Gloria Estefan to Appear on CBS’ New Musical Game Show “Superfan”

Posted on April 19, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Gloria Estefan is about to meet her ultimate fan…

CBS’ new musical game show, Superfan, has set the roster of musicians participating in its upcoming six-episode series, including the 64-year-old Cuban singer/songwriter.

The competition series will see one musical superfan aiming to prove they are a certain artist’s ultimate supporter.

In addition to Estefan, the artists confirmed to participate include Kelsea Ballerini, Little Big Town, LL Cool J, Pitbull and Shania Twain.

Also confirmed to host the musical game show are series executive producer Keltie Knight and CBS Morning’s Nate Burleson.

Production on the unscripted original begins this Friday in Los Angeles. A premiere date has yet to be set.

Superfan is billed as a musical spectacle disguised as a game show. It will feature contestants vying in multiple rounds of play to prove they are the ultimate fan.

In each one-hour episode, a different musical artist will select one deserving superfan to win a once in a lifetime prize.

CBS ordered the series in February. It is produced by Raquel Productions, the CBS-owned division that makes Tough As Nails.

Anton Goss, a production designer who has worked on shows such as Match Game and Drop the Mic will dress the stage; Suzanne Bender, who has worked on America’s Got Talent and Lip Sync Battle, will serve as talent producer and Jacqui Pittman is casting.

Patricio Freire Outlasts AJ McKee to Reclaim Bellator Featherweight Title

Posted on April 16, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Patricio Freire has his title back…

The 34-year-old Brazilian mixed martial artist, Bellator‘s franchise fighter, gutted out a unanimous decision win (49-46, 48-47, 48-47) over previously undefeated prodigy AJ McKee to win back the featherweight title in the main event of Bellator 277 on Friday night in San Jose, California.

McKee beat Freire, known as “Pitbull,” for the title via submission in just 1:57 of the first round last July.

Freire is now a three-time Bellator featherweight champion.

“That day, I came in peace,” Freire said, referring to his loss to McKee last summer. “Today, I came for war. And I’m bringing the belt home.”

It was a hard-fought, close battle between two of the best fighters in the world outside the UFC. ESPN had McKee ranked No. 3 and “Pitbull” ranked No. 5 in the world at featherweight coming in.

There was plenty of talk leading into this fight about how McKee, a 27-year-old whom many believe is a future superstar, would fare in a fight with UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.

But “Pitbull” silenced those discussions Friday night. He did solid work in the early rounds, peppering McKee with leg kicks and punching combinations. In the third, he dropped McKee briefly with an overhand right and grabbed a tight guillotine.

McKee was able to escape that submission and do some of his best work in the late rounds. McKee landed solid combinations in the fourth round and several takedowns in the fifth, nearly getting Freire’s back at one point. In the closing minutes, McKee did his most damage, landing combos with his hands, a takedown and a hard elbow against the cage.

“He’s a tough guy,” Freire said. “He’s a great opponent. It was a hard fight to me.”

Freire (33-5) has won eight of his past nine bouts, including a 61-second knockout of current UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler at lightweight back in 2019.

The Brazil native held both the Bellator featherweight and lightweight titles from 2019 to 2021. He lost the featherweight belt to McKee and relinquished the lightweight gold last November to focus on featherweight.

Freire has the most wins (21), the most featherweight wins (20) and the most title fight wins (11) in Bellator history.

Pitbull Launching “Can’t Stop Us Now” Tour; Iggy Azalea & Sean Paul to Participate on Select Dates

Posted on April 11, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Pitbull is heading on the road… And, he’s bringing in reinforcements.

Following his successful I Feel Good Tour in 2021, the 41-year-old Cuban American rapper is going back on tour.

This time, Pitbull has secured more than 50 dates for his upcoming Can’t Stop Us Now trek.

During the 2022 North American tour, presented by Live Nation, Pitbull will be joined by Iggy Azalea and Sean Paul on select dates.

This marks the second time Azalea joins Pitbull, following his I Feel Good tour. SiriusXM Globalization DJs are set to be Pitbull’s openers throughout the extensive trek.

Just in time for the summer, the Can’t Stop Us Now tour officially kicks off on July 28 at the Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek in Raleigh, N.C.

Mr. Worldwide will then make pit stops in cities like San Antonio, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Toronto, Nashville, and Orlando, before wrapping on October 19 at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Fla.

On social media, the artist born Armando Perez expressed he was “excited to announce” his new tour.

Last year, Mr. 305 closed off his touring trek as one of Billboard’s Top Latin Tours of 2021, with his 32-city I Feel Good tour that had more than 419,000 total attendees and grossed a total of $19,837,668. That same trek marked Pitbull’s first in nearly two years.

Tickets for his 2022 Can’t Stop Us Now trek go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. local time on Friday, April 15, via Ticketmaster.

Fans can also access presale tickets by registering early via Pitbull’s official website by clicking here.

Wisin & Yandel to Receive BMI President’s Award

Posted on February 23, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Wisin & Yandel are getting the presidential treatment…

The iconic Puerto Rican reggaeton duo will be honored with the BMI President’s Award at the 29th Annual BMI Latin Awards, which will be held on March 15 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Wisin & Yandel will receive the honor in recognition of their outstanding achievements and contributions to the Latin music community that span over 20 years and continue to influence the next generation of songwriters, according to the music rights organization.

“Wisin & Yandel are true innovators of reggaeton and urban Latin music” Jesus Gonzalez, BMI vice president, creative, Latin, said in a statement. “Their music transcends generations and has influenced many artists across all genres, helping to propel Latin music forward. We’re thrilled to finally come together and present this distinct honor to ‘el duo de la historia,’ whose undeniable chemistry and talents have earned them legions of fans around the world.”

Since the late ’90s, Wisin & Yandel has scored a number of hits on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, including “Rakata,” “Ahora Es,” “Llame Pa’ Verte” and “Algo Me Gusta de Ti.”

Wisin y Yandel also brought reggaetón from an underground genre to the mainstream in collaborations with different artists, including Chris Brown, T- Pain, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, Luis Fonsi and Enrique Iglesias.

The special award presented to a songwriter, composer, producer or executive who has “profoundly influenced the entertainment industry,” Wisin & Yandel join previous BMI President’s Award recipients including Carlos Vives, Gloria Trevi, Juanes, Luis Fonsi, Mario Quintero, Pitbull and Sergio George, among others.

Songwriters, publishers and administrators of the past year’s most-performed Latin songs in the United States will also be honored during the ceremony hosted by BMI president & CEO Mike O’Neill and Gonzalez. The BMI Regional Mexican Song, Songwriter, BMI Contemporary Latin Song, Songwriter and Publisher of the Year will also be named.

Pitbull’s NASCAR Team Agrees to Partnership Deal with UFC’s Dana White

Posted on February 1, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Pitbull is racing to a new deal…

UFC president Dana White has agreed to a partnership deal with the 41-year-old Cuban American rapper/singer and entrepreneur’s NASCAR team Trackhouse Racing, starting this week at the exhibition Clash in Los Angeles.

White’s Howler Head Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey will serve as primary sponsor of Ross Chastain‘s No. 1 Chevrolet in Sunday’s race at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

“This is an absolute (wicked) car, and I can’t wait to see it compete on the track at the Coliseum on Sunday,” White said.

Trackhouse Racing fields two full-time NASCAR Cup Series cars in 2022 with drivers Chastain and Daniel Suarez.

Trackhouse Racing, owned by Justin Marks and Pitbull, ran with Suarez last year. Trackhouse then bought Chip Ganassi‘s team and expanded to two cars for this season.

“We want to transcend our sport, work with innovative minds and powerful brands, and Dana White, along with Howler Head and UFC exemplify that. Dana’s influence, vision, and passion is inspiring and I’m looking forward to working with him on amplifying both our brands and hopefully along the way, learning from him as well,” Marks said.

Robert Trujillo & His Metallica Band Mates to Perform at This Year’s BottleRock Festival

Posted on January 10, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Robert Trujillo is putting the rock in this year’s BottleRock festival…

The 57-year-old half-Mexican American musician, songwriter and bassist and his Metallica band mates will be headlining this year’s BottleRock, California’s premiere food, wine and music festival.

Metallica will headline the event, taking place Memorial Day weekend (May 27-29), alongside P!nk, Twenty One Pilots and Luke Combs.

The fest, which includes more than 75 musical acts, also includes The Black Crowes, Kygo, Pitbull, Greta Van Fleet, Mount Westmore, a new hip-hop supergroup featuring Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, E-40 and Too $hort.

The Napa Valley festival will also showcase the region’s wine, craft brew and culinary legacy.

“We’re happy to be bringing the first taste of summer back to music fans here in the Napa Valley,” says Dave Graham of BottleRock Napa Valley. “As fans have come to expect, our 2022 lineup has something for everyone, featuring a wide variety of genres that offer legendary performers with some of the most exciting new and emerging artists in the world.”

This year’s festival includes the highly entertaining Williams Sonoma Culinary Stage, showcasing a unique mashup of cooking demonstrations with renowned chefs, celebrities, performers and rock stars. Details on the 2022 Williams Sonoma Culinary Stage will be announced at a later date.

BottleRock Napa Valley will follow all local and state COVID-19 health & safety guidelines in place at the time of the event and will communicate all requirements to ticket holders beforehand.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. Pacific. More details here.

Pitbull Partners with Echelon Fitness for New Content & More

Posted on June 30, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Pitbull is workin’ on his fitness dealings…

The 40-year-old Cuban rap superstar and entrepreneur has been named a new partner in Echelon Fitness, the upstart fitness brand known for their line of spin bikes, fitness mirrors, treadmills and rowers.

Pitbull is teaming up with Echelon to unveil a host of new content on the Echelon website and Echelon Fitness app.

Among the new projects: Pitbull will write a new “anthem” for Echelon that the company says will “inspire members, and get the world moving and feeling good.”

It’s not just for a campaign though – Pitbull says the Echelon anthem will be released as a single on his new album, and says he’ll be playing it on his upcoming “I Feel Good” tour. Expect to hear the new upbeat track on Echelon commercials as well.

Echelon, known for its Peloton-style spin bike (currently shipping faster than a Peloton by the way) will also unveil a special “Ride with Pitbull” channel, with themed rides featuring music from the rapper along with his frequent collaborators (expect Jennifer Lopez, Daddy Yankee, Marc Anthony and Becky G to be on the class playlists). Echelon says you’ll also have the ability to ride with Pitbull himself, in classes created and taught by his dancers. It’s unclear if Mr. 305 will actually pop up on screen riding a bike, but Echelon has confirmed that Pitbull’s lead dancer, Jenny Valdes, will be one of the featured instructors.

The final piece of the partnership will be exclusive Pitbull merch and a co-branded Pitbull spin bike, to be released on the Echelon website. Though details of the merchandise haven’t been released, it’s likely to include athleisure wear, water bottles and other accessories to help you reach your fitness goals.

“It is truly an honor to partner with Echelon Fitness,” says Pitbull, in a press release. “With this new venture, we look forward to producing new avenues for music and fitness. Music is the universal language. Fitness is a cultural movement. Together we will create a powerful generation. I don’t know about you but that makes me feel good, Dale!”

“Learning Pitbull was a fan of our product and our community was humbling,” adds Lou Lentine, President and CEO of Echelon Fitness. “Pitbull has featured and been featured with some of the biggest talents in the music industry. And now his latest feature is with Echelon Fitness. We are so excited to welcome Mr. Worldwide to the team!”

Find out more about the new partnership at EchelonFit.com.

Anitta to Perform at This Year’s Latin American Music Awards

Posted on March 25, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Anitta will be bringing the heat to the Latin AMAs…

Telemundo has announced the second wave of performers to take center stage at the 2021 Latin American Music Awards next month, with the 27-year-old Brazilian singer/songwriter making the list.

Anitta joins a roster of new additions to the lineup that includes Carrie Underwood, Juanes, Manuel Turizo, Pitbull, Ricky Martin, Wisin, Yandel, Ziggy Marley, Alaina Castillo, Cami, Carlos Rivera, Juhn, Mariah Angeliq, Natanael Cano, Sofía Reyes and Yendry.

Underwood will join David Bisbal for their first-ever television performance of “Tears of Gold,” Ricky and Carlos Vives, as well as Ziggy and Maluma, will present their upcoming collaborations, Juanes will serenade fans with a new song from his soon-to-be-released album, and Karol G will take the stage with Mariah Angeliq for an exclusive TV premiere, to name a few.

They join the first wave of performers, which included Ana Bárbara, Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga, Camilo, Carlos Vives, Bisbal, Eslabon Armado, Gerardo Ortiz, Joss Favela, Karol G, Los Dos Carnales, Maluma, Myke Towers, Nicky Jam, Piso 21 and a special tribute to the late Regional Mexican singer-songwriter Joan “El Poeta del Pueblo” Sebastian.

Following safety protocols to protect the health and safety of all involved, the 2021 awards show will honor some of the most influential Latin artists of today, as voted by fans in 25 categories including pop, urban, tropical, regional Mexican, and the newly added favorite virtual concert.

The 2021 Latin AMAs, hosted by actress Jacqueline Bracamontes, will air at 7:00 pm ET on Thursday, April 15, from the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida, via Telemundo and will broadcast simultaneously on Universo and throughout the Americas on Telemundo Internacional.

Pitbull Becomes Part Owner of New NASCAR Team Trackhouse Racing

Posted on January 28, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Pitbull is dealing with a new type of track…

New NASCAR team Trackhouse Racing has brought on the 40-year-old Cuban American rapper/singer, known also as Mr. Worldwide, as an ownership partner for the organization, which will make its debut next month at the Daytona 500.

Trackhouse made the announcement with a video on Twitter in which the Grammy winner is featured dancing to an “I believe we will win” chant. He also holds signs that say: “Knuckle Up,” “Fight Hard” and “Buckle Up.”

Pitbull joins NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan as celebrity owners entering NASCAR this year. Jordan is a part owner of 23XI Racing with Denny Hamlin.

“I’ve been a fan of the NASCAR story since the movie Days of Thunder,” Pitbull said in a statement. “We are going to show the world NASCAR is not only a sport but a culture.”

Trackhouse was launched late last year by former driver Justin Marks, who struggled to find a charter that guarantees entry into every Cup Series race on the schedule. He ultimately leased one from Spire Motorsports to get his organization on the grid.

The team has hired Mexican driver Daniel Suarez for the No. 99 Chevrolet, but it will not be NASCAR’s first pairing of a Latino driver and team owner. Juan Pablo Montoya, a Colombian, drove for Chip Ganassi Racing when it was part owned by Felix Sabates, a Cuban.

Chesca Teams Up with De La Ghetto for Steamy “Como Tu Me Querias” Remix

Posted on January 22, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Chesca is getting a Ghetto-fabulous assist…

Only three months after releasing “Como Tu Me Querias,” the Puerto Rican singer has joined voices with De La Ghetto for a saucy remix.

The track tells the story of a good girl whose looks are deceiving and falls for the bad boy in town. Cue De La Geezy, the bad boy, who brings his distinguishable voice and seductive lyrics to the track.

“Como Tu Me Querias” is an infectious, uptempo reggaeton with hints of old-school perreo and dancehall melodies.

The music video, filmed by Mimi Labisi of Stellarhead in LA, shows both artists’ onscreen chemistry in a futuristic and vibrant setting. Chesca is also seen flaunting her killer dance moves.

Chesca, who’s a two-time nominee at the 2021 Premio Lo Nuestro, crowned Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart on December 12, 2020, with her Pitbull and Frankie Valli-assisted “Te Quiero Baby.”

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