Prince Royce & Gabito Ballesteros’ “Cosas de la Peda” Rises to No. 1 on Billbaord’s Latin Airplay Chart

Posted on April 25, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Prince Royce and Gabito Ballesteros are celebrating the success of their collaboration on a second Billboard chart…

Ten weeks after the 34-year-old Dominican American bachata star and the 24-year-old Mexican singer-songwriter and record producer monopolized Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart with “Cosas de la Peda,” the song slides to the top of the overall Latin Airplay chart dated April 27, up from No. 3 a week ago.

The hit is the seventh single from Royce’s album, Llamada Perdida, the 23-track set that placed the bachata singer back in the top five on Tropical Albums after a four-year pause (No. 2 debut in March).

“Cosas De La Peda” shoots to No. 1 on the overall Latin Airplay chart due to a 27% boost in audience impressions, to 10.9 million, logged in the U.S. in the week ending April 18, according to Luminate. With almost 2 million additional impressions, the song wins the weekly Greatest Gainer award on the Latin radio ranking for the largest increase in audience among its 50 titles.

Further, thanks to its radio surge, “Cosas De La Peda” debuts at No. 46 on the multi-metric Hot Latin Songs, which ranks the most popular Latin songs of the week by blending streaming, airplay, and sales activity.

Royce and Ballesteros’ first team-up gives the regional Mexican soloist his maiden No. 1 on Latin Airplay. The new achievement arrives 10 weeks after he picked up his first champ on any Billboard radio ranking, as “Cosas de la Peda” rose to the top of Tropical Airplay on the February 24-dated list, where it has held strong since.

“Cosas de la Peda” is a cause for celebration for Ballesteros, who joins a select group of regional Mexican artists who likewise achieved their premiere No. 1 on Latin Airplay in 2024 among the seven rulers this year including a regional Mexican act (whether through a regional Mexican song or a collab outside the genre). Those new highfliers comprise Xavi, whose “La Diabla” led for two weeks (starting with the February 10-dated list) and siblings Leonardo and Angela Aguilar through their Becky G collab, “Por El Contrario,” for one week atop (March 9).

Prince Royce moves ahead with 17 No. 1s on Latin Airplay and breaks from a tie with Carlos Vives for the second-most champs among tropical artists in the survey’s almost 30-year history, where Romeo Santos continues at the lead with 21 No. 1 hits.

Here are those chart toppers:

21, Romeo Santos
17, Prince Royce
16, Carlos Vives
14, Marc Anthony
11, Gloria Estefan
6, Juan Luis Guerra

In its 10th consecutive week atop Tropical Airplay, “Cosas de la Peda” continues to hold the record for the longest-leading song in 2024 thus far.

Romeo Santos Earns Sixth No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Albums Chart with “Formula, Vol. 3”

Posted on September 13, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Romeo Santos has another chart-topping album on his resume…

The 41-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American singer-songwriter, known as The King of Bachata, is back at No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Albums chart as his latest LP, Fórmula, Vol. 3, tops the September 17-dated ranking — rising from its No. 8 debut a week earlier from less than one day of activity.

It’s his sixth straight No. 1 on the chart.

The album was released September 1 at 11:00 pm ET via Sony Music Latin, — one hour before most albums are typically released. (The September 17-dated chart reflects activity for the album in the September 2-8 tracking period, while the September 10 chart covered the August 25-September 1 frame.)

Fórmula, Vol. 3 rallies 8-1 in its second chart week with 26,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending September 8, according to Luminate.

The majority of the set’s sum derives from streaming-equivalent album units (23,000), equating 33.1 million official on-demand streams of the album’s songs. Three-thousand of the remaining total belongs to traditional album sales (2,000) and track-equivalent album units (1,000).

On the multimetric Tropical Albums chart as measured in equivalent album units, each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album.

Fórmula, Vol. 3 completes the Fórmula trilogy and lands slightly a decade after its maiden effort, Fórmula, Vol. 1, rose to No. 1 in its second week, where it held for 33 weeks (starting Nov. 26, 2011). Meanwhile, follow-up full-length Vol. 2 lifted 7-1 also in its second week to crown Tropical Albums for 116 weeks, the second-most (trailing Santos’ own Todavía Me Amas: Los Mejor de Aventura; 170 at No. 1) since the chart’s inception in 1985.

Further, Santos replaces himself at No. 1, sending Vol. 2 to No. 3, while Todavía Me Amas holds in the runner-up slot. Plus, the complete Fórmula series holds a spot in the chart’s top five, with Vol. 1 jumping 5-4 on the current chart.

Vol. 3 gives Santos his sixth straight No. 1 on Tropical Albums. He ties with India and Prince Royce for the fourth-most among tropical soloists.

Here’s the scoreboard:

12, Gilberto Santa Rosa
12, Victor Manuelle
9, Marc Anthony
6, India
6, Prince Royce
6, Romeo Santos
5, Eddie Santiago
5, Elvis Crespo
5, Jerry Rivera

Elsewhere, Fórmula, Vol. 3 debuts at No. 2 on the overall Top Latin Albums ranking, his sixth consecutive top 10 there. It’s his first chart appearance since Utopía launched at No. 1 in 2019.

It also opens at No. 10 on the overall Billboard 200, his fourth top 10 there and first top-tier visit since 2017 (Golden, No. 10 debut and peak).

Prince Royce Notches 15th No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Songs Chart

Posted on April 22, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a special quinceañera for Prince Royce…

The 27-year-old Dominican American singer has earned his 15th No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Songs airplay chart as “Deja Vu,” featuring Shakira (who earns her fifth leader), steps 2-1 on the April 29-dated chart.

The lift puts Royce in third place for most chart-toppers on the 23-year-old chart, breaking out of a tie with Gilberto Santa Rosa and Elvis Crespo (each with 14 No. 1s). He is bested only by Marc Anthony and Victor Manuelle, who each lead the pack with 28 No. 1s.

“I feel honored and grateful for being amongst artists I admire. Marc Anthony and Victor Manuelle have been creating great music for so many years and have maintained the tropical genre,” Royce shared with Billboard.

The song reaches the top spot due to a 9 percent audience increase at monitored Latin stations, to 14.3 million impressions in the tracking week ending April 16, according to Nielsen Music.

Further, Royce has earned the 15 crowning hits faster than any other act — six years, six months, and two weeks after is first (“Stand By Me” reached No. 1 on the Aug. 14, 2010 chart). Anthony has the second-fastest accumulation of his first 15 No. 1 hits: seven years, one week (between June 17, 1995, when “Te Conozco Bien” hit No. 1, through June 29, 2002, when “Viviendo” first led the tally).

Royce adds, “Obtaining my 15th number 1 on the Tropical Songs chart in less than seven years is an accomplishment I’m proud of and I’d like to thank my fans, radio programmers, my team and all of the people that have supported my music throughout the years.”

Prince Royce’s 15 No. 1s on Tropical Songs chart
Title, peak date (weeks at No. 1)
“Stand By Me,” Aug. 14, 2010 (one week)
“Corazon Sin Cara,” Oct. 23, 2010 (10 weeks)
“El Verdadero Amor Perdona” (Mana featuring Prince Royce), Dec. 10, 2011 (two weeks)
“Las Cosas Pequeñas,” Feb. 4, 2012 (two weeks)
“Incondicional,” June 16, 2012 (two weeks)
“Te Me Vas,” March 2, 2013 (four weeks)
“Darte Un Beso,” Aug. 17, 2013 (seven weeks)
“Te Robare,” March 8, 2014 (two weeks)
“Soy El Mismo,” Aug. 2, 2014 (one week)
“Solita,” March 21, 2015 (one week)
“Que Cosas Tiene El Amor” (Anthony Santos & Prince Royce), June 20, 2015 (one week)
“Culpa Al Corazon,” Feb. 13, 2016 (four weeks)
“La Carretera,” July 9, 2016 (one week)
“Moneda,” featuring Gerardo Ortiz, Jan. 28, 2017 (three weeks)
“Deja Vu,” with Shakira, April 29, 2017 (one week, so far)

On working with Shakira, Royce says the collaboration “has been such a great experience. She’s so talented and professional. The chemistry between us has been great; I love that she’s hands on and has been part of the process since day one.”

“Deja Vu” is the latest single from Royce’s most recent album, Five, which remains at No. 1 for a seventh straight week on the Tropical Albums chart.

Gente de Zona to Co-Headline Celia Cruz Tribute at the Hollywood Bowl

Posted on February 17, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Gente de Zona is preparing to pay tribute to a late compatriot…

The Cuban reggaeton group, comprised of Alexander Delgado and Randy Malcom Martinez, will perform at the the Hollywood Bowl’s special tribute honoring Celia Cruz.

Co-headlined by Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Angélique Kidjo and Gente de Zona, the tribute to the late Queen of Salsa will take place on August 9 as part of the Hollywood Bowl’s Jazz at the Bowl summer series.

In addition to the Latin Grammy-winning duo and Kidjo, Pedrito Martinez will also perform at the tribute.

The Pedrito Martinez Group, whose Habana Dreams album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Tropical Albums chart last June, will be the opening act.

It’ll be the first time Gente de Zona has performed at the iconic Hollywood Bowl.

“We are thrilled to be part of the Hollywood Bowl’s summer season this year. See you soon in California,” the “Traidora” singers tweeted.

The Celia Cruz tribute is part of the Hollywood Bowl’s summer 2017 lineup recently announced. Other Latin artists on the summer schedule include Café Tacvba, La Santa Cecilia and Mon Laferte, who will perform at the Bowl on Sepember 17 as part of the Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA series.

Santa Rosa Becomes Guinness World Records Record-Holder

Posted on November 7, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Gilberto Santa Rosa has entered the record books…

The 54-year-old Puerto Rican singer, known as El Caballero de la Salsa, has become a Guinness World Records record-holder.

Santa Rosa has been recognized for having the most No. 1s on Billboard’s Tropical Albums chart.

He’s earned 12 No. 1s since the chart launched in 1985, more than any other act (Victor Manuelle follows with 11).

Guinness World Records presented him with the award at La Salsa Vive, The Concert at Madison Square Garden, where Santa Rosa and other tropical artists, like El Gran Combo, Ruben Blades and Jose Alberto “El Canario” all performed.

Santa Rosa, who began his singing career during the 1980s, earned his first No. 1 in 1992 with Perspectiva — which, with 10 crowning weeks, is his longest-running chart-topper to date. Most recently, Necesito Un Bolero topped the tally on the Feb. 28, 2015 dated list.

Here’s a look at Santa Rosa’s 12 No. 1s on the Tropical Albums chart:

Title, Peak date (weeks at No. 1) 
Perspectiva, Jan. 11, 1992 (10 weeks)
Esencia, Dec. 7, 1996 (four weeks)
Intenso, May 19, 2001 (two weeks)
Viceversa, Sept. 21, 2002 (eight weeks)
Autentico, Sept. 11, 2004 (one week)
Asi Es Nuestra Navidad (with El Gran Combo), Dec. 17, 2005 (two weeks)
Dos Soneros, Una Historia (with Victor Manulle), Dec. 31, 2005 (three weeks)
Directo Al Corazon, April 1, 2006 (two weeks)
Una Navidad Con Gilberto, Dec. 20, 2008 (three weeks)
El Caballero De La Salsa: La Historia Tropical, May 30, 2009 (one week)
Irrepetible, July 17, 2010 (one week)
Necesito Un Bolero, Feb. 28, 2015 (one week)

Guinness World Records adjudicator Raquel Assis bestowed the award to Santa Rosa at the concert. She stated “as the global authority in record-breaking, it is an honor to present Gilberto with this achievement and to be part of a night filled with some of the biggest stars of tropical music.”

In addition to his album achievements, Santa Rosa has also notched several hit songs on the Billboard charts. He holds 10 top 10s on the Hot Latin Songs chart, including a No. 1 with “Que Alguien Me Diga,” which spent three weeks atop the chart in 2000. Over on the Tropical Songs chart, he has notched 14 No. 1s, where he is tied (with Elvis Crespo) for third place among acts with the most chart-toppers.

Santa Rosa to Perform at Carnegie Hall for the First Time in 21 Years

Posted on April 1, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Gilberto Santa Rosa is heading back to one of New York’s iconic music venues…

The 53-year-old Puerto Rican Salsa singer will return to the iconic Carnegie Hall in New York City for a special performance on Friday, June 3.

The concert, titled The Man & His Music II, will celebrate the brightest moments of Santa Rosa’s musical repertoire, including songs from his latest Latin Grammy-winning album, Necesito Un Bolero.

Twenty one years ago, Santa Rosa, known as “El Caballero de la Salsa,” debuted in Carnegie Hall where he recorded one of his most memorable albums, En Vivo Desde El Carnegie Hall.

Tickets for The Man & His Music II go on sale on Friday, April 1 at 10:00 a.m. through carnegiehall.org.

Santa Rosa currently holds the record for the most number-ones on Billboard’s Tropical Albums chart with 10.

Zaa Pulls Rare Double on Billboard’s Tropical Charts

Posted on November 27, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Charlie Zaa has pulled a rare tropical double…

The 41-year-old Colombian tropical singer tops both Billboard’s Tropical Albums and Tropical Songs charts (dated Dec. 5), becoming only the second act to simultaneously top the charts this year.

Zaa’s new album, the Sergio George-produced Mi Mejor Regalo, soars 18-1 in its second week with 1,000 copies sold in the week ending Nov. 19, according to Nielsen Music.

The album debuted a week earlier after pre-street date sales pushed it onto the list early.

The 10-track set is a tropical tribute to Mexican singer-songwriter Joan Sebastian, who died earlier this year (July 13, 2015). The concept to record the songs, in Zaa’s typical bachata/bolero style, was already in the works prior to Sebastian’s death.

Mi Mejor Regalo gives Zaa his fourth chart-topping album, the first of which was earned in 1997 when Sentimientos spent 15 weeks at No. 1. It’s also his best-selling album in the U.S., with 326,000 sold. His most recent No. 1 was in 2011, when De Bohemia reached the peak and spent 61 weeks in the top 20.

Meanwhile, on the Tropical Songs airplay chart, Zaa’s “Un Idiota” rises 52 percent in spins during the tracking week ending Nov. 22, according to Nielsen Music, shooting the track 9-1 and earning Zaa his first No. 1 (of his seven total charted tracks – which includes three top 10s).

Other than Zaa, salsa singer Victor Manuelle is the only other artist to concurrently top both Tropical lists. In 2015, “Agua Bendita” and Que Suenen Los Tambores each held the highest rank on the charts dated May 9.

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