Cardi B Leads Pack of American Music Awards Nominees with Eight

Posted on September 13, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Cardi B is a woman on top…

The 25-year-old half-Dominican American actress has earned a whopping eight American Music Awards nominations, her first-ever nods.

Cardi B and Drakeare tied with eight nominations a piece, with the “I Like It” singer facing off against Camila Cabello, Khalid, Dua Lipa and XXXTentacion for New Artist of the Year.

She’s also up for Collaboration of the Yearfor her hit song with Bruno Mars “Finesse,” Video of the Year for her Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 song “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves),” Favorite Social Artist, Favorite Female Artist Pop/Rock and Favorite Artist Rap/Hip-Hop.

Cardi B’s other nods include Favorite Song – Rap/Hip-Hop for “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)” and Favorite Song – Pop/Rock for “Finesse” with Mars.

Camila Cabello, celebrating a remarkable year, has earned her first nods as a solo artist, a total of five.

The 21-year-old Cuban and Mexican singer and former Fifth Harmony member is nominated for New Artist of the Year and Favorite Female Artist – Pop/Rock.

She’s also up for Collaboration of the Year, Video of the Year and Favorite Song – Pop/Rock for her Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 single “Havana,” featuring Young Thug.

Bruno Mars, an eight-time AMA winner, has earned four nods.

The 32-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer is nominated for Tour of the Year and Favorite Artist Male – Soul/R&B, as well as Collaboration of the Year and Favorite Song – Pop/Rock for “Finesse.”

Demi Lovato is nominated for Favorite Social Artist, while Daddy Yankee, Ozuna and J Balvin are facing off against each other in the Favorite Artist – Latin category.

The American Music Awards nominees are based on key fan interactions as reflected on Billboard.com, including streaming, album and digital song sales, radio airplay, social activity and touring. These measurements are tracked by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Music and Next Big Sound, and reflect the time period of September 15, 2017 through August 9, 2018.

Voting begins now in all categories — except new artist, favorite social artist and collaboration — on Billboard.com.

Voting for the final three categories begins Monday, Sept. 24 on TheAMAs.com. The 2018 AMAs — hosted by Tracee Ellis Ross — air live October 9 on ABC at 8:00 pm ET.

Here’s the complete list of nominations:

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Drake
Imagine Dragons
Post Malone
Ed Sheeran
Taylor Swift

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Camila Cabello
Cardi B
Khalid
Dua Lipa
XXXTENTACION

COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug, “Havana”
Post Malone ft. 21 Savage, “Rockstar”
Bruno Mars & Cardi B, “Finesse”
Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line, “Meant To Be”
Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey, “The Middle”

TOUR OF THE YEAR
Beyoncé & JAY-Z
Bruno Mars
Ed Sheeran
Taylor Swift
U2

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug, “Havana”
Cardi B, “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”
Drake, “God’s Plan”

FAVORITE SOCIAL ARTIST
BTS
Cardi B
Ariana Grande
Demi Lovato
Shawn Mendes

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST — POP/ROCK
Drake
Malone
Ed Sheeran

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST — POP/ROCK
Camila Cabello
Cardi B
Taylor Swift

FAVORITE DUO OR GROUP — POP/ROCK
Imagine Dragons
Maroon 5
Migos

FAVORITE ALBUM — POP/ROCK
Drake, Scorpion
Ed Sheeran, ÷ (Divide)
Taylor Swift, reputation

FAVORITE SONG — POP/ROCK
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug, “Havana”
Drake, “God’s Plan”
Ed Sheeran, “Perfect”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST — COUNTRY
Kane Brown
Luke Bryan
Thomas Rhett

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST — COUNTRY
Kelsea Ballerini
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood

FAVORITE DUO or GROUP — COUNTRY
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
LANCO

FAVORITE ALBUM — COUNTRY
Kane Brown, Kane Brown
Luke Combs, This One’s For You
Thomas Rhett, Life Changes

FAVORITE SONG — COUNTRY
Kane Brown, “Heaven”
Dan + Shay, “Tequila”
Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line, “Meant To Be”

FAVORITE ARTIST — RAP/HIPHOP
Cardi B
Drake
Post Malone

FAVORITE ALBUM — RAP/HIPHOP
Drake, Scorpion
Lil Uzi Vert, Luv Is Rage 2
Post Malone, beerbongs & bentleys

FAVORITE SONG — RAP/HIPHOP
Cardi B “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”
Drake “God’s Plan”
Post Malone ft. 21 Savage “Rockstar”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST — SOUL/R&B
Khalid
Bruno Mars
The Weeknd

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST — SOUL/R&B
Ella Mai
Rihanna
SZA

FAVORITE ALBUM — SOUL/R&B
Khalid “American Teen”
SZA “CTRL”
XXXTENTACION “17”

FAVORITE SONG — SOUL/R&B
Khalid “Young Dumb & Broke”
Ella Mai “Boo’d Up”
Bruno Mars & Cardi B “Finesse”

FAVORITE ARTIST — ALTERNATIVE ROCK
Imagine Dragons
Panic! At The Disco
Portugal. The Man

FAVORITE ARTIST — ADULT CONTEMPORARY
Shawn Mendes
P!NK
Ed Sheeran

FAVORITE ARTIST — LATIN
J Balvin
Daddy Yankee
Ozuna

FAVORITE ARTIST — CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL
Lauren Daigle
MercyMe
Zach Williams

FAVORITE ARTIST — ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC (EDM)
The Chainsmokers
Marshmello
Zedd

FAVORITE SOUNDTRACK
Black Panther: The Album, Music From And Inspired By
The Greatest Showman
The Fate of the Furious: The Album

Camila Cabello Takes Home Top Prizes at the MTV Video Music Awards

Posted on August 21, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Camila Cabello is Havana moment…

The 21-year-old Cuban and Mexican singer was the night’s big winner at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards, taking home the top prizes of the night… Video of the Year and Artist of the Year.

Cabello won the Video of the Year award for the official clip to her Billboard Hot 100 chart-topping single, “Havana.” She’s only the second Latin artist to win the coveted Video of the Year prize, behind Christina Aguilera, who won the award in 2001 for her “Lady Marmalade” collaboration with Lil’ Kim, Mýa and P!nk (featuring Missy Elliott).

With the wins, Cabello, who’d previously earned four Moon Men as a member of Fifth Harmony, claimed her first two trophies as a solo artist.

But Cabello wasn’t the only Latin artist to win…

Cardi B, who entered the night with a leading 10 nominations, picked up three Moon Men—the first of her career.

The 25-year Dominican American rap sensation was named Best New Artist. She also picked up the award for Song of the Summer for “I Like It,” her chart-topping collaboration with J Balvin and Bad Bunny, as well as Best Collaboration for her single with Jennifer Lopez, “Dinero.”

J Balvin took home his first Moon Man as well…

In addition to his shared prize with Cardi B for Song of the Summer, the 33-year-old Colombian singer took home the trophy for Best Latin Video for his collaboration with Willy William, “Mi Gente.”

Meanwhile, JLo, already a winner with Cardi B, was honored with the Video Vanguard Award and delivered a high octane performance of her current and past hits to remind us that she’s still Jenny from the Block.

Here’s the full list of winners:

Video of the Year  Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – “Havana”
Best Video With a Message Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Best Collaboration  Jennifer Lopez ft. DJ Khaled & Cardi B – “Dinero”
Best New Artist  Cardi B
Artist of the Year  Camila Cabello
Best Rock Video  Imagine Dragons – “Whatever It Takes”
Best Dance Video  Avicii ft. Rita Ora – “Lonely Together”
Best Latin Video J Balvin, Willy William – “Mi Gente”
Song of the Year  Post Malone ft. 21 Savage – “Rockstar”
Best Direction  Childish Gambino – “This Is America”, Directed by Hiro Murai
Best Art Direction  The Carters – “APES**T”, Art Direction by Jan Houlevigue
Best Visual Effects  Kendrick Lamar & SZA – “All The Stars”, Visual Effects by Loris Paillier for BUF Paris
Best Editing  N.E.R.D & Rihanna – “Lemon”, Editing by Taylor Ward
Best Cinematography The Carters – “APES**T”, Cinematography by Benoit Debie
Best Choreography Childish Gambino – “This Is America”, Choreography by Sherrie Silver
Best Pop Video  Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left To Cry”
Best Hip Hop Video  Nicki Minaj – “Chun Li”
Push Artist of the Year  Hayley Kiyoko
Song of Summer  Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin – “I Like It”

Camila Cabello Logs Two Tracks on Billboard’s Top 10 Radio Songs for First Half of 2018

Posted on July 6, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Camila Cabello is pulling double duty on the radio…

Billboard has announced the Top 10 Radio Songs for the first half of the year, with the 21-year-old Mexican and Cuban singer landing two singles on the chart and nearly 4 billion audience impressions, according to Nielsen Music.

Cabello’s former No. 1 single “Havana,”featuring Young Thug comes in at No. 4 with 2.12 billion audience impressions, while her single “Never Be the Same” ranks No. 9 with 1.67 billion impressions.

Meanwhile, Bruno Mars and Cardi B come in at No. 3 with their smash single “Finesse.” The song notched 2.14 billion audience impressions in the first half of 2018.

Ed Sheerancomes in at No. 1 with his single “Perfect” earning 2.86 billion audience impressions.

Here’s a look at the Top 10 most-heard songs on all radio formats in the year’s first six months:

Rank, Title, Artist, Audience
1, “Perfect,” Ed Sheeran, 2,861,250,000
2, “Meant to Be,” Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line, 2,294,858,000
3, “Finesse,” Bruno Mars & Cardi B, 2,148,973,000
4, “Havana,” Camila Cabello feat. Young Thug, 2,126,814,000
5, “The Middle,” Zedd, Maren Morris, & Grey, 2,040,210,000
6, “God’s Plan,” Drake, 2,025,720,000
7, “New Rules,” Dua Lipa, 2,023,348,000
8, “Lights Down Low,” MAX feat. gnash, 1,746,318,000
9, “Never Be the Same,” Camila Cabello, 1,677,640,000
10, “Bad at Love,” Halsey, 1,502,420,000

Camila Cabello Makes History as “Never Be the Same” Reaches No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Pop Songs Chart

Posted on June 27, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Camila Cabello is making history …

The 21-year-old Mexican and Cuban singer’s “Never Be the Same” rises 2-1 on Billboard‘s Adult Pop Songs radio airplay chart, dated June 30.

The track previously led the Pop Songs airplay chart for three weeks beginning May 12.

The song is Cabello’s second No. 1 on each list from her debut album, Camila, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 dated January 27. The set’s lead single, “Havana,” featuring Young Thug, led Pop Songs for seven weeks (beginning December 9) and Adult Pop Songs for one frame (March 3).

With “Never” following “Havana,” Cabello is the first artist to crown both the Pop Songs and Adult Pop Songs charts with the first two promoted singles from a debut LP.

Lorde had previously come closest to achieving the feat, as “Royals,” the lead single from her first studio full-length, Pure Heroine, ruled both rankings in 2013. Follow-up “Team” topped Adult Pop Songs but peaked at No. 2 on Pop Songs.

The Pop Songs chart, which began in 1992, measures total weekly plays, as tabulated by Nielsen Music, among its reporting panel of 160 mainstream top 40 stations. Adult Pop Songs (launched in Billboard magazine in 1996) reflects airplay on 84 adult top 40 stations.

While “Never” is Cabello’s second total Adult Pop Songs No. 1, after “Havana,” “Never” became her third leader on Pop Songs, after “Havana” and “Bad Things,” with Machine Gun Kelly, for two weeks in February 2017.

Additionally, Fifth Harmony, with Cabello as a member, led Pop Songs for two frames with “Work From Home,” featuring Ty Dolla $ign, in June 2016; Cabello was a member of the now-on-hiatus group from its 2012 inception to December 2016.

Camila Cabello’s “Havana” is Spotify’s Most-Streamed Song Ever by a Solo Female Artist

Posted on June 2, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Camila Cabello is officially the Stream Queen…

The 21-year-old Spanish and Mexican singer has reached another music milestone.

Cabello now holds the record for Spotify‘s most-streamed song ever by a solo female artist with “Havana,” Billboard has learned.

With more than 888 million streams, “Havana” has broken the previous record held by Sia with “Cheap Thrills.”

Cabello is also the first solo Latina female artist to hold the title.

On the Billboard charts, the song hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week in January. It was Cabello’s first No. 1 on the chart. Also, it topped the Streaming Songs chart, in conjunction with the release of her self-titled debut album (chart dated Jan. 27).

Additionally, “Havana” was No. 1 for seven weeks on the Pop Songs chart, No. 1 for one week on Adult Top 40 and No. 1 for three weeks on Rhythmic Top 40, and it was the No. 1 song in all of radio (Radio Songs chart) for four weeks. It also led the Digital Song Sales chart for two weeks.

Fifth Harmony Announces Plans to Take a Break

Posted on March 19, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Ally Brooke Hernandez and Lauren Jauregui won’t be harmonizing together for much longer…

The Latina singers and their fellow Fifth Harmony members have announced they’re going to be taking a break to focus on their solo careers.

In a message to fans on Twitter, the all-girl group said they were going their separate ways “in order to stay authentic to ourselves and to you”.

“We’re all very excited and grateful to be able to take this time to learn and grow creatively and really find our footing as individuals.”

They promised to bring their new experiences back to the band.

Fifth Harmony hasn’t confirmed how long their break will be but assured fans their remaining shows in 2018 would still be going ahead.

The group, who were put together on the US version of The X Factor, thanked their supporters, adding: “With you love and encouragement we will continue to build on ourselves.”

There’s been speculation the group would go their separate ways ever since Camila Cabello left the band in December 2016.

She has since gone on to have success with her own solo career.

Her single “Havana” reached number one in Australia, Canada, the UK and the US.

The Voice Kids Brazil’s Livia Bernarde Earns Raves for Her Cover of Camila Cabello’s “Havana”

Posted on March 19, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

She’s only 13, but Lívia Bernarde is already trending on Twitter…

The Brazilian teenager is a contestant on the Brazilian version of The Voice Kids… And, the young singer earned major kudos for her cover of Camila Cabello‘s “Havana” on a recent episode, they all were so excited so they decided to celebrate at the Jumper’s Jungle Family Fun Center.

But she wasn’t the only singer to earn rave reviews…

12-year-old Ranna Andrade enchanted the audience with her version of “No Meu Coração Você Vai Sempre Estar,” the Portuguese version of Tarzan’s “You’ll Be in My Heart.”

Camila Cabello: The Best Dressed Latina at the Grammy Awards

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

She may not be a Grammy Award nominee (yet)… But Camila Cabello is already a Grammys red carpet all-star.

The 20-year-old Cuban/Mexican singer and former Fifth Harmony member rocked la carpeta rojo at Madison Square Garden on music’s biggest night, earning the title of Best Dressed Latina.

Here’s a look at the night’s most stylish red carpet stars:

Camila Cabello
Cabello looked as sizzling hot as a “Havana” night in a rouched red Vivienne Westwood gown. She paired her glam, strapless gown with $175,100 worth of diamonds from Bulgari’s Serpenti Collection, a disco-ball-like purse by Judith Leiber and a Time’s Up rose.

Cardi B
Two-time Grammy nominee Cardi B looked angelically delicious in a white Ashi Studio dress with train, which the 25-year-old part-Dominican American rapper paired with Christian Louboutin heels and Messika jewels.

Ashanti
Ashanti proved to be the night’s golden girl… The 37-year-old part-Dominican American singer and actress shined bright in a shimmering gold gown by Yas Couture by Elie Madi. It featured long sleeves, high neck and dramatic skirt.

Erika Ender
Erika Ender, who co-wrote the Grammy-nominated global hit “Despacito,”wore a black long-sleeve gown with bead detailing. The 43-year-old Panamanian singer/songwriter’s dress, by Mac Duggal, featured parallel, thigh-high slits.

Kirstin Maldonado
Pentatonix member Kirstin Maldonado wore a ruffled, semi-sheer dress, which the 25-year-old half-Mexican, part-Spanish singer topped off with a smoky eye.

Camila Cabello’s “Havana” Reaches No. 1 on Billboard’s Streaming Songs Chart

Posted on January 26, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Life is but a stream for Camila Cabello…

The 20-year-old Cuban and Mexican singer and former Fifth Harmony member’s hit single “Havana” is the new No. 1 on Billboard’s Streaming Songs chart (dated January 27).

Cabello’s latest No. 1 on the Billboard chart coincides with the song’s ascent to the top of the Billboard Hot 100.

“Havana,” featuring Young Thug, scores 44.9 million streams in the week ending January 18, a boost of 34 percent compared to the previous week, according to Nielsen Music.

It becomes both Cabello and Young Thug’s first No. 1 on the chart. Previously, Cabello rose as high as No. 11 (“Bad Things,” with Machine Gun Kelly, in February 2017), while Young Thug reached No. 4 as part of Rich Gang’s “Lifestyle” (November 2014).

“Havana” also makes gains on the On-Demand Streaming Songs chart, shooting 7-2 with 15.5 million on-demand audio streams (Post Malone’s “Rockstar” remains No. 1 with 16.8 million). The rise marks Cabello’s first top five on the chart and Young Thug’s second (he was featured on Drake’s “Sacrifices,” which reached No. 5 in April 2017).

Cabello ends up landing two songs in the top 10 of On-Demand Streaming Songs, as “Never Be the Same,” the album’s follow-up single to “Havana,” leaps 46-7 and is the chart’s greatest gainer. It racks up 12.8 million on-demand audio streams, up 102 percent.

The streaming increases are due to the release of Cabello’s debut solo album, Camila, which concurrently rules the Billboard 200 with 119,000 equivalent album units earned.

Camila Cabello Tops the Billboard Artist 100 Chart for the First Time

Posted on January 25, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Camila Cabello is the artist of the moment in another special first…

The 20-year-old Cuban and Mexican singer and former Fifth Harmony member jumps from No. 12 to No. 1 on the Billboard Artist 100 chart (dated January 27) to become the top musical act in the U.S. for the first time.

Camila Cabello

But that’s not all…

Cabello becomes the first female artist to triple up atop the Artist 100, Billboard Hot 100 songs chart and Billboard 200 albums chart simultaneously since Adele just over two years ago. And she’s the first Latino to do sho.

She’s the first artist overall to earn the honor since Kendrick Lamar last May.

The Artist 100, which launched in July 2014, measures artist activity across key metrics of music consumption, blending album and track sales, radio airplay, streaming and social media fan interaction to provide a weekly multi-dimensional ranking of artist popularity.

Cabello’s Artist 100 coronation is powered by her debut album Camila, which arrives atop the Billboard 200 with 119,000 equivalent album units, according to Nielsen Music, and its single “Havana,” featuring Young Thug, which rises 2-1 on the Hot 100 in its 23rd chart week.

“Havana” gains 34 percent to 44.9 million U.S. streams in the week ending Jan. 18 and takes over at No. 1 on the Streaming Songs chart. The track also surges by 52 percent to 80,000 downloads sold and sports 131 million in all-format airplay audience. Album sales contribute the majority of Cabello’s Artist 100 points (52 percent), followed by digital song sales (20 percent).

Lamar last led the Artist 100, Hot 100 and Billboard 200 in the same week on charts dated May 6, topping the latter two tallies with “Humble.” and DAMN., respectively.

Before Cabello, Adele was the last such female triple threat, leading the Hot 100 with “Hello” and the Billboard 200 with 25 on Jan. 16, 2016.

Since the Artist 100’s inception, seven acts have ruled all three Billboard charts simultaneously:

Artists to Top the Hot 100, Billboard 200 & Artist 100 Simultaneously
Artist, Weeks
Drake, 10
Taylor Swift, 7
Adele, 6
Ed Sheeran, 2
The Weeknd, 2
Camila Cabello, 1
Kendrick Lamar, 1

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

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