Karol G Breaks Record for Most Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay Chart with “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”

Karol G is officially in a league of her own…

The 33-year-old Colombian Grammy-winning singer/songwriter’s “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” adds a 26th week at No. 1 on Billboard’s overall Latin Airplay chart dated January 25, breaking the record for the most weeks among all songs since the list launched in 1994.

Karol GThe merengue track surpasses the 25-week domination by Shakira’s “La Tortura,” featuring Alejandro Sanz, a record the song held since November 2005, when it outdid the 20-week mark by Son By Four’s “A Puro Dolor.”

“Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido,” released June 21, 2024, also remains as the top performer on the Tropical Airplay chart, where it has led the list for 28 weeks (of its total 31 weeks on the chart).

Karol G might also set a new record on the tropical ranking, as she is one week away from tying Prince Royce‘s record of 29 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 with “Carita de Inocente” in 2020. (It stepped aside for one week during its run atop the list, when Kyen?Es? sneaked-out one week atop the chart with “El Carnaval de Celia: A Tribute (La Vida Es Un Carnaval/ La Negra Tiene…)” in September 2020.

“Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido,” commands both Latin Airplay and Tropical Airplay despite a 13% decline in audience impressions, to 10 million, earned during the Jan. 10-16 tracking week in the U.S., according to Luminate.

The global hit gave Karol G her 18th No. 1 on the overall Latin radio ranking when it landed at the summit last July, the second-most among women, just behind Shakira who continues at the helm with 24 champs.

While “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” spent its last week on the multi-metric Hot Latin Songs chart on the January 11-dated list (due to the colossal take over by Bad Bunny’s new album), it also left a mark in 2024, tying with Xavi’s “La Diabla” and FloyyMenor and Cris MJ’s “Gata Only” for the most weeks at No. 1, all with 14 weeks at the summit.

Further, in addition to “Qlona,” with Peso Pluma (No. 5), Karol’s “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” became only the second song by a female artist to close in the top 10 on the year-end Hot Latin Songs chart in 2024, at No. 8.

Luis Fonsi Teams Up with Rauw Alejandro for New Single “Vacío”

Luis Fonsi is embracing lo vacío

The 42-year-old Puerto Rican singer, musician and songwriter has teamed up with Rauw Alejandro to release the new single “Vacío.”

Rauw Alejandro x Luis Fonsi

Fonsi took four lines from Son By Four’s 2001 smash hit “A Puro Dolor” to create the track.

The song starts as “A Puro Dolor” does, and then meanders, staying close but not identical.

It’s a clever way to catch the listener’s attention, and Fonsi’s voice does justice to the original’s R&B sound. Rauw Alejandro ’s urban groove helps bring a new and modern twist to the track. 

J Balvin’s ‘Ginza’ Makes History on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs Chart

J Balvin makes Billboard chart history…

The 30-year-old Colombian reggaeton singer spends a 21st consecutive week at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart with “Ginza.”

J Balvin

With its latest frame at the top of the charts, the song makes history as the longest-leading No. 1 by a single act, unaccompanied by another.

“It’s amazing how dreams are limitless, and how discipline, along with good music, can bring you to live the unimaginable,” said Balvin in an interview with Billboard.

“Ginza” passes three other 20-week No. 1s by acts unaccompanied by other artists: Flex‘s “Te Quiero” (2008), Juanes‘ “Me Enamora” (2007-08) and Son by Four‘s “A Puro Dolor” (2000).

Overall, “Ginza” is the fourth-longest-leading No. 1 in Hot Latin Songs history (which dates to 1986) but rules as the only non-collaborative track to spend as many as 21 weeks atop the tally (which shifted from solely airplay audience measurement to a blend of airplay, sales, and streaming in October 2012). Enrique Iglesias leads with 41 weeks at No. 1 with “Bailando,” featuring Descemer Bueno and Gente de Zona (2014-15), followed by Nicky Jam and Iglesias’ “El Perdon” (31 weeks, 2015) and Shakira‘s “La Tortura,” featuring Alejandro Sanz (25 weeks, 2005).

Sustained streaming has helped to keep “Ginza” atop Hot Latin Songs, with 1.9 million U.S. streams logged in the week ending Feb. 18, according to Nielsen Music (an 8 percent hike), lifting it to No. 1 on Latin Streaming Songs for the first time. YouTube and Vevo on YouTube views account for 58 percent of overall clicks, including views stemming from the official music video (which has amassed more than 420 million worldwide streams since its July 2015 premiere). At its height, “Ginza” was streamed 2.4 million times in the U.S. during a single tracking week (reflected in the Oct. 31, 2015 chart week).

The reign of “Ginza” is also propelled by continued airplay on Latin stations, as it steps 3-2 on Latin Airplay with 12 million audience impressions in the tracking week. It previously dominated for 12 weeks on the airplay chart, peaking in September. Meanwhile, downloads of the song are up 14 percent to 3,000 downloads, earning it the No. 3 spot on Latin Digital Songs (following its No. 2 peak on the chart). The track has sold 153,000 downloads to date.

Balvin debuted the reggaeton track via a live performance on Univision‘s Premios Juventud awards show July 17, 2015, and it rose to No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs (in its 11th chart week) Oct. 17. “Ginza” is his second No. 1 on the chart, following a week atop the ranking with “Ay Vamos” earlier in the year (March 7).

Iglesias’ “Bailando” Hits 20 Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs Chart

Enrique Iglesias is still bailando on the Billboard charts…

The 39-year-old Spanish singer’s “Bailando” featuring Descemer Bueno and Gente de Zona is still holding strong on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart. 

Enrique Iglesias

Iglesias’ track holds the No. 1 spot for the 20th consecutive week, becoming the fifth song in the chart’s 28-year history to spend 20 weeks at the top.

“Bailando” joins Son by Four‘s “A Puro Dolor” (2000), Juanes‘ “Me Enamora (2007) and Flex‘s “Te Quiero” (2008) in a four-way tie for second-most weeks at No. 1.

The track is five weeks shy of matching the longest running No. 1 on the chart, Shakira‘s “La Tortura” featuring Alejandro Sanz.

“Bailando” passed Iglesias’ previous lengthiest No. 1 run when it reached 18 weeks (on September 13), exceeding “Cuando Me Enamoro” featuring Juan Luis Guerra, which had a 17-week lead in 2010.