Pedro Tovar Signs Worldwide Publishing Deal with Kobalt Music

Pedro Tovar has a new deal…

The 22-year-old Mexican American lead vocalist, founding member and primary songwriter for Eslabón Armado has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Kobalt Music.

Pedro TovarThe agreement was done via Tovar’s Armado Publishing; Kobalt will administer his future songs globally.

“I’m excited to join the Kobalt Music family in this new career stage,” Tovar said in a statement. “As a songwriter, I have always sought a company that values creativity and provides the necessary support to elevate my music to a global audience. I know that with Kobalt, I’ll continue growing and sharing my stories through my songs.”

Since having a major breakthrough in 2020, the sierreño act has been on a winning streak and fueling the música mexicana (Regional Mexican) movement along the way.

Over the course of four years, Eslabon Armado released six consecutive chart-topping albums — all of which hit No. 1 on Billboard’Regional Mexican Albums chart. In 2022, the group made history, with Nostalgia becoming the first top 10-charting regional Mexican album ever on the Billboard 200. 

A year later, Eslabon Armado released its blockbuster hit “Ella Baila Sola” with Peso Pluma. The song was a runaway success and made history when it entered the Billboard Hot 100‘s top five.

Last week, Eslabon Armado released its eight studio album, Vibras de Noche II, a follow-up to the band’s 2020 set Vibras de Noche.

“Pedro Tovar is one of the most exciting artists and songwriters making music today,” added Nestor Casonu, president of Kobalt Music Latin America. “Through this partnership, we’ve had the privilege of understanding the values of an extraordinary family, led by Doña Nelly, with whom we’ve built both a professional and personal bond. I’m excited about the great things we’ll achieve together in the future.”

“At Kobalt, we want to sign songwriters who have singular voices that resonate with a wide audience,” said Teresa Romo, Kobalt’s senior creative director for Latin America. “Our partnership with Pedro Tovar represents an exciting new phase in his songwriting career, and we’re honored to support his creative independence and nurture  new opportunities.”

Peso Pluma Reveals Track List for New Album “Éxodo,” Featuring All-Star Collaborators

Peso Pluma is bringing out the big guns…

The 24-year-old Mexican singer-songwriter has revealed the track list for his new album, Éxodo, a 24-song double album that features Cardi B, Anitta, Quavo, DJ Snake and other all-star collaborators.OK

Peso Pluma

Éxodo, the follow-up to Peso’ Plumas Grammy-winning debut album Génesis, is comprised of 16 songs in the same style as the música Mexicana that helped launch his career, and eight urbano (reggaeton, Latin trap etc.) songs.

Peso Pluma had a big look in in the lead-up to and after the release of his debut record, the third regional Mexican LP to hit the Top 10 (No. 3) of the Billboard 200.

The album’s release date of June 20 was revealed in a music video teaser for “La Durango” that stars Connor McGregor.

Peso Pluma recently appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and performed his new song “La Durango” with Eslabon Armado’s Pedro Tovar.

He’s also gearing up for a tour across North America with festival slots in New York, Chicago and Mexico.

Here’s a look at the complete track list:

Disc 1:
La Durango ft. Eslabón Armado and Junior H
Me Activo ft. Jasiel Nuñez
La Patrulla ft. Neton Vega
La People II ft. Tito Double P and Joel de la P
Sr. Smith ft. Luis R Conriquez
Rompe la Dompe ft. Junior H and Oscar Maydon
Mami ft. Chino Pacas
Belanova ft. Tito Double P
Bruce Wayne
Hollywood ft. Estevan Plazola
Reloj ft. Ivan Cornejo
Ice
Solicitado
Santal 33 ft. Oscar Maydo
Vino Tinto ft. Natanael Cano and Gabito Ballesteros
14-14

Disc 2:
Gimme a Second ft. Rich the Kid
Put Em in the Fridge ft. Cardi B
Pa No Pensar ft. Quavo
Peso Completo ft. Aracángel
Bellakeo ft. Anitta
Mala ft. Ryan Castro
Tommy & Pamela ft. Kenia Os
Teka ft. DJ Snake

Eslabon Armado Makes Late-Night TV Debut on “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”

Eslabon Armado continues taking the nation by storm…

The Regional Mexican group made its late-night television debut this week on Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon.

Eslabon ArmadoThe renowned Música Mexicana group was joined by Gabito Ballesteros—also making his first appearance on Fallon—to perform their hit collaboration “La Fresa.”

The Tonight Show is one of the top shows in the entire country, and I’ve grown up watching the show since I was a kid,” frontman Pedro Tovar said in a statement. “I’ve always seen the biggest stars be on the show, and being able to perform on the Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon is a major milestone crossed in our career.”

Their performance comes on the heels of Eslabon Armado’s performance on Good Morning America, where they made history as the first Musica Mexicana group on the show.

Eslabon Armado Makes History with “Good Morning America” Performance

Eslabon Armado is celebrating a historic American television appearance…

To kick off Hispanic Heritage Month festivities, the Regional Mexican band performed on ABC’s Good Morning America on Friday, September 15 — making history as the first Regional Mexican band ever to sing on the show.

Eslabon Armado,Eslabon Armado, from Patterson, Calif., performed their blockbuster hit “Ella Baila Sola.” The sierreño song with Peso Pluma peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart.

“I think it’s a blessing for us,” said Eslabon’s lead singer Pedro Tovar minutes before performing on GMA. “It’s totally another feeling for us … we’ve been on other shows but this is one of the most important one for us. I remember going to school and my teachers putting on the Good Morning America show.”

Eslabon Armado Releases Sixth Studio Album “Desvelado”

It’s a sleepless time for Eslabon Armado.

The Regional Mexican band has released its latest studio album Desvelado.

Eslabon Armado’s sixth studio album — which follows their five back-to-back No. 1s on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Albums chart — drops when the Mexican-American sierreño band’s “Ella Baila Sola” with Peso Pluma is No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 (dated April 29).

It’s the first regional Mexican song to top the tally, and it’s also the first one from that genre to enter the top five on the Hot 100. Of course, the track is found on Desvelado, and while that might be the song that will draw you to listen to this album, you’re going to stay for all the other gems that Eslabon Armado delivers.

Mostly written by frontman Pedro Tovar (who is currently No. 1 on the Hot 100 Songwriters Chart), Desvelado further cements Tovar’s ability to adapt the classic genre to Gen Z, with super-modern lyrics — like in the opening track, “Quién Es El?” where he sings, “Who is he, the one you’re posting on social media, hanging out in the same places I once took you and kissed you?”

Throughout the album, Eslabon Armado sticks to the sad sierreño, guitar-driven sound that’s not only worked for them but marks a new generation of Mexican music hitmakers. The LP includes eight collabs, including the norteña-tinged cumbia “Quédate Conmigo” with Grupo Frontera (fresh off a Bad Bunny team-up) and the soon-to-be breakup anthem “Tomando Tequila,” with Jhayco’s raspy vocals taking center stage. Eslabon Armado reels in artists the group has previously recorded with, including Junior H and DannyLux, for duets. If you’re barely discovering Eslabon Armado because you’ve listened to “Ella Baila Sola,” you’ve arrived just in time. This album is a treat to new and loyal fans alike.

Eslabon Armado’s Pedro Tovar Tops Billboard’s Hot 100 Songwriters Chart for First Time

It’s a special first for Pedro Tovar.

The Mexican American singer/songwriter, the lead vocalist of Eslabon Armado, rises to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Songwriters chart dated April 29, ruling as the top songwriter in the United States for the first time, due to his work on his band’s hit single “Ella Baila Sola,” with Peso Pluma.

Pedro TovarThe song, on which he’s credited as the sole writer, jumps 10-5 on the latest Billboard Hot 100. It became the first Regional Mexican song to reach the chart’s top 10 a week earlier and is now the first to hit the top five.

“Ella Baila Sola” surges with 31.8 million official U.S. streams, up 31%, in the April 14-20 tracking week, according to Luminate.

Tovar is the fifth person to rule the Hot 100 Songwriters chart this year, after late holiday hitmaker Johnny Marks, for one week in January; SZA (nine weeks, January-March); Morgan Wallen (one, March); and Ashley Gorley (five, March-April).

Tovar concurrently spends a fifth week at No. 1 on the Latin Songwriters chart, as “Ella Baila Sola” adds a third week atop Hot Latin Songs.

Billboard’s weekly Hot 100 Songwriters and Hot 100 Producers charts are based on total points accrued by a songwriter and producer, respectively, for each attributed song that appears on the Hot 100. As with Billboard’s yearly recaps, multiple writers or producers split points for each song equally (and the dividing of points will lead to occasional ties on rankings).

Peso Pluma & Eslabon Armado Make History as “Ella Bala Sola” Reaches No. 1 on Billboard Global 200 Chart

Peso Pluma is officially a global phenomenon…

The 23-year-old Mexican singer’s collaboration with Eslabon ArmadoElla Baila Sola” has surged to No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart dated April 29.

Eslabon Armado x Peso PlumaIt’s the first leader on the list for each act, as well as the first for the Regional Mexican genre.

Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma’s “Ella Baila Sola” ascends 3-1 to crown the Billboard Global 200, with 95.2 million streams (up 27%) and 3,000 sold (up 74%) worldwide April 14-20.

It’s also the fourth all-Spanish-language leader on the list, following Karol G and Shakira’s “TQG,” which ruled for a week upon its debut in March; Bizarrap and Quevedo’s “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 52” (four weeks, 2022); and “Dákiti” by Bad Bunny and Jhay Cortez (now Jhayco; three, 2020).

“We didn’t expect for the song to make so much noise!” Pedro Tovar, Eslabon Armado lead singer and sole author of “Ella Baila Sola,” recently told Billboard of the track, which concurrently becomes the first regional Mexican top five hit ever on the Billboard Hot 100. “I really liked the song when I first wrote it, but I didn’t really expect it to be such a big hit. I previewed it on my stories on Instagram and, two days after, it went viral on TikTok, and that’s when I knew that the song was going to do big numbers.”

“Normally I don’t expect to chart with songs,” Peso Pluma marveled. “We just enjoyed the process of doing it.”

Meanwhile, marking more moves for Regional Mexican, Grupo Frontera and Bad Bunny’s “Un x100to” launches in the top five on the tally.

“Un x100to” blasts onto the Global 200 at No. 5 with 67.4 million streams and 4,000 sold worldwide in its first week. Regional Mexican sextet Grupo Frontera, from Texas, achieves its first top 10 on the chart, while Bad Bunny adds his 13th.

The Billboard Global 200 survey 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, including 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.

Eslabon Armado Makes History on Billboard 200 Chart

Eslabon Armado is making history on the Billboard charts…

The California-based Regional Mexican group’s fifth studio album Nostalgia has stormed to No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Albums chart, as well as the top 10 on the Top Latin Albums and all-genre Billboard 200 charts (all dated May 21).

Eslabon ArmadoEslabon Armado — comprised of brothers Brian and Pedro Tovar (18 and 19, respectively), Ulises Gonzalez (20) and Damian Fidel Pacheco (20) — arrives at a new career achievement, scoring the first top 10-charting regional Mexican album ever on the Billboard 200. (Regional Mexican albums are defined as those that have hit Billboard’s Regional Mexican Albums chart.)

Debuting at No. 9, Nostalgia bests the group’s previous three entries there, including a top 20 appearance (Vibras de Noche, No. 18, August 2020).

“We never expected to debut so high, it’s truly a blessing,” Pedro Tovar tells Billboard. “We hope this becomes our best project; we really love it.”

Further, Eslabon is the first group to score a top 10 with a Latin album on the Billboard 200 since Santana’s Africa Speaks arrived and peaked at No. 3 in June 2019.

Over on the Latin charts, Nostalgia, released May 6 via DEL Records, starts at No. 1 on Regional Mexican Albums with 29,500 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending May 12, according to Luminate.

The chart ranks the most popular regional Mexican albums of the week in the U.S. based on multimetric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, comprising album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album.

Nearly all of Nostalgia’s starting sum was driven by SEA units, which equates to 42.82 million on-demand official streams of the album’s 14 songs. That’s the biggest streaming week for a regional Mexican album.

The set’s arrival at the summit of Regional Mexican Albums marks the group’s fifth consecutive No. 1 — the entirety of its charting efforts.

The act previously topped the chart, which launched in 1985, with Tu Veneno Mortal, Vol. 2 (No. 1 for three weeks), Corta Venas (54 weeks), Vibras de Noche (11) and Tu Veneno Mortal (eight).

Corta Venas continues to have the third-most weeks at No. 1 on the chart, behind Christian Nodal’s Me Dejé Llevar (73 weeks) and Selena’s Amor Prohibido (97).

“The most challenging aspect of the creative process of the album was putting everything together, the guitars, the bass, the vocals,” Tovar continues. “Putting it all together with new band members made the magic.”

Nostalgia concurrently debuts at No. 2 on Top Latin Albums, the band’s best start, in terms of rank, since Vibras de Noche arrived at No. 1 with 23,000 equivalent album units in August 2020. The former arrives in the runner-up slot behind Bad Bunny’s monster start of 274,000 units with Un Verano Sin Ti.

As Nostalgia arrives, nine of its songs dot the all-metric Hot Latin Songs chart.

Here’s a recap:

No. 27, “Si Supieras” with DannyLux
No. 28, “Dos Morritas,” with Junior H
No. 31, “Vete a la Fregada”
No. 32, ‘Modo Depre :(”
No. 35, “Hasta La Muerte,” with Iván Cornejo
No. 38, “La Perrie,” with Fuerza Regida
No. 39, “Luces Rojas”
No. 42, “Mente en Alto”
No. 43, “Solo,” with Erre

Yahritza y Su Esencia Among the Latinx Acts Named to Billboard’s 21 Under 21 List

Yahritza Martinez has proven she is one to watch…

The 15-year-old Mexican American singer and her brothers, who make up the act Yahritza y Su Esencia, have been named to Billboard’s 21 Under 21 list, Billboard’s annual celebration of some of the most exciting and successful young artists in the music industry including Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish and more.

Last month, Yahritza became the youngest Latin performer to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart with “Soy El Unico.”

To date, Yahritza and her brothers have notched 52.9 million streams.

But Yahritza y Su Esencia aren’t the only Latinx act to make this year’s list.

Eslabon Armado, consisting of Brian Tovar, Pedro Tovar, Ulises Gonzalez and Damian Fidel Pacheco, have released four consecutive chart-topping albums over the past two years — all of which hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Albums chart.

The band took a longer-than-usual break before releasing its latest album, Nostalgia, on May 5. During that time, the group added new members Gonzalez and Pacheco.

“Releasing back-to-back albums was good for our career, but we decided to take a break writing new music so that we could come back stronger,” the Mexican-American sierreño group says. “Our biggest challenge as young artists is staying relevant and creating music that connects with our fans.”

Ángela Aguilar is being heralded for logging 240.1 million streams in her young career.

The 18-year-old Mexican American singer, the daughter of Pepe Aguilar, says she “had been working with my parents’ record label all my life,” having signed to Machín Récords herself in 2012.

Nearly a decade later, in 2020, she scored her first No. 1 on Billboard’Regional Mexican Airplay chart with the Christian Nodal-assisted single “Dime Cómo Quieres.”

Aguilar says the biggest benefit of being a young artist is “the ability to DM someone about a collaboration.”

Earlier this year, she scored her second No. 1 on the chart with “Ahí Donde Me Ven.”

The Latin Grammy nominee is eager to explore acting, like her father has, and says some of his best career advice includes being “respectful of your craft and the public — to keep your roots well-embedded in your heart.”

Tiago PZK has notched 7.1 million streams.

The 20-year-old Argentine singer and rapper was only 6 years old when he discovered his passion for music, thanks to Daddy Yankee’s 2007 song “Impacto (Remix)” (featuring Fergie).

Tiago PZK (who also cites Justin Bieber as inspiration) has since created his own fusion of R&B, reggaetón and alternative rock, best heard on his five Billboard Global 200 hits: “Además de Mi,” “No Me Conocen,” “Entre Nosotros,” “Salimo de Noche” and “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 48.

In 2021, the artist born Tiago Uriel Pacheco signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Sony Music Publishing U.S. Latin and, this year, a record deal with Warner Music Latina (through a partnership with indie Grand Move Records). Looking ahead, he says he’s most excited to tour: “It will make me travel the world and strengthen me mentally.”

DannyLux has garnered 4.8 million streams.

The 18-year-old Chicano alt-rocker is a self-taught musician who hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Songwriters chart at just 17 years old thanks to his work on Eslabon Armado’s “Jugaste y Sufrí” (off the band’s third album, Corta Venas).

The sierreño artist has since signed a record deal with Warner Music Latina (in partnership with his indie label, VSP Music) and released his ultra-melancholic album, Perdido Sin Ti. He’s already working on new music because, as he says, consistency is key. “Since I’m young, I have so much time to grow up to be the best artist I can be,” he says, citing Bad Bunny’s career as an inspiration because “he never gave up.”

The Linda Lindas, comprised of Mila de la Garza, Eloise Wong, Lucia de la Garza and Bela Salazar, have logged 6.9 million streams.

The all-girl group broke out onto the scene with their viral hit “Racist, Sexist Boy,” which they performed live from the L.A. Public Library.

Eslabon Armado Earns Fourth No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Albums Chart with “Tu Veneno Mortal, Vol. 2”

It’s another No. 1 for Eslabon Armado

Six months after the Regional Mexican group’s Corta Venas debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Albums chart, the band takes the lead again as its latest effort, Tu Veneno Mortal, Vol. 2, debuts at No. 1 on the July 10-dated survey.

Eslabon Armado

It’s the act’s fourth No. 1 total, and all have come in less than 13 months.

The new 12-track set is the second volume of Tu Veneo Mortalthe debut albums of the then-trio, which topped the tally for eight weeks in 2020. Eslabon Armado is now comprised of brothers Pedro and Brian Tovar after Gabriel Hidalgo exited the group.

Tu Veneno Mortal, Vol. 2 starts with 8,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending July 1, according to MRC Data. Nearly all the set’s opening sum derives from streaming activity. That is 12.5 million U.S. on-demand streams for the tracks on the album.

As Tu Veneno Mortal, Vol. 2 arrives at No. 1, it earns Eslabon Armado a career milestone. The duo becomes the first Latin act to debut two albums at No. 1 in 2021 on any of the five Latin albums charts.

In 2020, Bad Bunny pulled three No. 1 debuts: on the Latin Rhythm Albums chart, with YHLQMDLG (March 14, 2020), Las Que No Iban a Salir (May 3, 2020) and El Último Tour del Mundo (Dec. 12, 2020).

Tu Veneno Mortal, Vol. 2 is Eslabon Armado’s third No. 1 debut in less than 12 months on Regional Mexican Albums, as the act also opened atop the list with Vibras de Noche on the Aug. 1, 2020-dated chart. Their first No. 1, Tu Veneno Mortal, debuted at No. 2 before climbing to No. 1 last June.

With 8,000 equivalent album units, Eslabon Armado earns the second-biggest week in terms of overall units in 2021 for a regional Mexican album. Who did it first? Well, the group itself, when Corta Venas arrived at the summit with 21,000 units (chart dated Jan. 2).

As Vol. 2 launches at No. 1, it dethrones Natanael Cano’s A Los 20 from its four-week coronation. It concurrently earns the Tovar brothers four successive champs. Here is the recap:

Title, Debut/ Peak Date/ Weeks at No. 1

Tu Veneno Mortal, June 13, 2020, eight weeks
Vibras de Noche, August 1, 2020, 11 weeks
Corta Venas, Jan, 2, 17 weeks
Tu Veneno Mortal, Vol. 2, July 10

With Vol. 2’s entrance on Regional Mexican Albums, Eslabon Armado places a total of four simultaneous titles on the list, the most since Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga had as many in September 2020.

Two Vol. 2’s songs debut on Hot Latin Songs on the strength of streaming activity: “Regresa Mami” at No. 25 and “No Dudes de Ti” at No. 45. The tally encapsulates airplay, streaming data and digital sales. Among both, the group registered 3.8 million U.S. clicks in the week ending July 1.

Elsewhere on the charts, Vol. 2 concurrently bows at No. 5 on Top Latin Albums and at No. 132 on the overall Billboard 200 chart.