It’s Confirmed: Rubio to Serve as “The X Factor” Judge

It’s official… Paulina Rubio has the X factor

As rumored, the 41-year-old Mexican singer has been named one of the new judges on Fox’s The X Factor, along with former Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland.

Paulina Rubio

Rubio and Rowland will join Simon Cowell and Demi Lovato at the judges’ table on the third season of the reality singing competition series.

“It’s taken more than a decade, but I’m delighted to finally be on a panel with three girls (I think!),” said Cowell. “Paulina and Kelly both have great taste and massive experience in the music industry, and together with Demi, this is going to be a fun panel. It just feels like the time to do something different.”

Rubio isn’t new to the role of judge… The Latin pop star, who has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide, has served as a mentor on Mexico’s version of The Voice, La voz… Mexico. And she was recently named a coach on Telemundo’s La Voz Kids.

Rowland and Rubio replace the departing L.A. Reid, who had been with the show since its first season, and Britney Spears, who left The X-Factor after just one season.

Rubio In Talks to Serve as a Judge on “The X Factor”?

She’s already signed on to serve as a coach on Telemundo’s La Voz Kids… But Paulina Rubio may soon be judging talent on The X Factor alongside Demi Lovato.

The 41-year-old Mexican singer is reportedly in talks to take one of the open seats at the judges’ table on the Fox reality singing competition.

Paulina Rubio

Rubio, who was once hailed as one of the 25 Sexiest Pop Divas by E! Entertainment and has sold more than 20 million albums around the world, would bring Latin Pop cred to the panel.

Should Rubio be added to the panel, she’d join Lovato and returning host Mario Lopez, as well as Simon Cowell.

Meanwhile, former Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland, who has long been rumored as one of possible contenders for the gig, is thisclose to finalizing a deal to join the judging panel, according to Entertainment Weekly.

The X Factor is expected to announce the official judge line-up soon as the production on season three will begin on Tuesday, May 21.

The new judges will replace Britney Spears and L.A. Reid who left at the end of the second season.

The Late Rivera Wins Six Trophies at the Billboard Latin Music Awards

She may be gone… But Jenni Rivera has not been forgotten.

The late Mexican American singer, known as la Diva de la Banda, proved to be one of the big winners at the 2013 Billboard Latin Music Awards.

Jenni Rivera

Rivera, whose influence and sales rose in the wake of her tragic death last December in a plane crash in Mexico, won six awards, including Artist of the Year and Regional Mexican Album of the Year for La Gran Señora, which was coincidentally released the week after her death.

Edward James Olmos, Rivera’s Filly Brown co-star, introduced a tribute segment to the singer, pointing out that just a year before, she had herself performed live on the awards stage.

“We want to remember her a little bit differently — as the woman, the friend, the mother, the daughter,” he said, before a video montage focusing mainly on Rivera’s family life and humanitarian work.

Her parents, Pedro Rivera and Rosa Saavedra, and two eldest  daughters, Janney “Chiquis” Marín and Jacqueline Marín, accepted her posthumous awards.

Meanwhile, Don Omar – who performed his current hit, “Zumba” at the show – had garnered 18 finalist nods — a record tied only by Tito El Bambino in 2010 — and took home 10. They include Songs Artist of the Year, Male and Airplay Song of the year for “Dutty Love,” featuring Natty Natasha.  Don Omar also won Streaming Artist of the Year and Streaming Song of the Year for “Danza Kuduro,” featuring Lucenzo.

Prince Royce, the young urban/bachata singer and soon-to-be La Voz Kids coach who has dominated the charts since his debut in 2011, won four awards, including Albums Artist of the Year, Male.

Romeo Santos, Shakira and La Arrolladora Banda el Limón de René Camacho won three awards each, as did Natty Natasha, who is featured in Don Omar’s “Dutty Love.” Teary-eyed, she dedicated her last win to “all Latinos — those who leave their homelands to pursue their dreams.”

This year’s awards featured a series of premiere performances, including Carlos Vives with Michel Teló (who won Song of the Year for his global hit  “Ai Se Eu Te Pego“).

Mexican rockers Maná, who won Albums Artist of the Year, duo or Group and Latin Pop Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group, also received the Billboard Spirit of Hope Award for the philanthropic work of their Selva Negra Foundation, which has worked in environmental causes for nearly 20 years.

The Billboard Latin Music Awards honors the most popular albums, songs, and performers in Latin music, as determined by the actual sales, radio airplay, streaming and social data that informs Billboard’s weekly charts.

The awards were broadcast live on Telemundo from the BankUnited Center in Miami.

Click here to see the full list of winners.

MundoFox to Produce “El Factor X”

Following impressive also-rans like Jennel Garcia and the Latina ladies of the all-girl group Fifth Harmony, there will finally be a Hispanic X Factor winner in North America…

MundoFox has announced plans to produce El Factor X, an original Spanish-language version of Fox’s singing competition The X Factor.

Microphone

Produced by FremantleMedia Latin America for MundoFox, El Factor X will feature aspiring singers from 8 to 15 years old, both solo artists and vocal groups.

El Factor X joins Telemundo’s La Voz Kids, a Spanish-language version of NBC’s The Voice for kids, which will see coaching by Prince Royce, Paulina Rubio and Mexican singer Roberto Tapia.

Prince Royce Signs Recording Contract with Sony Music Entertainment

Prince Royce’s future is at Sony… at least for the next few years…

The 23-year-old Dominican-American bachata singer-songwriter and soon-to-be La Voz Kids coach inked a contract with Sony Music Entertainment to release his next albums, the label reported this week.

Prince Royce

“I’m very excited about this new step in my career, which will help spread my music globally. I chose Sony because we share the same passion and vision about the direction we want to take my music and my career,” said Royce.

Prince Royce reached an agreement last February with his previous record label, Top Stop Music, to settle a legal battle that erupted when h decided unilaterally to break their contract.

Once a free agent, the winner of 12 Billboard Latin Music Awards was approached by a number of labels trying to sign him, but he finally picked Sony, which is home to artists like Shakira, Justin Timberlake and Usher.

Prince Royce will launch his first Sony album in Spanish next fall. Later, as stipulated in the contract, he will record his next pop discs in English for Sony’s RCA Records label.

“We are thrilled about the opportunity to work with such a dynamic Latin artist on his first English album,” RCA’s CEO Peter Edge, said in a statement.

Tapia to Serve as a Coach on Telemundo’s “La Voz Kids”

Roberto Tapia will be joining a prince and a golden girl in the quest to find the next singing sensation under the age of 14.

The Regional Mexican singer has been named the third and final coach for Telemundo’s upcoming singing competition La Voz Kids. Tapia joins a roster that already includes Mexican pop star Paulina Rubio and bachata singer Prince Royce.

Roberto Tapia

“The strength and relevance of Roberto Tapia in the Regional Mexican music genre is an essential element for the show,” said Daniel Cubillo, Vice President of Content Development, Non-Scripted, at Telemundo Media. “Roberto represents an energy boost coming from the most active audience in the country.”

Tapia, who was born in San Diego but raised in Culiacán, Mexico, earned his first No.1 on Billboard‘s Top Latin Albums chart last August with his 11th album, El Muchacho. Although previously known for writing narcocorridos, Tapia is now known for writing inspirational music with positive messages. El Muchacho was also No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Albums chart.

La Voz Kids, which will begin airing this Spring, will also feature two soon-to-be announced hosts.

Much like NBC’s The Voice, contestants will compete in “blind auditions” followed by battle rounds and live shows. The winner will receive a recording contract with Universal Music and a scholarship.

La Voz Kids will be the first Spanish-language version of the The Voice franchise to air in the U.S.

Prince Royce Named as a Coach for Telemundo’s “La Voz Kids”

Paulina Rubio isn’t the only Latin music superstar preparing to coach the next generation of cantantesPrince Royce will also mentor the kids.

The 23-year-old Dominican American singer-songwriter has been added to the all-star coaching roster for Telemundo’s La Voz Kids, the reality singing competition for children 7-14 that’ll air this spring on the Spanish-language network.

Prince Royce

“Prince Royce represents the new Latin artist generation with Hispanic roots, born and raised in this country,” said Daniel Cubillo, vice president of content development, non-scripted, at Telemundo Media.

“He has an incredible ability to mix cultures, languages and musical genres that make him a great reference point for the kids and represent the future of Latino music in our country.”

The “Addicted” singer, one of the brightest new stars in Latin music, gained national recognition with his self-titled debut album in the Fall of 2010. The album would go on to become the top-selling Latin release of 2011, according to Billboard. Royce released his sophomore album, Phase II, last Spring and has just finished a 30-day U.S. tour. He’s up for 10 Billboard Latin Music Awards this April.

Royce and Rubio will share coaching duties with a third, soon-to-be-announced celebrity.

Like with NBC’s hit The Voice, which will feature Shakira as a judge this season, contestants will compete in “blind auditions” followed by battle rounds and live shows. The winner will receive a recording contract with Universal Music and a scholarship. La Voz Kids will be the first Spanish-language version of The Voice franchise to air in the U.S.

Rubio to Serve as a Coach on Telemundo’s “La Voz Kids”

Paulina Rubio will be coaching the next generation of singing superstars…

The 41-year-old Mexican singer, who began her own singing career at the age of 10 as a member of the popular children’s pop group Timbiriche, will serve as a coach for Telemundo’s Spanish-language, pint-sized version of The Voice, La Voz Kids.

Paulina Rubio

In the competition, children ranging in age from 7 to 14 will compete to win the prize for best voice under the direction of three music coaches.

Rubio, who has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide, is the first artist to join the program’s lineup. The network says two other celebrities will be announced as coaches soon.

Telemundo’s vice president of development and content, Daniel Cubillo, recalled Rubio’s early beginnings Timbiriche, saying it puts her “in a very special position to share with kids what she experienced on her way to making her dreams come true.”

For her part, La Chica Dorada who coached Mexico’s edition La Voz with the late Jenni Rivera and Spanish singer Miguel Bosé, said she’s “very excited” about the project that will open the doors to a new generation of singers.

La Voz Kids, which is part of NBC’s successful The Voice franchise, will premiere next spring.