Grace Lands Recording Deal with Sony Music U.S. Latin

Posted on April 12, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Leslie Grace has a new recording contract…

The 20-year-old Dominican-American singer, the youngest female to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Latin charts, has signed a recording deal with Sony Music U.S. Latin.

Under the new deal, Grace – who scored two No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart before she was 19 years old –will release an EP of new material likely in June. A first single will hit radio in May.

Grace, who was previously signed to Top Stop Music, the label launched by producer Sergio George (and also the first home of Prince Royce), tells Billboard in an exclusive interview that her new material will follow the bachata/pop vein of her previous fare.

“It will be very infused with lots of R&B and it’s infused with my roots, which are bachata,” says Grace, who speaks and sings in both English and Spanish. “We have a song called ‘Crazy Crazy’ and the introduction is very R&B and it has drums in there. But when the verse starts, it goes straight to bachata. It’s the two worlds I come from.”

Grace was born in New York City to Dominican parents and was raised straddling both cultures, much like Romeo Santos and Prince Royce.

She came to prominence with her debut single, a bilingual cover of “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,” which reached No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart in 2012. Grace released two albums on Top Stop, but going to Sony, she says, will allow her to take her music to other markets.

“A big focus is opening new markets for Leslie,” adds Sony Music U.S. Latin president Nir Seroussi, noting that Grace is also “very appealing” to brands.

Working with her, adds Seroussi, “is like a dream come true.”

The Ilegales Reach No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay Chart

Posted on January 18, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

The Ilegales have reason to pasarla bien…

The Grammy-nominated Dominican merenhouse trio, comprised of Vladimir Dotel, Juan Carlos Campos and Lumy Pimentel, have reached the summit on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart.

The group hops 3-1 on Tropical Airplay with “Pasarla Bien,” featuring El Potro Alvarez.

It’s the trio’s third No. 1, and climbs 9 percent in spins at the format.

The group first topped the list as a featured act on Elvis Crespo‘s “Yo No Soy Un Monstro,” which spent three crowning weeks in 2012.

Later that year, they earned their first lead No. 1 with “Ayantame” featuring El Potro Alvarez.

The group was founded in 1995.

Manuelle’s “Que Suenen Los Tambores” Reaches No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay Chart

Posted on December 28, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Make that three Latin chart-toppers for Victor Manuelle…

The 46-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter’s latest track “Que Suenen Los Tambores” has moved up from 3-1 to crown Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart.

Manuelle’s festive hit single climbs to 10.3 million audience impressions in its 11th week (a 14 percent hike in the frame ending Dece,ber 21, according to Nielsen Music).

This marks the salsa singer’s third No. 1 on the list in his 21-year chart history, and his first since “Si Tu Me Besas” spent a week at No. 1 in 2012.

The song’s ascent follows a five-week consecutive run at No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart (where it dips 2-1 this week), the longest concurrent run of 2014.

“Tambores” became his 24th chart-capping track, extending his record for second-most No. 1s to 24 (Marc Anthony leads with 25).

Ken-Y’s “Sentirte Mia” Reaches No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay Chart

Posted on December 27, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

The first time’s the charm for Ken-Y…

The Puerto Rican reggaeton singer, whose real name is Kenny Vázquez, has reached the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart with his debut single as a solo artist.

Ken-Y’s “Sentirte Mia” climbs 3-1 to displace Victor Manuelle’s No. 1 run on the Tropical Airplay chart.

A 42 percent increase in spins earns the track Greatest Gainer honors at the format.

With the rise marking his first unaccompanied No. 1, he adds to his tally of two chart-toppers as part of the duo RKM & Ken-Y. The Grammy-nominated reggaeton duo reached the chart’s summit with “Down” in 2006 followed by “Te Regalo Amores” in 2009, where each spent a week at No. 1.

The duo split in 2013 to pursue solo endeavors. Ken-Y is currently prepping his debut solo set The King of Romance, expected for release in the spring 2015.

Moreno Releases Spanish-Language Holiday Album, “Posada”

Posted on December 7, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Gaby Moreno is getting into the holiday spirit… en español…

The 32-year-old Guatemalan singer-songwriter and guitarist has released a Christmas album that’s being heralded as an insta-Latin holiday classic.

Moreno’s Posada, released in the U.S. on indie label Cosmica, blends the singer’s love of gospel, soul and piano jazz with acoustic sounds from her Central American roots to revive a set of traditional holiday songs.

Moreno performs standard Spanish-language hymns with passion, delivering a beautiful rendition of “El Niño del Tambor” and bringing a little naughty to “Peces en el Rio” in a revved-up cabaret version of the children’s Christmas classic.

On an album that includes English and German-language lyrics, the singer seduces with a retro “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” set to brushed drums. Moreno and her band add some honky tonk to “Go Tell It on the Mountain.”

A video for Moreno’s spare and emotive “Primer Noel,” premiering on Billboard.com, features the artist reliving childhood holiday memories.

Unlike the album, which is notable for Moreno’s decidedly non-secular approach to holiday music, the video brings some typical Christmas commercialism to her message with a bottle of Pepsi placed prominently on her piano. Moreno recently appeared at a Pepsi holiday concert and in a commercial for the beverage’s holiday campaign in Guatemala.

Moreno has a strong bilingual following in her adopted home city of Los Angeles, and she’s most widely known to Spanish-speakers for her 2011 duet with Ricardo Arjona, “Fuiste Tu.” That track has neared 165 million views on YouTube, and it rose to #1 on Billboard’s Latin Pop Airplay and Tropical Airplay charts.

Moreno parlayed that connection into a well-received Latin American tour for her 2012 album Postales, released on Arjona’s label Metamorfosis, which also produced her Christmas record.

Despite being named Best New Artist at the 2013 Latin Grammys, the singer still remains underappreciated in the U.S. Latin market. Postales sold 3,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen Soundscan.

Johnny Sky’s “One More Night” Reaches No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay Chart

Posted on September 8, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

He may be a newcomer to the world of Latin music… But Johnny Sky is already making his mark.

The Latino singer has notched his second No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart as his latest single “One More Night” leaps 9-1.

Plays of the song increase 55 percent (to 559), with WEMG-AM Philadelphia leading in spins (58).

In February, the singer spent one week at the top of the charts with “With or Without You,” his first charting track.

Prince Royce’s “Soy El Mismo” Reaches No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay Chart

Posted on July 26, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It’s another tropical No. 1 for Prince Royce…

The 25-year-old Dominican American bachata singer-songwriter’s latest single “Soy El Mismo” rises 6-1 on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart, earning him his ninth No. 1 on the chart.

Royce’s song grew by 44 percent in plays, according to Nielsen BDSin the week ending July 20, earning Greatest Gainer honors.

On the Hot Latin Songs chart, “Soy El Mismo” reaches a new peak, jumping 26-17. Its digital sales soar by 195 percent, according to Nielsen SoundScan, due, in part, to Royce’s performance on Premios Juventud, a fan-voted awards show broadcast July 17 on Univision.

Royce’s other No. 1 songs on the Tropical charts include his debut “Stand By Me,” “Corazón Sin Cara” and “Darte un Beso.”

Santos’ “La Vida” Reaches No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay Chart

Posted on June 21, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Henry Santos is livin’ La Vida at the top of his game…

The 34-year-old Dominican singer-composer and former Aventura band member’s latest single “La Vida,” featuring MaFFio, jumps 4-1 on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart to secure his second No. 1 on the list as a lead artist.

In addition, Santos’ urban infused merengue track grows 21 percent at the format (to 609 plays), taking Greatest Gainer honors.

Santos – the record holder for successfully completing and winning, undefeated and never nominated for elimination, on Mira Quien Baila, a dancing competition on Univision – previously reached the summit on the Tropical Airplay chart for a single frame with “My Way” in May 2013.

Santos’ cousin, and former Aventura band-mate Romeo Santos, has topped Tropical Airplay on seven occasions, while the band itself enjoyed eight trips to the peak during its time together.

Anthony’s “Flor Palida” Reaches No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay Chart

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Marc Anthony is the top selling tropical salsa artist of all time for a reason…

Not only did the 45-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter sweep the Latin categories at the Billboard Music Awards, he’s also just moved ahead of Victor Manuelle to hold the record of No. 1 songs on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart.

Anthony’s “Flor Palida,” the third single from his award-winning salsa album 3.0, reached the summit this week while earning Greatest Gainer honors on the chart.

Anthony, who had been tied with Manuelle for the record, now has 23 No. 1 songs on the chart.

His other chart-toppers include “Vivir Mi Vida, “Cambio de Piel,” “Dimelo,” “Si Te Vas” and “No Me Ames,” his duet with ex-wife Jennifer Lopez.

Anthony to Perform at the Billboard Latin Music Awards

Posted on April 5, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Marc Anthony won’t just be a favorite at this year’s Billboard Latin Music Awards, he’ll also be a performer.

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter, the biggest selling tropical salsa artist of all time, has joined the star-studded list of performers at this year’s upcoming awards ceremony, which includes recent additions Prince Royce and Franco de Vita.

The Grammy- and Latin-Grammy winning artist has reached the No. 1 spot on the Tropical Airplay chart 23 times, and has eight No. 1s on the Top Latin Albums chart.

The 15-time finalist last year chose the Billboard Latin Music Awards stage for the worldwide premiere of “Vivir Mi Vida,” which spent 17 weeks at the top of the Hot Latin Songs chart and became his eighth No.1 hit.

Anthony, Prince Royce and de Vita join previously announced performers Laura Pausini, Ricky Martin, David Bisbal, Juanes, Luis Fonsi, La Arrolladora Banda El Limon De Rene Camacho, Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga and 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Andrea Bocelli.

The Billboard Latin Music Awards, the longest-running Latin music awards show, will be broadcast live on Telemundo, Thursday, April 24 at &:00pm ET from the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami.

The complete list of finalists, plus exclusive content on this year’s event, can be found at Telemundo.com/PremiosBillboard.

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