Gloria Estefan Releases New Single “Raíces” from First Spanish-Language Album in 18 Years

Gloria Estefan is embracing her raíces

In the lead up to the release of her first Spanish-language album in 18 years, the 67-year-old Cuban Grammy-winning singer, actress and businesswoman has released the first single from the set, written by her producer-husband Emilio Estefan and aptly titled “Raíces.”

Gloria Estefan“Always enjoy the moments because you never know what surprises life will bring,” Estefan sings, expressing how love and life are very much like planting seeds. “If you want a good harvest, you need to know how to sow/ With faith and dedication, that tree will grow roots.”

“The song ‘Raíces’ touched my soul the first moment I heard it,” Gloria Estefan tells Billboard Español. “Being a Virgo, my connection with nature is strong, and I see life as a garden, with love as the seed. I believe that what you cultivate with kindness, patience, and faith will one day bloom into joy.”

She adds: “It is important not to miss the opportunity to express love because every sincere word and gesture plants the roots of a beautiful tomorrow — and that is what this song is all about.”

Recorded at their Crescent Moon Studios in Miami, “Raíces” is a tribute to the rhythms that have defined Estefan’s sound: salsa, tropical beats, classic Latin music.

The song will also give its title to her new album — the 30th in a 50-year career — which will be released at the end of May under Sony Music. It will be her first fully Spanish-language album in 18 years, since 90 Millas, which debuted and spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart in October 2007.

“For me, recording in Spanish again was a contribution to our music,” Emilio Estefan tells Billboard Español, noting that they worked with “great musicians, engineers, and industry professionals” and that he personally wrote almost the entire album because “I wanted it to reflect our essence: Gloria’s sound and mine.”

“[When we started], I remember people telling us that our sound would never work and that we should change our last name. But we understood the value of our culture and our roots,” he explains, referring to their beginnings in the mid-1970s with the Miami Sound Machine. “When Gloria reached the top of the charts worldwide [singing in English], we took a big risk and decided to record Mi Tierra, an album that represented one of our greatest victories.”

The iconic first LP by Gloria Estefan in Spanish from 1993, which included hits like “Mi Tierra” and “Con Los Años Que Me Quedan,” spent a whooping 58 weeks at No. 1 on Top Latin Albums.

More than three decades later, the renowned Cuban producer and musician along with the singer-songwriter present “a letter of gratitude to the fans, to the press, to those who believed in us, and to the city of Miami, which watched us grow and then allowed us to bring our music to the whole world.”

“It is a moment full of emotions for Gloria and me, a celebration of our culture and our audience,” Emilio Estefan says. “The most beautiful thing about a career is being able to leave a legacy of gratitude.”

Jasiel Nuñez Signs with United Talent Agency (UTA)

Jasiel Nuñez has new representation…

United Talent Agency (UTA) has signed the Mexican singer-songwriter.

Jasiel NuñezManaged by George Prajin, founder/CEO of Prajin Parlay and co-founder of Double P Records along with global superstar Peso Pluma, with whom Nuñez has a longstanding creative partnership.

The Guadalajara native contributed to Peso Pluma’s 2023 album Génesis on tracks like “Laguna” and “Rosa Pastel,” the latter of which reached No. 24 on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart.

In 2024, Nuñez also joined Peso Pluma on his Éxodo tour.

Nuñez’s latest album, La Odisea — featuring collaborations with Luis R Conriquez, Tito Double P and Danny Lux — landed at No. 8 on Billboard‘s Top Latin Albums chart and at No. 6 on Regional Mexican Albums.

“I’m excited and thankful to become part of the United Talent Agency family,” said Nuñez in a statement. “This marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter, and I’m ready to push música Mexicana to new heights.”

Bad Bunny’s “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” Becomes His Ninth Consecutive No. 1 Album on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums Chart

Bad Bunny has another Latin chart-topping album on his hands…

The 30-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning superstar has logged his ninth straight No. 1 project on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart as DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS debuts atop the January 18-dated list.

Bad BunnyThe 17-track set also opens at No. 2 on the overall Billboard 200, No. 1 on the Top Streaming Albums, and No. 1 on the Latin Rhythm Albums charts.

DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS launches at No. 1 on Top Latin Albums with 122,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. during the January 3-9 tracking week, according to Luminate.

The set was released on January 5 via Rimas Entertainment, two days after the beginning of the tracking week which runs weekly Friday through Thursday. Thus, it arrives with five days of activity instead of the usual seven days.

DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS was available via streamers and through download services to purchase.

The download version available on Benito’s webstore and the iTunes Store for $4.99. A physical version of the album has not been released. Of the album’s starting total, 8,000 units come from album sales, enough for a No. 6 start on the overall Top Album Sales chart.

The set is the only Latin album to appear on the chart’s top 10 since Ivan Cornejo’s Mirada debuted at No. 9 with 9,000 copies sold in August 2024.

Streaming activity contributes 113,500 units which represents 152.6 million official on-demand streams of the 17 songs on the album. The sum yields the largest streaming week for a Latin album in over a year, since Bad Bunny’s own Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va A Pasar Mañana launched at No. 1 on Top Streaming Albums with 239.56 million on-demand official streams for its songs (Oct.ober 28, 2023-dated chart). Track-equivalent album units comprise the remaining 500 units of DeBÍ’s first week sum.

With DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, Bad Bunny lands his ninth straight No. 1 on Top Latin Albums, the entirety of his charting releases. The streak began with 2019’s X100PRE which led for 46 weeks. That same year, Benito scored his second champ through the J Balvin-jointed set Oasis (eight weeks atop). YHLQMDLG, however, became his most profitable project to date, with 70 weeks at No. 1, the longest-leading album overall since Top Latin Albums begun in 1993.

Here’s the recap of all those winning sets:

Peak Date, Title, Artist, Weeks at No. 1
Jan. 5, 2019, X 100PRE, 46
July 13, 2019, Oasis, With J Balvin, eight
March 14, 2020, YHLQMDLG, 70
May 23, 2020, Las Que No Iban A Salir, one
Dec. 12, 2020, El Último Tour Del Mundo, 27
Jan. 15, 2022, Anniversary Trilogy, one
May 21, 2022, Un Verano Sin Ti, 60
Oct. 28, 2023, Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va A Pasar Mañana, 10
Jan. 18, 2025, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS

Fuerza Regida Rent Out Hotel for Families Affected by L.A. Wildfires

Fuerza Regida is supporting residents impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires…

The Regional Mexican band, formed in California, is providing aid to those in need of housing amid the devastating wildfires across Los Angeles.

Fuerza Regida“To our beloved community affected by the Los Angeles fires: We are here for you in this challenging time. We’ve rented out a hotel with space for more than 50 families, more will become available for those in need of shelter. Please know that we stand with you and will continue to support throughout this difficult period. Rooms will be available at 3:00 pm PT 01/11/24,” the band announced in a statement released on Saturday, January 11.

“Please reach out to logistics @streetmobcorp.com for further information. Stay safe. Much Love, Fuerza Regida,” they signed the note.

In an Instagram post, Fuerza Regida added that they’ve rented the hotel for six days.

For health alerts, evacuation updates and additional shelter information as the wildfire battle continues, go to L.A. County’s emergency website here.

A number of organizations, listed here, are also offering help to those impacted by the California wildfires, which have been blazing through the L.A. area and causing extensive damage since Tuesday. Musicians and music industry professionals who are affected can get details about assistance here.

Fuerza Regida won the top/duo group and top Latin duo/group awards at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards, as well as four awards.

Their latest album, Pero No Te Enamores, featuring singles including title track “Pero No Te Enamores” and the hit “Nel,” debuted at No. 2 on the Top Latin Albums chart in July.

Carín León to Perform at Next Year’s Viña del Mar International Song Festival

Carín León is set to perform at Viña del Mar International Song Festival in February.

The 35-year-old Mexican singer-songwriter has been added as part of the lineup for the 64th annual installment alongside Eladio CarriónMorat and Kidd Voodoo.

Carin LeonThey’ll be joining the previously announced stars Marc Anthony, Ha*Ash, Carlos Vives, Miryam Hernández, Duki, Sebastián Yatra and Bacilos.

The event is scheduled to take place February 23-28 at Viña del Mar, Chile.

“We have developed a lineup for the whole family, featuring international artists at their peak for younger audiences, as well as classics and historic performers for the older ones,” Viña del Mar Mayor Macarena Ripamonti said in a press release. “Every night is turning out to be very appealing, which allows those who attend Quinta Vergara and the millions who watch the Festival on television to enjoy a modern event, with the latest technology and full of innovation that we will announce in the coming weeks.”

Hailing from Hermosillo, Sonora, Leon is one of the biggest forces behind the surge of Regional Mexican music globally. He started his musical journey as a teen and rose to prominence after his solo debut in 2018, Amanecida Con Todo y Con Todos. With his recent offering, Boca Chueca, Vol. 1, he debuted on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums and Regional Mexican Albums charts at No. 8 and No. 5, respectively.

Colombian band Morat recently finished their Morat: Los Estadios tour across 25 stadiums in different countries, concluding December 13 at the Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City. Members Juan Pablo Isaza, Martín Vargas, Simón Vargas, and Juan Pablo Villamil have gained recognition for their pop-rock sensibility with hits such as “No Se Va,” “Salir Con Vida,” and “Besos en Guerra.”

Latin trap star Carrión, of Puerto Rican descent, broke through in 2018 with certified gold hits like “Me Usaste” and “Si Tú Te Vas.” Earlier this year, he dropped Sol María, dedicated to his mother, which saw him expanding his genre versatility, and a hard-hitting trap EP Porque Puedo. He entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart twice with “Coco Chanel” and “Thunder & Lightning,” alongside Bad Bunny.

Chilean artist and member of the group 4F (Los Cuatro Fantásticos de la Música), Kidd Voodoo enjoys local popularity with hits like “Enrolar”, “Ese Guille” and “Dámelo BB.” He recently released “Satirología,” a single that in less than three weeks garnered over half a million views on YouTube.

Touted as the largest Latin music festival in the world, Viña del Mar spans six days and features a mix of celebrated stars, emerging talents, and local performers competing for the “Gaviotas” awards — silver, gold and platinum — judged by a panel and influenced by viewer feedback.

Since its 1960 inception, the festival takes place at the Quinta Vergara amphitheater, which has a capacity of 15,000 and is located in the Valparaíso region on the central coast.

This year introduces a first-time partnership between Megamedia and Bizarro Live Entertainment. Additionally, Disney+ will livestream the event throughout Latin America, and Billboard is set to provide exclusive global content on the website.

Ivan Cornejo Earns First No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums Chart with “Mirada”

Ivan Cornejo is sitting on top of the world…

The 20-year-old Mexican American singer-songwriter has achieved his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart with Mirada, his third studio album, which debuts atop the August 3-dated ranking.

Ivan Cornejo,The 12-track effort follows two other top 10 albums for Cornejo, both within a year, between 2021-22.

Mirada starts at the summit on Top Latin Albums with 34,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. during the July 19-25 tracking week, according to Luminate. The set was released July 19, the first day of the tracking period, on Zaragoza/Insterscope/ICLG.

Of Mirada’s 34,000 units in its coronation week, 25,000 of those derive from streaming activity, which represent 35 million official on-demand U.S. streams of the album’s songs. Album sales comprise 9,000, while the remainder negligible amount stem from track sales. On Top Latin Albums, one unit equals one album sale, 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams for a song on the album.

In the process, Cornejo joins an elite group of Regional Mexican acts whose projects launched at the summit on Top Latin Albums in the 20s decade. Alejandro Fernández’s Hecho En México debuted at No. 1 in February 2020, while Eslabon Armado enlisted two No. 1 debuts, through Vibras de Noche and Desvelado in August 2020 and May 2023, respectively.

Further, Cornejo captures his third top 10 on Top Latin Albums with a third appearance. The singer-songwriter visited the chart with the No. 7-peaking set Alma Vacía (October 2021) and Dañado, which peaked at No. 2 (December 2022) and earned him a first Billboard Latin Music Award for Regional Mexican album of the year in 2023.

Adding to Cornejo’s triumphs this week, the Riverside, Calif.-born artist likewise scores the largest debut sales week for a Regional Mexican album since 2020, with 9,000 sold. The last regional Mexican album to start with a bigger sales figure was Fernández’s Hecho En México, which debuted at No. 1 on the Feb. 29, 2020-dated Top Latin Albums chart with 10,000 sold. Mirada’s first-week sales were supported by a signed CD exclusive to his webstore, and a standard CD.

Mirada is just the second Regional Mexican album to debut within the top 10 on the all-genre Top Album Sales chart, which began in 1991. In total, 33 Latin albums have opened in the top 10. The only other Regional Mexican album to debut in the top 10 was Fernández’s Hecho En México, with a No. 8 debut in 2020.

Eleven cuts from Mirada have landed on the multi-metric Hot Latin Songs chart, led by “Baby Please,” which bowed and reached a No. 8 high last March. Here’s a look at the album tracks on Hot Latin Songs, including two already ranked songs, a reentry, plus seven debuts on the current survey:

No. 7, “Intercambio Injusto”
No. 9, “Sale Para Ser Feliz”
No. 14, “Mirada”
No. 19, “Baby Please”
No. 21, “Herida Abierta”
No. 23, “Vuelve”
No. 27, “Donde Estás”
No. 29, “Atención”
No. 31, “Aquí Te Espero”
No. 41, “Interlude”

Adding to Mirada’s breakthrough week, Cornejo reaches the top 20 for the first time on the overall Billboard 200, as the new album debuts at No. 17. He previously peaked at No. 28 with his last album, Dañado, in 2022. Plus, Mirada also debuts at No. 1 on Regional Mexican Albums, for Cornejo’s second No. 1 there.

Peso Pluma’s “Éxodo” Rises to No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums Chart

Peso Pluma is celebrating a chart-topping release…

The 25-year-old Mexican Grammy-winning Regional Mexican singer-songwriter is back at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart with Éxodo, his fourth studio set which rises 41-1 on the July 6-dated list.

Peso PlumaThe set also launches at No. 5 on the overall Billboard 200 list.

Peso Pluma’s latest chart-topper comes only three months after Génesis clocked its 28th week (and so far final week) at No. 1 on the chart.

Éxodo debuted at No. 41 on Top Latin Albums charted dated June 22 with only one day of activity, as the album was released June 20 via Double P, the last day of the tracking week. According to Luminate, the 24-song set (21 of which are collaborations), generated 64,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. during the 21-27 tracking week.

Streaming units comprise essentially all Éxodo’s second week of activity, with a little over 63,000 units deriving from that consumption method. That sum equates to 87.5 million on-demand official streams of the album’s 24 songs. Traditional album sales and track sales, meanwhile, supply the remaining 1,000. One unit equals one album sale, 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams for a song on the album.

Éxodo becomes just the second album by a Regional Mexican act to land at the summit on Top Latin Albums in 2024, following Fuerza Régida’s Pa Las Baby’s y Belikeada, which led for three weeks between April and May.

Beyond its coronation on Top Latin AlbumsÉxodo likewise rallies 19-1 on Regional Mexican Albums, where Peso replaces himself at No. 1. The new set sends Génesis to No. 2 with a 4% dip in overall units, to 17,000.

The last act to swap No. 1 positions on the chart was Eslabon Armado, whose album Tu Veneno Mortal, Vol. 2 ceded the throne after three weeks to Armado’s Corta Venas, rebounding to the summit on the chart dated July 31, 2021, for its 18th week atop then. (The latter ruled for a total of 54 weeks, the third-most since the list’s inception in 1985.)

Éxodo was preceded by four songs on the multi-metric Hot Latin Songs chart, starting with “La Durango,” with Junior H and Eslabón Armado, which rallies 20-9 with the Greatest Gainer honors, awarded weekly to the song with the largest increase in audience.

La People II” with Tito Double P and Joel De La P, travels 23-18. “Rompe La Dompe,” with Junior H and Oscar Maydon, re-enters at No. 27 after its No. 12 debut and peak (Jan. 13-dated list). “Peso Completo,” with Arcángel reached its No. 42 debut high, while “Teka,” with DJ Snake, climbs 45-36.

Reloj,” with Iván Cornejo, leads 17 debuts on Hot Latin Songs, which combines airplay, digital sales and streaming data, where it opens at No. 3. It was the most streamed song during the debut week, with 7.7. million official U.S. streams in the tracking period.

With the 17 new recruits, plus two songs already on the list and a re-entry, Peso Pulma places 20 total simultaneous titles on the current chart, the most in 2024.

Here’s the full recap of Peso Pluma’s Éxodo on the Hot Latin Songs chart:

No. 3, “Reloj,” with Iván Cornejo
No. 5, “Vino Tinto,” with Natanael Cano & Gabito Ballesteros
No. 6, “La Patrulla,” with Neton Vega
No.9, “La Durango,” with Junior H & Eslabon Armado
No. 11, “Hollywood,” with Estevan Plazola
No. 16, “Mami,” with Chino Pacas
No. 17, “Put Em In The Fridge,” with Cardi B
No. 18, “La People II,” with Tito Double P & Joel de La P
No. 19, “Santal 33,” with Oscar Maydon
No. 20, “Me Activo,” with Jasiel Nuñez
No. 21, “Bruce Wayne,” with Tito Double P
No. 22, “Sr. Smith,” with Luis R Conriquez
No. 24, “Belanova,” with Tito Double P
No. 27, “Rompe La Dompe,” with Junior H & Oscar Maydon
No. 28, “Ice”
No. 29, “Solicitado”
No. 31, “14 – 14”
No. 37, “Pa No Pensar,” with Quavo
No. 40, “Tommy & Pamela,” with Kenia Os
No. 50, “Mala,” with Ryan Castro

Peso Pluma also reaches global success with three new songs on the Billboard Global 200:Vino Tinto,” with Natanael Cano and Gabito Ballesteros, at No. 94, with 18.8 million global streams. “Reloj,” with Iván Cornejo, at No. 130 with 15 million universal clicks, and “La Patrulla,” with Neton Vega, at No. 164, with 13.9 million streams worldwide. “Vino Tinto” likewise launches at No. 109 on the Global Excl. U.S. ranking with 12.8 million streams outside the U.S.

Anuel AA to Make Feature Film Debut in Indie Horror Film “You Lose You Die”

Anuel AA is set to make his big screen debut…

The 31-year-old Puerto Rican rapper and singer, whose real name is Emmanuel Gazmey Santiago, will make his feature debut in Carlos “Spiff TV” Suarez’s indie horror film You Lose You Die.

Anuel AAHe joins previously announced stars Freddy Rodriguez, who also executive produces, and Ashley Elizabeth Fliehr (WWE star Charlotte Flair).

Shooting is due to wrap imminently in the Dominican Republic and the project will be shopped following post-production.

You Lose You Die follows sociopathic tech expert Mr. Fantastik (Rodriguez), who runs a popular show on the dark web with two other sociopathic tech experts, Ms. Perfect (Fliehr) and Mr. Creep (Anthony Alvarez). On the show, thousands of viewers vote on games and challenges for prisoners to participate in. If the prisoners lose, viewers vote on the weapons the sociopaths use to kill them.

In addition to Anuel AA who plays EZ Money, the cast includes Josh Bredl as Mr. Large, Sophia Zimba as Kara, Ashley Hernandez as Julie, Alejandro Duran as Alfonso, Noah Crider as Chase, Marcella Acuña as Christie, Mercy Grant as Darling and Lydia Faith Gomez as Jamie.

Rodriguez, Josue “Sway” Mendez and Ulysses Terrero serve as executive producers, with Mendez also producing.

Michael Patti is director of photography.

Anuel AA is a Latin trap music pioneer. He recorded his debut album Real Hasta La Muerte (2018) which topped the U.S. Top Latin Albums chart.

He has collaborated with notable artists such as Daddy Yankee, Karol G, Ozuna and J Balvin. His hits include “Secreto” and “China.” He won the Billboard Latin Music Award for New Artist of the Year in 2019.

Blessd & Feid Lead Latest Billboard Latin Airplay Chart with “Si Sabe Ferxxo”

Blessd has another chart-topper on his hands…

The 24-year-old Colombian singer-songwriter and rapper, whose real name is Stiven Mesa Londoño. and Feid combine forces atop Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart, as the pair’s first collaboration “Si Sabe Ferxxo“ climbs from No. 7 to lead the list dated June 1.

Blessd & FeidThe new champ is the second team-up by two Colombian artists to rule the overall Latin radio tally in less than a year, after Shakira and Manuel Turizo united at No. 1 through “Copa Vacía” (one week in charge) in October 2023.

Si Sabe Ferxxo” is one of eight collaborative cuts from Blessd’s 14-track album, Si Sabe, which earned the 24-year-old his first entry on any Billboard albums chart, debuting and reaching No. 29 and No. 15 high on the Top Latin Albums and Latin Rhythm Albums charts dated February 10, respectively.

The song advances to the chart’s summit with a 28% gain in audience impressions, up to 8.5 million, earned in the U.S. during the May 17-23 tracking week, according to Luminate.

With “Si Sabe Ferxxo,” Blessd achieves his second No. 1 on Latin Airplay, following his three-way collab “Medallo,” with Justin Quiles and Lenny Tavarez, in May 2022.

For Feid, “Si Sabe Ferxxo” becomes the hitmaker’s eighth No. 1 on the overall radio ranking, which began with “Porfa,” featuring J Balvin, Maluma, Nicky Jam, Sech and Justin Quiles, climbing to No. 1 in August 2020.

Here’s his collection of champs:

Peak, Title, Artist, Weeks at No. 1
Aug. 29, 2020, “Porfa,” with J Balvin, Maluma, Nicky Jam, Sech & Justin Quiles, one
March 4, 2023, “Hey Mor,” with Ozuna, one
April 15, 2023, “Yandel 150,” Yandel, four
Aug. 19, 2023, “Niña Bonita,” with Sean Paul, one
Jan. 13, 2024, “Bubalu,” with Rema, two
April 20, 2024, “Perro Negro,” with Bad Bunny, one
May 4, 2024, “Luna,” with Atl Jacob, two
June 1, 2024, “Si Sabe Ferxxo,” with Blessd, one

As “Si Sabe Ferxxo” rises to No. 1, it unseats another Warner Latina song from the summit: Myke Towers’ “La Capi” dips 1-5 with a 25% decrease in audience impressions, to 7.71 million.

Elsewhere, thanks to its radio haul, “Si Sabe Ferxxo” rises 36-31 with the Greatest Gainer/Airplay honors of the week on the multi-metric Hot Latin Songs chart, which combines airplay, digital sales and streaming data.