Karol G Named Billboard’s 2024 Woman of the Year

Posted on February 8, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Karol G is a woman on top…

After a year of career-defining moments, including a history-making album, a momentous stadium tour, headlining Lollapalooza and her first Grammy win, the 32-year-old Colombian singer-songwriter has been named Billboard‘s 2024 Woman of the Year.

Karol G will be honored with the award at the Billboard Women in Music Awards on Wednesday, March 6, at the YouTube Theater at Hollywood Park in Los Angeles, and streaming March 7.

Karol G will also grace the stage for a special performance.

Hosted by award-winning actor and producer Tracee Ellis Ross, the annual event will recognize music’s rising stars and A-List artists, creators and executives for their contributions to the industry and community.

“With her immense talent, Karol G has created a movement for women across the globe due to her empowering lyrics and inspiring confidence,” said Hannah Karp, Billboard’s editorial director. “The release of her groundbreaking album Mañana Será Bonito has proven her a force to be reckoned with in both the English and Spanish charts. We are so excited to honor her as Woman of the Year.”

Over the past few years, Karol G has become a leading force in Latin music. Two years after releasing her breakthrough album KG0516 in 2021, Karol G became the first female artist to top the Billboard 200 with a Spanish-language album thanks to Mañana Será Bonito.

The follow-up album, Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season), then debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. On Sunday, she won her first Grammy, taking home best música urbana album for Mañana Será Bonito.

Last summer, Karol launched her own Bichota Records and inked a distribution deal with Interscope. Additionally, The Con Cora Foundation was established to continue the artist’s social work and mission to support women who lead households, at-risk youth, children facing chronic or disabling diseases, those dealing with teenage pregnancy, women deprived of liberty and post-penalty, as well as low-income women.

Past recipients of Woman of the Year include SZA, Olivia Rodrigo, Cardi B, Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, Madonna, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift.

Karol G joins the previously announced lineup of powerhouse women set for the 2024 Billboard Women in Music Awards: Kylie Minogue will receive the Icon Award; Maren Morris will receive the Visionary Award; Ice Spice will receive the Hitmaker Award; Charli XCX will receive the Powerhouse Award; Young Miko will receive the Impact Award; Victoria Monét will receive the Rising Star award; NewJeans will receive the Group of the Year Award; TEMS will receive the Breakthrough Award; and Luísa Sonza will receive one of Billboard’s new Global Force Awards.

Tickets to attend the Billboard Women in Music Awards are available to the public. Prices range from $89 – $279. Fans can watch the show on Thurs, March 7 at 5:00 pm PT/8:00 pm ET on billboardwomeninmusic.com; more details about the stream will be announced soon.

Miguel to Perform at 38th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Posted on November 1, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Miguel is ready to rock (& roll)…

The 38-year-old half-Mexican American Grammy-winning singer and songwriter, whose full name is Miguel Jontel Pimentel, will appear during the 38th annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Miguel joins a roster of presenters and performers that includes Olivia Rodrigo, Stevie Nicks, Adam Levine, Carrie Underwood, Common, Ice-, LL Cool J, Queen Latifah and Sia.

Miguel will serve as a performer.

The induction ceremony is set for November 3 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

This year’s inductees are Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine and The Spinners, along with DJ Kool Herc and Link Wray for musical influence; Chaka Khan, Al Kooper and Bernie Taupin for musical excellence; and Don Cornelius for the Ahmet Ertegun Award (formerly known as the non-performers award).

The induction ceremony will be broadcast live coast-to-coast via Disney+ on Friday, November 3 (8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT) and will be available to stream following the ceremony. ABC will air a three-hour prime-time special, 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, featuring performance highlights and standout moments on Monday, January 1 (8-11 p.m. ET), available the next day on Hulu and Disney+.

This year’s show will be produced and directed by Joel Gallen and Tenth Planet Productions.

Apple Music will livestream audio from the ceremony on Apple Music 1 on Friday, November 3. A four-part audio series, Class of ‘23: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, will also be available on Apple Music and Apple Podcasts leading up to the ceremony.

Here’s the full list of presenters and performers for the 2023 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony:

Adam Levine
Brandi Carlile
Carrie Underwood
Chris Stapleton
Common
Dave Matthews
Elton John
H.E.R.
Ice-T
LL COOL J
Miguel
New Edition
Olivia Rodrigo
Queen Latifah
Sia
Stevie Nicks
St. Vincent

Bad Bunny’s “Monaco” Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Global 200 & Billboard Global Excl. U.S. Songs Charts

Posted on October 23, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Bad Bunny rules the roost on the global charts…

The 29-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning superstar’s new single “Monaco” has debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. songs charts dated October 28.

Bad Bunny earns his fourth leader on the Global 200 and his third on Global Excl. U.S.

The song is from his new LP, Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana, which debuts as his third No. 1 on the U.S.-based Billboard 200 albums chart.

Bad Bunny debuts two other songs from the set in both the Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. top 10: “Perro Negro,” with Feid, and “Fina,” with Young Miko.

“Monaco” begins atop the Billboard Global 200 with 82.3 million streams and 2,000 sold worldwide in its first week (October 13-19), giving Bad Bunny his second No. 1 debut, on the chart, following “Where She Goes,” which led for a week upon its start in June.

He previously reigned with “Un x100to,” with Grupo Frontera, for two weeks in May and “Dakiti,” with Jhay Cortez (now Jhayco), for three weeks in November-December 2020.

Bad Bunny breaks out of a tie with Drake and Olivia Rodrigo for the most Global 200 No. 1s among soloists; overall, only BTS, with seven, has more.

Likewise, “Monaco” launches atop Billboard Global Excl. U.S. with 57 million streams and 1,000 sold outside the U.S. October 13-19. He notches his second No. 1 debut, on the chart, after “Un x100to,” with Grupo Frontera, rose to the top for three weeks in May and “Dakiti,” with Jhay Cortez, began at No. 1 and ruled for five weeks in November-December 2020.

Bad Bunny solely claims the most Global Excl. U.S. No. 1s among soloists and ties BLACKPINK for the second-most among all acts; BTS leads all artists with seven No. 1s.

The Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts, which began in September 2020, rank songs based on streaming and sales activity culled from more than 200 territories around the world, as compiled by Luminate. The Global 200 is inclusive of worldwide data and the Global Excl. U.S. chart comprises data from territories excluding the United States.

Chart ranks are based on a weighted formula incorporating official-only streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of audio and video music services, as well as download sales, the latter of which reflect purchases from full-service digital music retailers from around the world, with sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites excluded from the charts’ calculations.

Carlos PenaVega & Big Time Rush to Perform at 10 iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour Stops

Posted on September 29, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Carlos PenaVega is bracing for a busy holiday season…

The 34-year-old Dominican, Spanish and Venezuelan American actor/singer and his Big Time Rush group mates will be taking part in this year’s iHeartMedia Jingle Ball, with an appearance on the iHeartMedia Jingle Ball television, which is moving from the CW to ABC with a multi-year deal.

This year’s iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour will feature performances by Big Time Rush, Olivia Rodrigo, Usher, Nicki Minaj, SZA, Niall Horan, OneRepublic, AJR, Sabrina Carpenter, Miguel, Jelly Roll, NCT DREAM, Flo Rida and more.

(The lineup for the TV special, which will include selected performances, is TBA.) The 2023 tour will stop in Tampa, Florida; Dallas/Fort Worth; Los Angeles; Chicago; Detroit; New York; Boston; Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia; Atlanta; and Miami/Fort Lauderdale.

PenaVega and his Big Time Rush mates will perform in Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago, Detroit, New York City, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia.

But PenaVega isn’t the only Latinx act scheduled to participate in this year’s Jingle Ball Tour.

Miguel will perform in Los Angeles; Ice Spice will perform in Atlanta; Melanie Martinez will perform in Washington, D.C., Boston and New York City; and Kirstin Maldonado and her Pentatonix group mates are set for New York City.

The stops will be part of the exclusive two-hour network special, which will air Dec. 21 at 8:00-10:00 pm on ABC. It will be available on demand and on Hulu the following day.

ABC, along with Disney+, earlier this week were announced as the new home of another long-running music special, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which will be broadcast live.

Under its new ownership, the CW has changed its makeup and demo target, pulling away from its longtime focus on young audiences.

The 2023 iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour stops:

Tampa, Florida – Sunday, Nov. 26, at 7 p.m. EST at Amalie Arena
Lineup features Niall Horan, Teddy Swims, Zara Larsson, Doechii, Paul Russell, Kaliii and Lawrence

Dallas/Fort Worth – Tuesday, Nov. 28, at 7:30 p.m. CST at Dickies Arena
Lineup features Jelly Roll, Doechii, Big Time Rush, Flo Rida, LANY, Paul Russell, Kaliii and P1Harmony

Los Angeles – Friday, Dec. 1, at 7:30 p.m. PST at the Kia Forum
Lineup features Olivia Rodrigo, Niall Horan, AJR, Sabrina Carpenter, Miguel, Doechii, Flo Rida, (G)I-DLE and P1Harmony

Chicago – Monday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. CST at Allstate Arena
Lineup features Nicki Minaj, Jelly Roll, Big Time Rush, Doechii, (G)I-DLE and Kaliii

Detroit – Tuesday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m. EST at Little Caesars Arena
Lineup features Usher, Jelly Roll, Lil Durk, Big Time Rush, Flo Rida, Doechii, Kaliii and (G)I-DLE

New York – Friday, Dec. 8, at 7 p.m. EST at Madison Square Garden

Lineup features Olivia Rodrigo, SZA, OneRepublic, Sabrina Carpenter, Jelly Roll, Big Time Rush, Doechii, Pentatonix, David Kushner and Melanie Martinez

Boston – Sunday, Dec. 10, at 6 p.m. EST at TD Garden
Lineup features SZA, Sabrina Carpenter, OneRepublic, Flo Rida, David Kushner, Melanie Martinez, NCT DREAM and (G)I-DLE

Washington, D.C. – Monday, Dec. 11, at 7:30 p.m. EST at Capital One Arena
Lineup features OneRepublic, Jelly Roll, Big Time Rush, Doechii, Flo Rida, Melanie Martinez, David Kushner, NCT DREAM and (G)I-DLE

Philadelphia – Tuesday, Dec. 12, at 7:30 p.m. EST at Wells Fargo Center
Lineup features Usher, OneRepublic, Jelly Roll, Big Time Rush, Doechii, David Kushner and (G)I-DLE

Atlanta – Thursday, Dec. 14, at 7:30 p.m. EST at State Farm Arena
The star-studded lineup features Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice, Sabrina Carpenter, Flo Rida, David Kushner, Kaliii and NCT DREAM

Fort Lauderdale/Miami – Saturday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m. EST – “iHeartRadio Y100’s Jingle Ball 2023 Presented by Capital One” at Amerant Bank Arena, Ft. Lauderdale
The star-studded lineup features Marshmello, AJR, Flo Rida, Ludacris, LANY, David Kushner, Kaliii and Paul Russell

Cardi B to Perform New Megan Thee Stallion-Collaboration “Bongos” at MTV Video Music Awards

Posted on September 9, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Cardi B is headed to the MTV Video Music Awards…

The 30-year-old half-Dominican American Grammy-winning rap superstar and Megan Thee Stallion have joined the performer lineup for the upcoming awards show.

Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion will reunite for a debut performance of their just-released single “Bongos” during the ceremony, which will air live from New Jersey’s Prudential Center on Tuesday, September 12th at 8:00 pm ET/PT.

In 2021, the duo were five-time VMA nominees for their hit single “WAP” including Song of the Summer, Video of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Collaboration and Best Hip Hop.

The song made history as the first female rap collaboration to debut at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, then spending four weeks at the top spot as well as being certified platinum 8x in the U.S.

Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion join a performer lineup that includes Fall Out Boy, Metro Boomin with Future, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, Swae Lee & NAV, Peso Pluma, Nicki Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Wayne, Anitta, Doja Cat, Kelsea Ballerini, Tomorrow X Together, Demi Lovato, Karol G, Måneskin and Stray Kids.

Minaj will reprise her dual role at the MTV VMAs as show emcee and performer for the live event. She’s expected to present the world premiere performance of her newest single, “Last Time I Saw You.”

Taylor Swift leads the pack in nominations with eight, including Video of the Year, Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for “Anti-Hero.”

Peso Pluma to Make Debut Performance at MTV Video Music Awards

Posted on September 8, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Peso Pluma is preparing to make a grand debut appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards.

The 24-year-old Mexican singer-songwriter has been added to the list of performers for the upcoming MTV VMAs.

Peso Pluma, who is nominated for Best New Artist, Best Latin and Song of the Summer, is part of a roster of new performer additions that includes Fall Out Boy, Metro Boomin with Future, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie and Swae Lee & NAV.

They join previously announced Nicki Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Wayne, Anitta, Doja Cat, Kelsea Ballerini, Tomorrow X Together, Demi Lovato, Karol G, Måneskin and Stray Kids.

Minaj will reprise her dual role at the VMAs as show emcee and performer for the 2023 live event from New Jersey’s Prudential Center on Tuesday, September 12.

Taylor Swift leads the pack in nominations with eight. Other multi-nominated artists include SZA with six noms, Doja Cat, Kim Petras, Miley Cyrus, Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo and Sam Smith with five each, and Blackpink, Diddy and Shakira with four each.

Fans can vote for their favorites across 15 gender-neutral categories, including “Video of the Year,” at vote.mtv.com through Friday, September 1st; voting for “Best New Artist” will remain active into the show on Tuesday, September 12th.

Disney+ to Release Fourth & Final Season of Frankie Rodriguez’s “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” in August

Posted on June 21, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

It’s curtain call Frankie Rodriguez…

The upcoming fourth season of Disney+’s original series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, starring the 23-year-old Mexican American actor/singer, will be its last, with all eight episodes being released on August 9.

The show’s conclusion was announced on social media by creator and executive producer Tim Federle.

“After four years at East High, it’s time to graduate. This will be our final, endgame season,” he wrote. “This show brought the most extraordinary cast – and crew, and collaborators – to my life. To the fans, who embraced our super-meta series: we ‘don’t not love you.’ We can’t wait to share this epic 4th act with you all.”

Along with The Mandalorian, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series helped launch Disney+, premiering in November 2019. It’s the longest running and most successful Disney Branded Television series for the streamer to date.

Inspired by the hugely popular High School Musical movies, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series has launched notable careers such as Grammy Award-winning artist Olivia Rodrigo; Tony Award-nominated Julia Lester; singer-songwriter Joshua Bassett, who recently completed a world tour; and Dara Reneé, who made her songwriting debut on the series and stars in the upcoming Disney+ Original movie Descendants: The Rise of Red.

Season four of the GLAAD Media and Kids Choice Award-winning series will see the Wildcats returning to East High, where they prepare a stage production of “High School Musical 3: Senior Year.” But, in a meta twist signature to the series, plans are disrupted when Disney announces the long-awaited “High School Musical 4: The Reunion” movie will shoot on location at their beloved high school.

Franchise alum Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman, Lucas Grabeel, Bart Johnson, Alyson Reed and Kaycee Stroh play themselves, reprising their High School Musical roles, and the Wildcats will play featured extras in the movie.

Season 4 stars Bassett, Sofia Wylie, Reneé, Lester, Rodriguez, Kate Reinders and Liamani Segura.

Bad Bunny Earns Third No. 1 on Billboard Global 200 with “Where She Goes”

Posted on May 30, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

There’s only one place Bad Bunny goes… the top of the charts.

The 29-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning superstar’s “Where She Goes” has debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart dated June 3.

“Where She Goes” launches atop the Billboard Global 200 with 71 million streams and 3,000 sold worldwide May 19-25, following its May 18 release.

The Spanish-language song arrives as his third No. 1 on the chart, after “Un x100to,” with Grupo Frontera, for two weeks earlier in May, and “Dakiti,” with Jhay Cortez (now Jhayco), for three weeks in November-December 2020.

Bad Bunny becomes the first soloist with three Global 200 No. 1s; overall, he’s second only to BTS, with six. Justin Bieber, BLACKPINK, Drake, Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift each boast two.

“Where She Goes” marks Bad Bunny’s first Global 200 entry with no accompanying artists since he released his LP Un Verano Sin Ti, which dominated the U.S.-based Billboard 200 for 13 weeks in May-October 2022.

Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma’s “Ella Baila Sola” dips to No. 2 on the Global 200 after three weeks at No. 1, having become the chart’s first leader for the regional Mexican genre.

The Billboard Global 200, which started in September 2020, ranks songs based on streaming and sales activity culled from more than 200 territories around the world, as compiled by Luminate. The Global 200 is inclusive of worldwide data.

Cardi B to Serve as Presenter at This Year’s Grammy Awards Show

Posted on February 1, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Cardi B is taking the stage on music’s biggest night…

The 30-year-old half-Dominican American Grammy-winning rap superstar will help hand out awards at the 65th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 5.

Previously, Cardi B made Grammy history as the first and only woman to win the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album as a solo artist was the second female rapper to have her album nominated for Album of the Year.

Other presenters include Viola Davis, Olivia Rodrigo, Shania Twain and Dwayne Johnson. Davis will become an EGOT if she wins in her category, best audio book, narration, and storytelling recording, on Sunday.

Performers set to appear on the show are Harry Styles, Lizzo, Bad Bunny, Mary J. Blige, Brandi Carlile, Luke Combs, Steve Lacy and Sam Smith & Kim Petras.

The Recording Academy made its first performers announcement a week ago. It added a big name – Styles – on Sunday, January 29. The announcement was made during the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs. The game aired on CBS, the Grammys’ network since 1973.

Three of this year’s four leading nominees – Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar and Adele – have yet to be announced as performers. But the Academy is expected to announce additional performers in the remaining days before the big show.

The 65th Annual Grammy Awards will air live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and will be hosted for the third year in a row by Emmy-winning comedian Trevor Noah.

The show will be broadcast live on Sunday, February 5, at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT on CBS, and will be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

The 65th Annual Grammy Awards are produced by Fulwell 73 Productions for the Recording Academy. Raj Kapoor serves as showrunner and executive producer, alongside Ben Winston and Jesse Collins as executive producers. Phil Heyes joins the team for the first time as director. Eric Cook is co-executive producer with Tabitha Dumo, Tiana Gandelman, Patrick Menton, David Wild as producers.

Prior to the telecast, the Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony will be broadcast live from the Microsoft Theater at 12:30 pm PT, and it will be streamed live on live.Grammy.com. Randy Rainbow, a first-time Grammy nominee this year for best comedy album for A Little Brains, A Little Talent, is co-hosting the show. His co-host has yet to be named.

Performers at the Premiere Ceremony include Arroj Aftab, Madison Cunningham, Samara Joy, Anoushka Shankar, Carlos Vives and The Blind Boys of Alabama with La Santa Cecilia.

Presenters at the Premiere Ceremony include Babyface, Domi and JD Beck, Myles Frost, Arturo O’Farrill, Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Jimmy Jam.

Selena Gomez Donates Autographed Collection of Rare Beauty Products for ASCAP Foundation Silent Auction

Posted on December 2, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez is helping raise money to help develop music’s next superstar….

The 30-year-old Mexican American musician is taking part in the second annual ASCAP Foundation Silent Auction, launched Thursday, December 1, with donations supporting music education and talent development programs throughout the country.

Gomez has donated an autographed collection of her Rare Beauty products.

Meanwhile, Ashanti is offering up a special one-on-one…

The 42-year-old half-Afro-Dominican singer/actress is auctioning off a private dinner with her.

Other silent auction items include an autographed vinyl copy of Olivia Rodrigo‘s album Sour, a personalized video from The Chainsmokers, an autographed Fender guitar from Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora, a bottle of bourbon signed by Chris Stapleton, a hat signed by Alan Jackson, VIP tickets to a show by DJ Steve Aoki in Las Vegas, and more.

The auction, located at charitybuzz.com, will run through December 16.

“For nearly five decades, The ASCAP Foundation has fulfilled ASCAP’s mission to support aspiring music creators at the most fundamental level, by funding music education and talent development programs in schools and communities across the U.S.,” said Nicole George-Middleton, The ASCAP Foundation Executive Director, via a statement. “We are thrilled to host our silent auction for a second year and hope that music lovers everywhere will join in to support The Foundation and land some one-of-a-kind holiday gifts for their family and friends.”

Other donors include Broadway legend Stephen Schwartz, Shawn Mendes, songwriter and writer advocate Paul Williams, country artists Carly Pearce, Old Dominion and Kelsea Ballerini, actress-author Diane Keaton, NBA champion Kevin Durant, Universal Studios, Nightbird Studios and legendary musician-writer-producer Quincy Jones.

The ASCAP Foundation launched in 1975 and is dedicated to supporting American music creators, through encouraging development via music education, talent development and other programs such as songwriting workshops, grants, scholarships, and community outreach programs.

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