Eslabon Armado Makes History on Billboard 200 Chart

Posted on May 17, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Eslabon Armado is making history on the Billboard charts…

The California-based Regional Mexican group’s fifth studio album Nostalgia has stormed to No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Albums chart, as well as the top 10 on the Top Latin Albums and all-genre Billboard 200 charts (all dated May 21).

Eslabon Armado — comprised of brothers Brian and Pedro Tovar (18 and 19, respectively), Ulises Gonzalez (20) and Damian Fidel Pacheco (20) — arrives at a new career achievement, scoring the first top 10-charting regional Mexican album ever on the Billboard 200. (Regional Mexican albums are defined as those that have hit Billboard’s Regional Mexican Albums chart.)

Debuting at No. 9, Nostalgia bests the group’s previous three entries there, including a top 20 appearance (Vibras de Noche, No. 18, August 2020).

“We never expected to debut so high, it’s truly a blessing,” Pedro Tovar tells Billboard. “We hope this becomes our best project; we really love it.”

Further, Eslabon is the first group to score a top 10 with a Latin album on the Billboard 200 since Santana’s Africa Speaks arrived and peaked at No. 3 in June 2019.

Over on the Latin charts, Nostalgia, released May 6 via DEL Records, starts at No. 1 on Regional Mexican Albums with 29,500 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending May 12, according to Luminate.

The chart ranks the most popular regional Mexican albums of the week in the U.S. based on multimetric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, comprising 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.

Nearly all of Nostalgia’s starting sum was driven by SEA units, which equates to 42.82 million on-demand official streams of the album’s 14 songs. That’s the biggest streaming week for a regional Mexican album.

The set’s arrival at the summit of Regional Mexican Albums marks the group’s fifth consecutive No. 1 — the entirety of its charting efforts.

The act previously topped the chart, which launched in 1985, with Tu Veneno Mortal, Vol. 2 (No. 1 for three weeks), Corta Venas (54 weeks), Vibras de Noche (11) and Tu Veneno Mortal (eight).

Corta Venas continues to have the third-most weeks at No. 1 on the chart, behind Christian Nodal’s Me Dejé Llevar (73 weeks) and Selena’s Amor Prohibido (97).

“The most challenging aspect of the creative process of the album was putting everything together, the guitars, the bass, the vocals,” Tovar continues. “Putting it all together with new band members made the magic.”

Nostalgia concurrently debuts at No. 2 on Top Latin Albums, the band’s best start, in terms of rank, since Vibras de Noche arrived at No. 1 with 23,000 equivalent album units in August 2020. The former arrives in the runner-up slot behind Bad Bunny’s monster start of 274,000 units with Un Verano Sin Ti.

As Nostalgia arrives, nine of its songs dot the all-metric Hot Latin Songs chart.

Here’s a recap:

No. 27, “Si Supieras” with DannyLux
No. 28, “Dos Morritas,” with Junior H
No. 31, “Vete a la Fregada”
No. 32, ‘Modo Depre :(”
No. 35, “Hasta La Muerte,” with Iván Cornejo
No. 38, “La Perrie,” with Fuerza Regida
No. 39, “Luces Rojas”
No. 42, “Mente en Alto”
No. 43, “Solo,” with Erre

Yahritza y Su Esencia Among the Latinx Acts Named to Billboard’s 21 Under 21 List

Posted on May 15, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Yahritza Martinez has proven she is one to watch…

The 15-year-old Mexican American singer and her brothers, who make up the act Yahritza y Su Esencia, have been named to Billboard’s 21 Under 21 list, Billboard’s annual celebration of some of the most exciting and successful young artists in the music industry including Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish and more.

Last month, Yahritza became the youngest Latin performer to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart with “Soy El Unico.”

To date, Yahritza and her brothers have notched 52.9 million streams.

But Yahritza y Su Esencia aren’t the only Latinx act to make this year’s list.

Eslabon Armado, consisting of Brian Tovar, Pedro Tovar, Ulises Gonzalez and Damian Fidel Pacheco, have released four consecutive chart-topping albums over the past two years — all of which hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Albums chart.

The band took a longer-than-usual break before releasing its latest album, Nostalgia, on May 5. During that time, the group added new members Gonzalez and Pacheco.

“Releasing back-to-back albums was good for our career, but we decided to take a break writing new music so that we could come back stronger,” the Mexican-American sierreño group says. “Our biggest challenge as young artists is staying relevant and creating music that connects with our fans.”

Ángela Aguilar is being heralded for logging 240.1 million streams in her young career.

The 18-year-old Mexican American singer, the daughter of Pepe Aguilar, says she “had been working with my parents’ record label all my life,” having signed to Machín Récords herself in 2012.

Nearly a decade later, in 2020, she scored her first No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart with the Christian Nodal-assisted single “Dime Cómo Quieres.”

Aguilar says the biggest benefit of being a young artist is “the ability to DM someone about a collaboration.”

Earlier this year, she scored her second No. 1 on the chart with “Ahí Donde Me Ven.”

The Latin Grammy nominee is eager to explore acting, like her father has, and says some of his best career advice includes being “respectful of your craft and the public — to keep your roots well-embedded in your heart.”

Tiago PZK has notched 7.1 million streams.

The 20-year-old Argentine singer and rapper was only 6 years old when he discovered his passion for music, thanks to Daddy Yankee’s 2007 song “Impacto (Remix)” (featuring Fergie).

Tiago PZK (who also cites Justin Bieber as inspiration) has since created his own fusion of R&B, reggaetón and alternative rock, best heard on his five Billboard Global 200 hits: “Además de Mi,” “No Me Conocen,” “Entre Nosotros,” “Salimo de Noche” and “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 48.”

In 2021, the artist born Tiago Uriel Pacheco signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Sony Music Publishing U.S. Latin and, this year, a record deal with Warner Music Latina (through a partnership with indie Grand Move Records). Looking ahead, he says he’s most excited to tour: “It will make me travel the world and strengthen me mentally.”

DannyLux has garnered 4.8 million streams.

The 18-year-old Chicano alt-rocker is a self-taught musician who hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Songwriters chart at just 17 years old thanks to his work on Eslabon Armado’s “Jugaste y Sufrí” (off the band’s third album, Corta Venas).

The sierreño artist has since signed a record deal with Warner Music Latina (in partnership with his indie label, VSP Music) and released his ultra-melancholic album, Perdido Sin Ti. He’s already working on new music because, as he says, consistency is key. “Since I’m young, I have so much time to grow up to be the best artist I can be,” he says, citing Bad Bunny’s career as an inspiration because “he never gave up.”

The Linda Lindas, comprised of Mila de la Garza, Eloise Wong, Lucia de la Garza and Bela Salazar, have logged 6.9 million streams.

The all-girl group broke out onto the scene with their viral hit “Racist, Sexist Boy,” which they performed live from the L.A. Public Library.

Eslabon Armado Releases New Album “Nostalgia”

Posted on May 7, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Eslabon Armado is waxin’ nostalgic…

The California-based Regional Mexican brother duo has released its new album Nostalgia, the band’s fifth studio album in only two years.

Across the album’s 14 tracks about love, hardships and heartache, Eslabon Armado stays true to its sierreño essence while not shying away from incorporating other instrumental elements like the piano and ukelele.

“Luces Rojas” in particular stands out for how the members play with reggaeton undertones and lyricism.

Collaborations on the set include Junior H, Fuerza Regida, DannyLux, Ivan Cornejo and newcomers Sarah Silva and Erre.

Eslabon Armado is nominated for two 2022 Billboard Music Awards.

Bruno Mars Leads Latinx Pack with Five Billboard Music Awards Nominations

Posted on April 9, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a (Silk) Sonic boom for Bruno Mars…

The 36-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer-songwriter is the top Latinx contender for this year’s Billboard Music Awards with five nods.

Mars is nominated in the Top Duo/Group category alongside Anderson .Paak for their R&B superduo Silk Sonic, which they launched in March 2021. The duo is also nominated in the Top R&B Artist category.

Silk Sonic’s An Evening With Silk Sonic earned Mars a nod in the Top R&B Album category, while the group’s chart-topping single “Leave the Door Open” is up for Top R&B Song.

Additionally, Mars is nominated for Top R&B Tour for Bruno Mars at Park MGM.

Bad Bunny has also picked up five nods this year.

The 28-year-old Puerto Rican rapper, singer and record producer is up for Top Latin Artist, Top Latin Male Artist and Top Latin Tour for El Último Tour Del Mundo and

Bad Bunny is also nominated twice in the Top Latin Song category. He’s nominated for the singles “Yonaguni” and “Volví,” his collaborations with Aventura.

Kali Uchis is the top Latina nominee…

The 27-year-old Colombian American singer is up for Top Latin Artist, Top Latin Female Artist, Top Latin Album for Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) ∞, and Top Latin Song for telepatía.

Farruko is nominated for four BBMAs, including one outside of the Latin field.

Along with his nods for Top Latin Artist, Top Latin Male Artist and Top Latin Song for his hit single “Pepas,” the 30-year-old Puerto Rican singer and songwriter’s track is also nominated in the Top Dance/Electronic Song category.

Rauw Alejandro has earned four nods…

The 29-year-old Puerto Rican singer and rapper is up for Top Latin Artist, Top Latin Male Artist, Top Latin Album for Vice Versa, and Top Latin Song for “Todo De Ti.”

Karol G has earned three nods…

The 31-year-old Colombian singer is up for Top Latin Artist, Top Latin Female Artist and Top Latin Album for her album KG0516.

Eslabon Armado is nominated for two awards…

The Mexican group is up for Top Latin Duo/Group and Top Latin Album for Corta Venas.

Other artists earning a nod include Aventura, FKA Twigs, J Balvin, Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, Rosalia, Grupo Firme and Cardi B.

This year’s awards are based on the tracking period of March 26, 2021, through March 17, 2022. That corresponds to Billboard chart dates of April 10, 2021, through March 26, 2022.

Billboard Music Awards finalists and winners are based on key fan interactions with music, including album and digital song sales, streaming, radio airplay, and social engagement, tracked by Billboard and its data partners, including Luminate (formerly MRC Data).

The BBMAs have celebrated music’s greatest achievements for more than 30 years. Unique among music awards shows, finalists are determined by performance on the Billboard charts. Since 1940, the Billboard charts have been the most

The BBMAs will broadcast live coast-to-coast from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 15 at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT on NBC and will stream live on Peacock. This year’s host has not been announced.

The 2022 Billboard Music Awards are produced by MRC Live & Alternative. Robert Deaton is executive producer.

Tickets to attend the show are available to the public. Prices start at $90 per ticket and are available for purchase here. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

Here are the 2022 Billboard Music Awards finalists:

ARTIST AWARDS

Top Artist
Doja Cat
Drake
Olivia Rodrigo
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd

Top New Artist
Givēon
Masked Wolf
Olivia Rodrigo
Pooh Shiesty
The Kid LAROI

Top Male Artist
Drake
Ed Sheeran
Justin Bieber
Lil Nas X
The Weeknd

Top Female Artist
Adele
Doja Cat
Dua Lipa
Olivia Rodrigo
Taylor Swift

Top Duo/Group
BTS
Glass Animals
Imagine Dragons
Migos
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak)

Top Billboard 200 Artist
Adele
Drake
Juice WRLD
Morgan Wallen
Taylor Swift

Top Hot 100 Artist
Doja Cat
Drake
Justin Bieber
Olivia Rodrigo
The Weeknd

Top Streaming Songs Artist
Doja Cat
Drake
Lil Nas X
Olivia Rodrigo
The Weeknd

Top Song Sales Artist
Adele
BTS
Dua Lipa
Ed Sheeran
Walker Hayes

Top Radio Songs Artist
Doja Cat
Ed Sheeran
Justin Bieber
Olivia Rodrigo
The Weeknd

Top Billboard Global 200 Artist (NEW)
Doja Cat
Ed Sheeran
Justin Bieber
Olivia Rodrigo
The Weeknd

Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Artist (NEW)
BTS
Dua Lipa
Ed Sheeran
Olivia Rodrigo
The Weeknd

Top Tour
Eagles (Hotel California Tour)
Genesis (The Last Domino? Tour)
Green Day, Fall Out Boy & Weezer (The Hella Mega Tour)
Harry Styles (Love on Tour)
The Rolling Stones (No Filter Tour)

Top R&B Artist
Doja Cat
Givēon
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak)
Summer Walker
The Weeknd

Top R&B Male Artist
Givēon
Khalid
The Weeknd

Top R&B Female Artist
Doja Cat
Summer Walker
SZA

Top R&B Tour
Bruno Mars (Bruno Mars at Park MGM)
Omarion & Bow Wow (The Millennium Tour 2021)
Usher (The Vegas Residency)

Top Rap Artist
Drake
Juice WRLD
Lil Baby
Moneybagg Yo
Polo G

Top Rap Male Artist
Drake
Juice WRLD
Polo G

Top Rap Female Artist
Cardi B
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion

Top Rap Tour
J. Cole (The Off-Season Tour)
Lil Baby (The Back Outside Tour)
Omarion & Bow Wow (The Millennium Tour 2021)

Top Country Artist
Chris Stapleton
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Taylor Swift
Walker Hayes

Top Country Male Artist
Chris Stapleton
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen

Top Country Female Artist
Carrie Underwood
Miranda Lambert
Taylor Swift

Top Country Duo/Group
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Zac Brown Band

Top Country Tour
Luke Bryan (Proud to Be Right Here Tour)
Eric Church (Gather Again Tour)
Chris Stapleton (All-American Road Show Tour)

Top Rock Artist
Glass Animals
Imagine Dragons
Machine Gun Kelly
Måneskin
twenty one pilots

Top Rock Tour
Genesis (The Last Domino? Tour)
Green Day, Fall Out Boy & Weezer (The Hella Mega Tour)
The Rolling Stones (No Filter Tour)

Top Latin Artist
Bad Bunny
Farruko
Kali Uchis
Karol G
Rauw Alejandro

Top Latin Male Artist
Bad Bunny
Farruko
Rauw Alejandro

Top Latin Female Artist
Kali Uchis
Karol G
Rosalía

Top Latin Duo/Group
Calibre 50
Eslabon Armado
Grupo Firme

Top Latin Tour
Bad Bunny (El Último Tour Del Mundo)
Enrique Iglesias & Ricky Martin (Live in Concert)
Los Bukis (Una Historia Cantada Tour)

Top Dance/Electronic Artist
Calvin Harris
David Guetta
Lady Gaga
Marshmello
Tiësto

Top Christian Artist
Carrie Underwood
Elevation Worship
for King & Country
Lauren Daigle
Ye

Top Gospel Artist
CeCe Winans
Elevation Worship
Kirk Franklin
Maverick City Music
Ye

ALBUM AWARDS

Top Billboard 200 Album
Adele, 30
Doja Cat, Planet Her
Drake, Certified Lover Boy
Morgan Wallen, Dangerous: The Double Album
Olivia Rodrigo, SOUR

Top Soundtrack
Arcane League of Legends
Encanto
In The Heights
Sing 2
tick, tick…BOOM!

Top R&B Album
Doja Cat, Planet Her
Givēon, When It’s All Said and Done…Take Time
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak), An Evening With Silk Sonic
Summer Walker, Still Over It
The Weeknd, Dawn F

Top Rap Album
Drake, Certified Lover Boy
Moneybagg Yo, A Gangsta’s Pain
Rod Wave, SoulFly
The Kid LAROI, F*ck Love
Ye, Donda

Top Country Album
Florida Georgia Line, Life Rolls On
Lee Brice, Hey World
Taylor Swift, Fearless (Taylor’s Version)
Taylor Swift, Red (Taylor’s Version)
Walker Hayes, Country Stuff: The Album

Top Rock Album
AJR, OK Orchestra
Coldplay, Music of the Spheres
Imagine Dragons, Mercury – Act 1
John Mayer, Sob Rock
twenty one pilots, Scaled and Icy

Top Latin Album
Eslabon Armado, Corta Venas
J Balvin, Jose
Kali Uchis, Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) ∞
Karol G, KG0516
Rauw Alejandro, Vice Versa

Top Dance/Electronic Album
C418, Minecraft – Volume Alpha
FKA twigs, Caprisongs
Illenium, Fallen Embers
Porter Robinson, Nurture
Rüfüs Du Sol, Surrender

Top Christian Album
Carrie Underwood, My Savior
CeCe Winans, Believe for It
Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music, Old Church Basement
Phil Wickham, Hymn of Heaven
Ye, Donda

Top Gospel Album
CeCe Winans, Believe for It
Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music, Old Church Basement
Maverick City Music, Jubilee: Juneteenth Edition
Maverick City Music & Upperroom, move your heart.
Ye, Donda

SONG AWARDS

Top Hot 100 Song
Doja Cat ft. SZA, “Kiss Me More”
Dua Lipa, “Levitating”
Olivia Rodrigo, “good 4 u”
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber, “Stay”
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande, “Save Your Tears”

Top Streaming Song
Dua Lipa, “Levitating”
Glass Animals, “Heat Waves”
Olivia Rodrigo, “good 4 u”
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber, “Stay”
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande, “Save Your Tears”

Top Selling Song
BTS, “Butter”
BTS, “Permission to Dance”
Dua Lipa, “Levitating”
Ed Sheeran, “Bad Habits”
Walker Hayes, “Fancy Like”

Top Radio Song
Dua Lipa, “Levitating”
Ed Sheeran, “Bad Habits”
Olivia Rodrigo, “good 4 u”
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber, “Stay”
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande, “Save Your Tears”

Top Collaboration
Doja Cat ft. SZA, “Kiss Me More”
Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar & GIVĒON, “Peaches”
Lil Nas X ft. Jack Harlow, “Industry Baby”
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber, “Stay”
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande, “Save Your Tears”

Top Billboard Global 200 Song (NEW)
Dua Lipa, “Levitating”
Ed Sheeran, “Bad Habits”
Olivia Rodrigo, “good 4 u”
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber, “Stay”
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande, “Save Your Tears”

Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Song (NEW)
BTS, “Butter”
Ed Sheeran, “Bad Habits”
Lil Nas X, “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)”
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber, “Stay”
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande, “Save Your Tears”

Top Viral Song (NEW)
Doja Cat ft. SZA, “Kiss Me More”
Gayle, “abcdefu”
Glass Animals, “Heat Waves”
Masked Wolf, “Astronaut In The Ocean”
Walker Hayes, “Fancy Like”

Top R&B Song
Doja Cat & The Weeknd, “You Right”
Givēon, “Heartbreak Anniversary”
Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar & Givēon, “Peaches”
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak), “Leave The Door Open”
WizKid ft. Justin Bieber & Tems, “Essence”

Top Rap Song
Drake ft. 21 Savage, Project Pat, “Knife Talk”
Drake ft. Future & Young Thug, “Way 2 Sexy”
Lil Nas X ft. Jack Harlow, “Industry Baby”
Masked Wolf, “Astronaut In The Ocean”
Polo G, “Rapstar”

Top Country Song
Chris Stapleton, “You Should Probably Leave”
Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood, “If I Didn’t Love You”
Jordan Davis ft. Luke Bryan, “Buy Dirt”
Luke Combs, “Forever After All”
Walker Hayes, “Fancy Like”

Top Rock Song
Coldplay X BTS, “My Universe”
Elle King & Miranda Lambert, “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)”
Imagine Dragons, “Follow You”
Måneskin, “Beggin’”
The Anxiety: Willow & Tyler Cole, “Meet Me at Our Spot”

Top Latin Song
Aventura x Bad Bunny, “Volví”
Bad Bunny, “Yonaguni”
Farruko, “Pepas”
Kali Uchis, “telepatía”
Rauw Alejandro, “Todo De Ti”

Top Dance/Electronic Song
Elton John & Dua Lipa, “Cold Heart – PNAU Remix”
Farruko, “Pepas”
Regard x Troye Sivan x Tate McRae, “You”
Tiësto, “The Business”
Travis Scott & HVME, “Goosebumps”

Top Christian Song
Anne Wilson, “My Jesus”
Ye, “Hurricane”
Ye, “Moon”
Ye, “Off The Grid”
Ye, “Praise God”

Top Gospel Song
Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music ft. Chandler Moore & Naomi Raine, “Jireh”
Ye, “Hurricane”
Ye, “Moon”
Ye, “Off the Grid”
Ye, “Praise God”

J Balvin to Co-Headline New ‘Viva! L.A. Music Festival’ This Summer

Posted on March 30, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

J Balvin is ready to Viva Los Angeles…

The 36-year-old Colombian reggaetonero will co-headline Viva! L.A., a new, one-day festival set to take place at L.A.’s Dodger Stadium on June 25.

The new festival is being held to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of Viva! Pomona, an annual festival launched 10 years ago.

Produced by Goldenvoice, the Viva! L.A. Music Festival will also be headlined by Daddy Yankee, Becky G and Kali Uchis.

The multi-genre fest will also feature performances by Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Lenin Ramirez, Carin Leon, Tainy, Carla Morrison, Ivy Queen, Cuco, Los Dos Carnales, The Marías, Los Tucanes de Tijuana, Chicano Batman, Ed Maverick, Cazzu, La Sonora Dinamita, Lido Piemienta, Eslabon Armado, among many others.

Additionally, the festival will donate $1 of every ticket sold to the Los Angeles-based nonprofit No Us Without You LA, which is committed to feeding L.A.’s undocumented immigrant communities.

Launched in the pandemic, the volunteer-run organization now provides support to “hundreds of food insecure hospitality, day laborers, street vendors and mariachi families.”

Viva! was originally created a decade ago by Rene Contreras who wanted to bring resources to his hometown in Southern California via backyard shows and gigs at local spots. “Viva! goes beyond just a music festival, it has a strong mission of building community and representation, which has led to its cult following that started in L.A. and has since gone global,” according to a press release. “The fest celebrates those often overshadowed immigrants, youth of color, the underserved, the working class in the suburbs, various marginalized communities and artists that have long been pushed out of the larger anglo music arena.”

The Viva! Pomona shows will still continue under the Viva! umbrella.

Ticket pre-sale starts Saturday at 10 a.m. PT. Tickets go on sale to the general public later that day at 2 p.m. For ticket and festival information, visit https://vivamusicfestival.com.

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Tainy Named Latin Songwriter of the Year at BMI Latin Awards

Posted on March 18, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Tainy has put his write foot forward, and it’s paid off…

The winners of this year’s BMI Latin Awards have been announced, with the 32-year-old Puerto Rican record producer, songwriter and singer taking home one of the coveted prizes.

Tainy was named the Latin Songwriter of the Year for his work on nine of BMI’s most-performed Latin songs of 2021, including the chart-topping hits “Caramelo,” “Dákiti,” “La Noche de Anoche,” “La Nota,” “La Santa,” “Safaera,” “telepatía,” “Un Dia (One Day)” and “Yo Perreo Sola.”

The Regional Mexican Songwriter of the Year award went to Mexican songwriter Jesus Omar Tarazón, who penned four of BMI’s most-performed Mexican music tracks of the past year, including “Altamente Probable,” “La Casita,” “Qué Maldición” and “Somos Los Que Somos.”

Bad Bunny and Jhay Cortez‘s chart-topping single “Dákiti,” penned by Tainy, Egbert Rosa “Haze” and La Paciencia, won Contemporary Latin Song of the Year.

Eslabon Armado’s “Con Tus Besos” nabbed Regional Mexican Song of the Year.

For the second year in a row, Universal Music Publishing Group secured BMI’s Latin Publisher of the Year award, with 19 of the most-performed songs — including “Bichota,” “Ignorantes,” “La Toxcica” and “Ritmo (Bad Boys for Life)” — among their repertoire.

During the ceremony, the legendary reggaeton duo Wisin & Yandel were honored with the special BMI President’s Award for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the Latin music community, which span over 20 years and continue to influence the next generation of songwriters, according to the music rights organization.

In their speech, the duo explained that “before being successful, touching the sky, we had a dream of being great in the art. Many, many times strange moments, moments we don’t understand brought us here.” Wisin continued, “I want to congratulate everyone who, one way or another, gets up every day intending to contribute to music and art because everyone of you is an important part of allowing thousands of people to live and support their families through art.”

Click here for the complete list of winners.

Junior H Earns Third No. 1 Album on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Albums Chart with “Mi Vida En Un Cigarro 2”

Posted on February 24, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Make that three smash hit albums for Junior H…

The 22-year-old Mexican singer has earned his third No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Albums chart as Mi Vida En Un Cigarro 2 arrives at No. 1 on the Feb. 26-dated survey.

Junior H is the first to debut atop the 20-deep title ranking in 2022.

The last No. 1 debut arrived through Eslabon Armado’s Tu Veneno Mortal, Vol. 2 in July 2021.

Mi Vida En Un Cigarro 2 was released February 11 via Z Records/JHRH/Warner Latina. It logged 9,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first tracking week ending in February 17, according to MRC Data.

As is the norm with the new wave of regional Mexican artists, streaming activity powers nearly all of Mi Vida’s first-week total. That equals 11.8 million on-demand streams on the project’s tracks.

As Mi Vida arrives, it joins two other Junior H albums, both of which remain in the survey’s top 10: Cruisin’ With Junior H at No. 7 and Atrapado En Un Sueño at No. 8. The former topped the ranking for one week in 2020.

Mi Vida arrives exactly a year after the sad corridos set $ad Boyz 4 Life also launched at No. 1 in February 2021.

Elsewhere, the new album begins at No. 4 on the all-Latin genre Top Latin Albums chart, the Mexican’s highest start there. Notably, none of the set’s tracks have found a spot on any of the Latin airplay charts.

Beyond its Regional Mexican Albums coronation, Mi Vida gifts Junior H his highest ranking on the Billboard 200 tally as the set bows at No. 138. He previously charted at No.192 with $ad Boyz 4 Life (Feb. 2021).

The Regional Mexican Albums chart ranks the most popular regional Mexican albums of the week in the U.S. based on multimetric consumption as measured in equivalent album units. 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.

DannyLux Among Shazam’s Five “Artists to Watch” in 2022

Posted on January 4, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

It could be a banner year for DannyLux…

At the beginning of each year, Shazam uses its data to predict five artists to watch, and this year the song-identifying app used a combination of its “uniquely predictive data and algorithms,” as well as some selections from its parent company Apple Music’s global editorial team, to pick five “artists to watch” in 2022, including the Mexican-American singer.

DannyLux, whose real name is Daniel Balderrama, is well-known by fans of trio-turned-duo Eslabon Armado. The rising singer is featured on “Jugaste y Sufrí,” which holds the honor of being this year’s most Shazamed Regional Mexican track.

Although it was released at the end of 2020, TikTok embraced the song, helping to rocket songwriter DannyLux to new levels of acclaim.

He’s part of a wave of young artists reinventing corridos for a new generation and only stands to reach more listeners in the coming year.

Here are the five selections, and Shazam’s accompanying explanations:

Ayra Starr
Ayra Starr’s rise this year was largely mounted on her breakout track “Bloody Samaritan,” which had its first Shazam in Lagos. It was released as the lead single of the Nigerian singer-songwriter’s debut album 19 & Dangerous, but took on a life of its own as listeners were drawn in by an alluring violin melody that drops into contagious Afropop magic. An undeniable jam, “Bloody Samaritan” was the most Shazamed song by a local female artist in Nigeria this year—an impressive accomplishment considering it came out only in July.

DannyLux
Fans of trio-turned-duo Eslabon Armado probably need no introduction to DannyLux. The rising Mexican American singer is featured on “Jugaste y Sufrí,” which holds the honor of being this year’s most Shazamed regional mexicano track. Though it was released at the end of 2020, TikTok embraced it, helping to rocket songwriter DannyLux to new levels of acclaim. He’s part of a wave of young artists reinventing corridos for a new generation and only stands to reach more listeners in the coming year.

Lyn Lapid
Singer-songwriter Lyn Lapid is no stranger to viral success—her song “Producer Man” helped jump-start her career in 2020. With “In My Mind,” a mellow but soulful anthem for the quiet kids, she struck gold again. It became her most Shazamed song, charting in six countries, including Brazil, Indonesia, and the US. Though this one strikes a slightly different chord from her breakout, it only further highlights the many tools Lapid has in her arsenal, ready to be deployed as she takes on the new year.

Sad Night Dynamite
Mixing up a hypnotic blend of electronica, hip-hop, and Britpop, duo Sad Night Dynamite has a style that’s hard to define but captures the ear no less. Their eponymous debut mixtape, from February, ping-ponged between genres, but it was their latest single “Demon” that seemed to especially resonate. “Demon,” which features South African musician Moonchild Sanelly, is industrial and ominous, earning a spot on the FIFA 22 soundtrack. It also brought the pair their biggest Shazam success, with their all-time daily Shazams peaking soon after its release.

STAYC
In April, K-pop girl group STAYC released an effervescent ball of bubblegum pop titled “ASAP.” And every day since then, the single has remained on the South Korean Shazam chart. Pulled from the group’s second single album STAYDOM, “ASAP” has powered their rise as they continue to hone their Technicolor melodies and natural pop proficiency.

Check out a playlist with even more predictions here.

Bad Bunny Leads Latinx Pack of American Music Awards Nominees with Five Nods

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Bad Bunny continues his American music takeover…

The 27-year-old Puerto Rican superstar is the leading Latinx contender for the 2021 American Music Awards.

Bad Bunny has earned five nods, two less than top nominee Olivia Rodrigo. The Weeknd received six nominations.

Bad Bunny ties Doja Cat and Giveon with five nods each.

He’s nominated in the Collaboration of the Year and Favorite Latin Song categories for his chart-topping single “DÁKITI,” featuring Jhay Cortez. He’s also up for Favorite Male Latin Artist, Favorite Latin Album for El Último Tour Del Mundo, and a second nod in the Favorite Latin Song category for his single “La Noche de Anoche,” with Rosalia.

Cardi B is nominated for three AMAs…

The 29-year-old half-Dominican American rap superstar is up for Favorite Music Video and Favorite Hip-Hop Song for her No. 1 single “Up,” as well as Favorite Female Hip-Hop Artist.

Bruno Mars has picked up three AMA nods…

The 36-year-old part-Puerto Rican Grammy-winning singer is nominated in all three categories for his work with Silk Sonic, his group with Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic.

Mars is nominated for Favorite Music Video and Favorite R&B Song for Silk Sonic’s “Leave the Door Open,” as well as Favorite Pop Duo or Group.

Maluma has earned three nods, including Favorite Male Latin artist. He’s also up for Favorite Latin Album for Papi Juancho and Favorite Latin Songs for “Hawái (Remix),” featuring The Weeknd.

Kali Uchis has picked up her first-ever AMA nods…

The 27-year-old Colombian American singer/songwriter earns nods in the Favorite Female Latin Artist, Favorite Latin Song (“Telepatía”)and Favorite Latin Album (Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios)) categories.

KAROL G is nominated for two awards, including Favorite Latin Album for KG0516 and Favorite Female Latin Artist.

Other nominees include Rosalia (with two), Rauw Alejandro (2), J Balvin (1), Ozuna (1), Natti Natasha (1), Becky G (1), Farruko (1), Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga (1), Calibre 50 (1), Eslabon Armado (1), La Arrolladora (1), Banda El Limón De Rene Camacho (1) and Los Dos Carnales (1).

With this year’s continued expansion of the Latin field, there are now as many awards for Latin (five) as there are for pop and country. That’s remarkable because there weren’t any categories for Latin at the American Music Awards until 1998, when Julio Iglesias took the first award for favorite Latin artist.

The nominations announcement kicked off Thursday with reveals on ABC’s Good Morning America and Spotify’s morning show The Get Up, with the remaining nominees announced via the AMAs Twitter account.

Nominees are based on key fan interactions — as reflected on the Billboard charts — including streaming, album sales, song sales and radio airplay. These measurements are tracked by Billboard and its data partner MRC Data, and cover the time period September 25, 2020, through September 23, 2021.

Voting for all awards is now open. This year, for the first time, fans can vote for all AMA categories on TikTok by searching for AMAs in-app. Fans can vote once per category per day.

The American Music Awards bill themselves as the world’s largest fan-voted awards show.

The show will air live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, November 21, at 8:00 pm ET/PT on ABC and stream next day on Hulu. The show will air globally across a footprint of linear and digital platforms in more than 120 countries and territories.

MRC Live & Alternative and Jesse Collins Entertainment are producing

Here’s the complete list of 2021 American Music Awards nominees:

Artist of the year:
Ariana Grande
BTS
Drake
Olivia Rodrigo
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd

New artist of the year:
24kGoldn
Giveon
Masked Wolf
Olivia Rodrigo
The Kid LAROI

Collaboration of the year:
24kGoldn ft. iann dior, “Mood”
Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, “DÁKITI”
Chris Brown & Young Thug, “Go Crazy”
Doja Cat ft. SZA, “Kiss Me More”
Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar & Giveon, “Peaches”

Favorite trending song:
Erica Banks, “Buss It”
Måneskin, “Beggin’”
Megan Thee Stallion, “Body”
Olivia Rodrigo, “drivers license”
Popp Hunna, “Adderall (Corvette Corvette)”

Favorite music video:
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak), “Leave the Door Open”
Cardi B, “Up”
Lil Nas X, “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)”
Olivia Rodrigo, “drivers license”
The Weeknd, “Save Your Tears”

Favorite male pop artist:
Drake
Ed Sheeran
Justin Bieber
Lil Nas X
The Weeknd

Favorite female pop artist:
Ariana Grande
Doja Cat
Dua Lipa
Olivia Rodrigo
Taylor Swift

Favorite pop duo or group:
AJR
BTS
Glass Animals
Maroon 5
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak)

Favorite pop album:
Ariana Grande, Positions
Dua Lipa, Future Nostalgia
Olivia Rodrigo, SOUR
Taylor Swift, evermore
The Kid LAROI, F*CK LOVE

Favorite pop song:
BTS, “Butter”
Doja Cat ft. SZA, “Kiss Me More”
Dua Lipa, “Levitating”
Olivia Rodrigo, “drivers license”
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande, “Save Your Tears (Remix)”

Favorite male country artist:
Chris Stapleton
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen

Favorite female country artist:
Carrie Underwood
Gabby Barrett
Kacey Musgraves
Maren Morris
Miranda Lambert

Favorite country duo or group:
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Lady A
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band

Favorite country album:
Chris Stapleton, Starting Over
Gabby Barrett, Goldmine
Lee Brice, Hey World
Luke Bryan, Born Here Live Here Die Here
Morgan Wallen, Dangerous: The Double Album

Favorite country song:
Chris Stapleton, “Starting Over”
Chris Young & Kane Brown, “Famous Friends”
Gabby Barrett, “The Good Ones”
Luke Combs, “Forever After All”
Walker Hayes, “Fancy Like”

Favorite male hip-hop artist:
Drake
Lil Baby
Moneybagg Yo
Polo G
Pop Smoke

Favorite female hip-hop artist:
Cardi B
Coi Leray
Erica Banks
Megan Thee Stallion
Saweetie

Favorite hip-hop album:
Drake, Certified Lover Boy
Juice WRLD, Legends Never Die
Megan Thee Stallion, Good News
Pop Smoke, Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon
Rod Wave, SoulFly

Favorite hip-hop song:
Cardi B, “Up”
Internet Money ft. Gunna, Don Toliver & NAV, “Lemonade”
Lil Tjay ft. 6LACK, “Calling My Phone”
Polo G, “RAPSTAR”
Pop Smoke, “What You Know Bout Love”

Favorite male R&B artist:
Chris Brown
Giveon
Tank
The Weeknd
Usher

Favorite female R&B artist:
Doja Cat
H.E.R.
Jazmine Sullivan
Jhené Aiko
SZA

Favorite R&B album:
Doja Cat, Planet Her
Giveon, When It’s All Said and Done… Take Time
H.E.R., Back of My Mind
Jazmine Sullivan, Heaux Tales
Queen Naija, missunderstood

Favorite R&B song:
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak), “Leave the Door Open”
Chris Brown & Young Thug, “Go Crazy”
Giveon, “Heartbreak Anniversary”
H.E.R., “Damage”
Jazmine Sullivan, “Pick Up Your Feelings”

Favorite male Latin artist:
Bad Bunny
J Balvin
Maluma
Ozuna
Rauw Alejandro

Favorite female Latin artist:
Becky G
Kali Uchis
KAROL G
Natti Natasha
ROSALÍA

Favorite Latin duo or group:
Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Calibre 50
Eslabon Armado
La Arrolladora Banda El Limón De Rene Camacho
Los Dos Carnales

Favorite Latin album:
Bad Bunny, El Último Tour Del Mundo
Kali Uchis, Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios)
KAROL G, KG0516
Maluma, Papi Juancho
Rauw Alejandro, Afrodisíaco

Favorite Latin song:
Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, “DÁKITI”
Bad Bunny x ROSALÍA, “LA NOCHE DE ANOCHE”
Farruko, “Pepas”
Kali Uchis, “telepatía”
Maluma & The Weeknd, “Hawái (Remix)”

Favorite rock artist:
AJR
All Time Low
Foo Fighters
Glass Animals
Machine Gun Kelly

Favorite inspirational artist:
CAIN
Carrie Underwood
Elevation Worship
Lauren Daigle
Zach Williams

Favorite gospel artist:
Kanye West
Kirk Franklin
Koryn Hawthorne
Maverick City Music
Tasha Cobbs Leonard

Favorite dance/electronic artist:
David Guetta
ILLENIUM
Marshmello
Regard
Tiësto

The American Music Awards are produced by MRC Live & Alternative, which is owned by MRC.

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

Posted on October 10, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

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.

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).

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