Bratz! Launching Historic Karol G Doll Based on Her 2023 Latin Grammys Look

Posted on November 25, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Karol G is getting all dolled up!

The 33-year-old Colombian Grammy-winning singer-songwriter is officially a Bratz! doll, the lifestyle and fashion doll brand has announced.Following Karol G‘s 2024 Latin Grammy win for best urban music album, the brand celebrated for its bold self-expression transformed her 2023 Latin Grammy look into a Bratz-inspired version.

The Bratz x Karol G Collector Doll marks Bratz’s first collaboration with a musical artist.

The doll will be available for preorder globally starting December 3, 2024. It will be sold online and in stores in the U.S. (priced at $50 USD), as well as in Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile and Spain.

“I can’t believe I’m celebrating another significant milestone in my career with my very first doll — and I’m incredibly proud that it’s with Bratz, a brand I’ve always been a superfan of since childhood!” said Karol G in a statement. “It’s surreal to think that just over a year ago, I was celebrating my first Latin Grammy win, and now I have the chance to share a doll inspired by that pivotal moment in my career. Bratz are “Bichotas” in their own right — they’re independent, bold and powerful trendsetters who have been part of our lives since the early 2000s. This collaboration is a true labor of love and a celebration for fans across Latin America and beyond.”

The Bratz x Karol G doll’s fashion is inspired by the stunning rose gold dress that the artist wore at the 2023 Latin Grammys, celebrating her remarkable life and achievements. The doll includes a second outfit based on Karol’s real-life merchandise, featuring a “Bichota” season tee, along with fun accessories like mini awards and a hyperrealistic replica of a Karol G LP.

The doll’s custom packaging showcases illustrations of Karol G in the iconic Bratz style, complete with an iridescent barbed wire display.

Karol G Receives Two Wax Figures from Madame Tussauds

Posted on October 8, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Karol G is waxing nostalgic…

The 33-year-old Colombian Grammy-winning singer-songweriter has officially received two of her very own wax figures at the renowned Madame Tussauds wax museum.

Karol G was present at the recent grand reveal in New York City, where she reacted to her two figures: one that captures the Colombian-inspired outfit and signature blue hair that she rocked during her 2022 Coachella performance; the other is one of her looks from the “TQG” music video with Shakira, where she had her striking red locks.

“Wow, how impressive!” Karol said in a press statement. “My first impression was I love my smile, and the color of my eyes […] I hope when my fans meet the figures that it’s a manifestation for them that one day they will meet me.”

Her Coachella wax figure will remain at the Madame Tussauds in Times Square, whereas her “TQG” wax figure will be relocated to the Madame Tussauds in Las Vegas at the end of October.

“Karol G is one of our generation’s greatest living Latina performers,” added Eliza Rose, marketing manager at Madame Tussauds New York. “Her figure is a beautiful addition to our museums, and a testament to her talent, influence and the love her fans have for her.”

The “Bichota” singer—who’s a 17-time finalist at the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Awards and whose “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” has spent 12 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart—joins Maluma, Anitta, Selena, Bad Bunny, Shakira and other Latin acts with their own wax figures.

Karol G Earns First-Ever No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay Chart with “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”

Posted on July 16, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Karol G is celebrating a Tropical triumph…

Three weeks after the 33-year-old Colombian singer & songwriter’s “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, the song rolls 3-1 on the Tropical Airplay chart dated July 20.

It marks Karol G’s first No. 1 on the Tropical Airplay chart.

It’s only the second track by a female soloist, unaccompanied by another act, to rule the tally in the 2020s.

“Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido,” on Bichota/Interscope/ICLG and released June 21, advances to No. 1 on Tropical Airplay –as the Greatest Gainer of the week– with 7.6 million audience impressions during the July 5-11 tracking week, according to Luminate: that’s a 27% gain from the week prior.

While “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” gives Karol G her first champ on Tropical Airplay, the singer-songwriter previously achieved a No. 8 high through “Casi Nada” in 2016, before the chart became genre-based.

The track, produced in partnership with Coke Studio, makes Karol G the second solo woman, unaccompanied by any other act, to lead Tropical Airplay this decade, after Rosalía hit No. 1 with “Despechá” in 2022. Prior, La India ruled with “Dímelo” for one week in 2016.

Notably, only six women have seated atop Tropical Airplay in the ‘20s with or without collaborators: Natti Natasha, La India, Rosalía, Maria Becerra, Shakira and now, Karol G.

Out of those, Rosalía has successfully managed three champs, while Becerra, two.

Here is their collection of No. 1s:

Title, Artist, Peak Date, Weeks at No. 1
“La Mejor Versión de Mí,” Natti Natasha & Romeo Santos, Oct. 26, 2019, 15 (seven of its weeks at No. 1 were in 2020)
“Victimas Las Dos,” Victor Manuelle & La India, May 29, 2021, one
“La Fama,” Rosalía Featuring The Weeknd, May 14, 2022, two
“Te Espero”, Prince Royce & Maria Becerra, May 28, 2022, four
“Despechá”, Rosalía, Oct. 1, 2022, four
“Monotonía,” Shakira & Ozuna, Dec. 3, 2022, nine
“El Pañuelo,” Romeo Santos & Rosalía, Feb. 4, 2023, four
“Así Es La Vida,” Enrique Iglesias & Maria Becerra, Dec. 9, 2023, eight
“Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido,” Karol G, July 20

Over on Hot Latin Songs, “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” remains at its No. 2 debut and peak for a third week. Meanwhile, advances 5-2 on the overall Latin Airplay list.

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

Posted on June 26, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

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.

Filmed 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.”

Karol G & Shakira’s “TQG” Music Video Enters YouTube’s Billion Views Club

Posted on March 8, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Karol G has another streaming hit video…

The official music video for the 33-year-old Colombian superstar’s massive breakup anthem with Shakira, “TQG,” has surpassed one billion views, officially entering YouTube’s Billion Views Club.

The music video, released on February 24, 2023, as the focus track of Karol G’s Mañana Será Bonito album, features the two Colombian powerhouses delivering the empowering track that’s short for “te quedó grande.”

In the bop, the artists go back and forth about moving on from their past relationships and being on another level.

“TQG” marks the eighth Billion Views Club entry for both acts as a lead, featured artist or collaborator.

For Karol, it follows “China,” “Tusa,” “Secreto,” “Bichota,” “Culpables,” “Ahora Me Llama” and “El Makinon.”

For Shakira, it follows “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” “Chantaje,” “La Bicicleta,” “Hips Don’t Lie,” “Can’t Remember to Forget You,” “La La La” and “Perro Fiel.” The former is No. 13 on YouTube’s Global Top Artists chart, and the latter is No. 21.

On the Billboard charts, the Ovy on the Drums-produced banger debuted at No. 1 on both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. tallies, while also crowning six other Billboard listings and becoming Karol G’s first top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Furthermore, the track won best collaboration at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards.

Karol G to Make Three “Mañana Será Bonito Tour” Stops in Mexico in Early 2024

Posted on October 19, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Karol G is heading to Mexico…

As part of its Latin American leg, the 32-year-old Colombian singer-songwriter’s Mañana Será Bonito Tour will make three stops in Mexico, starting February 8 at the capital’s emblematic Estadio Azteca, promoter Ocesa has announced.

According to Karol G’s official website, the other two dates scheduled in Mexico are February 16, at the Estadio Mobil Super in the northern city of Monterrey, and February 23 at the Tres de Marzo stadium in Guadalajara.

Pre-sale for HSBC cardholders for the Estadio Azteca show begins next Monday and Tuesday (October 23-24), and the following day they will be available to the general public at the venue’s box office or through Ticketmaster, Ocesa said.

The show at the Estadio Azteca will be produced by Ocesa and Westwood. The collaboration between both promoters had previously occurred last December, when Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny sang at the same venue.

The nicknamed “Coloso de Santa Úrsula” has room for about 83,000 people, according to its website. Among other stars that have performed there are U2, Madonna and Vicente Fernández.

The last time that “La Bichota” performed in Mexico City was in June 2022, when she gave two sold-out concerts at the Arena Ciudad de México, where she had RBD’s Anahí and Mexican rock band Café Tacvba as special guests.

Karol G’s upcoming shows in Mexico, after her successful U.S. stadiums tour, mark the beginning of a journey through 18 Latin American cities, including in her native Colombia, Peru, Chile, Guatemala, Argentina and Brazil.

Her previous arenas stint, the 2022 $trip Love Tour, became the highest-grossing U.S. tour by a Latina in history. It grossed $69.9 million across 33 shows in North America, according to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore, surpassing Jennifer Lopez’s $50 million on the 2019 It’s My Party World Tour and Shakira’s $28.2 million on the 2018 El Dorado World Tour.

Last August, Karol G was the first Latina headliner at Lollapalooza. She subsequently released her second album of the year, Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season), six months after Mañana Será Bonito, which debuted atop the Billboard 200 becoming the first No. 1 by a woman singing in Spanish in the history of the chart.

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Karol G Releases New Single “S91,” Inspired by Psalm 91 Bible Verse

Posted on July 14, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Karol G is back with an inspirational new tune…

The 32-year-old Colombian superstar has released a new single called “S91,” inspired by the popular Psalm 91 Bible verse, while making an importance announcement in the track’s impactful music video.

In the emotional and ultra-personal release, produced by Ovy on the Drums, Karol G sings about overcoming adversity over an EDM-meets-trap fusion.

The music video, directed by Pedro Artola and produced by WeOwnTheCity, is just as powerful as the lyrics, demonstrating Karol G running away from a group of people backed by a pack of wolves trying to bring her down, but she’s protected by a lone panther. She also used the opportunity to announce that Mañana Sera Bonito (Bichota Season) is coming soon.

A week ago, the “Bichota” singer hinted that she was up to new projects when she posted a photo all smiles and with a line from Psalm 91: “A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.”

A couple of days later, and a month ahead of her Mañana Sera Bonito stadium tour kicking off, she surprised fans with a new music video teaser assuring them that she has an announcement “so important that it deserved its own song and music video” and that she planned to release it on July 13 because 13 is her favorite spiritual number. “Remember I always save the best for last. This video is dedicated to my people, the ones from the start,” she noted.

On the eve of the “S91” release, Karol posted a TikTok video of her mother reacting to the production in tears. “This video is special for many reasons,” she shared in the caption.

“One, there is no more beautiful feeling for me than knowing that my family is proud of me and that my music can cause them reactions like that,” she continued. “Two, my mom took us to school and taught us to pray Psalm 91 after leaving home every day in the morning because she said they were sacred words of protection, and three, I am grateful to God and to life for giving me a family that supports me, that has believed in me from the very beginning and that is still with me today, celebrating together so many beautiful things that happen to us.”

Beyond its personal connection to the artist, “S91” is charged with a message of celebration, pride, love, triumph and “many beautiful feelings,” according to Karol’s TikTok caption.

Karol G & Shakira Earn First No. 1 on Billboard Global 200 & Billboard Global Excl. U.S. Charts with “TQG”

Posted on March 7, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Karol G is a global sensation…

The 32-year-old Colombian singer’s Shakira-collab “TQG” has launched as the biggest song in the world, debuting at No. 1 on both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts dated March 11.

The song is Karol G and Shakira’s first No. 1 on the rankings.

Karol G and Shakira’s “TQG” debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200, with 158.4 million streams and 10,000 sold worldwide in the February 24-March 2 tracking week. The collaboration is from Karol G’s new album Mañana Será Bonito, which debuts at No. 1 on the U.S.-based Billboard 200, becoming the first all-Spanish-language leader by a woman in the chart’s history.

Notably, the song starts with the ninth-best streaming week since the Global 200 began (with seven of the top 10 such frames by female acts).

Biggest Worldwide Streaming Weeks in Global 200 History:
289.2 million, “Butter,” BTS, June 5, 2021
217.1 million, “Flowers,” Miley Cyrus, Feb. 4, 2023
212.1 million, “Pink Venom,” BLACKPINK, Sept. 3, 2022
185.6 million, “Flowers,” Miley Cyrus, Feb. 11, 2023
179.1 million, “Flowers,” Miley Cyrus, Jan. 28, 2023
178.2 million, “Easy on Me,” Adele, Oct. 30, 2021
170.8 million, “Permission To Dance,” BTS, July 24, 2021
169.8 million, “Butter,” BTS, June 12, 2021
158.4 million, “TQG,” Karol G & Shakira, March 11, 2023
152.8 million, “Shut Down,” BLACKPINK, Oct. 1, 2022

Karol G claims her first Global 200 No. 1 among four top 10s, following “Provenza” (No. 6, May 2022); “MAMIII,” with Becky G (No. 4, March 2022); and “Bichota” (No. 7, January 2021).

Shakira also scores her first Global 200 leader since the list began, after her and Bizarrap’s “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” debuted at its No. 2 peak (where it ranked for three weeks) in January, marking her first top 10; it slips 5-7 on the latest list.

Karol G and Shakira are the third and fourth artists from Colombia to top the Global 200; Carolina Gaitán and Mauro Castillo are among the seven credited acts on Disney’s Encanto smash “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” which led for three weeks beginning in February 2022.

As on the Global 200, Karol G and Shakira’s “TQG” debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, with 129.7 million streams and 3,000 sold outside the U.S. Feb. 24-March 2. It’s likewise each act’s first Global Excl. U.S. leader, among five and three top 10s, respectively.

Karol G and Shakira are the second and third acts from Colombia to command Global Excl. U.S.; Maluma led, with The Weeknd, on “Hawái,” the week that the chart began in 2020.

The Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. surveys, which launched in September 2020, rank songs based on streaming and sales activity culled from more than 200 territories around the world, as compiled by Luminate. The Global 200 is inclusive of worldwide data and the Global Excl. U.S. chart comprises data from territories excluding the United States.

Chart ranks are based on a weighted formula incorporating official-only streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of audio and video music services, as well as download sales, the latter of which reflect purchases from full-service digital music retailers from around the world, with sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites excluded from the charts’ calculations.

Karol G Makes History as “Mañana Será Bonito” Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart

Posted on March 6, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Karol G is celebrating a historic moment…

The 32-year-old Colombian singer and songwriter’s new album Mañana Será Bonito is making an unprecedented splash on the Billboard 200 albums chart dated March 11, as the set debuts atop the tally.

It’s both the first No. 1 for the artist and the chart’s first No. 1 all-Spanish-language album by a female artist.

“I feel so very special. More than happiness I feel special,” Karol G tells Billboard, who spoke with her as the news was reported. “My last album did so well and had all those big hits, like ‘Bichota,’ so the bar was high. But I didn’t want to make music because I felt pressure. I wanted to make the music I wanted to make, and the fact that I’ve hit No. 1 with an album that is so personal is enormous.”

Previously, only two all-Spanish albums led the list, both by Bad Bunny. (Un Verano Sin Ti in 2022 and El Ultimo Tour del Mundo in 2020).

Mañana Será Bonito earned 94,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in the week ending March 2, according to Luminate. Its starting sum was largely powered by streaming activity.

Of Mañana Será Bonito’s 94,000 equivalent album units earned, SEA units comprise 83,000 (equaling 118.73 million on-demand official streams of the set’s 17 tracks), album sales comprise 10,000 and TEA units comprise 1,000. The album’s sales were largely powered by its digital download album (8,500), though there was a CD available in limited quantities, selling about 1,500 copies. The digital album was also offered in two alternative cover variants on Karol G’s official webstore.

Mañana Será Bonito logs the largest week, by equivalent album units earned, for a Latin album by a woman since the chart began measuring by units in December of 2014. (Latin albums are defined as those that have hit or are eligible for Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart.) Further, as Mañana Será Bonito generated 118.73 million official on-demand streams for its songs, the set registers the biggest streaming week ever for a Latin album by a woman.

Mañana Será Bonito is also the first Latin album by a woman to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 since 1995, when Selena’s posthumously-released, mostly-Spanish effort Dreaming of You topped the list for one week. (The 13-song Dreaming of You album has six tracks in Spanish, five in English and two duets that blend English and Spanish.)

Only three mostly-non-English-language albums by women have reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 – the all-Spanish Mañana Será Bonito, Dreaming of You and The Singing Nun’s all-French-language self-titled album in 1963.

Karol G made her Billboard chart debut in 2016 and has been a force on Billboard’s Latin genre charts ever since, notching 17 top 10 hits on the Hot Latin Songs chart – including five No. 1s (through the most recently published chart, dated March 4). On the Top Latin Albums list, she’s previously logged a trio of top two-charting sets, including one No. 1, her previous release, KG0516, in 2021.

Mañana Será Bonito is the fourth charting album for Karol G on the all-genre Billboard 200, but first to reach the top 10. She previously visited the list with KG0516 (No. 20 in 2021), Ocean (No. 54 in 2019) and Unstoppable (No. 192 in 2017). Preceding the release of the new album, Karol had logged five top 40-charting hit songs on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, but with three of them coming in 2022: “Mamiii,” with Becky G (No. 15), “Provenza” (No. 25) and “Gatubela,” with Maldy (No. 37). Both “Mamiii” and “Provenza” became Karol’s first top 10-charting hits on the all-genre Streaming Songs chart, reaching Nos. 5 and 10, respectively. (Both “Provenza” and “Gatubela” are included on Mañana Será Bonito.)

With Karol G’s Mañana Será Bonito replacing SZA’s SOS at No. 1, it’s the first time a woman has replaced another woman atop the list in over a year. It last happened when a trio of leading ladies traded off the top spot from November 20, 2021-December 4, 2021. Summer Walker’s Still Over It debuted at No. 1 on the on November 20 chart, Taylor Swift’s Red (Taylor’s Version) then opened atop the list on November 27, and Adele’s 30 bowed at No. 1 on the December 4 chart.

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album.

Karol G Earns 14th No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay Chart with “Provenza”

Posted on July 8, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Karol G has another airplay chart-topper on her resume…

The 31-year-old Colombian singer, songwriter and businesswoman has conquered the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart for a 14th time as “Provenza” rises from No. 4 to lead the July 9-dated list.

Holding strong at No. 2 (after its No. 1 high) is Karol G’s single with Becky G, “Mamiii.”

With the one-two punch Karol G logs a new career achievement, becoming just the second woman, after Selena in 1995, to hold Nos. 1 and 2 at the same time since the chart launched in 1994.

“Provenza” rallies 4-1 on Latin Airplay thanks to a 23% gain in audience impressions, to 10.9 million, earned in the U.S. in the week ending July 3, according to Luminate.

It’s Karol G’s 14th champ overall on the tally which measures audience totals across all Latin-monitored stations in the U.S.

It’s concurrently her fourth No. 1 as a solo act, unaccompanied by any other artist, two of which stem from her Top Latin Albums No. 1 set KG0516 (April 14, 2021-dated ranking): “Ay, Dios Mío! (Oct. 2020) and “Bichota” (Feb. 2021).

Further, Karol G sends Rauw Alejandro and Chencho Corleone’s “Desesperados” to No. 5 after its one-week reign (July 2-dated survey) with a 23% dip in audience impressions.

The last female to claim the top two spots together was the late Selena, when “Tú Sólo Tú” and “I Could Fall in Love” ranked at Nos. 1 and 2 respectively, on the Sept. 9, 1995-dated tally. (Selena logged a total of six weeks at Nos. 1 and 2 with those titles beginning that August.)

Further, having already asserted its strength with a No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs, Latin Digital Song Sales, and Latin Streaming Songs charts for at least one week, “Provenza” concurrently pounces to the top on the current Latin Pop Airplay survey.

Elsewhere, “Provenza” holds at No. 4 on the all-metric Hot Latin Songs chart for a third week, after its one-week reign (May 14). It concurrently rebounds 40-32 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart.

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