,” Talia Kraines, Spotify’s senior editor of pop, tells Billboard. 

“With ‘Holiday Road,’ Kesha has taken this really fun ’80s song – which wasn’t originally a holiday song – and brought it to the modern day. We just knew she would sound amazing singing it, and she does. Her vocals make me think of The Go-Gos or The Bangles here. It feels like a monumental year for Kesha, and we’re thrilled to be a part of it – she’s reclaiming her joy and owning her own voice,” she adds of the Grammy nominated artist. “It also seemed fitting to have Kesha make a holiday song with us because her music actually hits a high each year on Spotify during the holiday season.

Tracks like ‘Tik Tok’ and ‘Timber’ have come to be known as New Year’s and celebration anthems.”

Google Mexico Dedicates its Latest Google Doodle to the Late Juan Gabriel

Juan Gabriel’s legacy lives on(line)…

For the first time in its history, Google has dedicated its famous doodle to the late Mexican singer, songwriter and actor, one of the greatest figures of Mexican music, for his invaluable artistic legacy.

Juan GabrielOn Monday, July 15, the logo that appears on the search engine’s home page in Mexico honored the legendary composer and performer to remember that on this day in 1995, his song “El Palo” reached the top spot on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart. 

“Today, our Google Doodle honors a legend, Juan Gabriel, ‘El Divo de Juárez’. One of the most important singer-songwriters in Latin America. His songs and his entire legacy continue to live on in Mexico and the world,” wrote Google México on its X account.

According to information from Google Mexico, the doodle was created by Mexican illustrator Humberto Irigoyen, who spent four months working on it in order to gather many details about the artist’s life and work.

To the rhythm of his famous song “Noa, Noa”, Internet users can navigate the 2D illustration, which shows different stages and facets during a fruitful career spanning more than four decades, in which he became a true benchmark of Hispanic music in the world: from his youth on stage, his foray into television, his creative process when writing his songs, as well as his bright and colorful costumes that sealed part of his artistic personality.

The doodle also illustrates his historic 1990 performance at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico’s most important cultural venue, which was recorded and released as the live album Juan Gabriel en el Palacio de Bellas Artes. That recital made the artist the first Mexican popular music singer-songwriter to perform there with the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional.

Juan Gabriel, known internationally for classics such as “Querida” and “Amor Eterno”, died on August 28, 2016 at his home in Santa Monica, California, of natural causes, in the middle of a concert tour. He was 66 years old.

“El Palo” was part of his album El México Que Se Nos Fue, which won the 1995 Premio Lo Nuestro award for best regional Mexican album.

Inducted into the Billboard Hall of Fame in 1996, Juan Gabriel built a legacy as a multifaceted artist over more than four decades, recording songs in genres as diverse as rancheras, baladas, pop and boleros, songwriting and producing other artists.

Among his many accomplishments, El Divo de Juárez sold more than 150 million records, composed more than 1,800 songs, released 34 studio albums, was nominated six times for a Grammy, won three posthumous Latin Grammys and more than 20 of his hits reached the top 10 on the Billboard charts, including seven No. 1s on the Hot Latin Songs chart. His song “Yo No Sé Qué Me Pasó” opened the first edition of that chart in 1986 at No. 1.

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Karol G to Livestream Final “Mañana Será Bonito World Tour” Concert on YouTube

Karol G is taking a final bow… and she wants the whole world to watch.

For the closing of her history-making Mañana Será Bonito World Tour on July 23 in Madrid, the 33-year-old Colombian singer – the first Latina to ever headline a global stadium tour – will livestream the concert on her YouTube channel for all her fans around the world to watch.

Karol GIn an emotional post on Instagram that she shared on Friday (July 12), Karol G wrote in Spanish, “The time has come to close an unforgettable chapter in our lives. This album, more than songs, has been a journey of overcoming, of desire, of motivation and a band-aid for the soul. Every stadium we stepped in vibrated with the beautiful emotions that each one of you brought and we had the opportunity to fill thousands of hearts around the world. We are about to have the last concert of this tour and yes, it is hard to say goodbye to something that has meant so much to all of us, but the time has come and I want us to celebrate together! This July 23rd, our last concert, we will broadcast it through my YouTube channel, in real time, so that EVERYONE, anywhere in the world, can watch it and celebrate this beautiful thing we built together.”

The trek kicked off in the summer of 2023 in the United States, where it became the hottest ticket, selling out Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. and Metlife Stadium in New Jersey.

She also sold out the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., becoming the first Latin artist to sell out two consecutive nights at the historic venue.

This year, Karol G’s show in San José, Costa Rica sold 104,686 tickets between the two sold-out nights (March 9-10), marking the highest ticket sales ever for a concert in the country, according to Live Nation. Her two shows in Costa Rica broke the previous record set by Coldplay in 2022.

After wrapping up her Mañana Será Bonito tour in Latin America in May, Karol will make her way through Europe kicking off June 8 in Zurich and will wrap July 23 in Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

According to Billboard Boxscore, in 2023, Karol — who was honored with woman of the year at Billboard‘s 2024 Women in Music event — grossed $155.3 million and sold 925,000 tickets from 20 shows. She landed at No. 11 on the 2023 Year-End Boxscore Charts.

Tyler Posey Leading Cast of Simon & Schuster’s Original Audiobook “Know Your Newlywed”

Tyler Posey is officially in the know

The 32-year-old half-Mexican American actor and Teen Wolf star and Mary Mouser will lead the cast of the Simon & Schuster Original Audiobook Know Your Newlywed.

Tyler PoseyThe rom-com is written by Heather Taylor and Hillary Nussbaum with Elena Armas serving as executive producer.

The audiobook will be available to purchase on December 10.

In Know Your Newlywed, Cleo (Mouser) is a researcher with big dreams of a PhD in anthrozoology and a guilty pleasure obsession with Know Your Newlywed. In this decades-old game show, married couples compete by answering obscure questions about each other. She’s more invested in her career than in finding a relationship of her own, though—that is, until she comes across Javi’s (Posey) dating app profile, which says he’s “looking for someone to win Know Your Newlywed with.”

Sparks fly, and when Cleo and Javi catch wind of a reboot of their beloved show, they apply on a whim, pretending to be newlyweds themselves. Before they know it, they’re cast as contestants, playing the part of a smitten married couple better than they could’ve imagined. Their genuine chemistry is impossible to ignore, and as the competition heats up, they quickly become America’s sweethearts. But how far can Cleo and Javi take their secret? And as they inch closer and closer to a life-changing cash prize, will the mounting pressure and their ambitions get in the way of their blossoming romance? Or is their connection strong enough to last once the cameras stop rolling?

Posey is best known for his portrayal of Scott McCall in MTV’s Teen Wolf, a re-imagination of the Michael J. Fox film of the same name released in 1985. He played the young werewolf across the show’s six seasons and also directed. He reprised the role in the Paramount+ follow-up film Teen Wolf: The Movie released last year.

His additional credits include The Real Bros of Simi Valley: The MovieFast & Furious Spy Racers and Jane the Virgin to name a few.

Up next, Posey will be seen in the biopic Queen of the Ring.

Daphne Zuniga Helps Launch “Still the Place,” a Rewatch Podcast of Fox’s “Melrose Place”

Daphne Zuniga is ready to help you rewatch her classic television series…

As a Melrose Place reboot is in the works at CBS, the original series is getting a new audio boost featuring the 61-year-old half-Guatemalan American actress.

Daphne ZunigaZuniga and two of the show’s other original stars, Laura Leighton and Courtney Thorne-Smith, are launching a rewatch podcast of the Fox drama.

Still The Place launched today, on the 32nd anniversary of the show’s launch. It comes from iHeartPodcasts.

Leighton, who played Sydney Andrews, Thorne-Smith, who played Alison Parker and Zuniga, who played Jo Reynolds will dissect each episode from the very beginning, share behind-the-scenes stories and interview special guests from the original cast and crew.

It comes after news in April revealed that a reboot featuring Leighton and Zuniga, as well as Heather Locklear, was in the works at CBS Studios and was being shopped to networks and streamers.

The reboot is being written by Lauren Gussis and will pick up years after the original series, created by Darren Star.

Locklear, Leighton and Zuniga, reprised their roles in guest starring appearances on The CW revival in 2009, which revolved around a new group of 20-30-somethings living on Melrose Place. The new reboot is expected to draw from the original series and not the follow-up where Leighton’s character was murdered.

Karol G’s “Provenza” Music Video Becomes Ninth to Enter YouTube’s Billion Views Club

Karol G is on Cloud Nine.

The 33-year-old Colombian Grammy-winning singer/songwriter has achieved yet another career milestone as herher “Provenza” music video surpasses one billion views on YouTube, just two years after it was released.

Karol GFilmed by Pedro Artola on the island of Lanzarote, the beachy music video marks Karol G’s ninth clip to enter the coveted “Billion Views Club” as a lead, featured artist or collaborator.

She also ranks No. 17 on the Global Top Artists chart.

On the Billboard charts, “Provenza” hit No. 1 on both the Hot Latin Songs and Latin Airplay charts in 2022.

“Provenza” follows her other one-billion titles: “China” with Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, Ozuna & J Balvin; the Nicki Minaj-assisted “Tusa”; “Secreto” in collaboration with Anuel AA, as well as “Culpables”; “Bichota”; “TQG” with Shakira; “El Makinon” in collab with Mariah Angeliq; and the Bad Bunny-assisted “Ahora Me Llama.”

Climbing up the list with more than 750 million views each are “Mi Cama,” “A Ella,” and the heartfelt “Creéme” with Maluma.

The news comes on the heels of Billboard’s 2024 Woman of the Year and Latin Woman of the Year unleashing her summer-friendly tropical tune “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido.”

The feel-good track, produced by Edgar Barrera, Sky Rompiendo and Karol, is a flirty merengue inspired by her love and admiration for the Dominican Republic.

“Its culture, its music, its colors, the hospitality, the energy … everything feels very authentic and special there,” she expressed of the Caribbean island in Instagram an post. “Its people have embraced me in a way that fills my heart and inspires me all the time.”

Robert Trujillo & His Metallica Mates to Become First Band to Appear Across All Fortnite Experiences

It’s game on for Robert Trujillo and his Metallica mates…

After conquering all terrestrial continents, the 59-year-old half-Mexican American musician and his Metallica band mates are headed to Fortnite later this month when they become the first band to appear across all Fortnite experiences.

Robert TrujilloAfter launching Metallica-themed gameplay starting Thursday, June 13, in Fortnite Festival, Battle Royale, LEGO Fortnite and Rocket Racing, the Bay Area rockers will play a series of in-game concerts for players only on June 22 and 23 entitled Metallica: Fuel. Fire. Fury. 

Epic Games announced the news on Wednesday (June 12), revealing that users will have six opportunities to catch the concerts at 2:00 pm, 5:00 pm and 11:00 pm on the 22nd and 10:00 am, 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm on the 23rd.

The company said the concert was completely customized and built from the ground-up using the powerful Unreal Editor 3D computer graphic game engine.

The gig is described as an immersive experience with, “a brand-new playable concert that will journey through six of Metallica’s fan-favorite songs with themed gameplay that complements the intensity of a Metallica live show.”

The band follows previous Fortnite Festival guests Lady Gaga, the Weeknd and Billie Eilish, who’ve been featured in the game that was developed by the same company that gave you Guitar Hero and Rock Band.

Metallica, FortniteWith band members James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Trujillo as the icons for Fortnite Festival Season 4, fans will be able to play along to such Metallica classics as “Enter Sandman,” “Ride the Lightning” and “Master of Puppets.”

The band will also be part of the new season of Fortnite Festival‘s Battle Stage, a new competitive way to play the rhythmic music game that will be available to play after the concerts take place.

The Stage will welcome 16 players in each match, with all competitors playing the same four-song set until one comes out on top. Season 4 beings on Thursday and lasts through 12:00 am ET on August 16. Users can also grab Metallica-themed collectibles — including instruments and outfits — and go on band-themed quests.

Cote de Pablo to Co-Host Spotify’s “Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch” Weekly Video Podcast

Cote de Pablo is reporting for (off) duty

The 44-year-old Chilean actress and singer and NCIS veteran and her former on camera love interest, Michael Weatherly, will host Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch, a new weekly video podcast for Spotify.

Cote de Pablo & MIchael WeatherlySlated to launch on Tuesday, June 4, the podcast features the de Pablo and Weatherly, who’ll reprise their characters in the upcoming NCIS: Tony & Ziva spinoff series produced by CBS Studios for Paramount+.

In each weekly podcast episode, de Pablo and Weatherly, along with a special guest, will rewatch iconic episodes.

Former franchise cast and guest stars making appearances include Sean Murray, Sasha Alexander, Eric Christian Olsen, Jon Cryer and more who’ll join the hosts to reminisce about the show’s impact on television and in pop culture, and reveal exclusive behind-the-scenes moments from making the TV series.

Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch, is produced by Spotify Studios in partnership with Rabbit Grin Productions.

The show is executive produced by Jeph Porter and Rob Holysz. Produced by Natalie Holysz, Kasper Selvig and Derek Johnson.

Tubi Acquires Rights to Olivia Goncalves’ Former Max Series “Gordita Chronicles”

Olivia Goncalves is preparing for a tubi-ular time…

The Max original Gordita Chronicles, starring the Latina actress, is getting a second life on Tubi after the company acquired the rights to Season 1 and will be the exclusive AVOD home of the comedy.

Olivia Goncalves

All 10 episodes of the single-cam series will be available on March 29 at 7:30 a.m. PT.

Created by Claudia Forestieri based on her real-life childhood experiences, Gordita Chronicles is about family, opportunity, love, resilience and boldly defying the status quo in pursuit of the “American Dream.”

It tells the story of Cucu “Gordita” Castelli (Goncalves), who has just said goodbye to all of her friends and family in Santo Domingo and moved to Miami with her marketing executive father Víctor (Juan Javier Cardenas), bold and vivacious mother Adela (Diana-Maria Riva) and status-obsessed older sister Emilia (Savannah Nicole Ruiz). While life in America is far from what they imagined, the Castellis are determined to take charge of their strange new world.

Additionally,  Dascha Polanco voiced adult Cucu.

The series also boasted a list of executive producers with big names from Latino Hollywood like Eva Longoria, who also directed the pilot, and Zoe Saladana alongside her sisters/producing partners, Cisely and Mariel Saldana. Additional EPs are Josh Berman, Jennifer Robinson and Christopher King.

Gordita ChroniclesGordita Chronicles was one of the only series showing an authentic representation of a Latino family living in the U.S. Max canceled the series last summer as the streamer decided to pull back on live-action kids and family programming following WarnerMedia’s acquisition by Discovery. The show’s studio Sony Pictures Television was also behind the series One Day at a Time—also a show about a Latino family— developed by Gloria Calderón Kellett and Mike Royce, which found a second and third life at PopTV and CBS following Netflix’s cancellation after three seasons.

“Thanks to the tireless folks at Sony and my favorite new streamer Tubi, Gordita lives! Beyond happy to give the shows’ fans another chance to view our episodes and looking forward to sharing them with a new audience, too,” Forestieri, who also served as co-showrunner, writer and Executive producer, tells Deadline in an exclusive statement.

Adds co-showrunner and executive producer Brigitte Muñoz-Liebowitz, “We’re so thrilled that Gordita Chronicles now has a home at Tubi. This is a huge win for comedy, for underrepresented audiences, and for fans who have been relentless in their support of the show. It gives me hope that all the stories and incredible creative work we lost in the streaming purge can continue to live on.”