Marc Anthony’s “3.0” Becomes First-Ever Salsa Album to Earn RIAA’s Diamante Certification

Posted on September 16, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Marc Anthony is shining bright like a diamond…

The 52-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning singer/songwriter, the best-selling tropical salsa artist of all time, has earned a spot in the annals of music history with his 2013 album 3.0, which at the time was his first salsa album in a decade.

The album, which was considered a risky release at the time with tropical music beginning to fade in popularity due to the resurgence of reggaeton, has became the first salsa album ever to be certified “Diamante,” the RIAA’s highest certification for a Latin album, for shipments of over 600,000 copies in the U.S. alone.

Anthony announced the major accomplishment on his Instagram page, posting a slideshow of photos that feature him cozying up to the Diamond plaque and grinning from ear to ear.

“Wow 3.0 First Salsa album ever to reach Diamond Status,” Anthony wrote in his caption. “Thanks to my team and everyone that worked on the album y Gracias a mis fans por siempre apoyar mi música y hacer este uno de sus favoritos. God bless!”

This major milestone for the project is only its latest accomplishment.

In 2013, 3.0 became the top-selling release of the year, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The hit single from the album, “Vivir Mi Vida,” also spent 18 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Latin Songs chart, becoming the first tropical single in a decade to top the chart and the longest-running No. 1 tropical song in the history of the chart.

“It’s a huge honor for us at Sony Music Latin to work with Marc,” Sony Music Latin Iberia Chairman and CEO Afo Verde said as he presented Marc Anthony his RIAA Diamante plaque in a virtual ceremony. “He continues to break records time and time again and creates new ones all on his own. His music is forever. He’s proven that his recordings, from birth and even five, 10, 20 years later, are everlasting and will be sung by everyone for a lifetime.”

Anthony also talked about the milestone, revealing the confidence boost the success of the project gave him all those years ago.

“The arrival of this new achievement in this particular time is truly gratifying and inspiring for me,” Marc said. “3.0 was an album that I considered risky at the time of its release. The Latin music industry was beginning to shift and the main attention was going to other genres. The album was embraced by everyone in such a powerful way. That response gave a boost of reassurance in my career and my instincts as a music creator.”

With this accomplishment under his belt, Anthony is now working on new music.

Iglesias’ Hit “Bailando” Nabs Three Awards at the Latin Grammys

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Enrique Iglesias is bailando with good reason…

The 39-year-old Spanish singer-songwriter picked up three awards at this year’s Latin Grammys for his platinum hit “Bailando.”

Iglesias and his collaborators on the inescapable track, Descemer Bueno and Gente De Zona, took home the trophies for Song of the Year, Urban Performance and Urban Song during Thursday night’s live broadcast from Las Vegas.

Iglesias accepted his awards from Paris, where he was touring, and a taped performance of his hit song closed the show.

Meanwhile, Calle 13 – comprised of stepbrothers Rene Perez and Eduardo Cabra – picked the awards for Urban Music Album (for Multi_Viral) and Alternative Song (for “El Aguante”).

With the two wins, Calle 13 set the record for the most Latin Grammys with an astonishing 21 career wins.

“We are happy. We have 21 (Latin) Grammys and it is a dream. We never thought we would have this in our lives,” said Perez backstage to reporters after the show.

Other winners included Paco de Lucia – the iconic Mexican guitarist who died earlier this year – who won album of the year and best Flamenco album for Canción Andaluza. Colombian singer Juanes won best pop/rock album for Loco De Amor, Marc Anthony won best salsa album for 3.0, and Carlos Vives won for best contemporary tropical song and album.

Venezuelan singer-songwriter Mariana Vega won best new artist and legendary singer Joan Manuel Serrat, who performed, was named person of the year.

Here’s a complete look at this year’s Latin Grammy winners:

Record of the year: “Universos Paralelos” — Jorge Drexler, featuring Ana Tijoux
Album of the year: “Canción Andaluza” — Paco de Lucía
Song of the year: “Bailando” — Descemer Bueno, Gente De Zona and Enrique Iglesias
New artist: Mariana Vega
Contemporary pop vocal album: “Elypse” — Camila
Traditional pop vocal album: “Fonseca Sinfónico” — Fonseca Urban performance: “Bailando” — Enrique Iglesias, featuring Descemer Bueno and Gente De Zona
Urban music album: “MultiViral” — Calle 13
Urban song: “Bailando” — Descemer Bueno, Gente De Zona and Enrique Iglesias
Rock album: “Agua Maldita” — Molotov
Pop/Rock album: “Loco De Amor” — Juanes
Rock song: “Cuando No Estás” — Andrés Calamaro
Alternative music album: “Romantisísmico” — Babasónicos
Alternative song: “El Aguante” — Calle 13
Salsa album: “3.0” — Marc Anthony
Cumbia/Vallenato album: “Celedón Sin Fronteras 1” — Jorge Celedón and various artists
Contemporary tropical album: “Más + Corazón Profundo” — Carlos Vives
Traditional tropical album: “Grandes Exitos De Las Sonoras, Con La Más Grande, La Sonora Santanera” — La Sonora
Tropical song: “Cuando Nos Volvamos A Encontrar” — Andrés Castro and Carlos Vives
Singer-songwriter album: “Bailar En La cueva” — Jorge Drexler
Ranchero album: “Lástima Que Sean Ajenas” — Pepe Aguilar
Banda album: “Haciendo Historia” — Banda El Recodo De Don Cruz Lizarrag
Tejano album: “Forever Mazz” — Jimmy González and Grupo Mazz
Norteño album: “Amor Amor” — Conjunto Primavera
Regional song: “De Mil Amores” — Marco Antonio Solís, songwriter (Marco Antonio Solís)
Instrumental album: “Final Night At Birdland” — Arturo O’Farrill and The Chico O’Farrill Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra
Folk album: “Raíz” — Lila Downs, Niña Pastori y Soledad
Tango album: “Tangos” — Rubén Blades
Flamenco album: “Canción Andaluza” — Paco de Lucía
Latin jazz album: Tie: “The Vigil” — Chick Corea, “Song For Maura” — Paquito D’Rivera & Trio Corrente
Christian album (Spanish language): “La Carta Perfecta – En Vivo” — Danilo Montero
Christian album (Portuguese language): “Graça” — Aline Barros
Brazilian contemporary pop album: “Multishow Ao Vivo – Ivete Sangalo 20 Anos” — Ivete Sangalo
Brazilian rock album: “Gigante Gentil” — Erasmo Carlos
Samba/pagode album: “Coração A Batucar” — Maria Rita
MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira) Album: “Verdade, Uma Ilusão” — Marisa Monte
Sertaneja music album: “Questão De Tempo” — Sérgio Reis
Brazilian roots album: “Amigo Da Arte” — Alceu Valença
Brazilian song: “A Bossa Nova É Foda” — Caetano Veloso, songwriter (Caetano Veloso)
Latin children’s album: “Coloreando: Traditional Songs For Children In Spanish” — Marta Gómez & Friends
Classical album: “Verdi” — Plácido Domingo; Christopher Alder, album producer
Classical contemporary composition: “Concierto Para Violín y Orquesta De Cuerdas” — Claudia Montero, composer (Claudia Montero)
Recording package: “Wed 21” — Alejandro Ros, art director (Juana Molina)
Engineered album: “De Repente” — Juber Anbín, Johnnatan García, Rodner Padilla, Eduardo Pulgar, Vladimir Quintero Mora, Jean Sánchez & Alexander Vanlawren, engineers; Germán Landaeta & Darío Peñaloza, mixers; Germán Landaeta, mastering engineer (C4 Trío y Rafael “”Pollo”” Brito)
Producer of the year: Sergio George
Short form music video: “Flamingo” — La Vida Bohème | Leonardo Gonzalez, Pablo Iranzo & Carl Zitelman, video directors; Debbie Crosscup & César Elster, video producers
Long form music video: “El Objeto Antes Llamado Disco – La Película” — Café Tacvba | Gregory Allen, video director; Café Tacvba, video producers

Anthony’s “Flor Palida” Reaches No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay Chart

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Marc Anthony is the top selling tropical salsa artist of all time for a reason…

Not only did the 45-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter sweep the Latin categories at the Billboard Music Awards, he’s also just moved ahead of Victor Manuelle to hold the record of No. 1 songs on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart.

Anthony’s “Flor Palida,” the third single from his award-winning salsa album 3.0, reached the summit this week while earning Greatest Gainer honors on the chart.

Anthony, who had been tied with Manuelle for the record, now has 23 No. 1 songs on the chart.

His other chart-toppers include “Vivir Mi Vida, “Cambio de Piel,” “Dimelo,” “Si Te Vas” and “No Me Ames,” his duet with ex-wife Jennifer Lopez.

Anthony Wins All Three Latin Prizes at the Billboard Music Awards

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a clean sweep for Marc Anthony…

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican salsa and pop singer swept the Latin music categories at this year’s 2014 Billboard Music Awards.

It’s a high point for Anthony, in a year that has seen him receive awards and accolades for his salsa comeback album 3.0, and the smash hit single “Vivir Mi Vida.” The track spent 17 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart — a record for 2014.

Anthony received the BBMAs’ Top Latin Artist award, beating out Romeo Santos, Mexican Regional singer/songwriter Gerardo Ortiz, Prince Royce, and the late Jenni Rivera.

Meanwhile, “3.0” and “Vivir Mi Vida” won the best Latin Album and Best Latin Song awards, respectively. Anthony did not appear on the BBMAs televised broadcast.

Anthony’s first studio salsa album in a decade has helped revive interest in salsa throughout the world.

“It [proved] people want good music,” Anthony said during a Q&A at the Billboard Latin Music Conference last month. “It’s a blessing; it’s like given me new life. It’s introduced my music to a lot of people.”

Fernández Notches His Best Sales Week with New Album “Confidencias”

Posted on September 7, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

It’s an extra special quinceañera for Alejandro Fernández…

The 42-year-old Mexican singer has notched the best sales week of his two-decade-plus career with his 15th studio album, Confidencias.

Released by Universal Music Latino, Fernández’s album debuts at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums with 21,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The album’s impressive opening also impacts the Billboard 200 where it enters the chart at No. 19, making this Fernandez’s best position on the chart ever.

Confidencias is only the second Latin album to breach the top 20 of the Billboard 200 this year; Earlier, Marc Anthony’s 3.0 debuted at No. 5 on August 10 with 39,000 copies. Now, 3.0 drops to No. 2 on the Top Latin Albums chart.

Fernandez’s previous best sales week was the January 10, 1998 frame when his Me Estoy Enamorando sold 20,000 Christmas-week units.

Confidencias is Fernandez’ fourth chart-topper behind Enamorando (12 weeks in 1998-99), Entre Tus Brazos (May 13, 2000) and Dos Mundos: Evolucion (Jan. 2, 2010).

“Hoy Tengo Ganas de Ti,” the album’s first single, featuring Christina Aguilera, serves as the theme song to Univision’s new soap opera La Tempestad and sits at its peak of No. 5 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs, a rarity for a ballad in today’s more up-tempo dominated radio charts.

The Latin pop album also features a new rendition of Rod Stewart’s classic “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out,” featuring Stewart himself, as well as Alejandro’s first collaboration with his father Vicente Fernandez in over 20 years on “Me Olvide de Vivir.”

Anthony Could Land His First Spanish-Language Top 10 Album on the Billboard 200

Posted on July 29, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

He may have a storied and successful career, but Marc Anthony is still capable of firsts…

The 44-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter could land his first Spanish-language album on the Billboard 200 chart.

While Selena Gomez’s Stars Dance heads for No. 1 on the chart, Anthony’s latest album, 3.0, could log the second-highest debut on the charts with 30,000 copies sold in its first week.

Anthony’s last album, Iconos, started with 24,000 at No. 11 in 2010.

If “3.0” starts in the top 10, it will be his first Spanish-language top 10 set, and his first top 10 overall since 2002’s Mended debuted and peaked at No. 3.

3.0 may also net his largest sales week since 2004, when Amar Sin Mentiras opened with 35,000 at No. 26.

Anthony to Promote New Salsa Album at Special Concert Dates

Posted on June 16, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Marc Anthony is taking his salsa show on the road…

Following the release of the 44-year-old Puerto Rican’s hit single “Vivir Mi Vida,” a salsa-driven declaration of independence that currently tops the Billboard Latin airplay chart, Anthony will perform four live shows in August and September.

The singer will hold concerts at the Miami Arena, the Nassau Coliseum and the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL. In addition, he’ll make a debut appearance at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia.

Anthony’s new album, 3.0, will go on sale on July 23. The album, marking his long-awaited return to salsa, was produced by Sergio George who was behind Anthony’s early salsa hits.

Here’s a look at Anthony’s upcoming concert dates:

Aug. 23: Miami (American Airlines Arena)
Sept. 1: Uniondale, NY (Nassau Coliseum)
Sept. 7: Rosemont, IL (Allstate Arena)
Sept. 10: Vienna, Va. (Wolftrap National Park for the Performing Arts)

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