Chayanne to Speak During This Year’s Billboard Latin Music Week

Posted on August 5, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Chayanne is ready to talk shop…

The 54-year-old Puerto Rican Latin pop singer and actor will take part in this year’s Billboard Latin Music Week, set to take place on September 26-30 at the Faena Forum in Miami.

Chayanne, one of Latin music’s most successful pop stars who has crooned to fans for nearly four decades with his ballads, will be releasing new music for the first time in more than six years, and speaking in his first interview in over five years.

But he isn’t the only new addition to the roster…

Ivy Queen, known as the Queen of Reggaeton, will open up about her prolific 25-year career, songwriting process, new music, and struggles as the only woman in a genre dominated by men.

Both Chayanne and Ivy join an already-announced star-studded lineup that includes Romeo Santos, Camilo, Nicky Jam, Eslabon Armado, Bizarrap, Blessd, Yahritza Y Su Esencia, Luis R. Conriquez, Ovy on the Drums, Kunno and The Rivera Family. More participants will be announced in the weeks leading up to the 2022 Latin Music Week.

Registration is now open at BillboardLatinMusicWeek.com.

Billboard Latin Music Week will also coincide with the 2022 Billboard Latin Music Awards on Thursday, Sept. 29, in Miami. The Billboard Latin Music Awards will broadcast live on Telemundo, and will also broadcast simultaneously on the Spanish entertainment cable network, Universo, and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean on Telemundo Internacional.

Ivy Queen Teams Up with Peter Nieto for New Single “Pa’ Mi.”

Posted on April 22, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Ivy Queen is switchin’ up her sound…

The 50-year-old Puerto Rican veteran reggaeton singer, rapper, songwriter and actress has joined voices with Peter Nieto for the salsa single “Pa’ Mi.”

Ivy Queen embraces Nieto’s rich, danceable salsa, performing it with a gusto to match his own. With both singers’ similar-range vocals trading off in the chorus, “Pa’ Mi” is sheer fun; a straight-forward salsa with an immediately catchy chorus.

“The lyrics caught my attention, and of course the musical arrangement was impeccable and denotes a lot of freshness. I was raised with salsa music and trio music, all this mixture and flavor always brings me sentimentally to my house”, highlighted Ivy Queen.

“I don’t consider Peter Nieto a new talent, I consider him talent, period. When

Nieto, for his part, stressed that “beyond achieving a dream”, by working with Ivy Queen, “it is a blessing to have the support and collaboration of a woman like Ivy”.

“Her strength, her courage, her magic, her talent and mettle make her giant and unique. Having the opportunity to sing a salsa song with the queen of reggaeton is already a success for me, and for the new generation of tropical music. Queen, there are no words to thank you, “he added.

The song was written by Nieto and co-produced by Jay Lugo.

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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J Balvin to Co-Headline ‘Sueños,’ Chicago’s New Reggaeton & Latin Trap Festival

Posted on February 10, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

J Balvin is livin’ the sueño(s)…

The 36-year-old Colombian singer and rapper will co-headline Sueños, a new reggaeton and Latin trap festival in Chicago.

J Balvin will co-headline with Ozuna and Wisin y Yandel, when the festival takes place during Memorial Day Weekend (May 28-29).

The first-ever edition of Sueños — presented by the producers behind Baja Beach Fest and Lollapalooza, respectively, and Chicago’s Reventon Promotions — will also include sets by artists like Myke Towers, El Alfa, Tokischa, Sech, Natanael Cano, Fuerza Regida, Jhay Cortez, Blessd, Jowell & Randy, and DJ Luian.

“We’re honored to work with the producers of Lollapalooza and Reventon to bring a premier Latin festival to Grant Park in Chicago,” said Aaron Ampudia of Baja Beach Fest. “Reggaetón is a massive genre, but remains underserved by live festivals in the U.S. We’re extremely proud to expand to the US and serve our community and everyone who enjoys Latin music.”

Reventon Promotions’ Enrique Medrano added: ”Over a decade ago, I started Reventon Promotions with a dream of bringing authentic and diverse Hispanic entertainment to Chicago. Now I am excited and proud to be part of the first Sueños festival, an event that celebrates the Hispanic presence in the city, in addition to being held in the iconic and representative Grant Park right in the heart of downtown. What better place is there for thousands of people from different Latin American countries to meet, share, and celebrate with artists of the likes of J Balvin, Ozuna, and many more.”

Sueños’ inaugural edition will be the first of two back-to-back reggaeton festivals set to take place for the first time ever in Chicago over the summer.

The also new Más Flow three-day reggaeton fest — featuring headliners Don Omar and Ivy Queen — is confirmed for July 15 to July 17, and produced by Grass Root Events, a local production company.

Sueños and Más Flow join Chicago’s very own Ruido Fest, a Latin alternative music festival that launched in 2015, as the third and second Latinx music festivals to find a home in the Midwestern city, where Latinos are now the second-largest racial or ethnic group, growing by 5% from roughly 779,000 in 2010 to nearly 820,000 in 2020, according to census data.

Tickets for Sueños will be available via pre-sale beginning Friday, February 11, at 1:00 pm ET with the official on-sale launching at 3:00 pm at www.suenosmusicfestival.com.

Ivy Queen Among Latin Recording Academy’s ‘Leading Ladies of Entertainment’ Honorees

Posted on October 15, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Ivy Queen is officially a leading lady…

The 49-year-old Puerto Rican singer, rapper, songwriter and actress will be minted as one of the 2021 Leading Ladies of Entertainment by the Latin Recording Academy.

Ivy Queen, known as the “Queen of Reggaeton,” joins a list of honorees that includes composer Mónica Vélez, publicist and marketer Mayna Nevarez and Spotify’s managing director for Latin America, Mia Nygren.

Due to limitations imposed by COVID-19, the four women, representing different arenas of Latin music, will be honored during a virtual ceremony November 16 instead of the traditional lunch that has defined the event.

Launched five years ago, the Academy’s Leading Latin Ladies initiative was created to honor and recognize “professional and socially-conscious women within the arts and entertainment fields who have made significant contributions and inspired the next generation of female leaders.”

Since its inception, the initiative has honored both artists and musicians along with executives, and this year is no exception.

Ivy Queen, considered the pioneer female artist in reggaetón, is being honored alongside Vélez, a two-time Latin Grammy winner who has written for the likes of Marc Anthony and Luis Fonsi. But she’s also being honored with Nygren, who oversees Spotify’s Latin America operations, and Nevarez, whose company – Nevarez Entertainment — is the longtime agency of superstars like Daddy Yankee and Carlos Vives.

This year the event is also partnering with She Is The Music on a collaborative mentorship program that will pair past honorees with a She Is The Music mentee.

“On behalf of The Latin Recording Academy, I am proud to honor these powerful women as this year’s Leading Ladies of Entertainment,” said Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy, in a statement. “These dynamic women give us a chance to reflect on the challenges female professionals face in today’s arts and entertainment environment. There is still a lack of gender parity in the industry, and we remain focused on continuing our work to overcome the challenges that women face through educational programs, partnerships and a transparent voting process.”

The Leading Latin Ladies event will take place the week of the Latin Grammys, which will air live on the Univision network from Las Vegas on November 18.

Ivy Queen to Headline “Urban Divas United” Virtual Concert in April

Posted on March 28, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Ivy Queen is bringing the diva spirit to Miami…

The 49-year-old Puerto Rican rapper has joined forces with Goyo of Chocquibtown, and newcomer Chesca for the upcoming “Urban Divas United” virtual concert in celebration of Women’s History Month.

The three powerhouses, along with an all-female lineup, are teaming up to honor the Latin women leading the urban genre in a male-dominated industry.

“I am extremely grateful to be part of this project that will bring us all together through music, and for me personally it is a great pride to be the one who started [this movement] with a microphone in hand,” reggaeton veteran Ivy Queen said in a statement.

“Urban Divas United,” presented by Neutrogena and Conciencia Collective, will also raise awareness about the current difficulties affecting women and our community, providing educational resources to viewers.

The all-female lineup includes Snow Tha Product, Natalia Jimenez, and Nesi, with more artists to be announced soon.

The free virtual concert will take place from Downtown Miami at 7:00 pm ET on Saturday, April 10.

In addition, fans can purchase a VIP pass for exclusive backstage access.

For more information, click here.

Edward James Olmos to Take Part in Biden Inaugural Committee’s “Latino Inaugural 2021: Inheritance, Resilience, and Promise” Event

Posted on January 18, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Edward James Olmos is preparing to celebrate the resilience and promise of the Latino community in the United States…

President-elect Joe Biden’s inaugural committee has announced a Tuesday night event, featuring the 73-year-old Mexican American actor, director, producer, and activist, that shines a spotlight on the Latino community.

Entitled Latino Inaugural 2021: Inheritance, Resilience, and Promise, the event will be hosted by Eva Longoria.

It will feature appearances by Olmos, Lin-Manuel Miranda, John Leguizamo, Rita Moreno, Ivy Queen and Becky G.

There also will be performances from Gilberto Santa Rosa and Gaby Moreno, featuring David Garza, Emilio Estefan and All-Star Tejanos United – Stefani Montiel, Jose Posada, Shelly Lares, DJ Kane and Mariachi Nuevo Santander from Roma High School.

Emilio Estefan produced a performance of One World, One Prayer by the Wailers, featuring Skip Marley, Farruko, Shaggy and Cedella Marley.

The event will take palace on Tuesday, January 19 at 9:30 pm ET

It’s part of a series of events that will highlight the nation’s diversity, including the AAPI Inaugural Ball: Breaking Barriers, celebrating the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities; and We Are One, celebrating Black Americans.

Bad Bunny to Release “El Último Tour del Mundo,” His Third Album of 2020

Posted on November 26, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

And the music just keeps coming from Bad Bunny…

The 26-year-old Puerto Rican Latin trap and reggaeton singerhas announced his third album of 2020: the 16-track El Último Tour del Mundo.

The new album follows March’s YHLQMDLG and May’s Las Que No Iban a Salir. The record will debut on Friday, November 27, and features songs with Rosalía, Jhay Cortez, and ABRA.

2020 has been a banner year for Bad Bunny. Back in January, before dropping YHLQMDLG, he shared the Kobe Bryant tribute song “6 Rings.”The following month, he played in the 2020 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game. Soon after, YHLQMDLG debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200and became the highest-charting Spanish-language albumever.

In April, once the coronavirus sent the world into lockdown, Bad Bunny participated in a Saturday Night Live sketch called “Big Papi Cooking Show.” He played “Big Bunny” and tried to sell viewers “big ass pots” and sweatpants.

pic.twitter.com/Q82Jj7J681

— BENITO (@sanbenito) November 25, 2020

Later in the year, in September, Bad Bunny performed an excellent livestream concert on Univision’s Uforia platform. Soon after, he brought Ivy Queen and Nesi with him to the Billboard Music Awards to perform “Yo Perreo Sola.” He then performed “Bichiyal” and “Si veo a tu mamá” at the 2020 Latin Grammy Awards, where he won Best Reggaeton Performance. Bad Bunny was set to sing “Dákiti” at the American Music Awards, but was forced to cancel his performance after testing positive for COVID-19.

Earlier this week, Bad Bunny was nominated for Best Latin Pop or Urban Album (YHLQMDLG) and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (“Un Día (One Day)”) at the 2021 Grammy Awards.

Victor Manuelle to Replace Carlos Rivera as Co-Host of the Latin Grammys Awards Show

Posted on November 19, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Victor Manuelle is stepping-in in a big way…

The 52-year-old Puerto Rican salsa singer will now be co-hosting the Latin Grammys this Thursday night alongside previously announced hosts Yalitza Aparicio and Ana Brenda Contreras.

Victor Manuelle replaces Carlos Rivera, who had to back out due to being exposed to COVID-19.

“This has been a tough year for all of us in the music industry,” Manuelle, who served as Latin Grammys host back in 2006, tells Billboard. “But I’m honored to be part of this event that, despite a pandemic, carried on to produce the ceremony.”

Having three hosts already speaks to the uniqueness of an extraordinary 21st annual Latin Grammys featuring star-studded performances from different pockets of the world. So, what exactly can viewers expect to see that night? Without spoiling any surprises, Manuelle shares, “this ceremony will be very special. Production wise it will be very different, for example, for the first time ever, we’ll see artists performing around the world including my island [Puerto Rico] featuring Bad Bunny.”

Manuelle is also set to take the stage with Ivy Queen, Rauw Alejandro, Ricardo Montaner and Reik‘s Jesus Navarro for the night’s opening musical number that will pay tribute to salsa icon Héctor Lavoe.

“Can you imagine? It’s a great honor for me,” he says. “The opening will allow us to relive Héctor Lavoe’s music, the music that is in our blood, that makes us so proud and is part of our musical history and culture.”

The Latin Grammys — which will also showcase diverse stories of hope, community, sense of purpose, and celebration throughout the night as part of their “music makes us human” theme — will air at 8:00 pm ET via Univision.

The event will be preceded by the The Latin Grammy Premiere, which starts at 3:00 pm ET via Facebook Live and is where the majority of the categories will be awarded.

Bad Bunny Releases Epic “Yo Perreo Sola” Remix Featuring Ivy Queen & Nesi

Posted on October 26, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Bad Bunny isn’t perreo-ing sola anymore…

The 26-year-old Puerto Rican Latin trap and reggaeton singer, rapper, and songwriter joined voices with Ivy Queen and Nesi to give a show-stopping performance of his smash single “Yo Perreo Sola” performance at the Billboard Music Awards earlier this month.

And now he’s premiering the remix to the hit song…

Bad Bunny brought out Nesi, who was already on the original version, and reggaetón icon Ivy Queen for the epic set that championed women, bringing together two generations of female artists in reggaetón.

“It’s important for me to champion women, but it should be important for everyone,” Bad Bunny tells Billboard exclusively. “With time you understand the power of your voice, and if I have the power to inspire and motivate people to listen to my music, then I can also motivate them to do positive things for society and defend women. It’s important for other artist to start doing the same and motivate their fans.”

The new version of “Yo Perreo Sola” stays true to its original version, but this one finds Ivy Queen taking on some of Bad Bunny’s verses for a more direct and impactful delivery of the song’s ultimate message: I don’t need a man — I can twerk alone.

It’s a message men should understand and respect. “This award goes to women around the world, especially Latin women and those from Puerto Rico,” Bad Bunny said as he accepted the top Latin artist award during the ceremony. “Without you, nothing would exist, not even reggaetón. So enough with the machista violence against women. This song has a social message about understanding that you can perrear [twerk], get educated and be respectful all at the same time. If she doesn’t want to dance with you, respect her — she can dance alone.”

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