J Balvin to Headline This Year’s Billboard Latin Music Week

J Balvin is helping celebrate Latin music…

The 39-year-old Colombian singer will headline the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Week.

J BalvinThis year’s 35th annual event will take place from October 14-18 at The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater. 

Known for his massive influence on Colombian reggaetón and global Latin music, the Medellín superstar — who is fresh off releasing his sixth solo studio album Rayo — will host a special night titled “Next Gen Reggaetón: An Evening Curated by J Balvin” during the week.

The event promises an exciting lineup of surprise performances and guests, all chosen by Balvin himself.

The global superstar and entrepreneur is a highly decorated and critically acclaimed cultural icon who has won multiple Billboard Music Awards and plenty of chart accolades, including nine No. 1 tracks on the Hot Latin Songs chart like “Mi Gente” with Beyoncé, “Ginza,” “RITMO (Bad Boys For Life)” with Black Eyed Peas) and a No. 1 on the Hot 100 (“I Like It” with Cardi B and Bad Bunny).

Apart from his curation, Balvin will engage in an exclusive Superstar Q&A moderated by Leila Cobo, chief content officer for Latin/Español at Billboard, providing deeper insights into his music and influence. The session aims to foster intimate and enlightening discussions.

“Latin music is living its most successful and globally recognized moment ever this year. But Billboard has been proudly at its side for over 35 years as the main flagbearer, supporter and ultimate opinion maker for Latin music around the world,” said Cobo in a press release. “During a year when Latin music is dominating the charts and the cultural zeitgeist, we are thrilled to return to Miami Beach, the global capital of Latin music, for this exciting week-long event.”

The announcement also highlighted the expansive lineup for this legacy event, featuring a blend of established stars and emerging talents including Bad Gyal, DANNA, Danny Ocean, Domelipa, Fat Joe, Gloria Estefan, JOP, Keityn, Lele Pons, Luis Alfonso, Maria Becerra, Mau y Ricky, Mon LaFerte, N.O.R.E., Paola Jara, Peso Pluma, Pipe Bueno, Sophia Talamas, Yeison Jiménez, and Yeri Mua, with more to be announced in the coming months.

Tickets are now available here.

Cardi B Earns 10 BET Hip Hop Awards Nominations including MVP of the Year

It’s a Perfect 10 for Cardi B

The 25-year-old half-Dominican American rap star leads the ladies field of nominees for the 2018 BET Hip Hop Awards with 10, behind only Drake, who earned 11.

Cardi B

Cardi B, the big winner at last year’s ceremony with five awards including Best New Hip Hop Artist, is up for Hot Ticket Performer, MVP of the Year, Hustler of the Year and the Made-You-Look Award, aka Best Hip Hop Style. 

Cardi B’s Invasion of Privacy has earned a nod in the Album of the Year category,while she’s up for the Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse award for her part on “Motorsport” (Migos feat. Cardi B & Nicki Minaj).

Meanwhile, Carbi B’s “I Like It” collaboration with Bad Bunny and J Balvin has earned nods in the Best Hip-Hop Video, Best Collab, Duo or Group and Single of the Year.

For the second consecutive year, the awards ceremony will return to The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater on October 6.BET Networkswill premiere the annual telecast on October 16 (8 p.m. ET/PT).

Here’s the complete list of the 2018 nominees:

Best Hip-Hop Video
Cardi B – “I Like It” feat. Bad Bunny & J Balvin
Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Drake – “God’s Plan”
Kendrick Lamar – “Loyalty” feat. Rihanna
Migos – “Walk It Talk It” feat. Drake

Hot Ticket Performer
Cardi B
Childish Gambino
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Travis Scott

Album of the Year
Cardi B – Invasion of Privacy
Drake – Scorpion
Cole – KOD
Migos – Culture II
The Carters – Everything Is Love 

Video Director of the Year
Benny Boom
Dave Meyers & The Little Homies
Director X
Eif Rivera
Hiro Murai
Karena Evans

Lyricist of the Year
Childish Gambino
Drake
J. Cole
Kendrick Lamar
Travis Scott

MVP of the Year
Cardi B
Childish Gambino
Drake
J. Cole
Travis Scott

Producer of the Year
Ben Billions
DJ Esco
DJ Mustard
Metro Boomin
Pharrell Williams

Best Collabo, Duo or Group
21 Savage & Offset & Metro Boomin – “Ric Flair Drip”
Blocboy JB – “Look Alive” feat. Drake
Cardi B – “I Like It” feat. Bad Bunny & J Balvin
Post Malone – “Rockstar” feat. 21 Savage
The Carters – “Apes**t”

Single of the Year
“Apesh*t” – Produced by Pharrell (The Carters)
“God’s Plan” – Produced by Cardo, Young Exclusive and Boi-1da (Drake)
“I Like It” – Produced by Craig Kallman, JWhiteDidIt and Tainy (Cardi B Feat. Bad Bunny & J Balvin)
“Nice for What” – Produced by Murda Beatz (Drake)
“This Is America” – Produced by Donald Glover & Ludwig Goransson (Childish Gambino)

Best New Hip Hop Artist
Blocboy JB
Juice Wrld
Lil Baby
Rich the Kid
XXXTentacion

Best Mixtape
BlocBoy JB – Simi
Future – Beast Mode 2
Juicy J – Shut Da F* Up
Lil Wayne – Dedication 6: Reloaded
Zoey Dollaz – Sorry Not Sorry 

Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse
21 Savage – “Bartier Cardi” (Cardi B feat. 21 Savage)
Cardi B – “Motorsport” (Migos feat. Cardi B & Nicki Minaj)
Drake – “Look Alive” (Blocboy JB feat. Drake)
Kendrick Lamar – “New Freezer” (Rich the Kid feat. Kendrick Lamar)
Nicki Minaj – “Big Bank” (YG feat. 2 Chainz, Big Sean & Nicki Minaj)

Impact Track
Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Dej Loaf & Leon Bridges – “Liberated”
Lecrae – “I’ll Find You” feat. Tori Kelly
Meek Mill – “Stay Woke” feat. Miguel
N.E.R.D – “1,000” feat. FUTURE

DJ of the Year
Calvin Harris
DJ Envy
DJ Drama
DJ Khaled
DJ Mustard

Made-You-Look Award (Best Hip Hop Style)
Cardi B
Migos
Nicki Minaj
Remy Ma
Travis Scott

Best Hip Hop Online Site/App
ALLHIPHOP
Complex
Hot New Hip Hop
Worldstar
XXL

Hustler of the Year
Cardi B
DJ Khaled
Drake
Jay Z
Kendrick Lamar
Travis Scott

Estefan to Receive WorldArts “Discovery of the Year Award”

Emily Estefan is the next big thing…

The 21-year-old Cuban American singer/songwriter, the daughter of daughter of Gloria and Emilio Estefan, will be recognized by the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame and WorldArts.

Emily Estefan

Estefan will receive the first annual WorldArts Discovery of the Year Award during the 2016 La Musa Awards ceremony.

The new award is given to promising young talent at the start of their careers.

“Emily has created a unique sound incorporating all the incredible music she grew up with and the sounds of her own generation with the ease of an artist far beyond her years. I would like to sincerely congratulate her on this prestigious new award from WorldArts which is totally deserved,” said Desmond ChildLSHOF Chairman/CEO, in a statement.

“Emily is one of the most exciting and dynamic new singer-songwriters to emerge on the scene and we look forward to watching her steadily rise and keep bringing her amazing music to the world far into the future,” added Larry Underwood, founder and CEO of WorldArts.

The fourth annual La Musa Awards will take place October 13 at the The Fillmore Miami Beach Jackie Gleason Theater.

Estefan, a Berklee College of Music graduate, recently signed a partnership with RED Distribution via her indie label, Alien Shrimp Records.

She’s set to release her new single “Reigns (Every Night)” this month and has a new album due in 2017.

“I am beyond thrilled to call Sony/RED Distribution my new musical home. They took on this little Alien Shrimp with no questions asked, and opened the door to my U.F.O.”

Café Tacvba to Receive Icon Award at This Year’s La Musa Awards

There’s no doubt Café Tacvba is one of the Latin music world’s most iconic bands. And, now they have the award to prove it.

The trailblazing Mexican alt-rockers will be honored with the Icon Award at the La Musa Awards, which will take place on October 15 at The Fillmore Miami Beach Jackie Gleason Theatre in Miami Beach.

Café Tacvba

The icon designation is fitting for a band that, over the last 25 years, helped elevate rock by fusing it with hip-hop, electronic music, and folkloric sounds.

Recently, the act – consisting of Rubén Albarrán, Emmanuel “Meme” del Real, José Alfredo “Joselo” Rangel, and Enrique “Quique” Rangel – celebrated the 20th anniversary of its seminal album Re, which revolutionized rock en español.

Their most recent album, El Objeto Antes Llamado Disco, was deemed the Best Latin Album of 2012 by iTunes.

Café Tacvba will also perform during the awards show, produced by the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame (LSHOF). The non-profit was founded by renowned songwriters/composers Desmond Child and Rudy Perez in 2012 to honor their peers who have impacted music on a global scale.

Cuban music mogul Emilio Estefan, Chilean singer/songwriter Myriam Hernandez, Argentine composer/performer Gustavo Santaolalla, Argentine singer/songwriter Diego Torres, Colombian songwriter Hector Ochoa Cardenas and Salvadoran singer/songwriter Alvaro Torres are the six music luminaries being inducted into the LSHOF during this year’s ceremony. Quincy Jones will receive the Desi Arnaz Pioneer Award while Chilean rock icon Beto Cuevas will be recognized with a special La Musa Conquistador Award.

Tickets for this year’s gala, hosted by actor/singer Carlos Ponce, are on sale via latinsonghall.com.

Servando & Florentino Book Historic Miami Concert

Servando & Florentino have booked an extra special gig…

The Venezuelan sibling duo will perform for first time at The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater on Friday, November 13, according to Billboard.

Servando & Florentino

“Each concert is like a renewal of vows, and to perform at such a prestigious theater — where each sound is completely different — gives us the opportunity to feel vindicated with the people that accompany us every time,” said Florentino.

Servando & Florentino became popular in the late ’90s after their first single, “Una Fan Enamorada,” became a fan anthem in Latin America and spent six weeks at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Tropical Songs chart.

The duo was one of the youngest acts to hit No. 1 on the charts (Servando was 17 at the time and Florentino 16).

The Miami show is part of the pair’s current tour. They’ll be performing in Lima, Peru (Oct. 17); Bogota, Colombia (Nov. 5); Barranquilla, Colombia (Nov. 7) Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (Dec. 17).

“Fads are temporary, but, thank God, we’ve been able to remain relevant,” said Servando.  “I’ve been singing with my brother now for 20 years.”