Mr. Pauer Signs with Sony Music Latin’s Electronic Label, Orianna

Mr. Pauer has a new deal…

The 48-year-old Venezuelan Latin Grammy nominated artist/producer/DJ is teaming up with Orianna, Sony Music Latin’s electronic label, for the release of his upcoming studio album, Inevitable.

 

The set—marking Pauer’s fourth album following Soundtrack (2014), Orange (2015) and Fiera (2022) — is slated for release in the first quarter of 2024 as the first album to be launched under the Orianna banner.

Earlier this year, Orianna and Pauer launched “Pa’Onde Vamos” in collaboration with David Tort, Markem and Rayo.

“For me it’s a great step in my career to be able to work with a Latin electronic label like Orianna under the Sony Spain umbrella,” the Miami-based, Venezuelan DJ and producer tells Billboard. “This is the first time in my career that I have released an album with a label. I like independence but at this point in my career, I like to work more as a team and grow together with the same intention.”

The first single off Inevitable, a collaboration with Colombian artist Goyo called “Química,” which drops on Friday, November 3.

“We’ve known each other for over 20 years, even before ChocQuibTown was created. We’ve always had great respect for each other and the timing was right for our first collaboration,” Pauer says of his relationship with the 2023 Billboard Latin Women in Music Agent of Change recipient.

Created in the summer, “Química” is a dance-ready track that perfectly laces Goyo’s powerhouse vocals and Pauer’s tropi-pop fusions that include Venezuelan cumaco (drums), Colombian tambor alegre, and electronic beats.

“I am excited to have a team that supports, understands and dances to the rhythm of Mr. Pauer,” he notes. “Latin electronic music is in a good moment and it’s dominating globally.”

Paramount+ to Premiere Nick Barili’s New Docuseries “De La Calle” in November

Nick Barili is hittin’ the calle next month…

Paramount+ will premiere the 44-year-old Argentinian-American award-winning journalist, executive producer, director and writer’s new docuseries De La Calle in the U.S. and Canada on Tuesday, November 7.

Nick BariliAcross 8 episodes, Barili explores Latino urban music from the U.S. to Panama, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Spain and beyond.

The series takes a journey into the Latine diaspora to map the evolution of Urbano music and cultures that ignited the musical revolution of Rap, Reggaeton, Bachata, Latin trap, Cumbia and other sounds that influence music and culture worldwide.

Nick Barili, De La CalleInterviewees include Fat Joe, NORE, Residente, Mala Rodriguez, Nicky Jam, Nicki Nicole, Villano Antillano, Sech, Goyo, Nathy Peluso, Santa Fe Klan, Jessie Reyes, Feid, Aleman and Gente De Zona, among others.

“As a first-generation immigrant who learned how to speak English through Hip Hop at Malcolm X Elementary, I grew up straddling two worlds, speaking English at school and Spanish at home,” Barili, the project’s co-creator, executive producer and host, shared in a statement.

He continued, “I was influenced by El General and Calle 13 as much as E-40 and OutkastDe La Calle was created to explore how the seeds from the street that inspired Hip Hop are also present throughout Latin America and Spain. Going to the neighborhoods where El Movimiento was created, talking to the pioneers who were actually there and sharing the origin stories of superstars of today and tomorrow. I’m thrilled to have MTV Studios and Paramount+ as partners to bring De La Calle to the world.”

Maria Becerra to Receive Visionary Award at Billboard Latin Women in Music Gala

Maria Becerra is a vision(ary)…

The 23-year-old Argentine singer and former YouTuber will be honored with the Visionary Award at the inaugural Billboard Latin Women in Music gala.

Maria BecerraBecerra will be recognized along with Thalia, Ana Gabriel, Evaluna and Goyo at the two-hour special event taking place at the Watsco Center in Miami on May 6, and airing on Telemundo and Universo on May 7.

The same evening, Shakira will be honored as Latin Woman of the Year.

Becerra, a pop/urban artist who began here career on YouTube in her teens and was nominated for a best new artist Latin Grammy in 2021, has had three entries on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, including her hit “Qué más pues?” alongside J Balvin, as well as two top 10 hits on Latin Airplay (“Te espero” with Prince Royce, which reached No. 1; and “Extasis” with Manuel Turizo at No. 9).

She’s also placed five tracks on Latin Rhythm Airplay, including three on the top 10 (“Suelta” with Dímelo Flow, Farruko, Rauw Alejandro, Mr. Vegas and Fatman Sccop; “Berlin” with Zion & Lennox; and “Extasis”).

“Maria Becerra is receiving the Visionary award for developing a sound and aesthetic that are intensely personal, are all her own, and cross genres and styles,” says Leila Cobo, Billboard’s chief content officer for Latin and Español. “Maria is a visionary who has defied convention with extraordinary quality and distinctiveness. We are proud to honor this rising star with an immense future.”

As announced previously, Mexican icon Ana Gabriel will be honored as Living Legend; urban pop Argentine star Emilia will receive the Rising Star award; singer, actress and director Evaluna will receive the Tradition and Future award; Colombian rapper and singer Goyo will be honored as Agent of Change; and Mexican superstar Thalia will receive the Global Powerhouse award.

Another icon, Ivy Queen, will host the event alongside actress and host Jacky Bracamontes.

Billboard’s inaugural Latin Women In Music celebrates artists, executives and Latin creatives who are working proactively to generate positive change, inclusion and gender parity in the music industry.

Tickets are on sale and can be purchased here.

Shakira to Be Honored as Billboard’s ‘Woman of the Year’ at First-Ever Mujeres Latinas en la Música Gala

t’s a career-recognizing first for Shakira

The 46-year-old Colombian global superstar will be honored as Billboard’s Woman of the Year at the first-ever Mujeres Latinas en la Música gala.

ShakiraThe two-hour music special, hosted by Ivy Queen and Jacqueline Bracamontes and honoring Latin women in music, will be taped at the Watsco Center in Miami on May 6 and will air exclusively on Telemundo on May 7 at 9:00 pm ET/8:00 pm CT.

A first of its kind for Latin music, Mujeres Latinas en la Música celebrates Latin female artists, executives and creatives who are proactively working for positive change, inclusion and gender parity in the music industry.

Superstars Ana GabrielEmiliaEvalunaGoyo and Thalia will also receive special awards at the inaugural event presented by Billboard with Telemundo.

Shakira’s honor comes in the wake of an extraordinary year that has seen the superstar break records with the biggest Spanish-language debut of 2022 (“Monotonía” featuring Ozuna). Then, in January 2023, her “Shakira: BZRP Music Sessions #53” debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making her the first woman to reach the top 10 on the chart with a song in Spanish.

“Shakira: BZRP Music Sessions #53” also made history as the most-streamed Latin track in 24 hours in Spotify history and the most-viewed Latin track on YouTube in 24 hours with over 63 million views, and it broke 14 Guinness World Records.

“Shakira is the ultimate Woman in Music. Thanks to her, Latin women all over the world have been empowered to write and perform deeply personal music. She created a movement all on her own, and continues to be more relevant than ever today, with grace, a deep tradition of giving back, and enormous talent. She is the definition of a Woman in Music,” said Leila CoboBillboard’s chief content officer for Latin/Español.

“Shakira has been pivotal in shaping the vibrant and diverse landscape of Latin music and music in general throughout her career. Her passion, talent and creativity have broken barriers and empowered generations to embrace our identity through music, and we are incredibly proud to recognize her as Woman of the Year in the industry,” said Ronald Day, president of entertainment and content strategy for Telemundo.

Shakira has sold more than 95 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time and the top-selling female Latin artist of all time. Her global success as a crossover artist opened doors for other Latin artists to enter international markets. She is the most-viewed Latin female artist, and one of the top 10 artists overall of all time on YouTube with over 20 billion cumulative views, and the most-streamed female Latin artist of all time on Spotify.

Aside from her stellar industry accolades, at the age of 18, Shakira created the Pies Descalzos Foundation, which has built and adapted nine public schools in Cartagena, Barranquilla, Guajira and Quibdó, with six in construction. The foundation has raised over 40 million dollars since inception and impacted more than 150,000 children and nearly 900,000 families.

Thalia to Be Honored at Inaugural Latin Women in Music Event

Thalia is feelin’ the love…

The 51-year-old Mexican singer and actress will be among the honorees at the first-ever Latin Women in Music, or Mujeres Latinas En La Música in Spanish.

ThaliaIn addition to the “Amor a la Mexicana” singer, the event will honor ThaliaAna Gabriel, Natti Natasha, Evaluna, Goyo and Emilia MernesBillboard and Telemundo have announced.

The inaugural event will take place May 6 at the Watsco Center in Miami and is set to be co-hosted by reggaeton queen Ivy Queen — who received this year’s Icon Award at Billboard‘s 2023 Women in Music — and television personality Jacqueline Bracamontes.

The two-hour music special, which will air May 7 on Telemundo, will celebrate Latin women artists, executives and creatives who are proactively working for positive change, inclusion and gender parity in the music industry.

“Our Latin Women In Music gala is a bold and inspiring event. Our honorees come from vastly diverse places, generations, styles, genres and philosophies, but all have excellence, commitment and unique and uncompromising artistry and points of view,” said Leila Cobo, Billboard’s chief content officer for Latin/Español. “In this landmark year for Latin music, we are so proud to launch our newest tentpole, where we will celebrate outstanding, powerful, leading women yearly.”

Ana Gabriel will receive the Leyenda Viviente Award. With more than two-dozen albums, the Mexican singer-songwriter has serenaded fans for nearly five decades with cross-genre chart toppers, including 20 top 10 hits and 6 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart.

The awards for the other honorees will be announced soon.

“We are proud to recognize this group of powerful artists who have redefined the role of Latin women across genres and around the world,” added Ronald Day, president of entertainment and content strategy for Telemundo. “Music is more than a beat for the Latino community, it is a reflection of our identity. With this event, we aim to continue offering our audience the opportunity to celebrate our culture and come together through the music that unites us all.”

The show — which according to both companies will “embody Latin culture featuring powerhouse performances, impactful historic moments, and can’t-miss surprises” — will also be on the Telemundo app and available to stream on Peacock.

The inaugural Latin Women in Music event was announced earlier this year as an expansion of Billboard’s Women in Music franchise. It aims to celebrate the women who have made a concrete impact on Latin music through their artistic achievements, or through tangible, noteworthy actions that have brought measurable recognition and opportunity to women, effecting positive change to the industry as a whole.

Additional information about Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música, including the first-ever Latin Woman of the Year honoree, musical performances, presenters and more, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Tickets to attend Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música live at the Watsco Center can be purchased at BillboardMujeresEnLaMusica.com.

Karol G to Perform at This Year’s Latin Grammys Awards Show

Karol G is taking the stage at this year’s Latin Grammys

The 31-year-old Colombian singer and songwriter has joined the list of performers for the upcoming Latin Grammys awards show, according to the Latin Recording Academy.

Karol GThe “Provenza” singer appears on roster of new performers that includes Romeo Santos for the show, which will take place on November 17 at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas.

Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation scholarship recipients Xavier Cintrón, Valentina Garcia, Nicolle Horbath and Sergio De Miguel Jorquera will also take the stage alongside previously announced performer, Nicky Jam.

Karol G is nominated in three categories including record of the year and song of the year for her and Ovy on the Drums’ “Provenza.”

Romeo Santos is a nominee in the best long-form music video category for his documentary “Romeo Santos: King of Bachata”; and as a member of Aventura, he is nominated for best urban fusion/performance.

They join previously announced artists Banda Los Recoditos, Camilo, Ángela Aguilar, Elvis Costello, Chiquis, Jorge Drexler, Silvana Estrada, Gente de Zona, Goyo, Jesse & Joy, John Legend, Carin León, Los Bukis, Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández, Aymée Nuviola, Julio Reyes Copello, Sin Bandera, Carlos Vives, Sebastián Yatra, Nicole Zignago and the 2022 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year, Marco Antonio Solís.

The lineup also boasts Christina Aguilera, who is up for seven awards, Rauw Alejandro, Rosalía, Marc Anthony and Christian Nodal.

The night’s most-nominated artists are Bad Bunny, who has a total of 10 nods, and Mexican-American composer Edgar Barrera, who holds nine.

Additionally, the Academy shared its bill of presenters, which includes Maria Becerra, Becky G, Eden Muñoz and Farina, in addition to Macarena Achaga, Yalitza Aparicio, Cami, Miguel Angel Muñoz, Fonesca, Luis Figueroa, Kany García, Kurt, Ludmilla, Victor Manuelle, Fito Páez, Georgina Rodríguez, Alison Solís, Marla Solís, Luisa Sonza, Tainy and Adrián Uribe.

The 23rd Latin Grammys, which “celebrate the present and embrace the future of Latin music,” will be hosted by current nominee Anitta, Latin-Grammy winners Luis Fonsi and Laura Pausini, and by the Latin Recording Academy’s President’s Award recipient Thalia.

Latin Grammy winner Julio Reyes Copello will be the night’s musical director.

The telecast will air on Univision on November 17, at 8:00 pm ET/PT (7 p.m. CT), and will air on cable channel TNT at 7:00 pm (MEX) / 8:00 pm (PAN-COL) / 9:00 pm (VEN) / 10:00 pm (ARG/CHI/BRAZIL), and on Televisa on Channel 5. The show will also be available on HBO Max in Spanish only.

Rosalía to Perform at This Year’s Latin Grammys Awards Show

Rosalía is readying to take Latin music’s biggest stage…

The 30-year-old Spanish Grammy– and Latin Grammy-winning singer and songwriter has been added to the roster of artists set to take center stage at the 23rd annual Latin Grammys on November 17.

RosaliaRosalia is among a new wave of confirmed performers that includes Silvana Estrada, Gente de Zona, Goyo, Los Bukis, Aymée Nuviola, Julio Reyes Copello, Carlos Vives and Nicole Zignago.

Copello, a seven-time nominee, joins the event as musical director of the show’s house band.

At this year’s ceremony, eight-time nominee Rosalía is up for record of the year and album of the year; Vives, a five-time nominee, is up for record of the year and song of the year; Gente de Zona and Nuviola are nominated in the tropical categories; and both Estrada and Zignago, are up for the coveted best new artist.

The newly announced artists set to take the stage join previously announced performers such as Ángela Aguilar, Christina Aguilera, Rauw Alejandro, Marc Anthony, Banda Los Recoditos, Camilo, Elvis Costello, Chiquis, Jorge Drexler, Nicky Jam, Jesse & Joy, John Legend, Carin León, Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández, Christian Nodal, Sin Bandera, Sebastián Yatra, and the 2022 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year, Marco Antonio Solís.

The Latin Grammy Awards — which “promise to honor the legacy, celebrate the present and embrace the future of Latin music, with deliberate consciousness, paying-it-forward to the next generations of music creators,” according to a press statement — will be held on November 17 at the Michelob Ultra Arena at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, and will air live on Univision beginning at 8:00 pm ET.

The Latin Grammy Premiere, a non-televised ceremony in which the winners in most categories are announced, will take place before the broadcast.

Amazon Music LAT!N’s Angie Romero Among LAMC’s “Wonder Women of Latin Music” Honorees

Angie Romero is a Wonder Woman…

The Latin Alternative Music Conference has announced the honorees for the third edition of its Wonder Women of Latin Music, including the Latina music executive who works for Amazon Music LAT!N.

Angie Romero

The Wonder Women of Latin Music celebrates female leaders making a difference in the industry.

Presented by Amazon Music LAT!N, this year’s Class of 2022 includes 20 women who represent a range of companies and countries. As is tradition, the list was curated by the LAMC team spearheaded by founder Tomas Cookman.

According to LAMC, the 2022 Wonder Women of Latin Music will be recognized with a special award and a social media campaign.

Additionally, the free virtual conference — set to take place April 27-29 — will also host a Wonder Women of Latin Music panel as part of this year’s schedule. Speakers include Romero, The Latin Recording Academy’s Iveliesse Malavé, Apple Music’s Marissa Lopez, Creative Management Firm’s Yvette Medina, and artists Goyo from ChocQuibTown and Villano Antillano.

“It is so important for us to celebrate and uplift the voices of the women in our industry who have been instrumental in the tremendous growth of Latin music worldwide,” says Rocío Guerrero, global head of Latin Music for Amazon Music. “It is an honor to join LAMC in presenting the third annual Wonder Women of Latin Music awards that celebrate these accomplished women who continue to inspire us.”

This year’s LAMC will have a third annual virtual conference and, for the first time since 2019, the LAMC returns for an in-person event in New York set to take place July 6-9 at the Stewart Hotel. Registration for both the online and summer event is now open. For more information and/or to register, visit www.latinalternative.com.

Speakers for the online event include Pepe Aguilar,Kany Garcia,Guaynaa,Carla Morrison, Fito Paez and Ana Tijoux. Artists who will be part of the in-person event will be announced in the upcoming weeks.

Here’s the complete list of Wonder Women of Latin Music 2020 honorees:

Yvette Medina — Creative Management Firm
Pili Montilla — TV host and producer
Nerea Igualador — Sony Music U.S. Latin
Celeste Zendejas — CESAC
Angie Romero — Amazon Music
Amy Roland — Sony Music Publishing
Iveliesse Malavé — The Latin Recording Academy
Azucena Olvera — Pandora
Fátima Rodriguez — Grupo Toro
Loren Medina — Guerrera PR
Daniela Bosé — Palacio Vistalegre Arena
Patricia Flores — Apple Music
Tania Dorante — Meta
Inés Sapochnik — The Orchard
Monica Escobar — The 3 Collective
Fabiana Kulick — Live Nation
Núria Net — La Coctelera Music
Martha Ledezma — Fonovisa/Universal
Mariauxy Castillo-Vitale — Apple
María Montejo — Warner Music Colombia

ChocQuibTown Releases New Single “Bitcoin”

ChocQuibTown is having a bit(coin) of fun…

The Colombian group, composed of Goyo, Tostao and Slow, has released their new single “Bitcoin.”

ChocQuibTownCo-written by the group, Gerald Jiménez, Edgar Barrera, Jael Andrés Correa and Juan Diego Medina, the lyrics hold a very mature reflection after a breakup.

“I’m only rising, I look like a bitcoin and you’re calling me like a loser,” chants Goyo. “You never gave me importance, now respect the distance.”

Produced by Slow himself, “Bitcoin” is a catchy urban pop single with the group’s rhythmic melodies at the root.

Goyo recently embarked on her solo career but made it very clear that ChocQuibTown was not separating. This single is evidence of that promise.

Gloria “Goyo” Martínez Launches Solo Career with New Dembow-Infused Single “Na Na Na”

Gloria “Goyo” Martínez is saying na (na na) to going it alone…

The Afro-Colombian singer/rapper, who co-founded the Colombian hip-hop group ChocQuibTown 20 years ago, has officially marked the beginning of a solo career by releasing her new single “Na Na Na.”

Gloria “Goyo” Martínez The dembow-infused, club-ready track is a perfect introduction to what Goyo’s project as a soloist is all about: female empowerment.

“With ChocQuibTown I could also sing about empowering women — but to say it alone and in my own words, it just has a different impact,” she tells Billboard. “Writing on my own has allowed me to reflect, analyze and really think about what I want to say,”

Launching her own career doesn’t mean she’s leaving the trio, which also includes her brother Slow and her husband Tostao. The trio are still very much committed to ChocQuibTown and, are even set to release a new single in April.

But having her very own independent project is something Goyo has been planning for quite some time.

“We’ve always considered ourselves a group where we can also respect each other’s individuality. For example, Slow likes the production side more and is often producing for other artists. I wanted to invite our fans to my world and give them the opportunity to know the woman behind Goyo.”

Timing was everything Goyo explains, and she’d have to find the right song to aunch her solo career. After many studio sessions searching for the song, inspiration came when she sat with Rauw Alejandro‘s go-to producer, Mr. Nais Gai, artist Fuego and her brother Slow during a writing camp at her favorite studio House of Hits in Miami.

“When we all come together, because we’re Afro, we always say that Wakanda is in the house. That day, they were showing me some beats and I suggested instead we start from scratch. So we brought in some instruments and built a structure. My brother stopped by and created a melody and it was pure magic,” she says. “I wrote the song’s first verse on the spot. The end result is a song that I love and I believe many women will adopt as their own anthem.”

Going solo coincides with the release of her upcoming album and HBO documentary, En Letra de Otro, where she re-imagines classics like Shakira‘s “Antologia,” Tego Calderón‘s “Pa’ Que Retozen” and Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong‘s “Summertime.”

“The creative process for this project was easy in a sense — because I just had to revisit my roots and remember those days when I used to stay up to watch Shakira videos. Or during the pandemic, my vocal coach asked me to sing “Summertime,” and it really had a huge impact on me — because it was around the time when George Floyd was killed,” Goyo explains. “Recording this album pretty much trained me, and gave me an idea of what working alone would be like.”

For now, fans can listen to Goyo’s new single “Na Na Na.”

En Letra de Otro is out DSPs and on HBO March 4, with additional projects (as a solo artist and with ChocQuibTown) to be announced later this year.

“I’m ready to explore a new side of me and reach new ears. Sometimes, you just have to what your heart tells you to do.”