Grupo Arriesgado Agrees to Contract with Smart Music Group (SMG)

Posted on February 25, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Grupo Arriesgado has agreed to a smart deal…

The Mexican group has entered into a contract with Smart Music Group (SMG), per Billboard en Espanol.

Co-founders and artist managers, Raczon López and Natalia Corona — honorees on last year’s Billboard Latin Power Players list — have launched a new label focusing on the five-member band that’s currently gaining traction on social media.

Originally formed in late 2013 on a ranch named Costa Rica in Culiacán, Sinaloa, and initially led by former frontman turned soloist Panter Bélico, Grupo Arriesgado gained popularity with hits like the accordion-infused “Jimenez” (2021), “El H,” and “Enloquecido” (2022).

With César Alfonso stepping in as the new lead vocalist, they have secured significant radio play and impressive digital platform statistics, amassing 4.7 million monthly listeners on Spotify and maintaining a vigorous schedule of live performances.

Their digital presence is equally robust with 882,000 followers on Instagram, 1.1 million followers and 23.8 million likes on TikTok, and a strong YouTube following with 472,000 subscribers and over 600 million views.

Jesús Cuadras (electric bass), César Soto (bajo sexto), Alfonso Rodríguez (second voice) and Ángel de León (drums) also make up the band.

“Our relationship with Grupo Arriesgado began with the promotion of their three most recent releases, which allowed us to increase their audience on Spotify to almost 5 million monthly listeners and accumulate 35 million views on the main platforms,” López tells Billboard. “For this reason, the group wanted to take its relationship with Smart Music Group (SMG) to the next level and we have signed an agreement that makes us their representatives.”

He adds: “From now on, we will provide a comprehensive strategy that combines digital growth with presence in traditional media. This work will consolidate Grupo Arriesgado as one of the most important groups in Regional Mexican.”

López and Corona have recently managed the 2024 global breakout star Xavi, who topped Hot Latin Songs with “La Diabla” and secured the No. 2 spot with “La Víctima” on the same chart, and other notable achievements.

Under the pair’s management, Xavi also clinched the Artist of the Year (New) award at the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Awards. The duo also managed newcomer Drian.

With this new partnership, Grupo Arriesgado has embarked on a fresh phase with the release of “De Aquí Soy” (2025) and “Qué Chulada” (2024), two singles that mark a shift toward a more romantic and melodic style.

FloyyMenor Signs with Independent Artist Group for Booking

Posted on January 29, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

FloyyMenor has a new booking agent…

The 19-year-old Chilean singer and songwriter has signed with Independent Artist Group for booking.

The signing follows the huge success of FloyyMenor’s reggaeton hit “Gata Only” with Cris MJ, which was named TikTok’s Global Song of the Summer and Global Song of the Year in 2024.

According to a press release, the track saw 50 million creations on TikTok, generating more than 74 billion streams on the platform and 1.3 billion streams on Spotify; it also reached No. 2 on Spotify’s Global Chart.

“Gata Only” also had great success in the U.S., where it hit No. 27 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 and topped Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart for 14 weeks. It finished at No. 1 on the year-end Hot Latin Songs list.

FloyyMenor’s breakthrough came in 2023 with the single “Pa la Europa.” That was followed by the August release of his debut EP El Comienzo, on which he partnered with UnitedMasters.

According to the release, the EP became the most-listened-to Chilean project in Spotify’s history and ranked among the top Spanish albums globally in 2024. In December, Spotify also named “Gata Only” the most-streamed Latin song of the year, while that same month, FloyyMenor was named one of VEVO’s DSCVR Artists to Watch 2025. “Gata Only” was also featured on former U.S. President Barack Obama’s “Favorite Music of 2024” list.

In October, FloyyMenor became the first Chilean artist to win a Billboard Latin Music Award, where he took home the Global 200 Latin song of the year. He also won top Latin song at the Billboard Music Awards for “Gata Only.”

FloyyMenor is set to release his debut album YTSQS later this year.

Bad Bunny’s “DTMF” Debuts at No. 1 on TikTok Billboard Top 50 Chart

Posted on January 17, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Bad Bunny is making major moved on TikTok…

The 30-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning rapper, singer, actor and record producer’s “DTMF” becomes the first song to debut at No. 1 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart since August 2024, bowing atop the January 18-dated survey.

The TikTok Billboard Top 50 is a weekly ranking of the most popular songs on TikTok in the United States based on creations, video views and user engagement. The latest chart reflects activity January 6-12. Activity on TikTok is not included in Billboard charts except for the TikTok Billboard Top 50.

“DTMF” starts at No. 1 after the release of its parent album, Debi Tirar Mas Fotos, on January 5. It’s the fifth song since the ranking’s inception to debut atop the tally, following FamousSally and YB’s “Wassup Gwayy” (September 23, 2023), Playboi Carti’s “Sky” (Oct. 7, 2023), Bobby Caldwell’s “What You Won’t Do for Love” (February 24, 2024) and Clean Bandit’s “Symphony,” featuring Zara Larsson (August 31, 2024).

It’s also Bad Bunny’s first No. 1 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50, which began in September 2023.

His previous best, “Monaco,” peaked at No. 5 in November 2023

“DTMF” benefits from uploads referencing the song’s lyrics (DTMF is an acronym for the album’s title), with users lamenting the losses of relatives, pets and relationships with photos and videos of their own. Bad Bunny himself posted a video on TikTok reacting to the trend.

“DTMF” concurrently debuts at No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 despite just five days of tracking (January 5-9), earning 11 million official U.S. streams in that span, according to Luminate. It’s expected to sport a sizable gain on the Billboard charts dated January 25 (Jan. 10-16), following its first full week of tracking.

Anndrea Torres to Perform at TikTok‘s Global Live Fest

Posted on January 10, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Anndrea Torres is preparing to take the global stage…

The emerging Mexican artist will perform at TikTok‘s second annual Global Live Fest, hosted by Jason Derulo.

TikTok’s Global Live Fest will bring together creators from around the world on January 16 in London.

It’ll feature several musical performances from artists like Torres who have come up on TikTok Live, headlined by Zara Larsson, who is fresh off the resurgence of her and Clean Bandit’s song “Symphony” on the app.

So far, it’s generated 800,000 posts on the platform. Derulo, who himself has over 65 million followers on TikTok, will be the event’s emcee.

The event will stream on TikTok Live for fans around the globe, and red carpet coverage will be hosted by popular creators Sarel and Arnaldo Mangini.

Live performers include Torres, who is known for her unique sound; Fiaa Hamilton, who recently won TikTok’s Most Inspiring Award; and Jourdan Blue, a street performer turned TikTok live fan favorite.

“TikTok Live is transforming the way creators connect with their audiences, empowering them to deepen real-time engagement and build meaningful community connections,” TikTok Live head Adam Wang said in a statement. “By celebrating the magic of real-time interaction, TikTok Live opens doors for creators to unlock discovery, enhance their reach, and create unforgettable shared moments with fans. Global Live Fest will spotlight the vibrant creativity of our community, where creators can showcase their talents, share their stories and passions in exciting new ways. We’re thrilled to celebrate these creators who make TikTok LIVE the ultimate platform for connection and creativity.”

Torres is a rising star in pop music. Her songs are the ideal fusion of earworm hooks, heartfelt lyrics, and a new sound that propels her to the top of the mainstream pop industry. She has won over fans all throughout Mexico and beyond with her strong vocals and addictive sounds.

Rosalía Teaming Up with Lisa for New Collaboration “New Woman”

Posted on August 6, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Rosalía is a new woman…

The 31-year-old Spanish singer, songwriter, producer and musician is joining voices with Blackpink’s LISA for a new collaboration, “New Woman,” arriving this month.

The superstar duo took to Instagram to share the fun cover art for the track, featuring the two singers sitting in lawn chairs with racetrack-inspired outfits.

The caption indicates that the song will be arriving on August 15 at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT.

Earlier this week, LISA began teasing the collaboration.

In a video posted to TikTok, a pink-haired LISA — whose face isn’t visible — shows off a star-shaped pendant around her neck.

“Bangin’ it, bangin’ it, wanna crack these walls/ Bangin’ it, bangin’ it, wanna echo through the halls,” she sings over a mid-tempo, Y2K-inspired beat. “Pullin’ up, fresh face, brand new día.”

Rosalia’s last album Motomami was released in March 2022.

She most recently released an EP with ex-fiance Rauw Alejandro, RR, in March 2023.

The teasers come a little over a month after the K-pop icon stepped into a new phase of her solo career outside of BLACKPINK with “Rockstar,” which debuted at No. 70 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 4 on the Billboard Global 200, as well as became LISA’s first-ever No. 1 hit on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S.

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Oscar Ortiz & Edgardo Nuñez Earn First No. 1 on Any Billboard Chart with “First Love”

Posted on April 25, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Oscar Ortiz and Edgardo Nuñez are celebrating a special first (love)…

The Regional Mexican newcomers combine efforts for their first No. 1 on any Billboard chart as “First Love” rises 3-1 on the April 27-dated Regional Mexican Airplay ranking.

The song was released on December 23 via BadSin Records, the music management company co-owned by Ortiz and his brothers Kevin and Gerardo, both frequent Billboard charts visitors.

“I feel grateful and honored that Edgardo Nuñez believed in my composition and I cannot say ‘thank you’ enough to my fans for supporting me in this dream,” 21-year-old Ortiz tells Billboard.

“First Love” accrued 7.95 million audience impressions in the U.S. toward the April 27 Billboard ranking (April 12-18 tracking week), according to Luminate; that’s a 16% gain from the week prior. The song ejects Banda MS’ “Tu Perfume” from the penthouse, which falls to No. 2 with a 6% dip, to 7.1 million impressions.

Notably, “First Love” becomes just the fifth song by two co-billed soloists to lead Regional Mexican Airplay this decade. Here’s the list of those equal-billed collabs since 2020:

Title, Artist, Peak Date, Weeks at No. 1
“Dime Cómo Quieres,” Christian Nodal & Angela Aguilar, Jan. 30, 2021, five
“Duele,” Alejandro Fernández & Christian Nodal, April 24, 2021, one
“Tus Desprecios,” Pepe Aguilar & El Fantasma, Sept. 25, 2021, one
“Si Ya Hiciste El Mal,” Luis R Conriquez & Jessi Uribe, Nov. 19, 2022, one
“Según Quién,” Maluma & Carin León, Dec. 16, 2023, one
“La Intención,” Christian Nodal & Peso Pluma, March 30, two
“First Love,” Oscar Ortiz & Edgardo Nuñez, April 27

“First Love” caught immediate viral attention through TikTok, where Ortiz was named #Rompiendo Artist of the month in March by TikTok. To date, the song has sparked nearly 600,000 videos. Streams, however, experience a 4% dip during the tracking week, to 3.5 million official U.S. clicks.

As “First Love” rises to No. 1 on Regional Mexican Airplay, it takes BadSin to its second champ in 2024 and 13th overall. Earlier in this year, the indie label topped the ranking through Ortiz’s brother Gerardo Ortiz’s “Ahí No Era,” for one week in charge in February.

Unlike Oscar Ortiz, whose first and only Billboard entry arrived through “First Love,” Nuñez has placed four other tracks on the charts, including “El Humo De Gallo,” with Banda Los Sebastianes de Saul Plata, which debuts at No. 34 on Regional Mexican Airplay on the current list.

Beyond its Regional Mexican Airplay coronation, ‘First Love” climbs 9-5 on the overall Latin Airplay chart, for its new peak, with an 18% gain in overall impressions, to 8.32 million.

Rauw Alejandro Teams Up with Sky Rompiendo to Release Electronic Track “Espectacular”

Posted on April 20, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a spectacular time for Rauw Alejandro…

The 31-year-old Puerto Rican singer and songwriter has released “Espectacular,” his fiery collaboration with Sky Rompiendo.

Sky Rompiendo released the electronic track, which features Rauw singing about a sexy pole dancer who “looks spectacular,” as the song title suggests.

In an accompanying video, the duo is seen among a group of blurred-out dancers and bikini-clad women dancing around a glowing pole.

“Today I think one of my favorite songs this year comes out ,” Rauw Alejandro wrote on X/Twitter on Thursday. “THIS SONG WOOW,” Rauw added in a previous post.

As for Sky Rompiendo, the Colombian producer has been sharing snippets of the song on his TikTok, including one of himself producing the track earlier this week.

Last month, he also shared a blurry photo of himself in the studio, writing, “This can be taken as an unofficial first warning” about the track.

Cardi B Reveals Steamy Cover Art for New Single “Enough (Miami)”

Posted on March 11, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Enough is enough for Cardi B…

The 31-year-old half-Dominican American Grammy-winning superstar has taken to Instagram to reveal the cover art for her upcoming single “Enough (Miami),” which she’ll release on Friday, March 15.

In the photo, a nude Cardi B lays across a white sofa with her hair in long waves down her shoulders, rocking a glass skin look with her makeup.

Last week, Cardi B teased the fiery single via TikTok. “Me vs. you and you know who they pickin’,” she raps on the track. “I can survive in the coldest conditions… B–ches is washed, soapin’ the dishes/ I apply pressure like boa constrictors/ One b–ch, two b–ch, old b–ch, new b–ch, none of y’all not gonna do s–t/ I’m in Miami I pull up on cruise ships.”

The track is a follow-up to Cardi B’s recently released single, “Like What (Freestyle).”

The song is Cardi’s first solo record since 2021’s “Up,” which earned the rapper a Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit and a 2022 Grammy nomination for best rap performance.

Since then she’s dropped “Tomorrow 2” with GloRilla, “Jealously” with Offset and the Megan Thee Stallion collaboration “Bongos.”

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A post shared by Cardi B (@iamcardib)

A new album from the rapper would mark her first since 2018’s Invasion of Privacy. The album spawned two No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 singles, the diamond-certified “Bodak Yellow” and “I Like It.” She also won the Grammy for best rap album for Invasion of Privacy, topping Pusha T, Mac Miller, Travis Scott and Nipsey Hussle.

Cardi B Teases Fiery Next Single on TikTok

Posted on March 8, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Cardi B is teasing her next fiery single…

The 31-year-old half-Dominican American Grammy-winning rap superstar has released a teaser for what appears to be her next single in a TikTok video from the recording studio.

Barefoot and dressed down, Cardi ripped off her typically acerbic lines over a spare, g-funk style beat, once again calling out her haters.

“Me vs. you and you know who they pickin’,” she rhymes to set up the unnamed track. “I can survive in the coldest conditions… B–ches is washed, soapin’ the dishes/ I apply pressure like boa constrictors/ One b–ch, two b–ch, old b–ch, new b–ch, none of y’all not gonna do s–t/ I’m in Miami I pull up on cruise ships.”

Dancing along to her own track, Cardi gives the ultimate ultimatum, rapping, “I see my opps linking up, I’m like, ‘What the f–k?/ If you scared, then just say that hoe/ Enough is enough.”

The post got a few comment from famous friends, including SZA, who wrote “the hair is giving” and Camila Cabello, who added, “sheeeeesh.”

At press time Cardi hadn’t provided any additional information regarding the track, though the caption of her TikTok post, “15” and a winking emoji, appeared to suggest it was due out on March 15.

If the song comes out next week, it would mark the follow-up to last week’s “Like What (Freestyle).” She also dropped a sexy video for the freestyle in which pays tribute to Missy Elliot and tries on a wide variety of eclectic outfits in the clip directed by estranged husband rapper Offset.

“Like What” is Cardi’s first solo record since 2021’s “Up,” which earned the rapper her a Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit and a 2022 Grammy nomination for best rap performance. Since then she’s dropped “Tomorrow 2” with GloRilla, “Jealously” with Offset and the Megan Thee Stallion collab “Bongos.”

Cardi has been teasing new music for months, including an in Instagram Story last week in which she told fans that her long-awaited sophomore album could be released this year.

She told the Bardi Gang that she was “not letting my anxiety, I’m not letting what haters say, I’m not letting what fans say” prevent her from releasing new songs, adding that “I’ve got no choice because I’m dropping my album this year, so stay tuned for the announcement.”

It would be the follow-up to the MC’s breakthrough 2018 debut studio album, Invasion of Privacy, which earned her a Grammy.

https://www.tiktok.com/@iamcardib/video/7343762573344492842?embed_source=71929437%2C121374463%2C121404359%2C121351166%2C121331973%2C120811592%2C120810756%3Bnull%3Bembed_pause_share&refer=embed&referer_url=www.billboard.com%2Fmusic%2Frb-hip-hop%2Fcardi-b-enough-is-enough-new-song-1235627679%2F&referer_video_id=7343762573344492842

Yandel & Myke Towers’ “Borracho y Loco” Rises to No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay Chart

Posted on February 12, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Yandel is back on top…

The 47-year-old Puerto Rican singer and songwriter and the half-member of the reggaeton duo Wisin & Yandel and Myke Towers have notched another No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart as “Borracho y Loco” crowns the list dated February 17.

It’s the first collaboration by two Latin rhythm acts to top the chart in 2024.

Yandel and Towers’ track advances from the runner-up slot with 10.3 million audience impressions earned in the U.S. in the week ending February 8 (up 18%), according to Luminate.

It sends last week’s No. 1, Xavi’s “La Diabla” down to No. 7 after one week in charge. The latter declined 26% to 7.1 million in audience.

“The truth is that it makes me very happy that with so many years making music my songs still reach the first places and top lists in the United States and other parts of the world,” Yandel told Billboard.

As “Borracho y Loco” lands at the summit, it becomes the pair’s second No. 1 team-up. The Puerto Ricans last ruled the overall Latin Airplay ranking through a Nio Garcia, Casper Mágico, Ozuna, Wisin and Flow La Movie collab, when “Travesuras” topped the tally for one-week in 2021.

With “Borracho y Loco” Yandel scores his 16th champ on Latin Airplay. Further, he ties with Nicky Jam for the seventh-most No. 1s among male urban artists since the tally launched in 1994.

Here’s a review of the winners:

36, J Balvin
33, Ozuna
28, Daddy Yankee
24, Bad Bunny
24, Maluma
22, Wisin
16, Nicky Jam
16, Yandel

“I am beyond grateful for my fans, my producers and the artists I have had the joy of collaborating with,” Yandel adds. “Now another No. 1 arrives through ‘Borracho y Loco.’ Myke Towers, thanks brother! Here we go, another No. 1 for the books!”

For Towers, the rapper and singer-songwriter lands his 10th No. 1 with his 31st chart appearance. He last topped the chart with the viral TikTok hit “Lala,” which spent two weeks at No. 1 in September 2023.

“Borracho y Loco” takes over Latin Airplay in its 18th week, marking the second-longest climb to the top for both artists. Previously, Yandel placed three songs at the summit each one in its 20th week, including two featured roles: through Maluma’s “El Perdedor,” and in IAmChino’s “Ay Dios Miío,” which also featured Pitbull and Chacal, and with “Nunca Me Olvides,” all in 2016.

Tower’s, meanwhile, secured two songs at No. 1 in 22 weeks each: “Bandido” with Juhn, and “Bésame,” with Luis Fonsi, in June and Nov. 2021, respectively.

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