Camilo Earns First No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay Chart with Grupo Firme Collab “Alaska”

It’s another first for Camilo

The 28-year-old Colombian Latin Grammy-winning singer has landed his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart as “Alaska,” his single with Grupo Firme, rises from the No. 4 slot to rule the November 12-dated list.

Camilo“Alaska” received its official release through Hecho A Mano/Sony Music Latin on August 18. It’s the sixth single from Camilo’s third studio album, De Adentro Pa’ Fuera, which reached a No. 6 high on Latin Pop Albums (September 24).

“Alaska” reaches the No. 1 slot, after a second week in the top 10 (No. 4 high, November 5-dated ranking) and in its eighth week on the chart boosted by a 25% increase in audience impressions, to 7.1 million, earned in the U.S. in the week ending Nov. 6, according to Luminate.

The regional Mexican tune, which was co-written and co-produced by Camilo alongside Edgar Barrera, dispatches Duelo’s “24 Siete” after it’s one-week command.

With seven No. 1s on its career history, Grupo Firme ties with Christian Nodal and Banda MS for the third-most champs this decade, trailing Calibre 50’s eight leaders. Since the chart launched in 1994, Calibre 50 continues at the helm with 22 No. 1’s.

“Alaska” becomes the first team-up by a regional Mexican group with a core Latin pop act to lead Regional Mexican Airplay since Natalia Lafourcade ruled for three weeks through her featured role in Los Angeles Azules’ “Nunca Es Suficiente” in 2019.

Meanwhile, “Alaska” earns Grupo Firme its fourth No. 1 in 2022, including “Cada Quien,” with Maluma, which topped the chart for two weeks in February

“Alaska” advances 11-7 on the overall Latin Airplay ranking, earning Camilo his 11th top 10 while Grupo Firme adds a sixth top 10 to its scoreboard.

Banda MS’s Corrido “141” to Become First Regional Song Featured in “Call of Duty” Video Game Series

Banda MS is making history while getting in the game…

The Mexican banda’s new corrido “141” will become the first Regional Mexican song to appear in a Call of Duty video game series.

Banda-MSThe track is set to be integrated into Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, with “several” versions of the song heard throughout different parts of the game.

“141” is inspired by the members of the Task Force 141 and soldier Alejandro Vargas from the Mexican Special Forces, and ties in with the narrative of the newest installment of the first-person shooter game.

While Call of Duty has collaborated with Latin musicians in the past, most recently Ozuna, it’s the first time the video game franchise — developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision — taps a Regional Mexican act to collaborate on a new song for one of its series.

“It’s a huge step for the game and the community,” says Rodrigo Pérez, Call of Duty‘s senior franchise manager, Latin America. “We wanted to tell the story of Task Force 141 in a unique way, and we believe the song goes to the very essence of the characters and the story we are telling with Modern Warfare II.”

For the chart-topping supergroup, not only does “141” mark the first corrido they’ve released in 10 years, but it becomes an opportunity to showcase their traditional banda music on a global level, while also bringing in a new source of revenue.

“The franchise’s team in Latin America is mainly composed of Mexicans who love and respect our culture so, along with their team, we made sure that the song made sense for the game,” says Oswaldo Silvas, one of Banda MS’ vocalists. “We’re really proud to be part of the game’s DNA, and we would be honored to keep doing more of these collaborations because all eyes are on video games and for us, it’s a great opportunity to capture a new audience.”

The opportunity is for both sides with Call of Duty also strategically tapping and catering to the Hispanic market across Latin America. “Mexico and the Hispanic market have had a very strong passion towards the Call of Duty franchise for a long time, and with Modern Warfare II we had an amazing opportunity to celebrate the rich cultural legacy,” adds Pérez.

For a Mexican music song to be featured on Call of Duty, it only reinforces the genre’s newfound popularity across the U.S. and beyond. Once a niche genre, regional Mexican has gained an international following in recent years thanks to artists such as Banda MS, who have stayed true to their traditional Sinaloan banda roots but has also embraced the fusion of regional with genres from around the world.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II will become available for purchase on October 28 on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X | S, PC and Xbox One.

Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizárraga Earns 18th No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay Chart

Make that four chart-toppers in a row for Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizárraga.

The Mexican banda’s first collaboration with Grupo Firme, “El Reemplazo,” has reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay tally dated September 3.

Banda el RecodoThe original version of “El Reemplazo” finds its home on Grupo Firme’s 2020 LP Nos Divertimos Logrando Lo Imposible.

The new version, alongside Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizárraga, was released May 31 via LGA/Music VIP. It takes over atop Regional Mexican Airplay (rising 4-1) as the Greatest Gainer of the week, thanks to a 28% gain in audience impressions, to 5.7 million, earned in the U.S. in the week ending August 28, according to Luminate.

“El Reemplazo” trades places with La Fiera de Ojinaga’s “Luna de Miel” with a 4-1 dip after its one-week reign.

For Banda El Recodo, “El Reemplazo” is its fourth consecutive win among a collection of 18 champs. The 18th No. 1 moves the group into a tie for the second-most No. 1s since the chart launched in 1994. They tie Banda MS’ 18 rulers, while Calibre 50 remains ahead with 22 leaders.

Notably, Banda El Recodo is just the third band, alongside Intocable and Los Tigres del Norte, to score No. 1 titles in four decades.

Here’s a recap of his No. 1s in the 1990s, 2000s, ‘10s and now ’20s:

Peak, Title, Artist
Feb. 20, 1999, “Adorable Mentirosa,” Juan Gabriel Con Banda El Recodo
Dec. 4, 1999, “Te Ofrezco Un Corazón,” Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga
May 20, 2000, “Yo Se Que Te Acordarás,” Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga
March 31, 2001, “Y Llegaste Tú,” Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga
Aug. 24, 2002, “No Me Se Rajar,” Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga
April 19, 2008, “Tómame O Déjame,” Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga
Feb. 14, 2009, “Te Presumo,” Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga
Dec. 5, 2009, “Me Gusta Todo De Ti,” Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga
June 19, 2010, “Dime Que Me Quieres,” Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga
Dec. 10, 2011, “Te Quiero A Morir,” Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga
Aug. 11, 2012, “Sin Respiración,” Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga
April 6, 2013, “La Mejor De Todas,” Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga
Nov. 23, 2013, “Vas A Llorar Por Mí,” Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga
July 25, 2015, “Mi Vicio Mas Grande,” Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga
Oct. 9, 2021, “Qué Tienen Tus Palabras?,” Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga
Feb. 19, 2022, “Esta Vida Es Muy Bonita,” Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga
June 11, 2022, “Brindo,” Mario Bautista & Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga
Sept. 3, 2022, “El Reemplazo,” Grupo Firme & Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga

The new win gifts Grupo Firme its fifth No. 1.

In October of 2021, Grupo Firme marked a career milestone as the third act to score an entry on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 with a regional Mexican song — when “Supérame (En Vivo Desde Culiacán, Sinaloa)” (one of their five Regional Mexican No. 1s) entered the Hot 100.

Beyond its Regional Mexican Airplay coronation, “El Reemplazo” concurrently makes progress on the all-genre Latin Airplay chart with an 18-12 trek.

Jenni Rivera’s Family to Release New, Never-Released Music by the Late Banda Queen

There’s new music by Jenni Rivera headed your way…

As the 10-year anniversary of the late Mexican American singer’s death in a plane crash over Mexico (in December, 2012) approaches, her family is planning to share new music with the world.

Jenni RiveraNever-released music she left recorded before her death will see the light of day, according to daughter Jacqie Rivera, who in January took over from her aunt Rosie Rivera as head of the Jenni Rivera estate.

“It’s definitely music in Spanish, it’s more than one song, and it’s regional Mexican,” Jacqie Rivera tells Billboard in her first interview since she took over her mother’s estate. “I think it’s very important that we tie in how she started, what [music] put her up there, and share that.”

The new tracks will be part of a full-fledged album of brand-new Rivera songs set for release before the end of the year. The set will include at least some of the 11 other unreleased songs that the Rivera estate found after Jenni Rivera’s passing, and will be released by Sony Music U.S. Latin. Several of the tracks will be produced by Sergio Lizárraga, the head of Banda MS and owner of Lizos Music.

Music in English is also on the way, although plans for those releases have yet to be finalized.

The music releases are the core of a series of actions that the estate is spearheading this year. Among them is a concert commemorating Rivera’s death — which will feature performances by her children, and which Jacqie Rivera describes as “a la Coachella” — and a long-planned biopic, which has long been discussed but is now firmly in the planning stages.

The moves signal a change of direction in the management of Jenni Rivera’s estate, which had been helmed by her sister, Rosie, since her death. Now, the reins have amicably passed to Jacqie, the second of Rivera’s five children. (The five are recording star Chiquis Rivera, Jacqie Rivera and Michael Marín from Rivera’s first marriage, and Jenicka and Johnny Angel, from her second marriage.)

All five siblings are now part of the estate’s advisory board and are actively involved in major decision-making, says Jacqie.

“The little decisions, I make them. For the big decisions, we all get together and we all vote,” she explains. “My little brother Johnny is working alongside with me, especially for the music. He’s always been involved in producing, and we’re working closely together. But we definitely need each other, all of us together, to really do it. There’s always meetings, phone calls, zooms. We’re all busy but we make it happen.”

When Rivera died in 2012, at 43 years old, she was the single most successful woman in regional Mexican on the Billboard charts — with over 26 entries on the Regional Mexican Airplay chart — and at the pinnacle of her career. But she was also on the verge of much more.

She was on the verge of a major crossover, having become the first Latina ever to sign a production deal to star in her own TV series on a major U.S. network and about to have her own residency in Las Vegas. On the verge of a cinematic career, Rivera played her first role in a major film, Filly Brown. On the verge of fulfilling her dream of becoming the “Latina Oprah,” with the continued success of her weekly radio show, Contacto Directo con Jenni Rivera. And on the verge of massive stardom in Mexico, following her stint as the most popular coach on season 2 of La Voz.

Perhaps most importantly to her, after years of being the sole provider for her family, she was finally finding the time to truly enjoy her children and her grandchildren. But her death left her children reeling. Only now, says Jacqie, does she feel ready to take control of her mother’s estate.

“My mom was such a big part…she was our everything,” says Rivera. “I don’t think any of us kids would have been ready to do this job because it’s a lot of work. For sure, I’m ready now.”

As part of the changes implemented since she took over, Rivera tapped Izabel Nicholas as general manager for Jenni Rivera Enterprises and Oswaldo Rossi has remained as the estate’s lawyer. Entotal Agency, the management firm headed by Jorge Sánchez and Tom Muzquiz with Pitbull as a partner is handling artist management.

“Being part of the Jenni Rivera team is an honor and a privilege,” says Sánchez, whose company started working with the estate in March, at the recommendation of BMI CCO Alex Flores. “Working with Jacqie and Jenni Rivera Enterprises represents a great experience due to her vision, respect and the enthusiasm. Jenni Rivera died in the prime of her life, and the music she left behind reflects this vitality. We have a great task ahead, with many and amazing releases plus other projects from one of the most important names and legacies in Latin music.”

It all amounts to an outpouring of material that would have made Jenni Rivera proud, says Jacqie, whose eyes brighten when asked what she thinks her mother would tell her if she could see her now.

“I think she would remind me of what my name means: Jacqueline is a form of Jacob, and Jacob is a go-getter,” she responds. “She would always remind me of what my name meant. [So I think she would say] ‘You got this, you can do this.’ And as a mom, she’d also tell me I’m doing a good job — because sometimes, you really don’t know.”

Banda MS Earns 18th No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay Chart with “Hay Que Hacer Dinero,” Featuring Eden Muñoz

Banda MS is celebrating another chart-topper…

The Mexican banda group rises to No. 1 for an 18th time on BillboardRegional Mexican Airplay chart with “Hay Que Hacer Dinero,” featuring Eden Muñoz, which rises to the summit on the July 2-dated ranking.

Banda-MS“Hay Que Hacer Dinero” ascends 5-1 with a 34% increase in audience impressions, to 6.9 million, earned in the U.S. in the week ending June 26, according to Luminate.

With the new champ, the Sinaloan band breaks from a tie with Banda El Recodo for the second-most No. 1 titles among all acts on Regional Mexican Airplay. Calibre 50 leads the category with 22 leaders. Muñoz, who scored his first No. 1 as a solo act less than two months ago with the three-week ruler “Chale!” (starting with the May 21-dated chart), captures his second.

 

Here’s a rundown of the Regional Mexican Airplay No. 1 scoreboard:

22, Calibre 50
18, Banda MS de Sergio Lizarraga
17, Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizarraga
16, Conjunto Primavera
16, Intocable
16, La Arrolladora Banda el Limon de Rene Camacho
16, Los Tigres del Norte
13, Christian Nodal
11, Gerardo Ortiz
11, La Adictiva Banda San Jose de Mesillas

 

Concurrently, “Hay Que Hacer Dinero” breaks into the top tier on the all-genre Latin Airplay chart with a 15-6 climb in its sixth week.

 

The push prompts a 23rd top 10 for Banda MS, which now ties with Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizarraga for the third-most, trailing Marco Antonio Solis’ 27 top 10s and Calibre 50’s 25.

 

Elsewhere, “Hay Que Hacer Dinero” debuts at No. 49 on Hot Latin Songs, which blends airplay, digital sales and streaming data. With the new arrival, Banda MS adds a 32nd career entry, while Muñoz his second as a soloist.

 

Calibre 50 Earns Record-Extending 22nd No. 1 on Regional Mexican Airplay Chart with “Miranos Ahora”

Calibre 50 has another chart-topper…

The Regional Mexican band has notched its record-extending 22nd No. 1 on Billboard‘s Regional Mexican Airplay chart as “Miranos Ahora” rises 4-1 on the June 18-dated ranking.

Tony Elizondo, Calibre 50Calibre 50 continues to have the most No. 1s since the chart’s launch in 1994.

In second place are Banda El Recodo de Cruz de Lizárraga and Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga, each with 17 No. 1s.

“Míranos Ahora” was released on March 11 via Andaluz/Disa/UMLE. It takes the No. 1 spot thanks to a 13% boost in audience impressions, to 7 million, earned in the U.S. in the week ending June 12, according to Luminate.

The song trades places with “Brindo” by Mario Bautista and Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizárraga as it dips 1-4.

With the new No. 1, Calibre 50 improves its career totals to 22 No. 1s on Regional Mexican Airplay.

Here’s a look at the leaderboard:

22, Calibre 50
17, Banda El Recodo de Cruz de Lizárraga
17, Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
16, Conjunto Primavera
16, Intocable
16, La Arrolladora Banda El Limón de René Camacho
16, Los Tigres del Norte

“Míranos Ahora” arrives atop the tally after Calibre 50 last led with “Si Te Pudiera Mentir,” which topped the chart for two weeks in January.

The band also makes progress on the all-genre Latin Airplay chart as “Míranos Ahpra” ascends 15-7.

The move earns Calibre 50 its 25th top 10, the most among Regional Mexican groups, and the second-most among all regional Mexican acts, trailing only Marco Antonio Solis’ 27 top 10s.

Mario Bautista Earns First No. 1 on a Billboard Airplay Chart with “Brindo,” Featuring Banda El Recodo

It’s a special first for Mario Bautista.

The 26-year-old Mexican artist has claimed his first No. 1 on a Billboard airplay chart as his single “Brindo,” with Banda El Recodo de Cruz de Lizárraga, rises to No. 1 on the Regional Mexican Airplay chart dated June 11.

Mario BautistaBanda El Recodo notches its 17th champ on the chart.

“Brindo” posted a 20% gain in audience impressions, to 7.8 million, earned in the U.S. in the week ending June 5, according to Luminate.

It dethrones Eden Muñoz’s “Chale!” after three weeks at No. 1 — the first leader for the singer-songwriter and producer after becoming a solo act.

The original version of “Brindo,” billed solely to Bautista, was released on September 9, 2021.

The regional Mexican collaboration with Banda El Recodo was announced via Twitter in January. The anticipatory buildup likely fueled the remix to debut on Regional Mexican Airplay at No. 40 on the March 26-dated survey.

With the 3-1 lift in its 12th week, Banda El Recodo secures its 17th win and enters a tie with Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga for the second-most leaders, just behind Calibre 50’s 21 No. 1s.

Further, Bautista is the fifth soloist to capture his first No. 1 on Regional Mexican Airplay in 2022.

Here’s the scoreboard:

Artist, Title, Date
Maluma, “Cada Quién,” with Grupo Firme, Feb. 5
Banda Rancho Viejo de Julio Aramaburú, “Me Vale Perderte,” April 16
Virlan García, “Híbrido,” May 14
Eden Muñoz, “Chale!”, May 21
Mario Bautista, “Brindo,” with Banda El Recodo, June 11

Elsewhere, “Brindo” moves up the overall Latin Airplay chart with a 8-4 climb.

Bautista gained notoriety as YouTuber for his sketch comedy, also becoming popular in his native Mexico as a pop singer and R&B performer.

“Brindo” is his first regional Mexican release.

 

Eden Muñoz Earns First No. 1 as a Solo Artist on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay Chart

It’s a special first for Eden Muñoz

The Mexican singer-songrwiter and producer has reached a new career milestone as “Chale!” rises 2-1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart dated May 21.

Eden MuñozIt’s his first No. 1 on the chart — and chart entry — as a solo artist, after fronting Calibre 50 for all 21 of their No. 1s from 2013-21. He departed the group in January.

“This is my first No. 1 as a soloist but not the first in my career,” Muñoz tells Billboard. “It is something that fills me with satisfaction and gives me the drive to continue working for the better, to keep evolving, remain in the public’s favor, which I believe is the most important thing in this beautiful career.”

It’s the first champ for Muñoz after he parted ways as the lead singer of Sinaloan norteño band Calibre 50.

The group’s 21 leaders, all with Muñoz, are the most in the chart’s history (it launched in 1994). Banda MS is in second place with 17 No. 1 hits.

“Chale!” gives Muñoz a first win in his first chart appearance as a solo act. He’s already logged a second chart entry, as his featured role on Banda MS’s “Hay Que Hacer Dinero” rises 38-28 in its second week on the chart.

“Chale!” takes the Greatest Gainer honor of the week thanks to 23% increase, to 7.74 million audience impressions in the week ending May 15, according to Luminate.

“The song’s musical production addresses as such a fresh and innovative concept, a style that results from the mixture of instruments representing the classic big band (slide trombones, trumpet, sax, drums), with a fusion of current norteño, in search of a new aspect of the Mexican Regional, without leaving aside its essence,” adds Muñoz.

As a soloist, Muñoz joins three other acts who have clocked their first No. 1 on Regional Mexican Airplay in 2022.

Here’s the new leaderboard:

Banda Rancho Viejo de Julio Aramaburú, “Me Vale Perderte” April 16
Maluma, “Cada Quién,” with Grupo Firme, Feb. 5
Virlan García, “Híbrido,” May 14
Eden Muñoz, “Chale!”, May 21

Beyond its Regional Mexican Airplay coronation, “Chale!” enters the top 10 on the all-Latin genre Latin Airplay chart with an 11-4 jump in its seventh week. It’s also Muñoz’s first top 10 there.

“The adoption of the tuba and Toloche al norteño has undoubtedly come to complement ‘Chale!,’” Muñoz concludes. “It gives it the characteristic touch that makes it, without a doubt, a natural and unmistakable success that can be enjoyed at any time and in any situation.”

Banda MS Earns 17th No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay Chart with “Ojos Cerrados”

It’s an eye-closing moment for Banda MS

The Mexican banda act has earned its 17th No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart as “Ojos Cerrados” jumps 2-1 in its seventh week on the March 5-dated ranking.

Banda-MSThe track is Banda MS’ first collaboration with Carin León, who climbs up the list (31-18) with another collaboration: “Con Un Botecito a Pecho” with Adriel Favela.

“Ojos Cerrados” leads with 6.66 million in audience impressions, up 15%, earned in the week ending Feb. 27, according to MRC Data.

The track was released on January 7 via Lizos Music and composed by Horacio Palencia, Nathan Galante and Edgar Barrera.

With 17 No. 1s on its account, Banda MS breaks from a tie with four other groups for the second-most leaders, standing just behind Calibre 50’s 21 champs, since the chart’s inception in 1994.

Here’s a recap of the acts with the most leaders on Regional Mexican Airplay:

21, Calibre 50
17, Banda MS
16, Banda El Recodo de Cruz de Lizárraga
16, Conjunto Primavera
16, Intocable
16, La Arrolladora Banda El Limón de René Camacho
15, Los Tigres del Norte
15, Christian Nodal
11, Gerardo Ortiz
11, La Arrolladora Banda San José de Mesillas

“Ojos Cerrados” concurrently makes progress on the all-genre Latin Airplay chart with a 9-6 lift.

Back on Regional Mexican Airplay, “Ojos” follows another No. 1: “La Sinvergüenza,” a two-week champ (starting chart dated Nov. 27, 2021). Notably, out of Banda MS’ 17 hits, only three arrived through collaborations: in addition to the two already mentioned, “Somos Los Que Somos” with Los 2 De La S, ruled for one week in September 2020.

Edén Muñoz Leaving Calibre 50 to Launch Solo Career

Edén Muñoz is re-Calibre-ating his career…

The Mexican singer and accordionist is leaving Calibre 50 after 12 years to launch his solo career.

Edén Muñoz

Lizos Music announced the move in a statement this week the frontman of the norteño band has also signed a record and management deal with the indie label and management company spearheaded by Sergio Lizárraga.

Lizos Music is also home to artists like Banda MS and Natalia Jiménez.

Muñoz founded Calibre 50 in 2010, and the group quickly become known for its norteño sound via anthems like “El Inmigrante” and “A La Antiguita,” placing seven No. 1 albums on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Albums chart. Their most recent album, Vamos Bien, peaked at No. 8 on the tally dated September 11.

Earlier in January, the group scored its 21st No. 1 on the Regional Mexican Airplay chart (dated January 22) with their Marco Antonio Solís cover “Si Te Puediera Mentir.”

With 21 leaders on the group’s account, the band from Sinaloa extends its record for the most No. 1 since Regional Mexican Airplay launched in 1994.

As a songwriter, Muñoz has penned most of Calibre 50’s repertoire, and has also written chart-topping hits for Alejandro Fernández, Pepe Aguilar, Yuridia, Banda MS and Carlos Rivera, among many others.

Last year, Muñoz was named songwriter of the year at the annual 2021 SESAC Latin Music Awards. He won songwriter of the year in the regional Mexican category for the second time for songs penned both for Calibre 50 (“Barquillero,” “Solo Tú”) and for other groups, including Banda MS (“Cerrando Ciclos”) and Banda Carnaval (“Esta Vez Soy Yo”). Muñoz’s publisher, Dulce María Music, won publisher of the year, Regional Mexican.

According to the press release, 2022 will be a “year that will mark the beginning of a very productive era for both Muñoz and Lizos.”

“I feel alive again. I feel like I’ve escaped monotony. I’m motivated now that I have creative freedom,” says Muñoz of his decision to go solo.

His upcoming new solo single “Chale” is due out on February 18.