Alejandro Sanz to Make Special Appearance at This Year’s Billboard Latin Music Week

Posted on August 28, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Alejandro Sanz has achieved Icon status…

The 55-year-old Spanish Grammy-winning singer and songwriter will take part in this year’s Billboard Latin Music Week.

Sanz, a four-time Grammy and 22-time Latin Grammy winner, will sit down for an exclusive Icon Q&A.

Sanz joins a star-studded lineup for the five-day event, featuring exclusive panels, conversations and performances by Latin music’s biggest stars.

Previously announced participants include Bad Gyal, Belinda, Camila Fernández, Chiquis, DANNA, Danny Ocean, Dei V, Domelipa, Eslabon Armado, Fat Joe, Gloria Estefan, J Balvin, JOP, Keityn, Kunno, Lele Pons, Luis Alfonso, Lupita Infante, Majo Aguilar, María Becerra, Marko, Mau y Ricky, Mon Laferte, N.O.R.E., Omar Courtz, Paola Jara, Peso Pluma, Pipe Bueno, Sophia Talamas, Yahritza y Su Esencia, Yeison Jiménez, Yeri Mua and Zhamira Zambrano, with more to be announced in the coming weeks.

“It’s an honor to welcome Alejandro as he prepares to release new music,” says Leila Cobo, Billboard’s Chief Content Officer for Latin and Español, in a press release. “We pride ourselves in being a home for artists where they can speak creatively and openly, and we can’t wait to hear what Alejandro has to say.”

Sanz’s Icon Q&A marks his return to Latin Music Week after he sat for an exclusive conversation in 2003.

From his debut in 1991 with Viviendo Deprisa to his album of the year Latin Grammy-nominated latest studio album SANZ, released in December 2021, Sanz has established himself as one of the most well-known and influential artists around the world.

With more than 25 million records sold, all his albums have obtained multi-platinum status in Spain, Latin America and the United States.

Throughout his career, Sanz has collaborated with renowned artists from all over the world, from Alicia Keys to Shakira, Destiny’s Child, Laura Pausini, Ivete Sangalo, Juanes, Juan Luis Guerra, Marc Anthony and many more.

Among his latest releases are “NASA” with Camilo; “La Despedida,” included in the soundtrack of the movie Bullet Train; and “Yo Soy” with Eros Ramazzotti.

He recently obtained his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was honored by his hometown of Andalucía with the city’s highest distinction, a medal with the title of “Favorite Son.”

Celebrating its 35th anniversary, Billboard Latin Music Week will take place October 14-18 at The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater. Tickets are available for purchase here.

Fuerza Regida Announces 37-Date “Pero No Te Enamores” Arena Tour of U.S. & Mexico

Posted on April 14, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Fuerza Regida is hittin’ the road…

The Mexican American regional Mexican band will trek across the U.S. and Mexico for a 37-date arena tour called Pero No Te Enamores, which follows their successful Otra Peda tour last year.

The five-piece band from San Bernardino, California, will kick off its summer stint on June 6, starting in Austin, Texas, at the Moody Center.

Fuerza Regida will also make stops in Oklahoma City; Kansas City, Missouri.; San Diego; Phoenix; Portland; Dallas; Atlanta; Salt Lake City; Anaheim, California and more.

They will also hit up Mexico and perform in Monterrey, Mexico City and Oaxaca, and will wrap up in Inglewood, Calif., at the Intuit Dome on November 16.

The tour announcement comes on the heels of the group’s latest EP, Dolido Pero No Arrepentido, which dropped on February 9, followed by the single “Money Edition” with Edén Muñoz.

The EP debuted in the top 10 of the Top Latin Albums and Regional Mexican Albums charts; plus, every song on the album premiered on Hot Latin Songs.

In the 2023 year-end charts, Fuerza Regida made Billboard history by becoming the first Latin band to be No. 1 on the Top Artists – Duo/Group list, followed by Grupo Frontera and Fleetwood Mac. (Previous No. 1 artists on the list have included Destiny’s Child, Green Day, The Black Eyed Peas, One Direction, Jonas Brothers and BTS.) The group also won at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards for Top Duo/Group and Top Latin Duo/Group.

“I’m speechless, really. Coming from where we come from, not many people get out [of the hood], whether they get out alive, are dead, or go to jail,” frontman Jesús Ortiz Paz told Billboard Español in December. “I just have to say that I am grateful to God, and to all my family, my mom, my dad, and all my friends. If it wasn’t for everyone’s help, and also the fans, we wouldn’t be here. Fuerza Regida and I are in charge of continuing to give [fans] great music and, God willing, I will continue to give until the last straw.”

The U.S. dates are produced by Live Nation. General on sale tickets will be available beginning on Friday, April 12, at 10 am local time at livenation.com.

Here’s the complete dates for the No Te Enamores Tour below:

Jun. 6            Austin, Texas                   Moody Center
Jun. 9            Edinburg, Texas              Bert Ogden Arena
Jun. 14          Oklahoma City, Okla.     Paycom Center
Jun. 15          Ridgedale, Mo.            Thunder Ridge Nature Arena
Jun. 16          Kansas City, Mo.          T-Mobile Center
Jun. 21          San Diego, Calif.             Viejas Arena
Jun. 22          Phoenix, Ariz.                 Footprint Center
Jun. 29          Portland, Ore.               Moda Center
Jun. 30          Seattle, Wash.                Climate Pledge Arena
Jul. 6              San Jose, Calif.              SAP Center
Jul. 7              Fresno, Calif.                  Save Mart Center at Fresno State
Jul. 13            Houston, Texas              Toyota Center
Jul. 20            Dallas, Texas                  Dos Equis Pavilion
Jul. 26            Atlanta, Ga.                  State Farm Arena
Jul. 27            Tampa, Fla                   Amalie Arena
Jul. 28            Sunrise, Fla                  Amerant Bank Arena
Aug. 2             Greensboro, N.C.          Greensboro Coliseum Complex
Aug. 4             Belmont Park, N.Y.        UBS Arena
Aug. 16           Milwaukee, Wis.            Fiserv Forum
Aug. 17           Indianapolis, Ind.          Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Sep. 1             Tinley Park, Ill.             Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
Sep. 6             Salt Lake City, Utah      Delta Center
Sep. 8             Denver, Colo.                 Ball Arena
Sep. 15            Las Vegas, Nev.            T-Mobile Arena
Sep. 20           San Antonio, Texas       Frost Bank Center
Sep. 21            El Paso, Texas                UTEP Don Haskins Center
Sep. 28           Anaheim, Calif.               Honda Center
Sep. 29           Palm Desert, Calif.         Acrisure Arena
Oct. 05           Sacramento, Calif.          Golden 1 Center
Oct. 11            Leon, Mexico                   Mega Velaria*
Oct. 12           Mexico City, Mexico        Plaza De Toros*
Oct. 31            Monterrey, Mexico          Arena Monterrey*
Nov. 1              Monterrey, Mexico          Arena Monterrey*
Nov. 2             Torreon, Mexico               Coliseo Centenario*
Nov. 7             Oaxaca, Mexico               Auditorio GNP*
Nov. 9             San Luis Potosi, Mexico   El Domo
Nov. 16           Inglewood, Calif.            Intuit Dome

*Not a Live Nation date

Fifth Harmony Earns First No. 1 on Billboard Rhythmic Songs Chart

Posted on May 11, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a special accomplishment for Camila Cabello, Ally Brooke Hernandez and Lauren Jauregui…

The Latina singers and their fellow Fifth Harmony members have earned their first No. 1 on a Billboard airplay chart as the all-girl group’s “Work From Home,” featuring Ty Dolla $ign, moves up 2-1 on the Rhythmic Songs chart.

The song breaks a 15-year drought for girl groups atop the list. Not since Destiny’s Child crowned the list in 2001 with “Survivor” has a girl group reached the chart’s top spot.

Fifth Harmony becomes the 12th female group overall to top the chart, which was launched on October 3, 1992.

“Work From Home” reaches the top in its 10th charting frame, rising 18 percent in spins in the week ending May 8, according to Nieslen Music. The act had previously charted on Rhythmic Songs with “Worth It,” featuring Kid Ink, peaking at No. 19 in August, 2015.

The climb bumps rapper Belly from a three-week topping run with “Might Not.”

Between 1992 and 2001, these all-female groups led the chart with 21 total songs. Here are the 12 acts that have topped Rhythmic Songs (by number of No. 1s, then alphabetical):

5, TLC
3, Destiny’s Child
2, En Vogue
2, Salt-N-Pepa
2, SWV
1, 702
1, Blaque
1, Fifth Harmony (NEW)
1, Jade
1, Mokenstef
1, Spice Girls
1, Xscape

On the Billboard Hot 100 chart, Fifth Harmony scores its first top 5 as “Work From Home” hops 7-5, besting their previous No. 6 peak. An 8 percent climb at radio, to 10.5 million audience impressions, according to Nielsen Music, aids in the climb while 15.9 million weekly U.S. streams, through the week ending May 5, also contribute to the ranking.

“Work From Home” becomes the first top five Hot 100 hit by a girl group since Dixie Chicks‘ country hit “Not Ready to Make Nice” (No. 4) in 2007; the latter act offered its approval upon learning the stat, tweeting a hearty, “Congrats ladies!”

“Work From Home” is the first Hot 100 top five by a pop girl group since the Pussycat Dolls‘ “Buttons,” featuring Snoop Dogg (No. 3), in 2006.

Fifth Harmony Named the New Faces of Candie’s

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Ally Brooke Hernandez, Lauren Jauregui and Camila Cabello have landed a sweet deal…

The Latina singers and their fellow Fifth Harmony group mates have been named the new faces of fashion brand Candie’s.

“I think expressing yourself through fashion is really important,” Cabello told Entertainment Tonight.

At their back-to-school photo shoot, their first official shoot as the clothing line’s brand ambassadors, each of the girls picked her own outfits, from Dinah Jane Hansen’s tropical maxi dress to Hernandez’s flowy boho top.

Don’t miss the video featuring their favorite looks from the Candie’s collection at Kohl’s.

The ladies of Fifth Harmony follow in the footsteps of Britney Spears, Destiny’s Child and Kelly Clarkson as the faces of Candie’s.

Mars’ Super Bowl Halftime Performance Features Three of Shazam’s Most Searched Moments

Posted on February 4, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Shazam! Bruno Mars’ halftime performance at the Super Bowl continues to help break records…

Not only did the 28-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer’s performance with the Red Hot Chili Peppers register a record 115.3 million viewers and earn a huge response on the Twittersphere, but it was one of the moments during the big game that nabbed the most Shazams.

The music search app beat its own Super Bowl record with more than 700,000 uses — more than double the count of last year’s game that featured Beyonce and Destiny’s Child as its halftime performers.

Despite all the music-related ads that aired throughout the broadcast, more than half of the Shazams occurred during Mars’ halftime performance. The top searched moment of the entire game was when the Red Hot Chili Peppers emerged shirtless and rocked the stage with on the band’s hit song”Give It Away,” followed by Mars’ first solo hit, “Just The Way You Are,” with which he closed the halftime show, along with a ton of fireworks.

Coming in third in Shazam’s statistics was Chevrolet’s “Life” ad, a sentimental spot that featured the song “Don’t Leave” by Ane Brun.

Fourth place belongs to Jaguar‘s “Rendezvous” ad, with appearances by Ben Kingsley, Tom Hiddleston and Mark Strong and using an epic action-film score.

Rounding out the top five was Mars’ “Runaway Baby” performance, which pulls from Barry Strong‘s 1960 hit “Money (That’s What I Want).”

Following Chevrolet and Jaguar in the top Shazamed Super Bowl ads were Bud Light‘s “Cool Twist,” Bank of America‘s ad which debuted the new single “Invisible” by U2, and Budweiser‘s moving military homecoming, “A Hero’s Welcome.”

“It Just Got Real,” Declares Mars at His Super Bowl Press Conference

Posted on January 30, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Ready or not, Bruno Mars is about to take the biggest stage of his career this Super Bowl Sunday.

“I’ve never had to do a press conference before I perform, so it just got real, I guess!” joked the 28-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer at a Super Bowl press conference at Lincoln Center‘s Rose Theater in New York City.

Asked by Destiny’s Child member Michelle Williams, reporting for omg! Insider, how he felt about accepting the invitation to headline the halftime show, Mars responded, “We were all watching you as a band last year when you performed with Beyonce, and we were wondering just like, ‘What if one day we get the call to do that?'” he said, later noting that his favorite halftime acts to date also include Prince, Michael Jackson and Bruce Springsteen. “It definitely came soon.”

Mars noted that he began rehearsing two nights ago, and was faced with the reality of the brutal cold in New Jersey and New York.

“There was a lot of things that happened — the microphone turns into a popsicle!” he explained. I’m grabbing the mic and it’s frozen! Just stuff like that that we’re taking into consideration, and getting some heaters on everything.”

But how will he keep his signature hairdo intact? “I got three gallons of hairspray in this thing, so I’m good!”

While he won’t be giving away any secrets about his set list — “It’s only a couple days away, they can hold tight,” he told reporters — Mars will stay true to his usual laid-back big-band aesthetic. “No matter where I perform, it’s my job to uplift the people — whether I’m performing at a graduation party, wedding, bar mitzvah, Grammys, Super Bowl, I’m gonna give it all I got,” he said of the gig. “I don’t trapeze and all that stuff. I hope to get people dancing and get people smiling. If you ever come to my shows, it’s just us up there with these songs and our instruments. I hope that’s enough.”

Mars also explained how he chose his co-performers. “The first band I thought of was the Red Hot Chili Peppers — I’ve been a fan of theirs for such a long time, I admire their career,” he recalled when the NFL presented him with the opportunity. “They’re a soulful band — and not just musically, but as people. I sat down with Flea, and he’s so passionate about music. Even to this day, doing it for so long, he’s still so passionate about creating music and performing. I want to surround myself with guys like that forever, and it’s an honor to share the stage with them. They’re one of my personal favorite bands of all time.”

He thanked the NFL for the rare chance to headline the televised event. “I still feel like a new artist — the NFL is such a prestigious stage, and they’re giving the new guy a shot. No, I haven’t been able to take it in, but I will. Come Sunday, I will.”

Fox Confirms Mars as Next Year’s Super Bowl Headline Act

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

It’s official… Bruno Mars will be bowling over an international audience of football fans this fall…

As previously reported, the 27-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer will perform at next year’s Super Bowl halftime show.

Following the announcement on Fox NFL Sunday alongside co-hosts Curt Menefee and Terry Bradshaw and analysts Howie Long, Jimmy Johnson, Michael Strahan and Jay Glazer, the Grammy-winning artist released a one-minute trailer on his headlining gig at the upcoming Super Bowl, taking place on February 2, 2014 at the Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Posting the video on his YouTube channel, Mars chronicles his rise to pop super stardom, from being a four-year-old child performer doing an Elvis Presley impersonation back in 1990 up to his Unorthodox Jukebox chart-topping days, using footage of his live performances with his Hooligans band and ending with the artwork for the 2014 Pepsi Halftime Show.

Mars himself confirmed the news on Times Square around 12:30 E.T. on Sunday, September 8 after it was reported that the “Locked Out of Heaven” singer had been booked for what annually is the most-watched television event in the U.S. His announcement on Fox NFL Sunday marks the earliest reveal of a Super Bowl Halftime Show performer, kicking off a fanfare-filled lead-up to the halftime show.

Mars will follow Beyonce‘s show-stopping halftime performance earlier this year, featuring a short reunion with Destiny’s Child. Beyonce’s set was watched by a whopping 110.5 million viewers, but it still fell short of Madonna‘s performance the year before that attracted 114 million viewers, making it the most-watched event in U.S. television history.

Rubio Takes Her Seat at “The X Factor” Judges’ Table

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Paulina Rubio has taken the hot (pink) seat on Fox’s The X Factor.

Following Monday’s announcement that the 41-year-old Mexican singer has joined the judges’ team on the network’s singing competition, Fox has issued the first photo of Rubio and her fellow judges.

Dressed in a hot pink Roland Mouret dress paired with Valentino shoes and Piumelli gloves, Rubio is seated in L.A. Reid‘s former chair. To her right, in Britney Spears‘ old spot, is Demi Lovato followed by former Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland and Simon Cowell.

For her part, Lovato dons a pair of Paige Jeans, Heather Lawton blouse, Jen Meyer jewelry and Yves Saint Laurent shoes.

The photo of the four judges was taken at The X Factor’s first round of auditions for its upcoming third season at the North Charleston Coliseum.

Meanwhile, sources say Rubio will be earning approximately $1.5 million for serving as a judge on The X Factor.

Rubio also earns a judge’s salary for La Voz Kids, a Spanish-language kids version of The Voice for Telemundo.

It’s believed Lovato asked for double her fee after her well-received debut on the show last season. She previously earned approximately $1 million.

It’s Confirmed: Rubio to Serve as “The X Factor” Judge

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

It’s official… Paulina Rubio has the X factor…

As rumored, the 41-year-old Mexican singer has been named one of the new judges on Fox’s The X Factor, along with former Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland.

Rubio and Rowland will join Simon Cowell and Demi Lovato at the judges’ table on the third season of the reality singing competition series.

“It’s taken more than a decade, but I’m delighted to finally be on a panel with three girls (I think!),” said Cowell. “Paulina and Kelly both have great taste and massive experience in the music industry, and together with Demi, this is going to be a fun panel. It just feels like the time to do something different.”

Rubio isn’t new to the role of judge… The Latin pop star, who has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide, has served as a mentor on Mexico’s version of The Voice, La voz… Mexico. And she was recently named a coach on Telemundo’s La Voz Kids.

Rowland and Rubio replace the departing L.A. Reid, who had been with the show since its first season, and Britney Spears, who left The X-Factor after just one season.

Rubio In Talks to Serve as a Judge on “The X Factor”?

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

She’s already signed on to serve as a coach on Telemundo’s La Voz Kids… But Paulina Rubio may soon be judging talent on The X Factor alongside Demi Lovato.

The 41-year-old Mexican singer is reportedly in talks to take one of the open seats at the judges’ table on the Fox reality singing competition.

Rubio, who was once hailed as one of the 25 Sexiest Pop Divas by E! Entertainment and has sold more than 20 million albums around the world, would bring Latin Pop cred to the panel.

Should Rubio be added to the panel, she’d join Lovato and returning host Mario Lopez, as well as Simon Cowell.

Meanwhile, former Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland, who has long been rumored as one of possible contenders for the gig, is thisclose to finalizing a deal to join the judging panel, according to Entertainment Weekly.

The X Factor is expected to announce the official judge line-up soon as the production on season three will begin on Tuesday, May 21.

The new judges will replace Britney Spears and L.A. Reid who left at the end of the second season.

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