Gloria Estefan to Receive Legend Award at Billboard Latin Women in Music Event

Posted on May 16, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Gloria Estefan is set to receive a legendary recognition…

The 66-year-old Cuban superstar will be honored at the 2024 Billboard Latin Women in Music event, which will air exclusively on Telemundo on Sunday, June 9, at 9:00 pm ET.

The special will also stream simultaneously on the Telemundo app and Peacock.

Estefan will be honored with the Legend Award, which is given to outstanding artists who have left a “unique and immeasurable legacy and have significantly impacted the industry throughout their careers with their musical work.”

The “Conga” and “Mi Tierra” hitmaker is renowned globally as a multi-talented singer and composer, celebrated for seamlessly blending her Cuban roots with mainstream music and paving the way for Latin musicians in the global arena. Billboard has hailed her as the most successful Latin “crossover” artist ever, underscoring her transformative impact on music and culture.

She has sold more than 100 million records. Her many honors include three Grammy Awards, the Kennedy Center Honors in 2017 and the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in 2019, the latter award in tandem with her husband Emilio Estefan.

Meanwhile, Ángela Aguilar will also be honored with the Musical Dynasty Award.

The title is given to artists who “keep a familial artistic legacy alive and honor the musical dynasty to which they belong.”

The Mexican singer is part of the esteemed Aguilar family, and, at 20 years old, she has carved out her own successful career with her talent while preserving the traditions of her family heritage.

With various hits under her belt, such as “Dime Como Quieres” with Christian Nodal at No. 8 on Hot Latin Songs and three No. 1s on the Regional Mexican Airplay chart, the Grammy-nominated singer is a force to be reckoned with. She was also featured in Billboard’s 21 under 21 in 2022 and 2023.

This celebration, which highlights the efforts of Latin women musicians who are “proactively working for positive change, inclusion and gender parity in the music industry,” will see the Cuban-American superstar receive the Legend title and the regional Mexican music star the Musical Dynasty honor.

Other Latin Women in Music recipients include Kany García, who will be given the Spirit of Change Award, and Ana Bárbara with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

In the coming weeks, additional honorees will be announced for the second annual Billboard Latin Women in Music ceremony, hosted by actress Jacqueline Bracamontes.

Gloria Estefan Releases Samba-Flavored Album “Brazil305,” Featuring 14 Reimagined Classics

Posted on August 15, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Gloria Estefan’s changing things up…

The 62-year-old Cuban Grammy-winning singer has released her first album in seven years, the vibrant, samba-flavored Brazil305.

The 18-track Sony Music Latin release will transport listeners not only to the South American country, while giving them a trip to the past.

The album, an homage to Brazil and samba instrumentation, features 14 reimagined versions of Estefan’s classic songs, including a new rendition of her hit “Mi Tierra,” a song dedicated to her native Cuba and to immigrants the world over coping with departing from their homeland.

BRAZIL305, bringing together Brazil and Miami’s 305 area code, the set kicks off with a bang with a new version, titled “Samba,” of her global, seminal 1985 hit “Conga,” which takes a life of its own now with Brazilian rhythms.

Other re-imagined versions of Estefan’s timeless hits included in the concept album are “Get On Your Feet” and “Ayer.”

The first single from the album, “Cuando Hay Amor,” penned by Nicolás Tovar, Emilio Estefan and Andrea López, stands out with a message of unity and a celebration of love.

“I really wanted an original song as the first single,” Estefan previously told Billboard.

BRAZIL305 was produced by Estefan, Emilio and Afo Verde, chairman and CEO of Sony Music Latin Iberia, and was recorded between Brazil and Miami.

Gloria Estefan Nominated for the Songwriters Hall of Fame

Posted on November 6, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Gloria Estefan has the write stuff of legends…

The 62-year-old Cuban singer/songwriter and former Miami Sound Machine member has been nominated for the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Estefan, a three-time Grammy winner and three-time Latin Grammy, has penned numerousinternational chart-topping hits in English and Spanish, including “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” “1-2-3,” “Don’t Wanna Lose You,” “Here We Are,” “Coming Out of the Dark,” “Con Los Años Que Me Quedan,” “Mi Tierra” and “No Me Dejes de Querer.”

Additionally, Estefan has penned songs for other artists, including “Let’s Get Loud,” performed by Jennifer Lopez, and “Whenever Wherever,” performed by Shakira. Additionally, she co-wrote “Reach,” one of two official songs of the 1996 Atlanta Games, with Diane Warren.

In all, 24 acts are in contention for the 2020 class. In addition to Estefan, performing nominees include Patti Smith, Journey, Vince Gill, the Isley Brothers, former Eurythmicsmembers Annie Lennoxand Dave Stewart, Mike Love, Bread’s David Gates and Steve Miller, The Neptunes, the creative, innovative production-songwriting duo of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, rap icons Outkast and rock pioneers R.E.M.Mariah Carey, who co-wrote 17 of her 18 No. 1 hits and earned her first Songwriters Hall nomination last year, is up for the prize again.

The Songwriters Hall gave The Associated Press the list of nominees Tuesday (Nov. 5), a day ahead of its official announcement.

Non-performing solo nominees are William “Mickey” Stevenson, Rick Nowels, Sonny Curtis, Jerry Fuller, Tony Macaulay, Bob McDill and Roger Nichols. Non-performing songwriting duos nominated include the late Tommy Boyceand Bobby Hart,Lynn Ahrensand Stephen Flaherty, L. Russell Brownand the late Irwin Levine, and Kye Flemingand Dennis Morgan.

Songwriters are eligible for induction after writing hit songs for at least 20 years. Six songwriters, or songwriting groups, will be officially inducted at the Hall’s 51st annual Induction & Awards Gala in New York on June 11, 2020. Eligible members can vote for three non-performing songwriters and three performing songwriters until December 16.

Ozuna’s “Odiesa” Registers Largest Streaming Week Ever for a Latin Release

Posted on September 4, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

There’s absolutely no sophomore slump for Ozuna…

The 26-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton and Latin trap singer’s second studio album, Aura, has scored 2018’s biggest week for a Latin album, and the largest streaming week ever for a Latin release.

Ozuna’s album, released on August 24 via VP Entertainment/DimeloVi/Sony Music Latin, earned 49,000 equivalent album units in the week ending August 30, according to Nielsen Music— largely driven by streaming activity. Of that sum, 7,000 were in traditional album sales. Aura arrives with 55.34 million on-demand audio streams earned for its songs in its debut tracking frame.

Aura arrives at No. 7 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart and makes for Ozuna’s first top 10. It also gives Ozuna his second No. 1 on the Top Latin Albums chart, where it bumps his first album (and first chart-topper), Odisea, from No. 1 to No. 2.

Odisea falls to No. 2 in its 53rd week on the list. It has been No. 1 on the list for 46 nonconsecutive weeks, the second-most weeks atop the chart in its 25-year history. (Only Gloria Estefan’s Mi Tierra has more, with 58 weeks leading the list.)

Additionally, Ozuna is the first act to replace itself at No. 1 since March 16, 2013, when Jenni Rivera, who died the previous December, took over for herself at No. 1. Her Joyas Prestadas: Pop replaced her own La Misma Gran Senora at No. 1.

Ozuna is also the first act to concurrently rank at Nos. 1 and 2 on the chart in a year-and-a-half. It last occurred when Juan Gabriel was Nos. 1, 2 and 3 on the January 28, 2017-dated chart with Los Duo 2, Mis Rancheras Queridas and Hoy Manana y Siempre, respectively. Gabriel died the previous August.

Aura is the highest-charting Latin album on the all-genre Billboard 200 since Romeo Santos’ Formula: Vol. 2 debuted and peaked at No. 5 on the March 15, 2014-dated list (from 85,000 copies sold, back before the list transitioned to an equivalent album units-ranked tally).

The Billboard 200 ranks the week’s most popular albums in the U.S. across all genres of music, while the Top Latin Albums chart ranks the week’s biggest albums within the Latin genre. Both charts rank titles based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units. Units are comprised of traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA).

Ozuna’s Debut Album “Odiesa” Leads Billboard’s Top Latin Albums for 45th Week

Posted on August 24, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Ozuna has moved ahead of a Tejano legend…

The 26-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton and Latin trap singer’s debut album, Odisea — released via DimeloVi/VP Entertainment almost a year ago (August 25, 2017) — leads Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart dated August 25 for a 45th week — earning the second-most weeks atop the 25-year-old chart.

It surpasses Selena‘s Dreaming of You, which remained on top for 44 weeks in 1995 and 1996.

Odisea moves closer to Gloria Estefan‘s record of 58 weeks with Mi Tierra (July 1993-September 1994).

The milestone comes just as his sophomore album, Aura, dropped on Friday (August 24). The set has yielded three hits on the Hot Latin Songs chart: “La Modelo” with Cardi B debuting and peaking at No. 3 (January 6, 2018), “Única” peaking at No. 6 (August 11), and “Vaina Loca,” which has so far topped out at No. 29 (July 14), and sits at No. 32 on the current tally.

Likewise, Ozuna extends his longest leading No. 1 record among males on the Top Latin Albums chart. Below him, Luis Miguel continues with the second-longest reign (Segundo Romance, 29 weeks).

Notably, Odisea departed the penthouse for only six weeks since its debut on the tally (September 2017). when four other albums debuted at No. 1: CNCO’s self-titled album (Apr. 21), Maluma’s F.A.M.E. (June 2), J Balvin’s VIBRAS (June 9), and Anuel AA’s Real Hasta La Muerte which crowned the list for two weeks (July 28-Aug. 4).

In the latest tracking week (ending Aug. 16), Odisea earned 10,000 equivalent album units (down 1 percent), according to Nielsen Music. In total, the set has earned 707,000 units, of which 37,000 are in traditional album sales. In February 2017, the Top Latin Albums chart began ranking albums by overall equivalent album units and allowing catalog (or older) titles to chart. Previously, the list ranked albums by pure album sales, and only current albums were eligible to appear.

Here’s a look at the 10 albums with the most weeks at No. 1 on Top Latin Albums:

Weeks at No. 1, Artist, Title, Peak Date
58, Gloria Estefan, Mi Tierra, July 10, 1993
45, Ozuna, Odisea, 30 (through Aug. 28, 2018), Sept. 16, 2017
44, Selena, Dreaming of You, Aug. 5, 1995
29, Luis Miguel, Segundo Romance, Sept. 17, 1994
26, Ricky Martin, Vuelve, Feb. 28, 1998
24, Daddy Yankee, Barrio Fino, July 31, 2004
23, Aventura, The Last, June 27, 2009
20, Juan Gabriel, Los Duo 2, Jan. 2, 2016
20, Selena, Amor Prohibido, June 11, 1994
19, Christina Aguilera, Mi Reflejo, Sept. 30, 2000

Anuel AA’s Debut Album “Real Hasta La Muerte” Certified Gold by the RIAA…

Posted on August 14, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Anuel AA is golden…

The 25-year-old Puerto Rican trap artist’s Real Hasta La Muerte has been certified gold by the RIAA only three weeks after its release.

Anuel AA

“At the moment I have no words to say thank you for the support I have received from my fans,” said Anuel in a press statement. “I thank God more than anything for the blessing of so much good news in such a short time.” Anuel calls the album “my return to music, and I am back to stay.”

Back in July, Anuel AA earned his first No. 1 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart with his debut album, Real Hasta La Muerte.

The chart-topping album arrived on July 17 via Real Hasta La Muerte/ GLAD Empire— hours before he was released from prison after serving time for gun possession charges.

Real Hasta La Muerte opened in the penthouse with 11,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending July 19, according to Nielsen Music. Of its starting sum, 3,000 were in traditional album sales — a notable feat, since it only had two days of sales during the tracking week. It scored the fifth largest sales week for a Latin album in 2018, trailing only the debuts of CNCO’s self-titled album (13,000; chart dated April 21), J Balvin’s Vibras (10,000; chart dated June 9), Maluma’s F.A.M.E. (7,000; chart dated June 2), and Victor Manuelle’s 25/7 (4,000; chart dated Apr. 7).

Real Hasta La Muerte also debuted at No. 1 on the Latin Albums Sales chart.

The set, which was recorded while Anuel AA was serving his sentence, also logged 7,000 in streaming equivalent units (SEA).

Further, Anuel was the first artist to land at the summit with a debut album in a little less than a year. Ozuna bowed at No. 1 with his debut set, Odisea (Sept. 16, 2017). Real bumps Odisea down to No. 2, after 42 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1. (He continues to hold the record for the most weeks atop the list for a male artist, and the third overall; Gloria Estefan’s Mi Tierra leads with 58 weeks and Selena’s Dreaming of You follows with 44.)

Broadway Cast Recording of “On Your Feet!,” Feat. Villafañe, to be Released in April

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Ana Villafañe will have you on your feet, even if you’re nowhere near the Great White Way…

The original Broadway cast recording of On Your Feet!, the musical based on Gloria and Emilio Estefan’s life and starring the Cuban/Salvadoran-American actress and singer will be released on April 29 via Masterworks Broadway.

The album, which features Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine’s classic tracks in a new light, was recorded live at the Broadway Marquis Theatre and produced by the Estefans.

The musical chronicles the Estefan’s journey to stardom and features a string of hits like “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” “Conga,” “1-2-3,” “Get On Your Feet,” “Mi Tierra,” “Don’t Want To Lose You Now,” and “Reach.”

Following the family tradition, it also includes an original song, “If I Never Got To Tell You,” written by Gloria and her daughter Emily Estefan.

The live album also features the musical’s orchestra, which includes several members of The Miami Sound Machine.

On Your Feet!, which premiered last November, features Villafañe in the role of Gloria and Josh Segarra as Emilio Estefan.

Daddy Yankee Releases First English Track “This Is Not a Love Song”

Posted on September 10, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Daddy Yankee is switching tongues…

The 37-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton singer-songwriter and actor has released the uptempo song “This Is Not a Love Song” en ingles.

Daddy Yankee’s new track was produced by the Cataracs, who’ve worked with everyone from Enrique Iglesias to Beyonce. It also features newcomer Duncan.

There are currently no plans for an English-language album, according to a spokesperson for the entertainer, one of the most revered rappers in Latin music.

But Daddy Yankee is releasing the 10th-anniversary edition of Barrio Fino on October 7.

Yankee, who has been working with producers like Diplo and Jim Jonsin, was searching for the right English-language song. When the Cataracs song surfaced, it struck a chord.

“Over these past 10 years I focused on bringing my music to the forefront of the Latin music world, but when I got this track from The Cataracs, I knew I had to run with it,” Yankee said in a statement. “Most people have only ever heard me in Spanish so it shocks everyone to hear me rap all in English. The hook helps bring it to life. Duncan’s voice is one of a kind and he just adds that magic touch to the record.”

A decade ago, Barrio Fino was heard around the world. In the U.S., sales have totaled 1.08 million to date, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The album debuted at No. 1 on Top Latin Albums on July 31, 2004. It spent 24 weeks at No. 1 and holds more weeks at No. 1 than any other urban album in the chart’s history. Only four other albums have had more weeks at No. 1. The ranking:

Gloria Estefan, Mi Tierra (58 weeks at No. 1)
2. Selena, Dreaming of You (44 weeks)
3. Luis Miguel, Segundo Romance (29 weeks)
4. Ricky Martin, Vuelve (26 weeks)
5. Daddy Yankee, Barrio Fino (24 weeks)

The album peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard 200 on April 16, 2005.

“Ten years ago ‘Gasolina’ introduced me and my music to the mainstream market and helped pave the path for many artists that came after me with a vision and a dream,” Yankee added.

“This Is Not a Love Song” went on sale Tuesday (Sept. 9) through iTunes and other digital platforms.

Estefan’s Broadway Musical On Your Feet to Open in November

Posted on August 19, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Gloria Estefan is ready to get you on your feet! this fall.

The 56-year-old Cuban singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur and her music producer husband Emilio Estefan’s previously announced Broadway musical On Your Feet! is slated to premiere on Thursday, November 5 at the Marquis Theatre in New York City.

Based on the life of the Latin music power couple, the show’s preview performances will kick off October 5, 2015.

On Your Feet! will tell the story of the Estefan’s rise to stardom, set to the long list of hits performed by Gloria Estefan both as a soloist and as part of Miami Sound Machine, including “Conga,” “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You” and “Mi Tierra,” plus new music.

In a departure from other major Broadway productions, the show is launching an international casting search dubbed “Reach Gloria” (#ReachGloria on Twitter) that will allow performers around the world to submit audition videos online at the production’s website. The casting search is open to all roles, from the leads to the dancers.

In addition, open casting calls will take place at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami Sept. 21 and another at Pearl Studios in New York on Sept. 9.

Searching for acts in Miami, said Gloria Estefan in a statement, was key.

“Our own journey together started in Miami, a city that has been such an inspiration to us both, and it only felt right that the city be a cornerstone of our search for the next generation of bright talent,” she said.

On Your Feet! will be directed by two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo.

It’s produced by James L. Nederlander and Estefan Enterprises in partnership with Bernie Yuman.

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