Xavi Makes History with Fourth No. 1 of 2024 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay Chart

Posted on December 18, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Xavi’s young music career is in full bloom…

The 20-year-old Mexican American singer-songwriter has added a fourth No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart as “Flores” rises 3-1 to lead the December 21-dated list with the Greatest Gainer honors of the week.

Notably, he’s landed all his No. 1 songs in 2024, dating to his first, “La Diabla,” in February.

“Flores” was released on October 11 on Interscope/ICLG as one 14 tracks on Next, Xavi’s debut studio album, which made a Nos. 9 and 6 entrance on the Top Latin Albums and Regional Mexican Albums charts, respectively.

“Flores” rises to the summit on Regional Mexican Airplay with a 29% gain in audience impressions to 7.2 million, earned during the December 6-12 tracking week in the U.S., according to Luminate.

It trades places with Grupo Frontera’s “Hecha Pa’ Mi,” after the latter’s 1-3 dip with 17% decline in impressions.

The new win makes Xavi the first soloist with the first four songs of his career to all hit No. 1 in a single year on the chart. It also places him in a tie with Christian Nodal for the most No. 1s by a soloist in a single calendar year, since Regional Mexican Airplay launched in 1994, both with four champs in 2024 and 2021, respectively.

Further, Xavi ties with six other acts for the third-most champs overall in a single year. Going back to when the 30-year-old chart launched, and Calibre 50 continues to lead the pack with the most rulers, with 26 career No. 1s.

Here’s a recap of the acts with the most No. 1s in a single calendar year on Regional Mexican Airplay:

6, Grupo Frontera (2023)
5, Grupo Frontera (2024)
4, Xavi (2024)
4, Grupo Firme (2022)
4, Christian Nodal (2021)
4, Calibre 50 (2020)
4, Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga (2017)
4, Los Tigres del Norte (1997)

Elsewhere, “Flores” takes Xavi to an equal No. 3 high as his past two entries on the overall Latin Airplay chart: “Corazón de Piedra” (June) and “#OOTD” (August).

Grupo Frontera Extends Record for Most No. 1s in a Calendar Year on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay Chart with “Hecha Pa’ Mi”

Posted on December 10, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Grupo Frontera is celebrating another chart-topper…

It only took four months for the Regional Mexican band from South Texas to regain its No. 1 slot on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart as “Hecha Pa’ Mi” jumps 2-1 on the December 14-dated ranking.

Before the song rose to No. 1, Grupo Frotera previously ruled with their Maluma collaboration, “Por Qué Será?” for one week in August.

“Hecha Pa’ Mi,” released on the group’s label (Grupo Frontera) on October 3, traces its gain to 7.8 million audience impressions earned in the U.S. during the November 29-December 5 tracking week, according to Luminate, a 16% increase from the previous week.

The song trades places with “Amor Bonito” by Luis Angel “El Flaco,” as the latter dips 1-2 with a 7% decline in audience for the week.

While Grupo Frontera earns its 11th No. 1 on Regional Mexican Airplay, the second-most in the 2020s decade (behind Calibre 50’s 12 rulers), with the new arrival, the group achieves its fifth champ in 2024 and extends its record for the most leaders in the calendar year.

Here’s a look at the artists with the most No. 1s on the radio tally in 2024:

5, Grupo Frontera
3, Alejandro Fernández
3, Eden Muñoz
3, Xavi

With its 16% surge in audience, “Hecha Pa’ Mi” takes home the Greatest Gainer trophy, awarded weekly to the song with the biggest increase in impressions on the 40-deep chart.

Plus, it becomes the group’s first No. 1 song unaccompanied by any other collaborator among its collection of 11 leaders.

Further, continued progress among Regional Mexican stations pushes “Hecha Pa’ Mi” 5-3 on the overall Latin Airplay chart, for the song’s new peak there.

The song also advances 13-12 on the multi-metric Hot Latin Songs chart despite decreases in the two other metrics that inform the chart. It generated 2.5 million official U.S. streams, that’s a 15 dip in clicks during the tracking period, while declined 33% in digital sales.

“Hecha P’a Mi” went viral in October after the band crashed a wedding to perform the song, surprising the bride, groom and guests.

“You won’t believe me,” leading singer Payo said on social media. “I don’t know if you’ll believe me, but that gig was more difficult than a concert. I swear, I was more nervous than in a concert.”

Mariah Carey Returns to No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 with “All I Want for Christmas Is You”

Posted on December 9, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

It’s December… And (no surprise) Mariah Carey‘ is back atop the Billboard charts.

The 55-year-old half-Venezuelan American Grammy-winning singer’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” dashes through all competition on the Billboard Hot 100 once again, surging nine spots to No. 1 for a 15th total week at the summit on the chart.

The carol reigns in a record-extending sixth holiday season.

It was originally released on Carey’s album Merry Christmas in November 1994 and, as streaming has grown and holiday music has become more prominent on streaming services’ playlists, it hit the Hot 100’s top 10 for the first time in December 2017, and the top five for the first time in the 2018 holiday season.

It led at last, prior to this week, over the holidays in 2019 (for three weeks), 2020 (two), 2021 (three), 2022 (four) and 2023 (two).

“When I wrote [it], I had absolutely no idea the impact the song would eventually have worldwide,” Carey marveled in 2021. “I’m so full of gratitude that so many people enjoy it with me every year.”

“All I Want for Christmas Is You” became Carey’s 19th Hot 100 No. 1, the most among soloists and one away from The Beatles’ overall record 20. It also made Carey the first artist to have ranked at No. 1 on the chart in four distinct decades (1990s, 2000s, ‘10s and ‘20s).

Carey’s insta-classic drew 38.2 million streams (up 42%) and 24.4 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 56%) and sold 3,000 downloads (up 81%) in the U.S. Nov. 29-Dec. 5, according to Luminate.

“All I Want for Christmas Is You” ties for the sixth-longest command among the 1,176 total No. 1s dating to the Hot 100’s Aug. 4, 1958. start. (All seven songs have led since the list adopted electronically-monitored Luminate data in November 1991, at which point longer commands than before subsequently became more common.)

Below is a recap of the seven longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1s – with Carey the only artist with two entries on the elite list:

19 weeks, “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” Shaboozey, 2024
19, “Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus, 2019
16, “Last Night,” Morgan Wallen, 2023
16, “Despacito,” Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber, 2017
16, “One Sweet Day,” Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men, 1995-96
15, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Mariah Carey, 2019-24
15, “As It Was,” Harry Styles, 2022

The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. streaming (official audio and official video), radio airplay and sales data, the lattermost metric reflecting purchases of physical singles and digital tracks from full-service digital music retailers; digital singles sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites are excluded from chart calculations.

Bruno Mars Notches Sixth Week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Global Charts with ROSÉ-Collaboration “APT.”

Posted on December 2, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Bruno Mars’ latest single can’t be evicted…

The 39-year-old part-Puerto Rican Grammy-winning singer/songwriter’s hit ROSÉ-collaboration “APT.” continues to rule both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts for the sixth consecutive week.

The song debuted as the stars’ second leader on each survey.

“APT.” tops the Global 200 for a sixth week with 160.6 million streams (up 21% week-over-week) and 20,000 sold (up 49%) worldwide November 22-28.

The duet debuted with 224.5 million global streams and logged 207.5 million in its second frame, becoming the first title since the chart started to have amassed at least 200 million streams globally in multiple weeks.

“APT.” also now boasts six of the top seven streaming weeks on the Global 200 among songs released in 2024:

5 million, “APT.,” ROSÉ & Bruno Mars, Nov. 2
5 million, “APT.,” Nov. 9
8 million, “Fortnight,” Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone, May 4
2 million, “APT.,” Nov. 16
6 million, “APT.,” Dec. 7
4 million, “APT.,” Nov. 23
7 million, “APT.,” Nov. 30

Lady Gaga and Mars’ “Die With a Smile” holds at No. 2 on the Global 200, following eight weeks at No. 1, the most for any song this year, beginning in September. It drew 115.7 million streams (up 1%) worldwide Nov. 22-28 and has tallied over 100 million streams globally in each of the last 13 weeks, the longest such streak since the chart began.

“Die With a Smile” also holds at No. 2 on Global Excl. U.S. following eight weeks at No. 1 starting in September.

The Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts 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.

Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” Tops the First Billboard Holiday 100 Chart of the 2025 Holiday Season

Posted on December 2, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

It wouldn’t be the holiday season without Mariah Carey’s return to the summit on the holiday charts.

The Holiday 100 has made its annual jolly jaunt back to Billboard’s charts menu, with the 55-year-old half-Venezuelan American Grammy-winning songstress’ “All I Want for Christmas Is You” ruling the tally.

The track is No. 1 for the 61st week of the chart’s 69 total weeks since it was launched in 2011.

The survey ranks the top seasonal songs of all eras via the same formula used for the Billboard Hot 100, blending streaming, airplay and sales data.

The only other Holiday 100 No. 1s to date: Justin Bieber’s “Mistletoe,” for a week in the 2011-12 holiday season; Pentatonix’s “Little Drummer Boy” (one, 2013-14) and “Mary, Did You Know?” (two, 2014-15); Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me” (one, 2014-15); and Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” – which reigned for three weeks on both the Holiday 100 and Hot 100 last holiday season, granting the legendary singer a gift 65 years in the making, following the song’s 1958 release.

Carey’s carol reigns with 26.8 million streams (up 52% week-over-week), 15.7 million airplay audience impressions (up 68%) and 2,000 sold (up 25%) in the United States Nov. 22-28, according to Luminate.

The song also boasts top honors on Billboard’s Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs chart.

“When I wrote [it], I had absolutely no idea the impact the song would eventually have worldwide,” Carey marveled of “All I Want for Christmas Is You” in 2021; it was originally released 30 years ago. “I’m so full of gratitude that so many people enjoy it with me every year.”

Rounding out the Holiday 100’s top five are Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” (No. 2); Wham!’s “Last Christmas,” which marks its 40th anniversary this year (No. 3); Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock,” from 1957 (No. 4); and Burl Ives’ “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” which turns 60 this year (No. 5).

Additionally, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” surges six spots to No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Scheana Shay Working on Special EP with The 27s

Posted on November 27, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Scheana Shay is readying to release new music…

The 39-year-old half-Mexican American reality television personality, singer and actress is preparing to release her upcoming EP with The 27s.

Shay, who rose to acclaim on Vanderpump Rules, drew inspiration for her latest musical project from Taylor Swift.

“What I wanted to do with this EP was each song is kind of — and this is my Taylor Swift inspo — is a different era of Scheana,” the singer and TV personality, who attended the Eras Tour, tells Billboard. “So you have the ‘Apples’ Scandoval era, you have the ‘Boy Crazy’ era, ‘Sweet & Sour’ is like the mean girl, the early Vanderpump Rules era, and the next single I have is called ‘Miss Understood.’ So that is just a combination of 11 years on reality TV feeling like I’ve been a little misunderstood! But it’s a really good song. That one is a little more poppy, and then we have a couple more that are definitely more rock.”

And like Swift, Shay — who has her own NFL ties via hosting some of Smirnoff’s We Do Game Day Matchups, with her next one being December 5 in Detroit — will also be doing at least one other new of her own tunes.

“We’re doing a stripped-down version of ‘Apples.’ It’s just gonna be a more acoustic vibe, slower,” the Scheananigans podcast host shares of the bop that originally arrived in August 2023.

The tune was inspired by co-star Tom Sandoval’s affair with their friend Rachel Leviss (dubbed “Scandoval” for its betrayal of fan-favorite castmate Ariana Madix, Sandoval’s partner of nearly 10 years and one of Leviss’ closest friends), which Shay performed during the VPR season 11 finale. “That’s the only one we’re really redoing. We already did the Screamo Version of ‘Good as Gold,’ but I’m really excited.”

Though pop music and parenting are in the influencer’s wheelhouse, she hopes to step outside the box with her music too. “I would love to collaborate with a legend like Dr. Dre, Eminem, where I’m just on the hook and they’re doing their thing they do. They’re so talented!” she gushed of the hip-hop icons. “Snoop Dogg, maybe Drake, but definitely more on the hip-hop side if I was going to do a collab. I feel like people would expect me to say, like, Britney Spears or something pop or Gwen Stefani. No! Put me in the studio with Dr. Dre and I would be a very happy girl!”

Sebastian Yatra Makes Broadway Debut in “Chicago”

Posted on November 27, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Sebastian Yatra is taking a special stage…

The 30-year-old Colombian singer and actor made his Broadway debut this week in Chicago.

Yatra delivers a solid vocal performance and demonstrates an enjoyable stage presence as the charming, corrupt lawyer Billy Flynn in Chicago.

In the musical, he’s not the same singer of Latin pop chart-topping hits; he’ss a conscious cast member committed to the requirements of this type of show.

Yatra began his four-week engagement in the long-running musical on Monday (Nov. 25), where he shares leading roles with Broadway veterans Bianca Marroquín and Kimberly Marable, who play Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, respectively.

Known for No. 1 hits on the Billboard Latin Airplay chart like “Tacones Rojos,” “Un Año” (with Reik) and “Robarte un Beso” (with Carlos Vives), Yatra makes the leap to the theater mecca two years after making his acting debut in the miniseries Once Upon a Time… Happily Never After.

Although he’s younger (and sweeter) than other actors who’ve played Billy Flynn — Jerry Orbach was almost 40 in the original 1975 production, and Richard Gere was 52 in the 2002 film adaptation — on Tuesday (Nov. 26), in only his second performance, Yatra shone, showing new vocal registers and singing classics like “Razzle Dazzle” and “We Both Reached for the Gun” in English.

While dancing is not considered his forte, he followed the choreography without issue and stood out with his bearing and likability.

“Everyone in Chicago is excited and proud of him,” Marroquín, who shares several scenes with Yatra in the performance, told Billboard Español on Tuesday as she left the theater. “He has done an exceptional job. He arrived super disciplined with everything memorized, very committed, very responsible, and on top of that he is a sweetheart. Being backstage with him is divine. He is a very beautiful soul. So I love having that connection because, besides, Roxie and Billy have a lot to do with each other in the show. We have created a beautiful friendship, a bond, a very nice chemistry.”

Set in the 1920s, Chicago is a scathing satire of how show business and the media make celebrities out of criminals. While the original production debuted in 1975, the current production, which opened on Broadway in 1996, holds the record for the longest-running American musical on Broadway. With a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Ebb, it includes killer songs like “All That Jazz,” “Cell Block Tango” and “Mr. Cellophane.”

With Yatra, the role of Billy Flynn now receives some Latin and contemporary flavor. “Latinos have something special even when we are speaking English, there is a lot of love within us, a lot of passion,” Yatra told Billboard Español in September, upon the announcement of his Broadway debut. “I think I can offer a perspective from someone who is living in 2024 at almost 30, how he sees that world, also knowing that I could have perfectly been a lawyer and could be that person standing there. Thank God Billy and I don’t share the same values, because that would be messed up!” he added with a laugh.

Over the years, Chicago has invited various Latin stars to join the musical for brief runs. Yatra joins a list that includes Colombian actress Sofia Vergara, who in 2009 played Matron “Mama” Morton, and Mexican singer and actor Jaime Camil, who in 2016 portrayed Billy Flynn.

Chicago is presented at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.) For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Broadway musical’s site.

Bruno Mars Logs Fifth Week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Global Charts with ROSÉ-Collaboration “APT.”

Posted on November 25, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

It’s five in a row for Bruno Mars.

The 39-year-old part-Puerto Rican Grammy-winning singer’s collaboration with ROSÉ, “APT.,” tops both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts for a fifth week.

The song debuted as the stars’ second leader on each list.

“APT.,” released October 18, rules the Global 200 for a fifth week with 132.7 million streams (down 9% week-over-week) and 13,000 sold (down 3%) worldwide November 15-21.=

The duet debuted with 224.5 million global streams and logged 207.5 million in its second frame, becoming the first title since the chart started to have drawn at least 200 million streams globally in multiple weeks.

“APT.” also now claims five of the top six streaming weeks on the Global 200 among songs released in 2024:

224.5 million, “APT.,” ROSÉ & Bruno Mars, Nov. 2
207.5 million, “APT.,” Nov. 9
176.8 million, “Fortnight,” Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone, May 4
162.2 million, “APT.,” Nov. 16
146.4 million, “APT.,” Nov. 23
132.7 million, “APT.,” Nov. 30

Lady Gaga and Mars’ “Die With a Smile” holds at No. 2 on the Global 200, following eight weeks at No. 1, the most for any song this year. It drew 114 million streams (down 4%) worldwide November 15-21 and has tallied over 100 million streams globally in each of the last 12 weeks, the longest such streak since the chart began.

“APT.” concurrently commands Global Excl. U.S. for a fifth week, with 117.4 million streams (down 9%) and 9,000 sold (down 4%) outside the U.S. Nov. 15-21.

“Die With a Smile” holds at No. 2 on Global Excl. U.S. following eight weeks at No. 1.

The Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts, which began 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.

Carín León to Perform at Next Year’s Viña del Mar International Song Festival

Posted on November 23, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Carín León is set to perform at Viña del Mar International Song Festival in February.

The 35-year-old Mexican singer-songwriter has been added as part of the lineup for the 64th annual installment alongside Eladio Carrión, Morat and Kidd Voodoo.

They’ll be joining the previously announced stars Marc Anthony, Ha*Ash, Carlos Vives, Miryam Hernández, Duki, Sebastián Yatra and Bacilos.

The event is scheduled to take place February 23-28 at Viña del Mar, Chile.

“We have developed a lineup for the whole family, featuring international artists at their peak for younger audiences, as well as classics and historic performers for the older ones,” Viña del Mar Mayor Macarena Ripamonti said in a press release. “Every night is turning out to be very appealing, which allows those who attend Quinta Vergara and the millions who watch the Festival on television to enjoy a modern event, with the latest technology and full of innovation that we will announce in the coming weeks.”

Hailing from Hermosillo, Sonora, Leon is one of the biggest forces behind the surge of Regional Mexican music globally. He started his musical journey as a teen and rose to prominence after his solo debut in 2018, Amanecida Con Todo y Con Todos. With his recent offering, Boca Chueca, Vol. 1, he debuted on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums and Regional Mexican Albums charts at No. 8 and No. 5, respectively.

Colombian band Morat recently finished their Morat: Los Estadios tour across 25 stadiums in different countries, concluding December 13 at the Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City. Members Juan Pablo Isaza, Martín Vargas, Simón Vargas, and Juan Pablo Villamil have gained recognition for their pop-rock sensibility with hits such as “No Se Va,” “Salir Con Vida,” and “Besos en Guerra.”

Latin trap star Carrión, of Puerto Rican descent, broke through in 2018 with certified gold hits like “Me Usaste” and “Si Tú Te Vas.” Earlier this year, he dropped Sol María, dedicated to his mother, which saw him expanding his genre versatility, and a hard-hitting trap EP Porque Puedo. He entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart twice with “Coco Chanel” and “Thunder & Lightning,” alongside Bad Bunny.

Chilean artist and member of the group 4F (Los Cuatro Fantásticos de la Música), Kidd Voodoo enjoys local popularity with hits like “Enrolar”, “Ese Guille” and “Dámelo BB.” He recently released “Satirología,” a single that in less than three weeks garnered over half a million views on YouTube.

Touted as the largest Latin music festival in the world, Viña del Mar spans six days and features a mix of celebrated stars, emerging talents, and local performers competing for the “Gaviotas” awards — silver, gold and platinum — judged by a panel and influenced by viewer feedback.

Since its 1960 inception, the festival takes place at the Quinta Vergara amphitheater, which has a capacity of 15,000 and is located in the Valparaíso region on the central coast.

This year introduces a first-time partnership between Megamedia and Bizarro Live Entertainment. Additionally, Disney+ will livestream the event throughout Latin America, and Billboard is set to provide exclusive global content on the website.

Bruno Mars Earns 10th No. 1 on Billboard’s Pop Airplay Chart with Lady Gaga-Collaboration “Die With a Smile”

Posted on November 16, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Bruno Mars has another reason to die with a smile…

The 39-year-old part-Puerto Rican Grammy-winning singer’s Lady Gaga-collaboration “Die With a Smile” has risen four spots to No. 1 on Billboard’s Pop Airplay chart dated November 23.

The ballad, on Streamline/Atlantic/Interscope/ICLG, reigns with Greatest Gainer honors, up 10% in plays at the format for the week of November 8-14, according to Luminate.

The song drew an average of 77 plays per reporter playing it in that span (translating to a play roughly every two hours).

The Pop Airplay chart ranks songs by weekly plays on over 150 mainstream top 40 radio stations monitored by Mediabase, with data provided to Billboard by Luminate.

Mars last led the Pop Airplay chart with “Finesse,” with Cardi B, in 2018.

Gaga now boasts eight career Pop Airplay No. 1s and Mars, 10 – tying him with Justin Bieber for the most among solo males.

Here’s a look at the acts with the most leaders since the chart began in October 1992:

13, Taylor Swift
11, Maroon 5
11, Katy Perry
11, Rihanna
10, Justin Bieber
10, Ariana Grande
10, Bruno Mars
9, P!nk
8, Doja Cat
8, Lady Gaga
8, Justin Timberlake
7, Beyoncé

“Die With a Smile” crowned the Billboard Global 200 chart for eight weeks in September-October, the most for any song this year. It drew 119.6 million streams worldwide November 1-7 and has tallied over 100 million streams globally in each of the last 10 weeks (through the November 16-dated chart), the longest such streak since the survey began in September 2020.

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