In an effort to advance the organization’s commitment to storytelling, Peabody has appointed six new members to its bicoastal board of directors, including the 53-year-old half-Afro-Cuban American journalist.
Joining O’Brien, a presenter on HBO’s Real Sportsand host of Hearst Television’s Matter Of Fact with Soledad O’Brien, on the board are Chris McCarthy, ViacomCBS’ newly appointed president of entertainment and youth brands, and ESPN’s executive vice president of content, Connor Schell.
NPReditorial director Nancy Barnesand UnivisionCommunications’ executive vice president of government and corporate affairs Jessica Herrera-Flaniganhave also joined the board.
The five executives will serve on Peabody’s East Coast board, with the sixth new arrival, CAApartner Steven Lafferty, joining the organization’s West Coast board.
The bicoastal boards are distinct from the traditional board of jurors, which hands out the Peabody Awards. Existing board members include Vicechief Nancy Dubuc, PBS CEO Paula Kergerand Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos.
Peabody executive director Jeffrey Jonessaid: “The intellectual capital and energy our boards bring is unparalleled, and we are excited to welcome these new members as they help us extend our reach through new partnerships and public engagements.”
The 26-year-old Puerto Rican rapper and singer’s latest single “China,” featuring Daddy Yankee, Karol G, Ozuna and J Balvin, rises 2-1 in just its third week on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart dated August 17.
It’s the fastest climb to the top in 2019 and the quickest ascent since Bad Bunny’s “MIA,” featuring Drake, jumped 9-1 in its second week (October 27, 2018).
“I’m extremely happy, blessed and grateful to God and my fans,” Anuel AA tells Billboard. “I thank my colleagues for trusting me, my team for their great work and giving their 200% to make this dream come true.”
“China” is a reimagination of Shaggy’s 2000 hit “It Wasn’t Me.” It was produced by Tainy and co-written by the five artists on the track.
It opened at No. 2 just three weeks ago, on the August 3-dated list.
“The artists on this track give it an elevated presence right out of the gate given the caliber of each individually and the power they present here collectively,” Ismael Santa Cruz, Vice President, Managing Director Radio Strategy at Univision Communications, tells Billboard. “The fact that the track samples a hit from 19 years ago also helps it build a foundation from which to grow on.”
Despite the song’s decline in streaming activity and digital sales (in the week ending August 8, according to Nielsen Music), “China” moves thanks to 6% boost in audience impressions (to 8 million) earned in the week ending August 11.
The Hot Latin Songs chart ranks the most popular Latin songs of the week, blending streaming, sales and airplay data.
“‘China’ is the strongest song of my career up to date,” Anuel AA told Billboard on July 12. “It’s the mix of different cultures with each of the collaborators contributing with its own flow. I had been looking to revive a classic and when I heard Shaggy’s mix, it hit me.”
“China” is Anuel AA’s third leader, Daddy Yankee’s seventh, Karol G’s second, Ozuna’s fourth, and J Balvin’s sixth. Notably, Karol G becomes the first core Latin female artist to secure a No. 1 on the Hot Latin Songs tally in over a year — since Karol herself led the list. Her first No. 1 arrived on May 12, 2018, with “Dame Tu Cosita,” a co-billed track with Pitbulland El Chombo, featuring Cutty Ranks. It topped the list for two weeks.
“The inclusion of Karol G helped the track,” Santa Cruz adds. “It was important to include a female artist in the song. This is a great time for female artists in the Latin rhythmic space as they are driving a lot of momentum and bringing a fresh sound.”
Prior to Karol G, the last time a core Latin female artist ranked at No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs was way back in early 2017, when Shakira’s “Chantaje,” featuringMaluma, wrapped up 10 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 on the February 11, 2017-dated list.
Since then, three women who traditionally have only charted with English-language recordings have claimed the crown: Selena Gomezand Cardi B(featured on DJ Snake‘s “Taki Taki,” alongside Ozuna; 13 nonconsecutive weeks starting October 13, 2018) and Beyoncé (featured on J Balvin and Willy William‘s “Mi Gente”; 10 consecutive weeks starting October 21, 2017).
Beyond “China’s” coronation on Hot Latin Songs, the tune also climbs to a new high on the Latin Digital Songs Salesand Latin Streaming Songschart through an equal 2-1 boost.
On the all-genre BillboardHot 100, “China” lifts 44-43.
The 27-year-old Mexican beauty-queen-turned-television-presenter is hosting Simon Cowell and Univision’s La Banda, which “aims to create the world’s ultimate Latino boy band through the largest Latino talent search in U.S. TV history,” according to an announcement from the Spanish-language network.
The search for contestants for La Banda, which was developed by Cowell’s Syco Entertainment with Univision Communications and Saban Brands, is officially underway.
Boys (to men) ages 14 and older living in the United States and Puerto Rico are invited to audition online for La Banda. The search for potential Latin stars to compete on the upcoming Univision reality show has begun at LaBandaOficial.com.
“I’m very excited about this show,” says Simon Cowell, a producer on the show. “There is a huge amount of talent out there and La Banda is going to give five guys the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Co-produced with FremantleMedia Latin America, the show is set to premiere in fall 2015 on the Spanish-language network.
Winners of the competition — who will inevitably be compared to the Puerto Rican pop group Menudo, which started in the ’70s with a rotating cast of young singers and disbanded in 2009 — will receive a recording contract with Sony Music Latin and Syco Music, home of One Direction.
To be considered, potential participants should go to LaBandaoficial.com and upload pictures, videos or music files. After creating their online audition profiles, selected contestants will receive a “golden ticket,” which will allow them to participate in a private audition with the production team. The online casting will be followed by casting events across the United States and Puerto Rico in the spring of 2015.
“We are proud to start the search for the next great Latino boy band,” said Alberto Ciurana, president of programming and content for Univision Communications Inc. “There is vast talent in our community, and with La Banda, we will find and launch the next generation of musical superstars.”
