Edén Muñoz & Manuel Turizo Named Songwriters of the Year at SESAC Latin Music Awards

Edén Muñoz and Manuel Turizo are sharing a special honor…

The 30-year-old Mexican singer, the charismatic lead singer of regional Mexican group Calibre 50, and the 21-year-old Colombian singer/songwriter have both been recognized as Songwriter of the Year at the annual SESAC Latin Music Awards 2021.

Eden Munoz & Manuel Turizo

It’s the first time in awards history that the top award was presented in two categories — Regional Mexican and Pop/Latin Rhythm — and it underscores how both urban and regional Mexican music have taken a front seat in Latin music in the past year.

Muñoz won songwriter of the year in the regional Mexican category for the second time for songs penned both for Calibre 50 (“Barquillero,” “Solo Tú”) and for other groups, including Banda MS (“Cerrando Ciclos”) and Banda Carnaval (“Esta Vez Soy Yo”). All were recognized with SESAC Latina Performance Awards.

Muñoz’s publisher, Dulce María Music, won publisher of the year, Regional Mexican.

Turizo, who often writes with brother Julián and is known for his deep, velvety voice, won songwriter of the year, Pop/Latin Rhythm for the first time with his songs “TBT,” “Quiéreme Mientras Se Pueda,” “Te Quemaste,” “Pegao,” “La Nota” and “No Encuentro Palabras,” which were all recognized with SESAC Latina Performance Awards.

His publisher, Sony Sounds (Sony Music Publishing) won publisher of the year for the sixth consecutive year.

The song of the year award in regional Mexican went to Christian Nodal for “Se Me Olvidó.” The track peaked at No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart and spent 23 weeks on the chart.

In the Pop / Latin Rhythm category, song of the year went to Ñengo Flow for “Safaera,” the hit he wrote and performed with Jowell & Randy and Bad Bunny for Bunny’s hit album YHLQMDLG.

The track peaked at No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart.

Although these year’s winners will be announced on SESAC’s social media channels and website due to the pandemic, the organization has honored the best in Latin music every year for nearly three decades.

“There is no doubt that music makes our world a better place to enjoy life, helping us overcome any difficult situation like the one we are facing now,” said Celeste Zendejas, vice president of SESAC Latina. “Thanks to all our songwriters for capturing all their experiences and feelings in each song.”

“It has been an exciting year in Latin music, and we are proud to celebrate and honor SESAC Latina’s songwriters’ and publishers’ most performed songs,” said Sam Kling, senior vice president of creative operations, SESAC Rights Management in an official statement. “Their songs have blended genres, transcended eras, and made their way to non-Spanish speaking audiences in unprecedented ways.”

Lunay Named to Billboard’s 21 Under 21 List

Lunay isn’t old enough to drink in the United States, but he’s already making his mark in the music world.

The 20-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton and Latin trap singer has been named to Billboard’s 21 Under 21 list.

Lunay

Billboard‘s annual ranking of powerful young voices includes arena headliners and promising new talent, familiar names and new musicians quickly rising toward the mainstream. For groups, if most members are under 21, they were considered eligible.

Lunay is recognized for having total streams of 524.5 million.

After posting videos of himself freestyling on Facebook in 2017, Lunay got a call from producers Chris Jedi and Gaby Music. Two years later, Lunay was collaborating with reggaetón superstars Daddy Yankee and Bad Bunny on “Soltera (Remix),” his first top 10 on the Hot Latin Songs chart, peaking at No. 3 and raking in 343.2 million U.S. streams, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data.

Signed to indie label Star Island, the rising artist, who has since scored collaborations with Ozuna and Anuel AA, credits his success to two things: “humility and hard work.”

But Lunay isn’t the only Latino artist to make the list…

Manuel Turizo earned a spot for having total streams of 328.1 million.

Back in 2017, the 20-year-old Colombian reggaeton singer, then only 16, scored a viral hit with debut single “Una Lady Como Tú.” Since then, he has topped the Mexico Airplay chart with “Quiéreme Mientras Se Pueda” and the Latin Airplay list with his Sebastián YatraRauw Alejandro collaboration “TBT.”

Turizo says his second album, Dopamina, will “dominate” 2021. “I hope that by the time I’m 60, people will still be consuming my music and going to my concerts,” he says. “It’s not about being at the top. It’s about acquiring an audience [that will be] by your side throughout your career.”

Natanael Cano has also made the grade…

The 19-year-old Mexican singer-songwriter has earned a total of 905.3 million streams in his short career.

Six months into 2020, Cano — who only launched his career in 2019 — became the third-most-consumed Latin artist in the United States, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data’s midyear report, ranking just behind Bad Bunny and Ozuna.

Since partnering with Bad Bunny on “Soy El Diablo (Remix)” in October 2019, Cano has released four projects, including Trap Tumbado in June, cementing his place as a leading force in trap corridos. And as his career continues to grow in the United States, by 2021, he says, “I’d love to reach every corner of Mexico.”

A committee of Billboard editors and reporters weighed a variety of factors in determining the 2020 21 Under 21 list, including, but not limited to, impact on consumer behavior, as measured by such metrics as album and track sales, streaming volume, social media impressions, and radio and TV audiences reached; career trajectory; reputation among peers; and overall impact in the industry, specifically during the past 12 months. Where required, record-label market share was consulted using Nielsen Music/MRC Data market share for album plus track-equivalent and stream-equivalent album consumption units. Unless otherwise noted, Billboard Boxscore and Nielsen Music/MRC Data are the sources for tour grosses and sales/streaming data, respectively.

Manuel Turizo Partners with Rauw Alejandro & Myke Towers for New Reggaeton Single “La Nota”

Manuel Turizo is taking note

The 20-year-old Colombian reggaeton singer has joined voices with Rauw Alejandro and Myke Towers for the new single “La Nota.”

Manuel Turizo, Rauw Alejandro, Myke Towers

After releasing his quarantine-born single “Quiereme Mientras Se Pueda,” Turizo has released this catchy new single, which was penned by all three talents in conjunction with La Industria Inc.’s CEO, Juan Diego Medina and produced by hitmaker Tainy.

The sensual reggaeton track centers on a bachelorette whose flirtatious and mysterious ways drive men crazy.

In the neon-drenched music video, directed by Daniel Duran, all three artists become real-life toys fighting to catch the attention of the beautiful model who’s having the time of her life at an empty arcade and toy store. Does she walk away with Turizo, Rauw or Towers? You’ll have to watch the video to find out.