Karol G & Peso Pluma’s “Qlona” Rises to No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay Chart

Karol G and Peso Pluma’s smash collaboration is back atop the charts…

Five months after the 33-year-old Colombian Grammy-winning singer and 24-year-old Mexican Grammy-winning singer’s “Qlona” concluded its fifth week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, the collaboration rises 2-1 to lead the Latin Airplay chart dated March 2.

Karol G & Peso Pluma“Qlona” lands at the summit with a 17% gain in audience impressions, to 9.54 million, earned in the U.S. in the week ending February 22, according to Luminate.

It ousts Myke Towers’ “La Falda” from the top after one week in charge, dropping 1-2 with a 10% dip in impressions, to 9.5 million.

As “Qlona” reaches the summit in its 23rd week on the list, it wraps the longest journey to the top spot this decade, passing the 22-week trek that two Towers’ songs needed to their reign in 2020: “Bandido,” with Juhn, and “Bésame,” with Luis Fonsi. (The last song to take longer to reach No. 1 was Pedro Capo and Farruko’s “Calma,” which hit the top in its 24th week, on the April 13, 2019 chart.)

With “Qlona” on top, Karol logs the 17th No. 1 in her Latin Airplay career. The new champ arrives five months after her own “Mi Ex Tenía Razón” reigned for two weeks last October.

Peso Pluma, meanwhile, picks up his third, after “Ella Baila Sola,” with Eslabon Armado, ruled for one week last June.

Elsewhere, “Qlona” wins a first term at No. 1 on Latin Rhythm Airplay, marking a 16th win for Karol. It’s the second Latin rhythmic crown for Pluma, after the four-week champ “La Bebe,” with Yng Lvcas, in 2023.

Thanks to its radio haul, “Qlona” rebounds 5-4 on the multimetric Hot Latin Songs chart — which blends airplay, streaming activity, and digital sales — after five weeks in charge.

Ice Spice Earns Four Grammy Award Nominations, Including Best New Artist Nod

Ice Spice is celebrating her first-ever Grammy nominations…

The 23-year-old half-Dominican American rapper/singer-songwriter has earned four Grammy Award nods, including one for the coveted Best New Artist award.

Ice SpiceIce Spice, the most nominated Latinx artist this year, is up for Best Rap Song and Best Song Written for Visual Media for her Barbie collaboration with Nicki Minaj featuring Aqua, “Barbie World,” which appears on Barbie The Album.

Her fourth nod comes in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for the remix to Taylor Swift’s “Karma.”

Robert Trujillo is up for three Grammys.

The 59-year-old half-Mexican American musician and his Metallica band mates are up for Best Rock Performance for “Lux Æterna,” Best Metal Performance for “72 Seasons” and Best Rock Album for 72 Seasons.

Adrian Quesada and the 46-year-old Mexican American musician, producer and songwriter’s Black Pumas group mate, Eric Burton, have earned a nod in the Best Rock Performance for their single “More Than a Love Song.”

Mexican American Latin Grammy darling Edgar Barrera is nominated for Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical. He’s the first Latino songwriter to earn a nod in the category, which was launched at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards.

Peso Pluma, who was snubbed for Best New Artist, earned his first Grammy nod. The 24-year-old Mexican Regional Mexican Artist earned the nod in the Best Musica Mexicana Album (including Tejano) for Genesis.

Kirstin Maldonado and her Pentatonix a capella group mates, three-time Grammy winners, have earned a nod in the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album category for their album Holidays Around the World.

Esperanza Spalding, who previously beat out Justin Bieber for Best New Artist, has earned a nod in the Best Jazz Performance category alongside Fred Hersch for “But Not for Me.”

Other Latinx nominees include Vince Mendoza, Pablo Alborán, Maluma, Pedro Capó, Karol G, Juanes and Lila Downs.

The ceremony takes place on Sunday, February 4, 2024, at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena, and will broadcast on CBS and Paramount+. The annual Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony precedes the event.

Here’s a look at the categories with Latinx artists.

Best New Artist
Coco Jones
Gracie Abrams
Fred Again…
Ice Spice
Jelly Roll
Noah Kahan
Victoria Monét
The War and Treaty

Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical
Edgar Barrera
Jessie Jo Dillon
Justin Tranter
Shane McAnally
Theron Thomas

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
Labrinth Featuring Billie Eilish – Never Felt So Alone
Lana Del Rey Featuring Jon Batiste – Candy Necklace
Miley Cyrus Featuring Brandi Carlile – Thousand Miles
SZA Featuring Phoebe Bridgers – Ghost in the Machine
Taylor Swift Featuring Ice Spice – Karma

Best Rock Performance
Arctic Monkeys – Sculptures of Anything Goes
Black Pumas – More Than a Love Song
Boygenius – Not Strong Enough
Foo Fighters – Rescued
Metallica – Lux Æterna

Best Metal Performance
Disturbed – Bad Man
Ghost – Phantom of the Opera
Metallica – 72 Seasons
Slipknot – Hive Mind
Spiritbox – Jaded

Best Rock Album
Foo Fighters – But Here We Are
Greta Van Fleet – Starcatcher
Metallica – 72 Seasons
Paramore – This Is Why
Queens of the Stone Age – In Times New Roman…

Best Rap Song
Doja Cat – Attention
Drake & 21 Savage – Rich Flex
Killer Mike Featuring André 3000, Future and Eryn Allen Kane – Scientists & Engineers
Lil Uzi Vert – Just Wanna Rock
Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice Featuring Aqua – Barbie World [From Barbie the Album]

Best Jazz Performance
Adam Blackstone Featuring The Baylor Project & Russell Ferranté – Vulnerable (Live)
Fred Hersch & Esperanza Spalding – But Not for Me
Jon Batiste – Movement 18’ (Heroes)
Lakecia Benjamin – Basquiat
Samara Joy – Tight

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
ADDA Simfònica, Josep Vicent, Emilio Solla – The Chick Corea Symphony Tribute – Ritmo
The Count Basie Orchestra Directed by Scotty Barnhart – Basie Swings the Blues
Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society – Dynamic Maximum Tension
Mingus Big Band – The Charles Mingus Centennial Sessions
Vince Mendoza & Metropole Orkest – Olympians

Best Latin Jazz Album
Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band – Vox Humana
Eliane Elias – Quietude
Ivan Lins With the Tblisi Symphony Orchestra – My Heart Speaks
Luciana Souza & Trio Corrente – Cometa
Miguel Zenón & Luis Perdomo – El Arte del Bolero Vol. 2

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Bruce Springsteen – Only the Strong Survive
Laufey – Bewitched
Liz Callaway – To Steve With Love: Liz Callaway Celebrates Sondheim
Pentatonix – Holidays Around the World
Rickie Lee Jones – Pieces of Treasure
Various – Sondheim Unplugged (The NYC Sessions), Vol. 3

Best Latin Pop Album
AleMor – Beautiful Humans, Vol. 1
Gaby Moreno – X Mi (Vol. 1)
Maluma – Don Juan
Pablo Alborán – La Cuarta Hoja
Paula Arenas – A Ciegas
Pedro Capó – La Neta

Best Música Urbana Album
Karol G – Mañana Será Bonito
Rauw Alejandro – Saturno
Tainy – Data

Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album
Cabra – Martínez
Diamante Eléctrico – Leche de Tigre
Fito Paez – EADDA9223
Juanes – Vida Cotidiana
Natalia Lafourcade – De Todas las Flores

Best Música Mexicana Album (Including Tejano)
Ana Bárbara – Bordado a Mano
Flor de Toloache – Motherflower
Lila Downs – La Sánchez
Lupita Infante – Amor Como en las Películas de Antes
Peso Pluma – Génesis

Best Tropical Latin Album
Carlos Vives – Escalona Nunca Se Había Grabado Así
Grupo Niche y Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Colombia – Niche Sinfónico
Luis Figueroa – Voy a Ti
Omara Portuondo – Vida
Rubén Blades con Roberto Delgado & Orquesta – Siembra: 45° Aniversario (En Vivo en el Coliseo de Puerto Rico, 14 de Mayo 2022)
Tony Succar, Mimy Succar – Mimy & Tony

Best Global Music Performance
Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer & Shahzad Ismaily – Shadow Forces
Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer & Zakir Hussain Featuring Rakesh Chaurasia – Pashto
Burna Boy – Alone
Davido – Feel
Falu & Gaurav Shah (Featuring PM Narendra Modi) – Abundance in Millets
Ibrahim Maalouf Featuring Cimafunk & Tank and the Bangas – Todo Colores
Silvana Estrada – Milagro y Disastre

Best Global Music Album
Bokanté – History
Burna Boy – I Told Them…
Davido – Timeless
Shakti – This Moment
Susana Baca- Epifanías

Best Children’s Music Album
Andrew & Polly – Ahhhhh!
DJ Willy Wow! – Hip Hope for Kids!
Pierce Freelon & Nnenna Freelon – Ancestars
Uncle Jumbo – Taste the Sky
123 Andrés – We Grow Together Preschool Songs

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
Daisy Jones & the Six – Aurora
Various Artists – Barbie The Album
Various Artists – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From and Inspired By
Various Artists – Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3: Awesome Mix, Vol. 3
“Weird Al” Yankovic – Weird: The Al Yankovic Story

Best Song Written for for Visual Media
Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For? [From the Motion Picture “Barbie”]
Dua Lipa – Dance the Night (From Barbie the Album)
Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice Featuring Aqua – Barbie World [From Barbie the Album]
Rihanna – Lift Me Up (From Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From and Inspired By)
Ryan Gosling – I’m Just Ken [From “Barbie the Album”]

Best Engineered Album, Classical
Gustavo Dudamel, Anne Akiko Meyers, Gustavo Castillo & Los Angeles Philharmonic – Fandango
Manfred Honeck & Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra – Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 & Schulhoff: Five Pieces
Mehmet Ali Sanlikol, George Lernis & A Far Cry – Sanlikol: A Gentleman of Istanbul – Symphony for Strings, Percussion, Piano, Oud, Ney & Tenor
Riccardo Muti & Chicago Symphony Orchestra – Contemporary American Composers
Shara Nova & A Far Cry – The Blue Hour

Best Remixed Recording
Depeche Mode – Wagging Tongue (Wet Leg Remix)
Gorillaz Featuring Tame Impala & Bootie Brown – New Gold (Dom Dolla Remix)
Lane 8 – Reviver (Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs Remix)
Mariah Carey – Workin’ Hard (Terry Hunter Remix)
Turnstile & BadBadNotGood Featuring Blood Orange – Alien Love Call

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella
Hilario Duran and His Latin Jazz Big Band Featuring Paquito D’Rivera – I Remember Mingus
Just 6 – Angels We Have Heard on High
Ludwig Göransson – Can You Hear the Music
The String Revolution Featuring Tommy Emmanuel – Folsom Prison Blues
Wednesday Addams – Paint It Black

Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals
Cécile McLorin Salvant – Fenestra
Maria Mendes Featuring John Beasley & Metropole Orkest – Com Que Voz (Live)
Patti Austin Featuring Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band – April in Paris
Säje Featuring Jacob Collier – In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning
Samara Joy – Lush Life

Best Orchestral Performance
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra – Scriabin: Symphony No. 2; The Poem of Ecstasy
Los Angeles Philharmonic – Adès: Dante
Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra – Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra; Four Pieces
The Philadelphia Orchestra – Price: Symphony No. 4; Dawson: Negro Folk Symphony
San Francisco Symphony – Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring

Maluma to Perform at This Year’s Latin Grammy Awards Show

Maluma will be feelin’ the FIBES

The 29-year-old Colombian singer-songwriter will perform at this year’s Latin Grammy Awards.

MalumaThe “Felices Los 4” singer joins a roster of recently added performers that includes Milo J, Rosalia, Shakira, Sebastian Yatra, Andrea Bocelli and DJ Premier.

They’ll perform at the upcoming ceremony, which will broadcast from FIBES in Seville, Spain, on Thursday, November 16.

The newly announced artists join previously unveiled performers, including Maria BecerraBizarrap, FeidKany GarcíaCarin LeónChristian NodalRauw AlejandroAlejandro Sanz, Pablo AlboránEdgar BarreraCamilo, Manuel Carrasco, IzaJuanes, OzunaEslabon Armado and Peso Pluma.

Additionally, Majo AguilarAnitta, Pedro Capó, Jorge Drexler, Luis Figueroa, Fonseca, Tiago Iorc, Mon LaferteNatalia Lafourcade, John Leguizamo, Nicki Nicole, Carlos PonceCarlos Vives and Yandel join as presenters throughout the ceremony.

For the first time held outside the United States, the annual Latin Grammys will be broadcast from the Conference and Exhibition Centre in Seville, Spain. It will air November 16 on Univision starting at 8:00 pm ET, UniMás and Galavisión in the U.S., and at 10:30 pm CET on Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE) in Spain.

Danna Paola, Yatra, Roselyn Sánchez and Paz Vega will serve as co-hosts.

This year, Mexican hitmaker Edgar Barrera leads the list of nominees with 13 nods, including songwriter of the year, producer of the year and song of the year. Barrera is followed by Colombian stars Camilo, Karol G, Shakira and composer Kevyn Mauricio Cruz (also known as Keityn), each with seven nominations.

Pedro Capó Releases New Single “Volver a Casa”

Pedro Capó is heading home

The 41-year-old Puerto Rican singer has released the new single “Volver a Casa” via Sony Music Latin.

Pedro CapoA chill R&B-rock fusion, “Volver a Casa” is about wanting to escape life’s biggest challenges, yearning to feel grounded, and most importantly, returning home.

“It’s a very personal track that shares the experiences lived in this career, where you can be surrounded by people yet feel alone,” the Capo says in a statement. “Not everything is as nice and as perfect as we want to pretend, that’s the reality and there are many people going through difficult times.”

In the music video, filmed in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, Capó is having an emotional moment at home alone.

Shakira Teams Up with Rauw Alejandro for “Te Felicito,” Due April 22

Shakira is celebrating a Rauw deal…

The 45-year-old Colombian superstar has joined voices with Rauw Alejandro for her next single, called “Te Felicito.”

Shakira

Shakira revealed the news by posting the single’s cover art, where she’s posing next to the Puerto Rican sensation, with both rocking metallic outfits.

“I’m happy to share the release of my new single #TeFelicito with Rauw Alejandro,” she captioned the post, also using the robot emoji to hint at a futuristic music video. Marking their first-ever collaborative effort, “Te Felicito” will premiere Friday, April 22.

In the same social media post, Shak — who has collaborated with Puerto Rican artists like Anuel AA, Residente and Pedro Capo — also invited her fans to pre-save the song on Spotify, Apple and Deezer “to be among the first to listen to their new music.”

“Te Felicito” follows Shakira’s EDM bop “Don’t Wait Up,” which was released in summer 2021. Currently, she’s an executive producer of NBC’s Dancing With Myself, where she’s also a judge alongside Nick Jonas and actress Liza Koshy.

Rauw, on the other hand, is set to wrap his 2022 tour on April 24 at San Jose’s SAP Center and is making the rounds with his latest single “Museo,” part of his Trap Cake, Vol. 2 album, which earned the artist his fourth top 10 success on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart, debuting at No. 6 on the March 12-dated ranking.

Sofia Reyes Releases Sophomore Album “Mal de Amores”

Sofia Reyes is finally back with a new album…

The 26-year-old Mexican pop singer has released her highly-awaited sophomore album Mal De Amores, five years after her debut set Louder! 

Sofia Reyes

On her new set, Reyes not only experiments with new musical approaches but also flaunts her maturity over the years.

She’s unapologetic, and the opening track “MUJER” is proof of that — a saucy cumbia with elegant violins where she simply says “I don’t regret being a woman.”

It follows with the galactic reggaetón banger “Marte,” the set’s focus track, performed in collaboration with Maria Becerra — a friendly reminder that women should never tolerate toxicity.

Reyes also navigates musical styles in Mal de Amores ranging from norteño (“GALLINA”) to corridos (“Amigos” with Adriel Favela, Danny Felix) to her signature pop-urban.

The 17-track set includes previously-released collaborations such as “1, 2, 3” with Jason Derulo and De La Ghetto, “R.I.P.” with Rita Ora and Anitta, “A Tu Manera (Corbata)” with Jhay Cortez, “De Casualidad” with Pedro Capo, and the Becky G-assisted title track.

Reyes also teamed up with Warner Music newcomers Leon Leiden and The Change.

Camilo: The Top Winner at Latin Grammys with Four Awards

Camilo is capping off a banner year with a bang…

The 27-year-old Colombian singer/songwriter and rising star, who has defied the commercial might of reggaetón and trap with his unique brand of romantic acoustic pop, was the big winner at the 2021 Latin Grammy Awards.

Camilo
Camilo claimed four trophies, including best pop vocal album, for Mis Manos.

“This album is a celebration of my country, one of the places with the most biodiversity in the world, and that’s where I’m from and what informs my music,” said Camilo, who’d previously won a Latin Grammy in 2020 for Best Pop Song for his single “Tutu,” featuring Pedro Capo.

Following Camilo in number of wins, with three each, was Mexican songwriter and producer Edgar Barrera, who won producer of the year, including for his work on Camilo’s Mis Manos, and co-wrote the winning single “Vida de Rico.”

Also taking home three trophies was Spaniard C. Tangana, whose wins included best alternative song for “Nominao” alongside Jorge Drexler and best pop/rock song for “Hong Kong” alongside Andrés Calamaro, both from his critically acclaimed album El Madrileño.

And the emotional high note, at every level, was the song of the year win, to Cuban liberty anthem “Patria y Vida,” performed by Gente de Zona, Descemer Bueno, Yotuel Romero and newly arrived Cuban rapper El Funky, who performed dressed in white and surrounded by candles in an emotional rendition that got the audience at the MGM Grand Garden Arena to their feet.

“This is dedicated to all mothers who fight for their children,” said an emotional Romero to chants of “Patria y Vida,” which also won best urban song. Backstage, the group acknowledged co-writer Beatriz Luengo (who is married to Romero) and rapper Maykel Osorbo, who is jailed in Cuba because of his participation in the song.

“Maykel is the first Cuban political prisoner who wins two Latin Grammys,” said an emotional Bueno.

Among the veteran, but beloved, guard, the top winner was Juan Luis Guerra, with three wins. They include best long form music video for his HBO Max special Entre Mar y Palmeras, produced by Guerra’s manager Amarilys German, his son Jean Guerra, and Nelson Albareda and Edgar Martínez of event promotion and marketing firm Loud and Live.

Likewise, Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year Ruben Blades won two awards, including album of the year, for his Salswing! out on his own label. And Caetano Veloso and son Tom Veloso won record of the year for “Talvez,” while the biggest surprise of the night, in an award category that — with 10 nominees — has become increasingly hard to predict, was Colombia’s Juliana Velásquez as best new artist, which she won over far better known contenders, including Paloma Mami, Bizarrap and María Becerra.

The 23-year-old actress and singer released her self-titled debut album earlier this year with collabs alongside compatriot Juan Pablo Vega, but with little impact abroad. And yet, it clearly struck a chord with its themes of self-help, mental health and self awareness.

“I think what worked in my favor was making music that spoke directly to young people,” said Velásquez in the press room. “I think us artists have an obligation to share messages that contribute to society and to help with those issues that get lost in the a society imbued with immediacy.”

Here’s a look at this year’s Latin Grammy winners:

Record of the Year: “Talvez,” Caetano Veloso and Tom Veloso
Album of the Year: Salswing!, Rubén Blades y Roberto Delgado & Orquesta
Song of the Year: “Patria y Vida,” Descemer Bueno, El Funky, Gente De Zona, Yadam González, Beatriz Luengo, Maykel Osorbo and Yotuel, songwriters (Yotuel, Gente De Zona, Descemer Bueno, Maykel Osorbo, El Funky)
Best New Artist: Juliana Velásquez
Best Pop Vocal Album: Mis Manos, Camilo
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: Privé, Juan Luis Guerra
Best Pop Song: “Vida De Rico,” Édgar Barrera and Camilo, songwriters (Camilo)
Best Urban Fusion/Performance: “Tattoo (Remix),” Rauw Alejandro and Camilo
Best Reggaeton Performance: “Bichota,” Karol G
Best Urban Music Album: El Último Tour Del Mundo, Bad Bunny
Best Rap/Hip Hop Song: “Booker T,” Bad Bunny and Marco Daniel Borrero, songwriters (Bad Bunny)
Best Urban Song: “Patria Y Vida,” Descemer Bueno, El Funky, Gente De Zona, Yadam González, Beatriz Luengo, Maykel Osorbo and Yotuel, songwriters (Yotuel, Gente De Zona, Descemer Bueno, Maykel Osorbo and El Funky)
Best Rock Album: El Pozo Brillante, Vicentico
Best Rock Song: “Ahora 1,” Vicentico, songwriter (Vicentico)
Best Pop/Rock Album: Origen, Juanes
Best Pop/Rock Song: “Hong Kong,” Alizzz, Andrés Calamaro, Jorge Drexler, Víctor Martínez and C. Tangana, songwriters (C. Tangana and Andrés Calamaro)
Best Alternative Music Album: Calambre, Nathy Peluso
Best Alternative Song: “Nominao,” Alizzz, Jorge Drexler and C. Tangana, songwriters (C. Tangana and Jorge Drexler)
Best Salsa Album: Salsa Plus!, Rubén Blades y Roberto Delgado and Orquesta
Best Cumbia/Vallento Album: Las Locuras Mías, Silvestre Dangond
Best Merengue/Bachata Album: Es Merengue ¿Algún Problema?, Sergio Vargas
Best Traditional Tropical Album: Cha Cha Chá: Homenaje A Lo Tradicional, Alain Pérez, Issac Delgado y Orquesta Aragón
Best Contemporary Tropical Album: Brazil305, Gloria Estefan
Best Tropical Song: “Dios Así Lo Quiso,” Camilo, David Julca, Jonathan Julca, Yasmil Marrufo and Ricardo Montaner, songwriters (Ricardo Montaner and Juan Luis Guerra)
Best Singer-Songwriter Album: Seis, Mon Laferte
Best Ranchero/Mariachi Album: A Mis 80’s, Vicente Fernández
Best Banda Album: Nos Divertimos Logrando Lo Imposible, Grupo Firme
Best Tejano Album: Pa’ la Pista y Pa’l Pisto, Vol. 2, El Plan
Best Norteño Album: Al Estilo Rancherón, Los Dos Carnales & Volando Alto, Palomo
Best Regional Song: “Aquí Abajo,” Edgar Barrera, René Humberto Lau Ibarra and Christian Nodal, songwriters (Christian Nodal)
Best Instrumental Album: Toquinho e Yamandu Costa – Bachianinha – (Live at Rio Montreux Jazz Festival), Toquinho and Yamandu Costa
Best Folk Album: Ancestras, Petrona Martinez
Best Tango Album: Tinto Tango Plays Piazzolla, Tinto Tango
Best Flamenco Album: Un Nuevo Universo, Pepe De Lucía
Best Latin Jazz/Jazz Album: Voyager, Iván Melon Lewis
Best Christian Album (Spanish Language): Ya Me Vi, Aroddy
Best Portuguese Language Christian Album: Seguir Teu Coração, Anderson Freire
Best Portuguese Language Contemporary Pop Album: Cor, Anavitória
Best Portuguese Language Rock or Alternative Album: “Álbum Rosa,” A Cor Do Som
Best Samba/Pagode Album: Sempre Se Pode Sonhar, Paulinho Da Viola
Best MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira) Album: Canções d’Além Mar, Zeca Baleiro
Best Sertaneja Music Album: Tempo de Romance, Chitãozinho e Xororó
Best Portuguese Language Roots Album: Arraiá Da Veveta, Ivete Sangalo
Best Portuguese Language Song: “Lisboa,” Ana Caetano & Paulo Novaes, songwriters (Anavitória e Lenine)
Best Latin Children’s Album: Tu Rockcito Filarmónico, Tu Rockcito y Orquesta Filarmónica De Medellín
Best Classical Album: Latin American Classics, Kristhyan Benitez; Jon Feidner, album producer
Best Classical Contemporary Composition: “Music From Cuba And Spain, Sierra: Sonata Para Guitarra,” Roberto Sierra, composer (Manuel Barrueco)
Best Arrangement: “Ojalá Que Llueva Café (Versión Privé),” Juan Luis Guerra, arranger (Juan Luis Guerra)
Best Recording Package: “Colegas,” Ana Gonzalez, art director (Gilberto Santa Rosa)
Best Engineered Album: El Madrileño, Orlando Aispuro Meneses, Daniel Alanís, Alizzz, Rafa Arcaute, Josdán Luis Cohimbra Acosta, Miguel De La Vega, Máximo Espinosa Rosell, Alex Ferrer, Luis Garcié, Billy Garedella, Patrick Liotard, Ed Maverick, Beto Mendonça, Jaime Navarro, Alberto Pérez, Nathan Phillips, Harto Rodríguez, Jason Staniulis and Federico Vindver, engineers; Delbert Bowers, Alex Ferrer, Jaycen Joshua, Nineteen85, Lewis Pickett, Alex Psaroudakis and Raül Refree, mixers; Chris Athens, mastering engineer (C. Tangana) — WINNER
Producer of the Year: Edgar Barrera
Best Short Form Music Video: “Un Amor Eterno,” Marc Anthony
Best Long Form Music Video: “Entre Mar Y Palmeras,” Juan Luis Guerra

Gloria Estefan to Perform at the Latin Grammy Awards Show

Gloria Estefan is headed to the Latin Grammys stage…

The Latin Recording Academy has announced additional performers set to take the stage for the 22nd annual Latin Grammy Awards on November 18 in Las Vegas, with the 64-year-old Cuban singer and four-time Latin Grammy winner among those on the list.

Gloria EstefanMaking her return to the Latin Grammys stage after more than a decade, Estefan — accompanied by AnittaCarlinhos Brown, Laércio da Costa, Pedro CapóFarina, Giulia Be and Diego Torres — will open the Latin Grammys with a three-song medley, including her iconic song “Abriendo Puertas,” along with “Cuando Hay Amor” and “Magalenha.”

Additionally, Ángela AguilarPepe Aguilar, María BecerraEladio Carrión, Silvestre Dangond, EmmanuelJoss Favela, Evaluna MontanerRicardo Montaner, Fito PáezResidente, Sofía Reyes, among others, have joined the broadcast as presenters.

The new group of artists join previously announced performers Mon Laferte, Grupo Firme, Bad Bunny, Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizárraga, Rubén Blades, C. Tangana, Calibre 50, Los Dos Carnales, Alejandro Fernández, Juanes, Maná, Ozuna, Danna Paola and Myke Towers, among others.

Five-time nominee C. Tangana is set to perform alongside Antonio Carmona, Diego del Morao, Jorge Drexler, Israel Fernández, La Húngara, Natalia Lafourcade and Omar Apollo. Meanwhile, Juanes will perform a new arrangement of Juan Gabriel’s iconic “No Tengo Dinero,” alongside Rubén Albarrán and Meme del Real of Café Tacvba.

With the theme “rediscovering life through music,” the three-hour show will air live on Univision at 8:00 p.m. ET, preceded by a one-hour pre-show starting at 7:00 p.m. ET.

The telecast, live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena, will “invite audiences to rediscover what’s important in life using music as a storyline,” according to a statement from the Latin Recording Academy.

Camilo leads the 2021 Latin Grammys nominees with 10 nods, including nominations in the album, record, and song of the year categories. He’s followed by tropical music icon Juan Luis Guerra with six, Spanish rapper Tangana with five nominations, and multiple artists, including Bad Bunny, with four.

Estefan is nominated this year for Best Contemporary Tropical Album for her samba-flavored album Brazil305.

Farruko’s “La 167” Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums Chart

Farruko is back on top…

The 30-year-old Puerto Rican singer and songwriter has returned to No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Latin Albums chart after nearly six years, as La 167 debuts atop the October 16-dated list.

Farruko

The 25-track set, released via Carbon Fiber/Sony Music Latin on October 1, starts with 17,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending Oct. 7, according to MRC Data.

It secures Farruko his third win on the overall Top Latin Albums chart dating back to his first champ Farruko Presents Los Menores (No. 1 start in November 2014). In between, he’s placed one more leading album: Visionary in November 2015.

“I don’t work to get a No. 1, but it’s incredible that people like what I’m doing and that they are enjoying it,” Farruko tells Billboard.

La 167 is a nod to a highway that passes through his homeland in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, and a gas station once owned by his late grandfather. The 100-minute set is stacked with Latin artists, including Myke Towers, Ñengo Flow, O’Neill, Pedro Capó, Jay Wheeler and more, and each has rendered a variety of Latin styles ranging from perreo and reggae, to pop, hip-hop and reggaetón.

“The most challenging aspect of the production was structuring an album that didn’t bore,” Faruko adds. “Where the production, lyrics and everything were different, varied; where I allowed myself to explore other genres which were not necessarily mine.”

As La 167 arrives at the summit, Farruko now has a total of six top 10s on Top Latin Albums, three of which, as previously mentioned, hit No. 1 for at least one week. Here’s a recap:

Ranking, Title, Debut Date
No. 1, Farruko Presents Los Menores, Nov. 15, 2014 (two weeks atop)
No. 8, The Ones, Sept. 19, 2015
No. 1, Visionary, Nov. 14, 2015
No. 3, Trapxficante, Oct. 7, 2017
No. 2, Gangalee, May 11, 2019
No. 1, La 167, Oct. 16

La 167 concurrently debuts at No. 1 on Latin Rhythm Albums, also his third No. 1 there. Farruko also captures his highest album yet on the overall Billboard 200, clocking in at No. 26 (Gangalee’s No. 80 start in 2019 earned him his highest debut, and peak, until now).

La 167 was preceded by only two tracks on the all-metric Hot Latin Songs chart: the No. 4-peaking “La Tóxica” (November 2020) and the now eight-week champ (and counting) “Pepas,” which takes the Greatest Gainer/ Digital honors of the week despite a 6% dip in sales (3,000 downloads sold for the tracking week ending in October 7).

“I connect with many of the tracks on the album, for instance the opening track ‘Ki,’ ‘$,’ and ‘Helicóptero’,” Farruko continues, “all based on personal experiences from a particular chapter in my life.”

In addition to “Pepas” holding strong at the penthouse, “El Incomprendido,” with Víctor Cárdenas and DJ Adoni, another rhythmic/EDM club banger, bows at No. 14. The latter interpolates Alice Deejay’s “Beter Off Alone,” the ’90s Eurodance hit that reached the top 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 2000.

Paulina Rubio to Appear in Season Two of HBO Max/HBO Latino’s “A Tiny Audience” Concert Series

Paulina Rubio is preparing for a tiny moment…

HBO’s second season of A Tiny Audience is set to debut on Friday, March 19 on HBO Max and HBO Latino, with the 49-year-old singer/songwriter among the artists featured.

Paulina Rubio

In addition to Rubio, known as the Queen of Latin Pop, the 16-episode run will include sets by chart-topping Latin artists like Carlos VivesLauren Jauregui, Pedro Capó and Kany García, among others.

A Tiny Audience‘s second season will kick off with rising Puerto Rican reggaeton and trap artist Lunay who will perform acoustic versions of his hit tracks “Soltera,” ‘Relaciones,” and “Aventuras.”

The concert series will wrap with a special tribute in honor of iconic Mexican singer and songwriter Juan Gabriel featuring Justin QuilesNatalia JiménezCarlos Rivera and Cabas performing their favorite JuanGa songs.

The second season was “filmed inside an NBA-style bubble in Miami with a COVID-safe live audience.” The bubble included roughly 150 people composed of select audience members, crew and artists who “underwent extensive quarantining and rigorous testing prior to entering the bubble and throughout the two-week production.” The team executed 17, half-hour specials, and “did not report a single case of COVID-19,” the release added.

New episodes will premiere every Friday on HBO Max and HBO Latino. Season one of HBO Presents: A Tiny Audience is available for streaming now on HBO Max.