Karol G Makes History as “Tusa” Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs Chart

Posted on November 22, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Karol Gis racing to the top in historic fashion…

The 28-year-old Colombian reggaeton singer and songwriter’s collaboration with Nicki Minaj, “Tusa,”debuts at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart dated November 23.

The chart ranks the most popular Latin songs of the week, blending airplay, streaming and digital sales data.

“Tusa” becomes the first song to debut at No. 1 in 2019, and the first song by a female act in a lead role to bow at No. 1 since 2016, when Shakira’s “Chantaje,” featuring Maluma, bowed atop the list. It’s also the first title by two women in a lead role to open atop the chart since its inception in 1986.

“One of my biggest personal challenges was exceeding my expectations and those of my fans, following the release of Ocean,” Karol G tells Billboard. “I couldn’t be happier today seeing that “Tusa” debuts at No. 1 in the U.S. after only one week of its release. I’m especially grateful to Nicki Minaj, to my team for keeping the dream alive, and for continuing in this journey — and to my fans who make all of this a reality.”

In addition to Shakira, Karol G and Minaj, only two other songs with women on a lead role have debuted at No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs: Rocio Durcalwith “La Guirnalda” in September of 1986 and Gloria Estefanwith “Hotel Nacional” in January of 2012.

Meanwhile, two other titles with female acts in featuredroles have bowed atop the tally: “Mi Verdad” by Mana featuring Shakira (February 2015) and “Taki Taki” by DJ Snake, featuring Selena Gomez, Ozuna and Cardi B(October 2018).

“Tusa” gives Karol G her third No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs. Her first leader arrived over a year ago through another collaboration: Pitbull’s “Dame Tu Cosita,” with El Chombo, featuring Cutty Ranks(May 2018).

“Tusa,” Colombian slang for heartbreak, was released on November 7 in conjunction with the song’s music video and was produced by Ovy on the Drumsand written by him, Karol G, Minaj and Keytin. It soars to No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs mainly on the strength of streaming activity and digital sales.

The song logged 9.5 million U.S. streams in its first week (ending November 14), according to Nielsen Music and bows at No. 1 on the Latin Streaming Song chart. It’s just the second song to debut at No. 1 on the list in 2019, following “China,” the former nine-week ruler, where Karol G also takes a lead role alongside Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, Ozuna and J Balvin.

“Tusa” concurrently starts at No. 78 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100chart, becoming Karol G’s fourth chart entry.

The song was presented for the first time during the 2019 Latin Grammyweek, as part of a Google Pixel 4motion sense experiment alongside DJ Feloat The Palms, on November 14.

Shakira to Get Her Own Bird as Part of Rovio’s “Angry Birds Pop” Mobile Game

Posted on September 20, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Shakira is flying high…

The 38-year-old Colombian singer will become an Angry Bird in the new Angry Birds Pop mobile puzzle game.

The new “Shakira Bird” is yellow and has long, flowing blonde hair. In addition to Angry Birds Pop, she’ll also appear in the coming months to two other Angry Bird games: Angry Birds Friends and Angry Birds 2.

The deal between Shakria and the game-maker Rovio came about after she met with Rovio marketing head Peter Vesterbacka in Barcelona this year, according to an article in musically.

“Within five minutes it was very clear that we had to do something together,” said Vesterbacka in a statement

The Shakira-Rovio partnership isn’t the first time they’ve partnered with a major music artist.

Back in 2012, Rovio partnered with Green Day, who got their own episode in Angry Birds Friends.

It wasn’t immediately clear how Angry Birds will link the Shakira Bird to her music.

Shakira is working on a new album but no material has been released yet.

She most recently appeared onstage in Barcelona with Mexican rock band Mana, who featured her in the group’s single “Mi verdad.”

Mana & Steve Aoki Team Up for “La Prision” Remix

Posted on August 14, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Maná is going electronic…

The Mexican pop rock group, comprised of vocalist/guitarist Fher Olvera, drummer Alex González, guitarist Sergio Vallín and bassist Juan Calleros, has partnered with electro house musician Steve Aoki for a remix of the band’s breakup anthem “La Prisión,” the new video for which features plenty of tribal-themed action.

To the tune of Olvera’s empowering vocals, Aoki is seen crowd-surfing in Ibiza and Las Vegas, while Maná rocks different concert crowds as part of their current Cama Incendiada tour. Cuts of the original video, set in the Mojave Desert, are interspersed throughout.

The remix is a departure from Maná’s other singles from the same album, like the Shakira-assisted ballad “Mi Verdad,” but it’s definitely a club thumper.

Mana Releases the Official Music Video for Latest Single “La Prisión”

Posted on May 28, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

It’s prison time for Maná…

The Mexican pop rock band has released an empowering breakup anthem as the second single to their chart-topping new album, Cama Incendiada.

“I’m going to free myself, I won’t be back in your prison,” sings Fher Olvera in the aptly titled “La Prisión,” the video for which is also out now via the band’s YouTube channel.

Shot by their frequent collaborator Pablo Croce, the video features a couple entangled in a toxic relationship interspersed with shots of the band members rocking out in the Mojave Desert.

The song is the follow-up to the band’s chart-topping single “Mi Verdad,” featuring Shakira. The video has garnered more than 42 million views on YouTube.

Maná, whose tour in support of Cama Incendiada starts June 10 in San Diego, recently presented a $250,000 check to the Hispanic Scholarship Fund on behalf of tour sponsor Montejo beer.

The tour will hit 14 U.S. cities and will wrap in July.

J Balvin Scores First No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs Chart with “Ay Vamos”

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a big first for J Balvin…

The 29-year-old Colombian reggaeton singer, considered the breakout Latino artist of 2014, has scored his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart as “Ay Vamos” hops 4-1 in its 25th week on the chart.

The track takes Digital Gainer honors on the chart, climbing 78 percent (to 5,000 downloads sold in the week ending Feb. 22, according to Nielsen Music), fueled in part by a performance of the song on Univision‘s Premio Lo Nuestro awards show on February 19, where he took home four awards, including urban artist of the year.

A recently released remix featuring Nicky Jam and French Montana, along with a price reduction (to 69 cents) as part of a digital promotion, also helps the track leap 11-4 on the Latin Digital Songs chart.

On Hot Latin Songs, “Ay Vamos” had spent 10 nonconsecutive weeks stuck at No. 2 on the list, unable to break his tourmate Enrique Iglesias‘ impenetrable 41-week record No. 1 run with “Bailando” featuring Descemer Bueno & Gente de Zona. A week ago, “Bailando” finally fell (1-2), as Mana‘s “Mi Verdad” bowed atop the list. At the same time, “Ay Vamos” slipped 2-4 — to its lowest rank since the Nov. 29-dated chart. But thanks to its surge in sales, the song finally crowns the list with its three-spot leap.

“Ay Vamos,” from Balvin’s La Familia B Sides (released Sept. 16), also earlier spent 16 weeks at No. 1 on Latin Rhythm Airplay (first peaking on Oct. 25), tying with Don Omar‘s “Zumba” for fourth-longest No. 1 run on the chart. It currently continues at No. 2 (with a 10 percent jump in airplay — to 7.7 million audience impressions, according to Nielsen).

Balvin is a 12-time finalist at the upcoming 2015 Billboard Latin Music Awards, airing live on Telemundo from Miami on April 30. He’s a finalist in such categories as artist of the year, new; and hot Latin song of the year for “6 AM” (featuring Farruko). He’ll be speaking at the 2015 Billboard Latin Music Conference.

Maná to Support Its Upcoming Album with Montejo-Sponsored U.S. Tour

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Maná is ready to run north of the border…

The iconic Mexican rock band, consisting of vocalist/guitarist Fher Olvera, drummer Alex González, guitarist Sergio Vallín and bassist Juan Calleros, will embark on a U.S. tour in support of the group’s upcoming album this June with sponsorship from Mexican Montejo beer, according to brand representatives.

The announcement coincides with the release of Maná’s first single and video from their upcoming album. “Mi Verdad” is the band’s first collaboration with Shakira.

In addition to signing on for Maná’s nationwide tour, Montejo, a newcomer to the Mexican beer market in the U.S., will produce special promotions, including a sweepstakes to attend a private concert by the group in one of the brand’s breweries in Mexico.

“Montejo is a very authentic Mexican beer,” says Patricio Ferrara, director of marketing for Montejo, who says the brand aims to appeal to Spanish language-dominant Mexican consumers in the United States. “For us, it was a very natural partnership with Maná, who we consider to be the best and most authentic Mexican rock band.”

Montejo is produced in Oaxaca by Grupo Modelo and imported to the U.S. by Anheuser-Busch, which bought Grupo Modelo in 2013.

“Montejo is one of the few beers made in México and imported to the United States that doesn’t try to adopt an Anglo personality or try to change what it is,” said, Maná frontman Fher Olvera, who deemed the beer “delicious.”

“It’s important for us to feel the connection with our heritage and our fans, especially when we are traveling,” he added. “We can’t be more proud of having Montejo as our sponsor to help us celebrate our music with our fans in the United States.”

Ferrara said that the brand has made “a significant investment” into its partnership with Maná, set to raise awareness with its Latino target consumers at Maná’s sure to be sold-out concerts. Winners of four Grammy Awards and seven Latin Grammy Awards, Maná is the most successful Latin rock band in the U.S., and the world.

“The partnership will be the largest asset the brand leverages in 2015,” Ferrera said. Maná’s new album is expected in March.

The Mexican rock stars are also set to play the first Rock in Rio USA, taking place in Las Vegas in May.

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