Maria Perez Claims Silver in the Women’s 20KM Walk at 2024 Paris Games

Maria Perez has earned her first-ever Olympic hardware.

The 28-year-old Spanish race walker improved on her 2020 Tokyo Games performance to claim a silver in the women’s 20KM walk at the 2024 Paris Games.

Maria Perez, Perez, the 2023 world champion in the event, finished the race on Thursday with a time of 1:26:19, behind only China’s Yang Jiayu, who finished the race slightly ahead of Perez at 1:25:54.

Australia’s Jemima Montag earned the bronze with a time of 1:26:25.

Maria Perez,Perez previously placed fourth in the women’s 20KM walk at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

In addition to her world championship in the women’s 20KM walk last year, Perez also won the title in the women’s 35KM race walk at the same event.

Angela Ruiz, Ana Vasquez & Alejandra Valencia Give Mexico First Medal of 2024 Paris Games

2024 Paris GamesAngela Ruiz, Ana Vasquez and Alejandra Valencia have given Mexico the country’s first medal of the 2024 Paris Games.

The 17-year-old Mexican archer, 23-year-old Mexican archer and 29-year-old Mexican archer claimed the bronze medal in the Women’s Team Archery competition.

Angela Ruiz, Ana Vasquez, Alejandra Valencia, Mexico After losing to China in the semifinals, 3-5, Ruiz, Vasquez and Valencia recovered to beat Netherlands in the bronze medal match by a score of 6-2 on Sunday.

It’s Valencia’s second Olympic bronze after her third place finish at the 2020 Tokyo Games in the mixed team competition.

It’s the first Olympic medal for Ruiz and Vasquez.

After tying in the first four sets at two apiece, South Korea claimed the gold after a three-arrow shootout against China, who had to settle for the silver.

It was South Korea’s 10th straight triumph in the event.

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.”

Anuel AA to Make Feature Film Debut in Indie Horror Film “You Lose You Die”

Anuel AA is set to make his big screen debut…

The 31-year-old Puerto Rican rapper and singer, whose real name is Emmanuel Gazmey Santiago, will make his feature debut in Carlos “Spiff TV” Suarez’s indie horror film You Lose You Die.

Anuel AAHe joins previously announced stars Freddy Rodriguez, who also executive produces, and Ashley Elizabeth Fliehr (WWE star Charlotte Flair).

Shooting is due to wrap imminently in the Dominican Republic and the project will be shopped following post-production.

You Lose You Die follows sociopathic tech expert Mr. Fantastik (Rodriguez), who runs a popular show on the dark web with two other sociopathic tech experts, Ms. Perfect (Fliehr) and Mr. Creep (Anthony Alvarez). On the show, thousands of viewers vote on games and challenges for prisoners to participate in. If the prisoners lose, viewers vote on the weapons the sociopaths use to kill them.

In addition to Anuel AA who plays EZ Money, the cast includes Josh Bredl as Mr. Large, Sophia Zimba as Kara, Ashley Hernandez as Julie, Alejandro Duran as Alfonso, Noah Crider as Chase, Marcella Acuña as Christie, Mercy Grant as Darling and Lydia Faith Gomez as Jamie.

Rodriguez, Josue “Sway” Mendez and Ulysses Terrero serve as executive producers, with Mendez also producing.

Michael Patti is director of photography.

Anuel AA is a Latin trap music pioneer. He recorded his debut album Real Hasta La Muerte (2018) which topped the U.S. Top Latin Albums chart.

He has collaborated with notable artists such as Daddy Yankee, Karol G, Ozuna and J Balvin. His hits include “Secreto” and “China.” He won the Billboard Latin Music Award for New Artist of the Year in 2019.

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

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.

Shakira & Karol G 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 Earns Eighth No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs Chart with Peso Pluma-Collaboration “Qlona”

Karol G has replaced herself (again) at the top of the Latin charts…

The 32-year-old Colombian singer’s first collaboration with Peso Pluma, “Qlona,” rises to the summit on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart as the song ascends 2-1 and ousts her own “Mi Ex Tenía Razón” from the lead, sending it to No. 2 on the September 2-dated list.

Karol GBoth songs are part of her No. 1 album Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season).

“Qlona” leads the multimetric ranking powered by streaming activity. During the tracking week ending Aug. 24, it logged 12.6 million on-demand official streams in the U.S., a 7% rise from the previous week, according to Luminate.

The sum yields the song to No. 1 on Latin Streaming Songs as the Greatest Gainer of the week and an 18-16 lift on the overall Streaming Songs chart; the only song by a Latin artist in the top 20 there.

With “Qlona,” Karol G captures her eighth No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs. She first led with “Dame Tu Cosita” with Pitbull and El Chombo, featuring Cutty Ranks, for two weeks in 2018.

Her second and longest coronation to date arrived a year later as “China” — with Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, Ozuna and J Balvin — crowned the list for 12 weeks in 2019.

Peso Pluma, meanwhile, secures his second champ after the 19-week ruler “Ella Baila Sola” with Eslabon Armado, the longest leading song on Hot Latin Songs in 2023 thus far.

As “Qlona” trades places with “Mi Ex Tenía Razón,” Karol G replaces herself at No. 1 again. She is the last woman with direct successors at the summit, as “Mamiii” with Becky G ceded the throne to her own “Provenza” on the May 14, 2022-dated chart.

Among all acts, Bad Bunny did it last, when “Me Porto Bonito” ejected his own “Titi Me Preguntó” from the lead (list dated May 28, 2022).

“Qlona” is the second ruler from Karol G’s Bichota Season to lead Hot Latin Songs.

Thanks to nine new debuts from the set on last’s week chart (August 22 dated chart), Karol G made history, breaking the record for the most songs among female artists on the list’s history, which dates to 1986.

Elsewhere, “Qlona” rallies 29-12 on Billboard Global 200 and flies 55-15 on Global Excl. U.S., to new peaks on both rankings.

J Balvin Reclaims Crown as Artist with Most Videos in YouTube’s Billion Views Club

J Balvin is YouTube’s ’s Billion baller…

The 37-year-old Colombian singer’s “Ritmo (Bad Boys for Life)” music video in collaboration with Black Eyed Peas has surpassed 1 billion views, officially making him the artist with the most videos in YouTube’s Billion Views Club once again, according to the video platform.

J Balvin“Ritmo,” which was released on October 11, 2019, on YouTube, marks Balvin’s 12th entry as a lead, featured artist or collaborator. Prior to reclaiming the crown this week, Balvin was tied with Justin Bieber with 11 music videos each with a billion views.

In 2016, he became the first Latin urban artist to reach 10 digits with a video on the platform with “Ay Vamos.” He was only the third Latin artist to reach a billion views, following Enrique Iglesias’ “Bailando,” featuring Gente de Zona and Descemer Bueno, and Romeo Santos’ “Propuesta Indecente,” both in 2014.

Balvin also has one of the top five fastest videos to reach the billion-view mark with “Mi Gente,” surpassing the number in 103 days.

“Ritmo (Bad Boys for Life)” samples Corona’s ’90s hit “Rhythm of the Night,” fusing hip-hop and pop with Balvin’s incendiary and infectious take on reggaeton.

The track topped the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs and Hot Latin Songs

charts in 2020, becoming the Peas’ first leader on each ranking and Balvin’s first on the dance chart.

The video, which shows scenes from the Bad Boys for Life movie, now joins the Willy William-assisted “Mi Gente”; “X (Equis)” with Nicky Jam; “Con Altura” with Rosalia; “China” alongside Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, Karol G, and Ozuna; “No Me Conoce (Remix)” with Jhayco and Bad Bunny; “Ay Vamos”; “I Like It” with Cardi B and Bad Bunny; “Ahora Dice” with Chris Jedi, Ozuna, and Arcangel; the Farruko-assisted “6AM”; and “Safari” featuring Pharrell Williams, BIA, and Sky in the billion-views club.

Ozuna Signs with William Morris Endeavor (WME)

Ozuna has new representation…

William Morris Endeavor (WME) has signed the 30-year-old Puerto Rican singer and rapper in all areas.

Ozuna“I am excited to collaborate with many of the top agents at WME to further connect with my incredible fans in inventive ways and continue to bring my culture to the masses,” the Puerto Rican singer born Juan Carlos Ozuna Rosado said in a statement. “As an artist, I want to expand my brand and develop new and exciting opportunities together in all aspects of entertainment.”

His WME signing comes on the heels of the announcement of his 2022 global tour Ozutochi, which kicks off June 30 in Seville, Spain, and will make its way across Europe and the U.S. before wrapping on December 9 at the FTX Arena in Miami.

Ozuna kicked off 2022 with his Christina Aguilera duet, “Santo,” and dropped a trio of singles over the past few months, including “Deprimida,” “G-Wagon” and “Apretatio.”

Most recently, he released “Ceremonia,” which will appear in the upcoming HBO Max remake of Father of the Bride.

The artist is also working on his fifth studio album, which will follow his sets Odisea, Aura, ENOC, and Nibiru, all of which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart. Additionally, he’s placed over 100 entries in Hot Latin Songs, including five No. 1 hits: “Te Bote,” “Taki Taki,” “Otro Trago,” “China,” and “Mamacita.”

Karol G Lands Fifth Music Video on YouTube’s Billion Views Club with “Bichota”

Make that five music video hits for Karol G

The 31-year-old Colombian singer’s “Bichota” music video has surpassed one billion views on YouTube, marking her fifth title to enter the Billion Views Club.

Karol GThe latest clip follows “China,” “Secreto,” “Tusa,” and “Culpables.”

Karol G, who won the 2021 Latin Grammy for best reggaeton performance with this single, reached this new milestone over the weekend.

Released on October 23, 2020, the term “Bichota” (linked to the Puerto Rican slang “bichote,” deriving from the English term “big shot”) refers to “a moment of feeling sexy, flirtatious, daring, strong, empowered, and to a certain extent, [it] translates into personal motivation and self-confidence,” Karol G previously told Billboard. “We are all super ‘Bichotas’ inside. It’s about believing and working so that the rest of the world can see it too.”

The Ovy on the Drums-produced single hit the Top 20 on Billboard Global Charts, earning Karol G her ninth No. 1 on the Billboard Latin Airplay chart, and her 10th top 10 on Hot Latin Songs.

This led to her becoming the first female artist to debut in the list’s top 10 without another act in eight years since Gloria Estefan’s 2012 “Hotel Nacional.”

News of “Bichota” reaching one billion views comes on the heels of Karol G’s two-weekend Coachella debut on April 17 and 24, where she performed “MAMIII” with Becky G live for the first time, releasing her new single “Provenza,” and announcing her upcoming new trek dubbed the $trip Love Tour 2022. The trek kicks off on September 6 at the Allstate Arena in Chicago, and wraps up on October 29 at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena.

Tainy Becomes First Person to Spend 100 Weeks Atop Any Billboard Producers Charts

Tainy is making Billboard history…

The 32-year-old Puerto Rican record producer and songwriter has entered the history books as the first person to spend 100 weeks at No. 1 on any of Billboard‘s producers charts.

Tainy

The multi-hyphenate artist (real name: Marco Masis) spends a record-extending 100th week at No. 1 on the Latin Producers survey dated October 9, thanks to his production on seven tracks on the latest Hot Latin Songs chart.

Billboard launched all-genre Hot 100 Songwriters and Hot 100 Producers charts in June 2019, as well as those for country, rock & alternative, R&B/Hip-Hop, R&B, rap, Latin, Christian, gospel and dance/electronic; alternative and hard rock joined in June 2020.

“This milestone is something crazy to me, to see that we actually made it to 100 weeks,” Tainy tells Billboard. “At the end of the day, I am just truly grateful to get to wake up every day and do what I love. It’s amazing to be a part of such an important list with all these talented producers that are working at such high levels making incredible music and pushing our culture forward globally.”

Here’s a recap of Tainy’s entries on the latest Hot Latin Songs chart.

Rank, Artist Billing, Title (co-producers in addition to Tainy)
No. 4, Bad Bunny, “Yonaguni” (Smash David, Byrd, FinesseGTB)
No. 5, Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, “Dákiti” (Mora)
No. 6, J Balvin & Skrillex, “In Da Getto” (Skrillex)
No. 8, Kali Uchis, “Telepatía” (Manuel Lara, Albert Hype)
No. 14, Jhay Cortez & Anuel AA, “Ley Seca”
No. 30, J Balvin & Sech, “Una Nota” (Sky Rompiendo)
No. 44, Tainy x Yandel, “Deja Vu”

Almost exactly a year ago, Tainy became the first to log 50 weeks atop a producers chart, when he reached the milestone atop Latin Producers.

Of Tainy’s 100 weeks spent at No. 1 on Latin Producers, he’s ruled the past 41 frames consecutively, encompassing every chart week of 2021 so far.

Of the chart’s 120 total weeks to-date, Subelo Neo is the only other name to log double-digit weeks at No. 1, with 10 in March-May 2020. Over the chart’s existence, Tainy is the only producer to have spent every week on the survey. His collaborator Sky Rompiendo follows with 99 weeks, ranking at No. 7 this week.

Tainy scored his first production credit on Hot Latin Songs in 2006, with Tito “El Bambino” El Patron‘s “Caile,” which reached No. 2. He followed that year with his first No. 1, Wisin & Yandel‘s “Pam Pam.” He’s since added five more leaders, all since 2019: Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, Karol G, Ozuna and J Balvin‘s “China“; J Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny and Tainy’s “Un Dia (One Day)“; Bad Bunny and Jhay Cortez‘s “Dákiti“; Kali Uchis‘ “Telepatía“; and Bad Bunny’s “Yonaguni.”

Tainy has also produced three top 10s on the Billboard Hot 100: Cardi B, Bad Bunny and J Balvin’s “I Like It” (No. 1, one week, 2018), “Dákiti” (No. 5, 2020) and “Yonaguni” (No. 10, 2021).

Tainy concurrently places at No. 2 on the Latin Songwriters chart, thanks to his writing credits on “Yonaguni,” “Dákiti,” “In Da Getto,” “Telepatía,” “Ley Seca,” “Una Nota” and “Deja Vu.” He’s spent 17 weeks atop the tally, the second-most after frequent collaborator Bad Bunny (65).

Meanwhile, DannyLux adds a second week at No. 1 on Latin Songwriters, powered by his work on Eslabon Armado‘s “Jugaste y Sufri,” which he wrote solo and on which he’s a featured artist, at No. 7.

The weekly Latin Songwriters and Latin Producers charts are based on total points accrued by a songwriter and producer, respectively, for each attributed song that appears on the Hot Latin Songs chart. As with Billboard’s yearly recaps, multiple writers or producers split points for each song equally (and the dividing of points will lead to occasional ties on rankings).