Feid Releases Eclectic New Album “MOR, No Le Temas A La Oscuridad”

Feid is back with new music…

After weeks of teasing fans on social media, the 31-year-old Colombian singer and songwriter has released his new studio album, MOR, No Le Temas A La Oscuridad.

FeidTranslating to “Love, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark,” the set’s title is a tribute to the renowned ‘90s Nickelodeon show Are You Afraid of the Dark? and its concept is meant to remind us that everyone shines in the darkness.

On a personal level, Feid told Billboard earlier this year that its “whole concept has to do with how I went from being in the shadows as a composer to everything I am achieving now [as an artist].”

Home to 15 tracks, including the previously-released singles “Niña Bonita” with Sean Paul, “Vente Conmigo,” and “FERXXO 151” with Icon, which is rapidly gaining virality on TikTokMOR is easily Feid’s most eclectic production yet.

The set kicks off with a chill, one-minute piano melody, where Ferxxo (his alter-ego) summarizes all the fame and success he’s living now. “I always wanted to sing/I never wanted to be a bad boy/I don’t like to show off but music has me living like a gangster,” he chants.

If his latest singles, including the Spanglish AfrobeatBubalu” with Nigerian artist Rema, are any indication, the Colombian artist is experimental as ever. This time around, he dabbles into electronic music (“Luces de Tecno”), futuristic perreo (“Romanticos de Lunes”), and lacing funk and indie-pop (“Privilegios”).

On other notable tracks, such as the Ryan Castro-assisted “Ritmos de Medallo” and “Hey Chory,” Feid (real name: Salomón Villada Hoyos) keeps his essence by singing romantic lyrics using his Medallo slang and distinct reggaeton sound.

MOR, No Le Temas A La Oscuridad follows Feliz Cumpleaños Ferxxo, Te Pirateamos el Album, which after being leaked online, peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart in 2022.

Kenia Os Re-Signs Recording Deal with Sony Music Mexico & 5020 Records

Kenia Os is hoping to expand her musical reach…

The 24-year-old Mexican singer-songwriter, a rising Latin music pop star, has re-signed her recording deal with Sony Music Mexico and 5020 Records, the new Sony imprint based out of Miami.

Kenia Os“I’m thrilled to continue growing along with my label, Sony Music Mexico, and with 5020 Records to develop my career at an international level. I’m very excited about everything that’s coming,” said Os. The singer signed her new deal out of 5020’s offices in Miami.

In a Latin arena currently dominated by urban and regional Mexican music, Os has been an unlikely pop success, garnering over 5 million subscribers to her YouTube channel and currently has over 7 million listeners on Spotify. A sensation on TikTok, Os’ hit “Malas decisiones” generated over 8.4 million creations on the platforms.

Os (real name Kenia Guadalupe Flores Osuna) has released two albums on Sony, Cambios de Luna (2022) and K3 (2023), which was also released in vinyl format in Mexico. The former was accompanied by a short documentary that played successfully in movie theaters in Mexico.

“We’re very happy with what we’ve accomplished so far with Kenia, the new Mexican pop star,” said Roberto Lopez, president of Sony Music Mexico.

“Kenia is a unique artist, with an artistic and entrepreneurial vision,” said Rafael Arcaute, co president of 5020 Records. “We are inspired by her power and dedication to her career.”

“She’s an exceptional artist who combines talent, vision and professionalism,
added 5020 co president Bruno Duarte. “It’s an honor for us to extend this relationship.”

Os recently won three Premios Juventud, which are voted on by fans, including New female generation and Best Fandom. She also has multiple nominations to the MTV MIAW 2023 awards.

Myke Towers Earns First No. 1 on Billboard Global Excl. U.S. Chart with “LaLa”

Myke Towers is LaLa-loving life right now…

The 29-year-old Puerto Rican rapper’s latest single “LaLa” surges from No. 13 to No. 1 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart dated July 22, becoming his first leader on the list.

Myke TowersTowers’ track rockets to the top of the chart after logging 70.4 million streams outside the U.S. July 7-13, a 101% increase.

The profile of the reggaetón-powered Spanish-language song has recently swelled on TikTok, after the track was released in March.

The single becomes Towers’ first Global Excl. U.S. No. 1, following three top 10s: “Pareja Del Año,” with Sebastián Yatra (No. 9 peak, May 2021); “Bandido,” with Juhn (No. 6, February 2021); and “Caramelo,” with Ozuna and Karol G (No. 10, September 2020).

The Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts, which started in September 2020, ranks songs based on streaming and sales activity culled from more than 200 territories around the world, as compiled by Luminate. The Global Excl. U.S. chart comprises data from territories excluding the United States.

Chart ranks are based on a weighted formula incorporating official-only streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of audio and video music services, as well as download sales, the latter of which reflect purchases from full-service digital music retailers from around the world, with sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites excluded from the charts’ calculations.

Karol G Releases New Single “S91,” Inspired by Psalm 91 Bible Verse

Karol G is back with an inspirational new tune…

The 32-year-old Colombian superstar has released a new single called “S91,” inspired by the popular Psalm 91 Bible verse, while making an importance announcement in the track’s impactful music video.

Karol GIn the emotional and ultra-personal release, produced by Ovy on the Drums, Karol G sings about overcoming adversity over an EDM-meets-trap fusion.

The music video, directed by Pedro Artola and produced by WeOwnTheCity, is just as powerful as the lyrics, demonstrating Karol G running away from a group of people backed by a pack of wolves trying to bring her down, but she’s protected by a lone panther. She also used the opportunity to announce that Mañana Sera Bonito (Bichota Season) is coming soon.

A week ago, the “Bichota” singer hinted that she was up to new projects when she posted a photo all smiles and with a line from Psalm 91: “A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.”

A couple of days later, and a month ahead of her Mañana Sera Bonito stadium tour kicking off, she surprised fans with a new music video teaser assuring them that she has an announcement “so important that it deserved its own song and music video” and that she planned to release it on July 13 because 13 is her favorite spiritual number. “Remember I always save the best for last. This video is dedicated to my people, the ones from the start,” she noted.

On the eve of the “S91” release, Karol posted a TikTok video of her mother reacting to the production in tears. “This video is special for many reasons,” she shared in the caption.

“One, there is no more beautiful feeling for me than knowing that my family is proud of me and that my music can cause them reactions like that,” she continued. “Two, my mom took us to school and taught us to pray Psalm 91 after leaving home every day in the morning because she said they were sacred words of protection, and three, I am grateful to God and to life for giving me a family that supports me, that has believed in me from the very beginning and that is still with me today, celebrating together so many beautiful things that happen to us.”

Beyond its personal connection to the artist, “S91” is charged with a message of celebration, pride, love, triumph and “many beautiful feelings,” according to Karol’s TikTok caption.

Cardi B Teams Up with FendiDa Rappa for “Point Me To the S—s” remix, “Point Me 2”

Cardi B is making a big point

The 30-year-old half-Dominican American Grammy-winning rap superstar appears on the remix of FendiDa Rappa’s TikTok viral hit “Point Me To the S—s.”

Cardi BTitled “Point Me 2,” the new remix is the latest in a string of collaborations between Cardi B and rising female rappers.

Last September, Cardi B linked up with Memphis rapper GloRilla for “Tomorrow 2,” a remix of the “F.N.F.” rapper’s original track. With Cardi’s help, the remix peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Just last month (June 2), Cardi B joined forces with two-time Grammy nominee Latto for “Put It On Da Floor Again,” a remix of Latto’s original that landed a Hot 100 peak of No. 13.

Although it has been more than five years since Cardi B released her last album, fans are still waiting for her follow-up. Nonetheless, the “Up” rapper has kept the verses coming as she continues to prep the release of her sophomore LP.

On the Billboard Hot 100, Cardi B has earned five No. 1 singles, including “Bodak Yellow,” “Girls Like You” (with Maroon 5), and the Megan Thee Stallion-assisted “WAP.” Invasion of Privacy, the Bronx rapper’s debut studio album, peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and has spent over 200 weeks on the ranking.

Surf Mesa Releases New Single “Manzanita”

Surf Mesa is back with new music…

The 23-year-old Latino music producer born Powell Aguirre has teamed up with Norwegian singer/songwriter Elsa Søllesvik and Zurich-based producer Benji Alasu to release the new single “Manzanita” via Astralwerks.

Surf MesaSurf Mesa has come a long way from his viral TikTok days, trading the dreamy, pop-oriented mode of his breakout hit “ily (I love you baby), for a slinky, sophisticated textural dance floor vibe that marks some of his best work to date.

“’Manzanita’ is a track I’ve kept exclusively for the dance floor for a while,” says Surf Mesa. “The texture and atmosphere this song makes me envision a rainforest in the future. It resonates with me so much as I begin my next chapter of music.”

Cardi B Teams Up with Latto for “Put It On Da Floor” Remix, “Put It On Da Floor Again”

Cardi B is leaving it on the floor

The 30-year-old half-Dominican American Grammy-winning rap superstar has joined voices with Latto on her “Put It On Da Floor” remix, “Put It On Da Floor Again.

Cardi B, LattoAfter literally ripping Cardi B out of plastic in a video posted to Instagram on Wednesday (May 31), Latto used the opening line of her bouncy single “Put It On Da Floor” to announce a revamped remix with the “Bodak Yellow” rapper that dropped at midnight on Friday, June 2.

Following its April 20 release, the original track amassed over 100,000 video creations on TikTok, and came as a follow up to Latto’s pop-centric “Lottery.”

Now back in her rap bag, the Atlanta-made wordsmith is off to a good start, enlisting Cardi B for what may become the song of the summer.

While some fans attribute the choice to Latto’s recent beef with Cardi B’s arch nemesis Nicki Minaj, the “WAP” rapper has proven to be a no-brainer feature, most recently catapulting GloRilla’s “Tomorrow 2,” the single exploding thanks to Cardi B’s iconic verse.

“Big Latto Big Bardi ISSA REAL BTCH PARTY!!!” Latto wrote on an Instagram post sharing the single’s cover art, which shows a denim-clad Cardi and Latto striking a handful of playful poses, donning matching blonde hairdos.

Luis Fonsi Releases New Single “Buenos Aires” & Official Music Video for Track

Luis Fonsi is heading south this summer…

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican singer has released his highly anticipated new single “Buenos Aires.”

Luis FonsiWith Fonsi leading the composition along with Andrés Torres, Mauricio Rengifo and Keityn, and produced by Rengifo and Torres, “Buenos Aires” is the first single of what is set to be Fonsi’s next musical chapter.

Fonsi shared what inspired him to write his new hit, saying, “‘Buenos Aires’ tells the story of attempting to erase the memory of a lover and coming to the realization that it is completely impossible to do so. It is a heartbreak song that speaks of the pain you feel when that person who means so much to you has moved on.

“When I started writing the song, it immediately transported me to Argentine cumbia, and this inspired me to make references to some of the cities that have great significance in my life and career in the next couple of songs that I will be releasing. It’s very exciting for me because ‘Buenos Aires’ marks the beginning of a new chapter in my music…I have many songs to share, and I am thrilled to have fans join me on this journey.”

For several weeks, the multiple Latin Grammy winner had been sharing a preview of “Buenos Aires” with his followers on social media, which resulted in thousands of fan creations on TikTok.

Fonsi’s community can also finally enjoy not only the complete song but also the stellar music video directed by renowned creative director of Elastic People, Carlos Pérez.

The video was filmed in Miami last April, and its concept drew inspiration from one of the catchy phrases in the song “no saquen el corazón que están robando,” which means keep the stolen heart inside.

Stephen Sanchez Named to Billboard’s 21 Under 21 List

Stephen Sanchez is officially making his mark in the music world…

The 20-year-old Latino American singer has been named to Billboard’s 21 Under 21 list for 2023. The annual list features the next generation of superstars.

Stephen SanchezSanchez, who has logged 460.2 million streams, evoked classic romance with his waltzing, 1950s-indebted hit, “Until I Found You,” which soundtracked hundreds of thousands of TikToks featuring wedding and couple celebrations.

The 2021 single crossed over from viral success to radio hit last year, reaching No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart.

And while the Mercury/Republic Records crooner has released several versions of “Until I Found You,” he has also shared some new, retro-leaning tunes ahead of his fall tour.

“There has been a really healthy growth and certainly lots of adjustment,” says Sanchez, “but I’ve been having a hell of a good time along the way.”

But Sanchez isn’t the only Latino artist to make the list.

Angela Aguilar, born to Regional Mexican music royalty, has become a star in her own right.

The 19-year-old Mexican American singer, who has logged 322.8 million streams, scored her third top 10 entry on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart in March with her collaboration with Yuridia, “Qué Agonía.

After spending the past few years on the road with her family for their top-grossing Jaripeo Sin Fronteras show, Aguilar will embark on a solo tour titled Piensa En Mí this summer.

DannyLux has also made the cut…

In April, the 19-year-old Latino American artist made his Coachella debut, performing his signature sad sierreño anthems in front of a significant crowd. It was a full-circle moment for the singer-songwriter, who grew up in the Coachella Valley area. He says he’s most proud of bringing his family along with him, “and for them to experience all of this as well,” but his impact extends well beyond his circle: DannyLux is helping usher in a new global era for Mexican music, which led to a record deal last year with Warner Music Latina in partnership with his independent label, VPS Music.

Ivan Cornejo secured his first Billboard chart entry with his 2021 debut album, Alma Vacía, at the age of 17, landing at No. 2 on Regional Mexican Albums. That same year, the project’s “Está Dañada” became the second regional Mexican song to ever enter the Billboard Hot 100. The singer-songwriter has since maintained momentum, with his sierreño tunes — mostly backed by melancholic requintos and emotional vocals — helping Cornejo score his first No. 1 on Regional Mexican Albums with his second set, Dañado.

The Linda Lindas, featuring the half-Latina sisters Lucia de la Garza and Mila de la Garza and Latina guitarist/singer Bela Salazar, rose to acclaim in 2021 with a live performance of the band’s song “Racist, Sexist Boy,” performed live at the Los Angeles Public Library. The four-piece punk group settled in last year with its debut album, Growing Up, released on Epitaph. The act subsequently toured the project at festivals, as well as on North American and international treks, during which Lucia de la Garza says she “really got the idea of how widespread the reach of the internet and streaming platforms are.”

Since debuting with his Into the Unknown EP in 2020, Riovaz has released music at a steady pace, with uptempo dance hits like “Prom Night” and “I Feel Fantastic” being among fan favorites. Most recently, the New Jersey native boosted his catalog with his February EP, Disturb the Norm — his first project to arrive since signing to Darkroom Records, in partnership with Geffen, last summer.

To come up with the list, Billboard editors and reporters weighed a variety of factors in determining the 2023 21 Under 21 list, including, but not limited to, impact on consumer behavior, measured by metrics such as album and track sales, streaming volume (listed here as each artist’s on-demand official U.S. career streams, according to Luminate), social media impressions and radio/TV audiences reached; career trajectory; and overall impact in the industry, specifically during the past 12 months. Unless otherwise noted, Luminate is the source for sales/streaming data.

Here’s the complete look at the Latino/a artists named to this year’s 21 Under 21 list:

Ángela Aguilar
Age:
 19
Label: Machín Récords
Publisher: SESAC
Management: Pepe Aguilar
Total Streams: 322.8 million
Born to regional Mexican music royalty — her father is Pepe Aguilar and her grandfather is Antonio Aguilar — the artist has become a star in her own right. In March, her collaboration with Yuridia, “Qué Agonía,” scored the ranchera singer-songwriter her third top 10 entry on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart. After spending the past few years on the road with her family for their top-grossing Jaripeo Sin Fronteras show, the 19-year-old will embark on a solo tour titled Piensa En Mí this summer. Inspired by Pepe’s career, she says, “It’s nice to have someone that you admire at home, someone who can direct me in the right direction because everything that I’m going through, he has already gone through.” 

DannyLux
Age: 19
Label: VPS Music via Warner Latina
Publisher: Warner Chappell Music
Management: Jose Luis Aguilar
Total Streams: 217 million
In April, DannyLux made his Coachella debut, performing his signature sad sierreño anthems in front of a significant crowd. It was a full-circle moment for the singer-songwriter, who grew up in the Coachella Valley area. He says he’s most proud of bringing his family along with him, “and for them to experience all of this as well,” but his impact extends well beyond his circle: DannyLux is helping usher in a new global era for Mexican music, which led to a record deal last year with Warner Music Latina in partnership with his independent label, VPS Music. “I feel like there is a lot of pressure,” he says. “You have to stay consistent because it’s so easy to just fall off.” 

Ivan Cornejo
Age: 18
Label: n/a
Publisher: n/a
Management: Pamela Cornejo
Total Streams: 1.1 billion
Ivan Cornejo was 17 years old when he secured his first Billboard chart entry with his 2021 debut album, Alma Vacía, landing at No. 2 on Regional Mexican Albums. That same year, the project’s “Está Dañada” became the second regional Mexican song to ever enter the Billboard Hot 100. The singer-songwriter has since maintained momentum, with his sierreño tunes — mostly backed by melancholic requintos and emotional vocals — helping Cornejo score his first No. 1 on Regional Mexican Albums with his second set, Dañado. (A deluxe edition arrived last December.) “The most exciting part about being a young artist is the influence my music can have on other upcoming artists,” he says, which can best be reflected in his feature on the Yahritza Y Su Esencia “Inseparables” that dropped last fall. 

The Linda Lindas
Age Bela Salazar, 18; Lucia de la Garza, 16; Eloise Wong, 15; Mila de la Garza, 12
Label Epitaph Records
Publisher Warner Chappell Music
Management Fly South Music Group
Total Streams 12.8 million
Riding an initial viral wave in 2021 spurred by a live performance of its song “Racist, Sexist Boy” at the Los Angeles Public Library, the four-piece punk group settled in last year with its debut album, Growing Up, released on Epitaph. The act subsequently toured the project at festivals, as well as on North American and international treks, during which Lucia de la Garza says she “really got the idea of how widespread the reach of the internet and streaming platforms are.” In April, the band returned with single “Too Many Things” and a Coachella performance, which it will follow by opening for Paramore and playing at Lollapalooza Chicago in August. 

Riovaz
Age 19
Label Darkroom Records/Geffen
Publisher n/a
Management Jacob Byrnes, Argenis Hernandez
Total Streams 215.6 million
Since debuting with his Into the Unknown EP in 2020, Riovaz has released music at a steady pace, with uptempo dance hits like “Prom Night” and “I Feel Fantastic” being among fan favorites. Most recently, the New Jersey native boosted his catalog with his February EP, Disturb the Norm — his first project to arrive since signing to Darkroom Records, in partnership with Geffen, last summer. “A lot of people are focusing only on streams and followers, which to me doesn’t make me fall in love and remember an artist,” says Riovaz. “Success, to me, is to be remembered for your contributions to the music industry and the scene you’ve built around yourself as an artist … Community has always been a big part of my career in the early days, so taking that from the internet into real life is still such a crazy thing to me.”

Stephen Sanchez
Age: 20
Label: Mercury Records/Republic Records
Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
Management: LoyalT Management
Total Streams: 460.2 million
Plenty of aspiring artists write love songs in their bedrooms intended for their crushes. But few have evoked classic romance quite like Sanchez did with his waltzing, 1950s-indebted hit, “Until I Found You,” which soundtracked hundreds of thousands of TikToks featuring wedding and couple celebrations. The 2021 single crossed over from viral success to radio hit last year, reaching No. 23 on the Hot 100 and topping the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. And while the Mercury/Republic Records crooner has released several versions of “Until I Found You,” he has also shared some new, retro-leaning tunes ahead of his fall tour. “There has been a really healthy growth and certainly lots of adjustment,” says Sanchez, “but I’ve been having a hell of a good time along the way.”

Miguel’s “Sure Thing” Rises to No. 1 on Billboard’s Pop Airplay Chart 12+ Years After Initial Release

Miguel has a sure hit on his hands…

More than 12 years after its release and its original chart run, the 37-year-old half-Mexican American singer, songwriter and actor’s single “Sure Thing” has risen to No. 1 on Billboard’s Pop Airplay chart dated May 27.

MiguelThe song, on ByStorm/Black Ice/Jive/Legacy/RCA Records, completes the longest ascent to the Pop Airplay summit from a title’s release, having first hit Billboard’s charts in February 2011, following its November 2010 release on Miguel’s debut LP, All I Want Is You.

An R&B/hip-hop radio hit in its original run, “Sure Thing” crowned the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, as well as R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, for a week in May 2011.

On the all-genre, multimetric Billboard Hot 100, “Sure Thing” reached No. 36 over a 23-week stay in March-August 2011.

In 2022, the song resurged thanks to newfound attention on TikTok, where a sped-up version has soundtracked more than 4 million clips. It debuted on Billboard’s Streaming Songs chart this January and ranked at No. 30 on the most recently published, May 20-dated chart with 10.6 million official streams in the United States May 5-11, according to Luminate.

On the May 20-dated all-format Radio Songs survey, “Sure Thing” rose 7-6, up 6% to 51.6 million in audience. On the Hot 100, it pushed 15-14, reaching a new best — as well as a new career high for Miguel, surpassing the No. 15 peak of Mariah Carey’s “#Beautiful,” on which he’s featured, in 2013.

Miguel previously tallied six Pop Airplay hits between 2012-22, rising as high as No. 12 as a featured artist on Kygo’s “Remind Me to Forget” in 2018, his best career rank prior to the revival of “Sure Thing.”

Meanwhile, the comeback to new heights for “Sure Thing” has been historic, as the single broke the record for the most weeks ever spent on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: 78 (through the latest, May 20-dated survey, where it placed at No. 5, marking its first appearance in the chart’s top five since September 2011).

“We were keeping a close eye on the metrics,” says RCA head of promotion Keith Rothschild about the decision to promote the song to pop radio after TikTok sparked new interest in it. It debuted on the Pop Airplay chart dated Feb. 25, at No. 40, and hits No. 1 in its 14th week on the chart, up 7% in plays May 12-18.

While “Sure Thing” is far removed from its original release, “programmers were not hesitant at all,” Rothschild says, especially with other catalog songs recently finding new life on radio, whether from TikTok or synchs, including Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God),” Lady Gaga’s “Bloody Mary” and The Weeknd’s “Die for You.”

“We knew the song was a hit, as it was a No. 1 R&B/hip-hop record when it was originally out,” says Rothschild of “Sure Thing.” “It was never worked at pop, so we asked programmers to put it into callout. The numbers came back massive, and we knew it was game on.”