Reyes to Perform at This Year’s Latin American Music Awards

Posted on September 14, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Sofía Reyes is ready for her internationally televised close-up…

The 20-year-old Mexican singer, who was discovered by way of YouTube, has been added to the list of performers for the second annual Latin American Music Awards.

Earlier this year, Reyes released her third single “Solo Yo“, a heartfelt ballad and her first singing collaboration with mentor Prince Royce. Both are featured in the official music video.

Along with Reyes, the new roster of performers includes Pitbull, Banda MS, Flo Rida, Miguel Bosé, Joey Montana, Alvaro Soler and Baby Rasta & Gringo.

They join previously announced performances by CNCO, Gente de Zona, Gerardo Ortiz, Jesse & Joy, Prince Royce, among others.

Yandel and Banda MS lead this year’s nominations with six nods each. Other top nominees include Nicky Jam, Enrique Iglesias, J Balvin and Los Plebes de Ariel Camacho.

The 2016 Latin AMAs are set to take place on October 6 at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles.

The ceremony, hosted by Mexican singer and actress Lucero, will broadcast live on Telemundo, which will include a special tribute in honor of the late Mexican singer and songwriter Juan Gabriel, who died August 28.

Gabriel’s Death Causes Spike in Sales & Streams of His Catalog

Posted on September 11, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Juan Gabriel’s death continues to impact the music charts…

The Mexican singer’s death on August 28 has caused a spike in sales and streams of the his repertoire.

JuanGa’s U.S. album sales jumped to 37,000 in the week ending September 1, up 846 percent from the previous week.

Five of his albums dot Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart (dated September 17), with four in the tally’s top 10. His Los Duo 2 ranks the highest, hopping 5-2 (up 1,412 percent to 9,000 copies). The last album he released in his lifetime (on Aug. 5), Vestido de Etiqueta: Por Eduardo Magallenes, slides 1-3 (despite a 192 percent jump in sales, to 5,000 copies) after crowning the September 3 and September 10-dated charts.

Gabriel becomes only the third act to have five simultaneous top 10s. He joins two other acts who achieved the distinction in death: Selena (who died in 1995) and Joan Sebastian (2015) each had five albums in the top 10 in the weeks following their deaths.

Gabriel, who began his career in the early 1970s, has placed a total of 32 albums on the chart (since it began in 1993).

He concurrently holds the top nine spots on the Latin Catalog Albums chart (led by his former Top Latin Albums No. 1, Mis Numero 1 … 40 Aniversario, 9,000 copies — up 1,370 percent). At No. 2, his 2014 set Los Duo, which finished as the top Latin album of the year on Billboard’s 2015 year-end charts.

Latin Catalog Albums Chart Rank (dated Sept. 17):
Rank, Title
No. 1, Mis Numero 1…40 Aniversario
No. 2, Los Duo
No. 3, Mis 40 En Bellas Artes (Parte 1)
No. 4, Mis 40 En Bellas Artes
No. 5, Los Gabriel…Cantan A Mexico (with Ana Gabriel)
No. 6, La Historia Del Divo
No. 7, Frente a Frente (with Ana Gabriel)
No. 8, Mis 40 En Bellas Artes (Parte 2)
No. 9, Los Gabriel…Para Ti (with Ana Gabriel)

On the Hot Latin Songs chart, which blends airplay, sales and streaming, 10 Gabriel tracks make the list. Only Sebastian has placed more songs on the chart at the same time, when he held 11 spots after his death (Aug. 1, 2015 chart).

Gabriel’s classic 1984 track “Querida” leads the entries at No. 4. It’s his highest charting song since 2001’s “Abrazame Muy Fuerte” reached No. 1. The Hot Latin Songs chart launched 30 years ago, and Gabriel’s “Yo No Se Que Me Paso” was the first No. 1 on the inaugural chart (Oct. 4, 1986). The posthumous entries give Gabriel a total of 36 career-charting songs on the list, with 20 having reached the top 10 (and seven No. 1s).

All of Gabriel’s tracks that debut or re-enter on Hot Latin Songs are powered primarily by streams. “Querida” leads with 2.4 million domestic plays during the week, while “Asi Fue” and “Hasta Que Te Conoci” follow with nearly 2 million streams each. Gabriel’s total on-demand audio and video streams increase 1,099 percent, to 52.9 million weekly U.S. plays.

Increased digital sales spur 21 Gabriel songs onto the 50-position Latin Digital Songs chart, the second-most simultaneous songs on the chart after Jenni Rivera placed 24 charting titles following her death in 2012.

“Querida” fronts the debuts, arriving at No. 4 (4,000 downloads). Overall digital song sales for Gabriel increased 3,045 percent, to 54,000 downloads, in the most recent week.

Gabriel Dethrones Justin Bieber on YouTube’s Global Music Top 100 Chart

Posted on September 9, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Juan Gabriel may be gone, but his music videos live on in a massive way…

The late Mexican singer-songwriter, who passed away unexpectedly on August 28, has replaced Justin Bieber as the most-played artist on YouTube. He’s now No.1 on the YouTube Global Music Top 100 chart.

According to YouTube, JuanGa’s views increased by nearly 600 percent and got a total viewership of 316 million.

Also, two of the crooner’s songs have entered YouTube’s Top 100 chart for the first time ever. “Querida,” featuring Juanes, lands on No. 93 and “Hasta Que Te Conocí” comes in at No. 95. These were also the two songs that YouTube users listened to most following Gabriel’s death.

Other popular tracks listened on YouTube following his passing were “Así Fue,” “Abrazame Muy Fuerte,” “Amor Eterno” and “Siempre en Mi Mente.”

Gabriel is also dominating Billboard‘s Latin charts. On Hot Latin Songs, 10 of Gabriel’s tracks make the list while five of his albums dot the Top Latin Albums chart (dated Sept. 17) with four in the top 10.

Spotify Reports a 257% Increase in Streams of Gabriel’s Songs

Posted on August 31, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

He may have left this world suddenly… But Juan Gabriel’s music lives on.

It appears the world is honoring and remembering the late Mexican singer and music icon by listening to his timeless songs.

Within less than 24 hours of Gabriel’s unexpected passing on Sunday (August 28), Spotify reported a 257% increase in streams of JuanGa‘s tracks.

In his native Mexico, he currently has 19 songs on the Top 50, including “Abrazame muy fuerte,” which peaks at No. 1 on the Spotify Mexico chart and “Hasta que te conocí,” which lands on No. 4. On Spotify’s Top 200 Global, the singer and songwriter has three songs: “Abrazame muy fuerte,” “Hasta que te conocí” and “Querida.”

Spotify also honored the Mexican crooner with their own playlist titled “Hasta siempre, Juan Gabriel,” now with more than 50,000 followers, that includes songs like “No tengo dinero,” “Siempre en mi mente,” “La muerte del palomo,” “El noa noa,” “Amor eterno,” plus 50 other songs.

Gabriel’s Final Album Remains No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums Chart

Posted on August 30, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Juan Gabriel’s legacy lives on…

The newest album by the late Mexican singer, Vestido De Etiqueta: Por Eduardo Magallanes, has logged a second week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart (dated Sept. 10).

The latest chart reflects sales data for the week ending August 25 — three days before Gabriel died. He passed away two days after a sold-out show and hours before he was set to perform a concert in El Paso, Texas.

It’s expected that the Latin American music legend will remain at the top of the list in the coming weeks, as the chart experiences the initial impact from his passing.

In the week ending August 25, Vestido De Etiqueta: Por Eduardo Magallanes sold 2,000 copies (up 28 percent).

Elsewhere, his former No. 1 Los Duo 2 climbs 8-5 with an 18 percent increase in sales (to 1,000 copies), reaching its best peak since the July 9-dated list when it ranked at No. 4. The set had previously crowned the chart for seven straight weeks (after debuting on the Jan. 2 tally).

Sales of his albums in the latest tracking week may have been spurred, in part, by Gabriel’s MeXXico Es Todo tour, which kicked off August 19. The singer played his last show at the Los Angles Forum on Friday, August 26.

Any uptick in album sales after Gabriel’s death, as well as track downloads and streaming, will be reflected on the September 17-dated charts which tracks activity from August 26 through September 1.

Gabriel, who began his career in the early 1970s, placed a total of 31 albums on the chart since its inception in 1993.

He is among just three solo acts to place as many titles on the chart, coming in just after Joan Sebastian (with 32 charted albums) and Vicente Fernandez (36).

Gabriel Notches Fifth Chart-Topper on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums Chart

Posted on August 26, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Make that five chart-toppers for Juan Gabriel…

The 66-year-old Mexican singer has reached the summit on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart for a fifth time on the chart dated September 3, as Vestido de Etiqueta: Por Eduardo Magallanes, debuts with 1,000 copies sold in the week ending August 18, according to Nielsen Music.

The chart-topper continues Gabriel’s hot streak on the Top Latin Albums chart, where he’s notched four No. 1s in the last 18 months — more leaders than any other artist in that span of time.

It’s actually double the next-largest total in that span.

Four acts each earned two No. 1s in the last year-and-a-half: Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizarraga, Gloria Trevi, Julion Alvarez y Su Norteno Banda and La Maquinaria Nortena.

The new No. 1 follows two chart-topping duets sets, Los Duo 2 (No. 1 for seven weeks in 2016) and Los Duo (No. 1 for seven weeks in 2015), and a greatest-hits compilation Mis Numero 1… 40 Aniversario (No. 1 for one week in 2015).

Vestido consists of a selection of Gabriel’s hits re-recorded and re-arranged with a symphonic orchestra by composer and musical director Eduardo Magallanes. The longtime collaborator of Gabriel signed the superstar to RCA Victor in 1971.

Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias Win Big at the Billboard Latin Music Awards

Posted on April 29, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Nicky Jam and Enrique Iglesias have plenty of reason to celebrate…

The 35-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American singer/songwriter and 40-year-old Spanish singer-songwriter were the big winners of the 2016 Billboard Latin Music Awards, propelled by their global hit “El Perdón.”

Nicky Jam and Iglesias collected six trophies each, including Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event, Airplay Song of the Year, Digital Song of the Year, Streaming Song of the Year and Latin Rhythm Song of the Year. Additionally, Iglesias won Latin Pop Songs Artist of the Year, Solo, while Nicky Jam won Latin Rhythm Songs Artist of the Year, Solo.

After thanking God, his genre Latina, Billboard and the people of Colombia and Puerto Rico, Nicky Jam gave a shout-out to his father, who he was separated from for much of his childhood. “I never brought home to you a medal from school,” he said. “But here is your medal, Papi.”

Right behind in the trophy haul was Mexican singer/songwriter Juan Gabriel, a comeback success story who won Tour of the Year and whose album of duets, Los Duo, won for Top Latin Album of the Year and Latin Pop Album of the Year. Gabriel also won Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Male and Latin Pop Albums Artist of the Year, solo, and was honored with the special Billboard Star Award.

“This doesn’t seem real,” said a giddy Juan Gabriel, the first winner of the night. “I’m amazed. I’m surprised. I am very happy to be here for the first time.”

Other top winners of the evening included Romeo Santos, who won Artist of the Year, Mana, who won Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group, and Shakira, who won Social Artist of the Year.

Here’s a look at the night’s winners:

Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Male: Juan Gabriel
Tropical Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Gente de Zona
Hot Latin Song of the Year: Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias, “El Perdón”
Tropical Song of the Year: Gente de Zona Feat. Marc Anthony, “La Gozadera”
Top Latin Album of the Year: Juan Gabriel, Los Dúo
Tropical Album of the Year: Victor Manuelle, Que Suenen Los Tambores
Regional Mexican Album of the Year: Gerardo Ortiz, Hoy Más Fuerte
Latin Rhythm Songs Artist of the Year, Solo: Nicky Jam
Latin Rhythm Song of the Year: Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias, “El Perdón”
Airplay Song of the Year: Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias, “El Perdón”
Streaming Song of the Year: Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias, “El Perdón”
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizarraga
Regional Mexican Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Latin Rhythm Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Zion & Lennox
Latin Pop Album of the Year: Juan Gabriel, Los Dúo
Tour of the Year: Juan Gabriel
Artist of the Year: Romeo Santos
Artist of the Year, New: Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho
Social Artist of the Year: Shakira
Crossover Artist of the Year: Justin Bieber
Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event: Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias, “El Perdón”
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Male: Romeo Santos
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Female: Shakira
Digital Song of the Year: Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias, “El Perdón”
Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Female: Selena
Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Maná
Latin Pop Song of the Year: Maná Feat. Shakira, “Mi Verdad”
Latin Pop Songs Artist of the Year, Solo: Enrique Iglesias
Latin Pop Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Mana
Latin Pop Albums Artist of the Year, Solo: Juan Gabriel
Latin Pop Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Maná
Tropical Songs Artist of the Year, Solo: Romeo Santos
Tropical Albums Artist of the Year, Solo: Romeo Santos
Tropical Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Buena Vista Social Club
Regional Mexican Song of the Year: Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho, “Te Metiste”
Regional Mexican Songs Artist of the Year, Solo: El Komander
Regional Mexican Albums Artist of the Year, Solo: Joan Sebastian
Regional Mexican Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Julión Álvarez y Su Norteño Banda
Latin Rhythm Album of the Year: Pitbull, Dale
Latin Rhythm Albums Artist of the Year, Solo: Pitbull
Latin Rhythm Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Plan B
Songwriter of the Year: Anthony “Romeo” Santos
Producer of the Year: Saga WhiteBlack

Gente de Zona Signs Worldwide Booking Deal with Cardenas Marketing Network

Posted on March 8, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Gente de Zona is going global…

The Cuban reggaeton duo, consisting of Alexander Delgado and Randy Malcom, has signed an exclusive deal with Cardenas Marketing Network (CMN) for worldwide booking, according to Billboard.

The deal was negotiated in partnership with Magnus Media, the entertainment company launched by Marc Anthony, which also manages Gente de Zona.

“We are proud to add Gente de Zona to our booking roster as they are continuing an upward trend playing in new venues, countries and continents”, said Henry Cardenas, Cardenas Marketing Network CEO.

CMN has already begun preparations for Gente de Zona’s 2016 tour dates which will take the duo throughout Europe, Latin America, the U.S., and for the first time, the Middle East.

Regarding the partnership, Magnus’ CEO, Michael Vega said: “We are thrilled to have the CMN team aboard as partners as we continue to develop Gente de Zona’s profile throughout the world.”

CMN, based out in Chicago and Miami, produces Latin music concerts in the United States and the rest of the world for Marc Anthony, Juan Luis Guerra, Juan Gabriel, Chayanne, Alejandro Fernández and more.

Since the release of “Bailando” (with Enrique Iglesias) in 2014, and “La Gozadera” with Marc Anthony in 2015, Gente de Zona has taken Cuba’s sounds and rhythm around the world with their music.

The duo is a four-time finalist for the Billboard Latin Music Awards 2016.

Gabriel Scores First Top Latin Albums in Nearly Two Decades

Posted on February 28, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

It’s been a long time coming, but Juan Gabriel is back at the top of the charts…

The iconic 65-year-old Mexican singer/songwriter climbs to No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums (dated March 7) with Los Duo, scoring his first chart-topping set in 18 years, after debuting last week at No. 2.

The new duets album — which features a variety of guests like Juanes and Marco Antonio Solis — is helping Gabriel cover his own classics — sold 9,000 units in its second week, according to Nielsen Music.

Rising to the top despite a 61 percent decline in sale, the album opened with 23,000 copies (Gabriel’s biggest sales week since Nielsen started tracking sales in 1991) but was bested by Ricky Martin’s No. 1-debuting A Quien Quiera Escuchar, which arrived with 25,000. Both sets saw an expected second-week dip, with Martin dropping 72 percent (to 7,000), allowing Gabriel to take the top spot with the smaller sales decrease.

Gabriel, whose career launched in the early 1970s, last claimed the top spot in 1997 (with his only other No. 1 album) when Juntos Otra Vez, a collaborative set with Spanish singer Rocio Durcal, spent a week at the top.

It garnered a similar second-week climb to No. 1 after debuting the prior week at No. 7. (The Top Latin Albums chart launched in July of 1993.)

Over on Latin Pop Airplay, the new album’s lead single “Querida,” featuring Juanes, steps 26-25 with a two percent increase at the plays-based format.

Among Los Duo’s collaborations is “Se Me Olvido Otra Vez” with Solis, as the pair team up for a cover of Gabriel’s classic song that was first released in 1974.

Other artists from multiple Latin genres that join Gabriel on the set include regional Mexican singer-songwriter Espinoza Paz (duetting on “Siempre En Mi Mente,” the title track from Gabriel’s 1978 album) and Italian pop star Laura Pausini. The latter lends her powerful voice to “ Juan Gabriel,” the title track from a No. 2-peaking Gabriel album released in 2000.

Additional duets with the likes of Vicente Fernandez, Natalia Jimenez, Alejandra Guzman and Fifth Harmony also help to shape Gabriel’s chart-topping set.

Gabriel Interviews Himself About His Health and Upcoming U.S. Tour

Posted on August 10, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Despite constant rumors that he’s dead or dying, Juan Gabriel is alive and well, and preparing to hit the road, and he hasn’t lost his sense of humor.

The 64-year-old Mexican singer-songwriter, whose real name is Alberto Aguilera Valadez, has released a humorous three-minute video in which he interviews himself to address news over the last few months that he had a bad case of pneumonia, which lead to the postponement of a major U.S. tour.

Appearing to have lost considerable weight, Gabriel resurfaced publicly on Friday by releasing the video, where he appears as Alberto Aguilera and the celebrity persona Juan Gabriel, answering in a cool and calm way. “How are you?” Aguilera asks. “I’m fine,” Gabriel replies. “Better.”

Gabriel goes on to say he’s ready to continue touring and mentions that he misses the mariachi, the musicians, the dancers and everyone on his tour.

At one point Aguilera says, “You look much thinner and look much better.”   In a serene state, Gabriel responds with, “Did I worry you? Did I scare you? You got nervous … but you’re always with me. You love me, you cover me, you protect me, you hug me, you understand me, you accept me, you forgive me. Without you, I cannot live.”

Aguilera, holding a folding fan, thanks Gabriel for all he’s done as he sits next to a photo of the singer in his early years. At the end of the video, Aguilera then reads the upcoming tour dates.    ”Lets go,” Gabriel says with a smile. Fade to black.

Here’s the list of Juan Gabriel’s upcoming U.S. tour dates:

Sept. 5: American Airlines Arena (Miami)
Sept. 7: Prudential Center (Newark, N.J.)
Sept. 12: SAP Center at San Jose (San Jose, Calif.)
Sept. 18: Nokia Theatre L.A. Live (Los Angeles)
Sept. 20: Nokia Theatre L.A. Live (Los Angeles)
Sept. 21: Nokia Theatre L.A. Live (Los Angeles)
Sept. 26: Pepsi Center (Denver)
Sept. 28: Oracle Arena (Oakland, Calif.)

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