Karol G Releases Merengue-Inspired Single “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”

Karol G is embracing a new sounds…

The 33-year-old Colombian Grammy-winning singer-songwriter has surprised fans with a new single called “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido,” released on Thursday, June 20.

Karol GReleased on the first day of summer, Karol G’s new single features a bold merengue sound.

“What would it have been like if I had met you before? Most probably you’d be dancing this song with me,” says part of the song’s lyrics.

In the music video, Karol G switched her baby pink locks for a new blonde look while performing the party-starting bop at a tiki bar.

On the eve of the song’s release, Karol G performed it for the first time in London, later explaining on her Instagram that the tribute to the merengue genre is because she owes a lot to The Dominican Republic.

“I worked on part of Mañana Sera Bonito there, and when I need to disconnect from the world and connect with myself I also go there,” she wrote. “Its culture, its music, its colors, the hospitality, the energy… everything feels very authentic and special there. Its people have embraced me in a way that fills my heart and inspires me all the time.”

“Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”—which is released in the midst of the European leg of the Mañana Será Bonito Tour—further demonstrates Karol’s ability to experiment outside of the reggaetón realm.

Prior to her merengue tune, she tapped into bachata (“El Barco”), corrido tumbado (“200 Copas”), cumbia (“Mi Ex Tenía Razón”), and even dropped a salsa version of “Amargura” at the 2024 Billboard Women in Music gala, where she was named this year’s Woman of the Year.

The vibrant “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” marks Karol G’s second single of the year following the Tiësto-assisted “Contigo,” which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart dated March 2; reached No. 27 on the Latin Airplay chart dated June 1; and debuted at No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in March, becoming Karol’s 30th entry on the all-genre chart.

Juan Luis Guerra Releases Eclectic New EP “Radio Güira”

Juan Luis Guerra is back with new music…

The 66-year-old Dominican musician, singer, composer and record producer and his band, Juan Luis Guerra y 4.40, light up the party this week with Radio Güira.

The EP features six songs presented, as its title indicates, in radio station style.

“You are listening to Radio Güira, 4.40 FM,” Guerra narrates over a techno-beat at the beginning of “Mambo 23,” the first single and opener.

“This EP has a different concept. Our purpose was to do something innovative,” Guerra explained in a press release. “We imagine a radio station playing 4.40 music in different parts of the world. We include calls, recipes, and IDs and the genres of mambo, bachata and merengue. This was our dream for many months, and today we make it known!”

With six songs written and produced by the Dominican maestro, it is impossible not to move and smile to the rhythm of mambo, bachata (“DJ Bachata”), merengue (“La Noviecita” and “Como Me Enamora”), pambiche blues (“Te Invito a un Blues”) and even pop reggaeton (“Cositas de Amor”), all with elegant touches of genres such as jazz and rock, and the sweet, poetic lyrics for which the artist is known.

Juan Luis Guerra Releases New Single “Mambo 23”

Juan Luis Guerra is ready to mambo

The 66-year-old Dominican award-winning musician, singer, composer and record producer has released “Mambo 23,” the first single from Juan Luis Guerra’s upcoming EP RADIO GUIRA.

Juan Luis GuerraGuerra’s new album is set to release in November.

“’Mambo 23′ is the first time we ventured into a mambo merengue — we had never done it and the rhythm caught our attention and we began to work with arrangements of saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and classical instruments,” says Guerra in a statement. “We liked the result very much and we believe that we have the piece to launch our new EP Radio Guira.”

The video, directed by his son Jean Gabriel Guerra, shows a lonely night cleaning worker of Radio Guira. Feeling alone and curious, he presses a button unleashing an explosion of music and videos. Driven by the irresistible music of Juan Luis Guerra and his 4.40 band, he indulges in an energetic dance routine. In the end, as often happens in life, he discovers that he was not alone. The artist surprises him, gives him a wink and then leaves: a magical moment that captures the essence of his music.

Guerra doesn’t shy away from his message of gospel; “Mambo 23” will make more than one person dance no matter where it plays, as only Guerra knows how to do.  

Beéle Earns First No. 1 on Billboard Charts with “Vagabundo” with Sebastian Yatra & Manuel Turizo

Beéle is celebrating a special first…

The 20-year-old Colombian singer checks off a career milestone this week as he earns his first No. 1 on a Billboard chart with “Vagabundo,” his collaboration with Sebastian Yatra and Manuel Turizo.

BeeleThe song rises 7-1 to crown the Latin Airplay chart dated September 2.

“Vagabundo” climbs with a 34% gain in audience impressions, to 9.2 million, earned in the U.S. in the week ending August 24, according to Luminate.

The song, released via Universal Latino/UMLE on May 12, also arrives at the summit on Latin Pop Airplay (hopping 2-1).

Beele, Manuel Turizo, Sebastian Yatra, Vagabundo“Vagabundo” earns Beele his first champ on his third appearance on Latin Airplay.

He reached a No. 36 high previously with another Turizo team-up, “+Linda,” which also credited Dalex, Arcangel and De La Ghetto in 2021.

Yatra, meanwhile, picks up his 11th ruler on Latin Airplay. The new champ arrives after “Tacones Rojos” ruled for one week in February 2022.

Turizo captures his seventh No. 1, and third of the year, following “La Bachata,” and “Merengue” with Marshmello, both with one week in charge.

Darell Releases New Album “Everybody Go to the Discotek”

Darell is hoping to get you dancing…

The 33-year-old Puerto Rican rapper and songwriter has released his new album Everybody Go to the Discotek, which is named after his signature phrase.

DarellThe album features 18 tracks crafted for a good time at the club while showcasing Darell’s musical versatility.

At the core of each track is his distinct, deep, raspy vocals, but while some songs are hard-hitting perreos (“Deshidratado,” “Ponte Bonita,” and “Me Dice Daddy,” to name a few), Darell is as experimental as ever.

Lollipop” is a sensual merengue-bachata fusion, “Rulay” is a tribute to Dominican dembowFunka” is a saucy Brazilian funk number and focus single “Wait Deh Man,” a reggae-infused collaboration with Nicky Jam, Wisin and Luar La L.

Other collaborators on Everybody Go to the Discotek include Ozuna, Myke Towers, Sech, Jory Boy, Maffio, Omar Courtz and Omar Montes.

Chayanne Releases New Tropical Single “Bailando Bachata”

Chayanne is in a bachata state of mind…

The 54-year-old Puerto Rican Latin pop singer and actor has returned to tropical music with “Bailando Bachata,” the third single from his highly-anticipated new album which debuts on Thursday, May 25 at 8:00 pm ET via Sony Music Latin.

ChayanneChayanne’s new single follows the previously released tracks:

reggaeton-pop single “Tú y Yo” and ballad “Te Amo y Punto.”

“I love the genre,” Chayanne told Billboard Español ahead of the bachata single’s premiere, noting that he has visited Santo Domingo countless times and that “anywhere in the world, when they play Caribbean music like salsa, merengue, bachata, one enjoys dancing to it very closely, so I am very excited.”

“How lucky I am that I can see you when I wake up every day/ And when I travel I miss you/ I have your photograph in my wallet”, begins the romantic Spanish-language song, co-written by Chayanne, Yasmil Marrufo, Andy Clay Cruz Felipe and Mario Alberto Cáceres Pacheco. “We are like the glass and the wine/ We go together since the moment we saw each other,” says part of the chorus.

Just as romantic is the music video, directed by Katherine Díaz and produced by Guacamaya Films.

Set in the 1970s, the clip stars Venezuelan actress and model Veronica Schneider. Upon arriving home, she lies down to watch her favorite series — starring Chayanne, of course — when she notices that the artist can see her from the screen.

“When I’m on TV, beware, because I’m watching you!”, he warns Billboard Español with a laugh.

“Bailando Bachata” is not Chayanne’s first foray into bachata — he “flirted” with the genre almost a decade ago with his pop-fusion song “Bailando Dos Corazonas.”

The new song, he explains, “is something more faithful, more complete, which makes me very excited.”

The 3-minute track is part of his forthcoming eight-song album. When asked if he’ll include any regional Mexican music — a genre currently enjoying significant global success — Chayanne couldn’t contain himself and revealed eagerly: “Yes! That too!”

“I started flirting with a lot of rhythms without leaving the backbone of pop,” he said. “But yes, the Mexican regional, you guessed right. There is also a song of that genre and it is beautiful”.

As for the release of his highly anticipated new set — his first studio album since 2014’s En Todo Estaré, which reached No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Latin Albums chart — he said that he finished recording and hopes to make an announcement very soon. “Right now we are mastering, so it’s a matter of setting a date,” he says.

Manuel Turizo Teams Up with Marshmello for Cross-Genre Single “El Merengue”

Manuel Turizo has called on an unlikely collaborator to help him get over his ex…

The 22-year-old Colombian singer has teamed up with Marshmello for the duo’s first cross-genre collaboration titled “El Merengue.”

Manuel Turizo, MarshmelloTurizo and Marshmello released the track and music video that puts a fresh spin on merengue with layered electro beats and Turizo’s rich baritone vocals.

The video, directed by Chadrick Preuss and Sandeep Vadlamudi, follows a lovestruck Turizo who is hung up on an ex-flame that he casually runs into one night at a crowded nightclub. In the heat of the moment, the Colombian singer and his ex sway to the rhythms of the sultry merengue beat. Overtaken by rekindled emotions — and liquid courage — Turizo ends up retching into the nightclub’s toilet while an unmasked Marshmello listens from the next stall over.

“I drunkenly told you I had forgotten you, but I didn’t,” Turizo admits over a vibrating beat that’s reminiscent of the booming merengue anthems of the early 2000s.

The video then turns into a dream-like, spell-binding sequence that returns to the first scene of the video where Turizo is looking at a photo of him and his ex. The song lyrically touches on the same themes and was written by the duo along with the much sought-after producer Edgar Barrera and Puerto Rican artist Gale, among others.

The collaboration between the two artists was first unveiled on February 24 when Turizo appeared wearing Marshmello’s emblematic white helmet amongst the bustling madness of New York City’s Times Square. Fans crowded around Turizo while the city’s famed neon billboards displayed the announcement of “El Merengue.”

No stranger to Latin collaborations, Marshmello previously released the pulsating EDM and trap-infused “Estilazo” with Dominican star Tokischa last April and during his EDC Mexico headlining set last week, the DJ debuted an unreleased track featuring regional Mexican artists Fuerza Regida and Peso Pluma. Dubbed an electro corrido, the track has been making its rounds on social media and Latin outlets, while fans patiently await the song’s official release.

Meanwhile, Marshmello has been teasing the release of his next full-length record — what will be his first since 2021’s Shockwave — via socials. He has already released a slate of singles this year including “Party Jumpin’,” “Unity,” “Eternal,” and “Again.”

Turizo entered the limelight back in 2016 with his sweet love song “Una Lady Como Tú,” and has since become a global favorite with the releases of hit singles like “Culpables,” a collaboration with Ozuna, and “La Bachata” — the first single from his forthcoming new album, 2000.

Celia Cruz to Become First Afro-Latina Depicted on U.S. Quarter

The late Celia Cruz is still making money moves…

The face of the legendary Cuban singer will be depicted on a U.S. quarter, according to the United States Mint.

Celia CruzWidely known as the Queen of Salsa, Cruz was chosen along with four other exemplary women from history to be featured on the U.S. quarter as part of the American Women Quarters Program in 2024. She’ll also make history as the first Afro-Latina to appear on the coin.

Cruz, who is considered one of the most influential Latin singers of all time and a cultural icon, is remembered for her lively expression of “¡Azúcar!,” and for her highly influential body of work consisting of 37 albums.

The other honorees include Patsy Takemoto Mink, the first women of color to serve in the U.S. Congress; Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, women’s rights advocate and Civil War era surgeon; poet, activist, and lawyer Pauli Murray; and Native American writer, composer, educator Zitkala-Ša.

The four-year program “celebrates the accomplishments and contributions made by women of the United States,” states the official website.

From joining La Sonora Matancera in the early ’50s up until her death in 2003 due to cancer, Cruz was unquestionably one of the most exuberant performers of Latin music. Her larger-than-life onstage presence coupled with her captivating charisma made her a legend in Latin America and beyond.

In the 1970s, she became a leading force in salsa music and joined Fania All Stars alongside Johnny Pacheco, Willie Colón, Tito Puente and other icons of the genre, a cultural phenomenon that took place in New York City and beyond.

She later explored other tropical genres such as merengue and reggaetón. Some of her most memorable hits in history include “La Vida Es Un Carnaval,” “La Negra Tiene Tumbao,” and “Químbara” also featuring Johnny Pacheco.

She never lip-synched, and when asked to do it for TV performances, she refused. Cruz was also incredibly influential for many of today’s Latin stars. Her last 2003 album, Regalo del Alma, remained at No. 1 on the Top Latin Albums chart for three weeks.

“I’ve never thought of retiring. I’m healthy, I’m rolling, I’m rolling. I remember Celia Cruz,” reggaetón pioneer Ivy Queen previously told Billboard, who has long idolized and emulated Cruz. “Her last Premios Lo Nuestro performance, she had cancer. She walked from her chair to the stage, she sang, and … she sang. That’s what I’m doing. F–k it. She did it, I’m gonna do it.”

Although Cruz died two decades ago, her legacy continues to appear in various corners of pop culture.

Last year, the estate of the salsa legend partnered with Archetype-IO to release her first NFT collection, which debuted in Art Basel 2022. In 2016, an 80-part series about her life became available for streaming on Netflix, titled Celia, by Telemundo.

For each year commencing in 2022 and running through 2025, the U.S. mint will issue five new reverse designs, and the obverse of the coin will still feature George Washington, but with a slightly different design from the previous quarter program.

This year celebrates Bessie Colemen, Edith Kanaka’ole, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jovita Idar and Maria Tallchief.

Olga Tañon Relases New Rendition of Iconic Single “Tu Me Quemas”

Olga Tañon is feelin’ the burn

The 55-year-old Puerto Rican recording artist has released a new version of “Tu Me Quemas.”

Olga TañonThe single, released by Argentine singer Luis Ángel Márquez and made internationally famous by Puerto Rican artist Eddie Santiago in 1986, has been revamped 36 years after its breakout by the merengue icon.

In the new version, Tañon brings to life a sensual, mid-tempo salsa with urban undertones, without compromising the song’s salsa romántica essence.

“I’ve always loved this song; it’s been one of my favorites since it was released, and it’s an honor to be able to do it in my own style,” the singer says in a statement. “Who didn’t dedicate this song to a loved one? And who has not done it yet; this is the moment!”

Bad Bunny Releases New Album “Un Verano Sin Ti” Just in Time for Summer

Bad Bunny has officially kicked off the summer season…

The 28-year-old Puerto Rican superstar has finally unveiled Un Verano Sin Ti, his long-awaited new studio album.

Bad BunnyReleased via Rimas Entertainment, Bad Bunny’s latest album navigates through summers in Puerto Rico with crashing ocean waves, breezy palm trees, and seagulls calling, interlaced in nearly all 23 tracks.

Seemingly crafted at the beach in part with hitmakers Tainy and MAG, Bad Bunny describes this set as “special” and “emotional,” because it “it reflects all of my summers growing up,” he said on The View. 

Beyond its ode to summers in Puerto Rico, Un Verano Sin Ti unites edgy EDM beats, hard-hitting perreos, and tons of Caribbean flavors: bomba, merengue, afrobeat, reggae, dembow.

It’s home to lyrics about love, heartbreak, empowerment, and human rights — as heard in the Buscabulla-assisted “Andrea,” which according to the duo, “paints a portrait of a present-day young Puerto Rican woman and expresses her struggles without being condescending or preachy but complex and nuanced.”

Un Verano Sin Ti was released with focus single “Moscow Mule,” a refreshing reggaeton track that perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the album.