Bruno Mars Ties Paul Simon for Most Record of the Year Wins as Silk Sonic Claims Four Grammy Awards.

Posted on April 4, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

The third time is the historical charm for Bruno Mars.

The 36-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer-songwriter and his Silk Sonic group mate Anderson .Paak claimed four Grammy Awards gramophones during Sunday’s awards show, including Record of the Year, for their chart-topping single “Leave the Door Open.”

With his latest win in one of the top Grammys categories, Mars becomes only the second artist in Grammy history to win record of the year three times, tying Paul Simon. He previously won as featured artist on Mark Ronson‘s “Uptown Funk!” and on his own single for “24K Magic.”

Mars’ other Silk Sonic wins of on Grammy night included Song of the Year, Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance, in a tie with Jazime Sullivan, for “Leave the Door Open.”

In all, Mars has won 14 Grammys during his career, dating back to 2011.

Bad Bunny has claimed a Grammy for the second year in a row…

The 28-year-old Puerto Rican rapper, singer and record producer won in the Best Música Urbana Album category for El Último Tour Del Mundo. He won in 2021 for Best Latin Pop or Urban Album for YHLQMDLG.

Juanes claimed the Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album for Origen, the third win of the 49-year-old Colombian superstar’s career.

Esperanza Spalding, who beat out Justin Bieber for Best New Artist in 2011, won the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album for Songwrights Apothecary Lab.

It’s the fifth Grammy of her career for the 37-year-old part-Latina jazz bassist, singer, songwriter, and composer.

Vicente Fernandez claimed a posthumous Grammy for Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano) for the late Mexican singer’s A Mis 80’s.

Gonzalo Rubalcaba won the Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Album alongside Ron Carter and Jack DeJohnette. It’s the third Grammy win of his career.

The 58-year-old Afro-Cuban jazz pianist and composer won the award for his Skyline project with Carter and DeJohnette.

Eliane Elias claimed the second Gramm of her career…

The 62-year-old Brazilian jazz pianist, singer, composer and arranger was awarded the Best Latin Jazz Album gramophone alongside Chick Corea and Chucho Valdés for Mirror Mirror.

It’s the seventh win of the 80-year-old Cuban pianist Valdes’ career.

Alex Cuba won the first Grammy of his career, winning the award for Best Latin Pop Album for Mendó.

Carlos Rafael Rivera won the Grammy for Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media for The Queen’s Gambit in a tie with Disney‘s Soul.

Los Lobos claimed the Grammy for Best Americana Album for “Native Sons;” Rubén Blades y Roberto Delgado & Orquesta won Best Tropical Latin Album for Salswing!, Louis C.K. was awarded the Best Comedy Album award for Sincerely Louis CK; Vince Mendoza claimed the Grammy for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals for “To The Edge of Longing (Edit Version);” and Gustavo Dudamel claimed the Best Choral Performance Grammy for Mahler: Symphony No. 8, ‘Symphony Of A Thousand.

Here’s the full list of 2022 Grammy winners:

General Field

Record of the Year
“Leave the Door Open” – Silk Sonic
Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II and Bruno Mars, producers; Serban Ghenea, John Hanes and Charles Moniz, engineers/mixers; Randy Merrill, mastering engineer

Album of the Year
“We Are” – Jon Batiste (WINNER)

Song Of The Year
“Leave the Door Open”
Brandon Anderson, Christopher Brody Brown, Dernst Emile II & Bruno Mars, songwriters (Silk Sonic)

Best New Artist
Olivia Rodrigo

Field 1 – Pop

Best Pop Solo Performance
“Drivers License”
Olivia Rodrigo

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
“Kiss Me More”
Doja Cat Featuring SZA

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
“Love For Sale” (WINNER)
Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga

Best Pop Vocal Album
“Sour”
Olivia Rodrigo

Field 2 – Dance/Electronic Music

Best Dance/Electronic Recording
“Alive”
Rüfüs Du Sol

Best Dance/Electronic Music Album
“Subconsciously”
Black Coffee

Field 3 – Contemporary Instrumental Music

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album
“Tree Falls”
Taylor Eigsti

Field 4 – Rock

Best Rock Performance
“Making a Fire”
Foo Fighters

Best Metal Performance
“The Alien”
Dream Theater

Best Rock Album
“Medicine at Midnight”
Foo Fighters

Best Rock Song
“Waiting on a War”
Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Rami Jaffee, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett and Pat Smear, songwriters (Foo Fighters)

Field 5 – Alternative

Best Alternative Music Album
“Daddy’s Home”
St. Vincent

Field 6 – R&B

Best R&B Performance
“Leave the Door Open” (TIE)
Silk Sonic

“Pick Up Your Feelings” (TIE)
Jazmine Sullivan

Best Traditional R&B Performance
“Fight for You”
H.E.R.

Best Progressive R&B Album
“Table for Two”
Lucky Daye

Best R&B Song
“Leave the Door Open”
Brandon Anderson, Christopher Brody Brown, Dernst Emile II and Bruno Mars, songwriters (Silk Sonic)

Best R&B Album
“Heaux Tales”
Jazmine Sullivan

Field 7 – Rap

Best Rap Performance
“Family Ties”
Baby Keem featuring Kendrick Lamar

Best Melodic Rap Performance
“Hurricane”
Kanye West featuring the Weeknd and Lil Baby

Best Rap Album
“Call Me If You Get Lost”
Tyler, the Creator

Best Rap Song
“Jail”
Dwayne Abernathy, Jr., Shawn Carter, Raul Cubina, Michael Dean, Charles M. Njapa, Sean Solymar, Kanye West and Mark Williams, songwriters (Kanye West featuring Jay-Z)

Field 8 – Country

Best Country Solo Performance
“You Should Probably Leave”
Chris Stapleton

Best Country Duo/Group Performance
“Younger Me”
Brothers Osborne

Best Country Album
“Starting Over”
Chris Stapleton

Best Country Song
“Cold”
Dave Cobb, J.T. Cure, Derek Mixon and Chris Stapleton, songwriters (Chris Stapleton)

Field 9 – New Age

Best New Age Album
“Divine Tides”
Stewart Copeland and Ricky Kej

Field 10 – Jazz

Best Jazz Vocal Album
“Songwrights Apothecary Lab”
Esperanza Spalding

Best Improvised Jazz Solo
“Humpty Dumpty (Set 2)”
Chick Corea

Best Jazz Instrumental Album
“Skyline”
Ron Carter, Jack DeJohnette and Gonzalo Rubalcaba

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
“For Jimmy, Wes and Oliver”
Christian McBride Big Band

Best Latin Jazz Album
“Mirror Mirror”
Eliane Elias with Chick Corea and Chucho Valdés

Field 11 – Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music

Best Gospel Performance/Song
“Never Lost”
CeCe Winans
Chris Brown, Steven Furtick and Tiffany Hammer, songwriters

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
“Believe for It”
CeCe Winans
Dwan Hill, Kyle Lee, CeCe Winans and Mitch Wong, songwriters

Best Gospel Album
“Believe for It”
CeCe Winans

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
“Old Church Basement”
Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music

Best Roots Gospel Album
“My Savior”
Carrie Underwood

Field 12 – Latin

Best Latin Pop Album
“Mendó”
Alex Cuba

Best Música Urbana Album
“El Último Tour Del Mundo”
Bad Bunny

Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album
“Origen”
Juanes

Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)
“A Mis 80’s”
Vicente Fernández

Best Tropical Latin Album
“Salswing!”
Rubén Blades y Roberto Delgado & Orquesta

Field 13 – American Roots Music

Best American Roots Performance
“Cry”
Jon Batiste

Best American Roots Song
“Cry”
Jon Batiste and Steve McEwan, songwriters (Jon Batiste)

Best Americana Album
“Native Sons”
Los Lobos

Best Bluegrass Album
“My Bluegrass Heart”
Béla Fleck

Best Traditional Blues Album
“I Be Trying”
Cedric Burnside

Best Contemporary Blues Album
“662”
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram

Best Folk Album
“They’re Calling Me Home”
Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi

Best Regional Roots Music Album
“Kau Ka Pe’a”
Kalani Pe’a

Field 14 – Reggae

Best Reggae Album
“Beauty in the Silence”
SOJA

Field 15 – Global Music

Best Global Music Performance
“Mohabbat”
Arooj Aftab

Best Global Music Album
“Mother Nature”
Angélique Kidjo

Field 16 – Children’s

Best Children’s Music Album
“A Colorful World”
Falu

Field 17 – Spoken Word

Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling)
“Carry On: Reflections for a New Generation from John Lewis”
Don Cheadle

Field 18 – Comedy

Best Comedy Album
“Sincerely Louis CK” (WINNER)
Louis C.K.

Field 19 – Musical Theater

Best Musical Theater Album
“The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical”
Emily Bear, producer; Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, composer and lyricist
(Barlow and Bear)

Field 20 – Music for Visual Media

Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media
“The United States vs. Billie Holiday”
Andra Day
Salaam Remi, compilation producer; Lynn Fainchtein, music supervisor

Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media
“The Queen’s Gambit” (TIE)
Carlos Rafael Rivera, composer

“Soul” (TIE)
Jon Batiste, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, composers

Best Song Written For Visual Media
“All Eyes on Me” (from Bo Burnham: Inside)
Bo Burnham (Bo Burnham)

Field 21 – Composing/Arranging

Best Instrumental Composition
“Eberhard” (WINNER)
Lyle Mays, composer (Lyle Mays)

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella
“Meta Knight’s Revenge (From “Kirby Super Star”)”
Charlie Rosen and Jake Silverman, arrangers (The 8-Bit Big Band featuring Button Masher)

Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals
“To The Edge of Longing (Edit Version)”
Vince Mendoza, arranger (Vince Mendoza, Czech National Symphony Orchestra and Julia Bullock)

Field 22 – Package, Notes, and Historical

Best Recording Package
“Pakelang”
Li Jheng Han and Yu, Wei, art directors (2nd Generation Falangao Singing Group and the Chairman Crossover Big Band)

Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package
“All Things Must Pass: 50th Anniversary Edition” (WINNER)
Darren Evans, Dhani Harrison and Olivia Harrison, art directors (George Harrison)

Best Album Notes
“The Complete Louis Armstrong Columbia and RCA Victor Studio Sessions 1946-1966”
Ricky Riccardi, album notes writer (Louis Armstrong)

Best Historical Album
“Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963-1967)” (WINNER)
Patrick Milligan and Joni Mitchell, compilation producers; Bernie Grundman, mastering engineer (Joni Mitchell)

Field 23 – Production

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
“Love for Sale” (WINNER)
Dae Bennett, Josh Coleman and Billy Cumella, engineers; Greg Calbi and Steve Fallone, mastering engineers (Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga)

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical
Jack Antonoff
• Chemtrails Over the Country Club (Lana Del Rey) (A)
• Daddy’s Home (St. Vincent) (A)
• Gold Rush (Taylor Swift) (T)
• Sling (Clairo) (A)
• Solar Power (Lorde) (A)
• Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night (Bleachers) (A)

Best Remixed Recording
“Passenger” (Mike Shinoda remix) (WINNER)
Mike Shinoda, remixer (Deftones)

Best Immersive Audio Album
“Alicia”
George Massenburg and Eric Schilling, immersive mix engineers; Michael Romanowski, immersive mastering engineer; Ann Mincieli, immersive producer (Alicia Keys)

Best Engineered Album, Classical
“Chanticleer Sings Christmas”
Leslie Ann Jones, engineer (Chanticleer)

Producer Of The Year, Classical
Judith Sherman
• Alone Together (Jennifer Koh) (A)
• Bach & Beyond Part 3 (Jennifer Koh) (A)
• Bruits (Imani Winds) (A)
• Eryilmaz: Dances Of The Yogurt Maker (Erberk Eryilmaz & Carpe Diem String Quartet) (A)
• Fantasy – Oppens Plays Kaminsky (Ursula Oppens) (A)
• Home (Blythe Gaissert) (A)
• Mendelssohn, Visconti & Golijov (Jasper String Quartet & Jupiter String Quartet) (A)
• A Schubert Journey (Llŷr Williams) (A)
• Vers Le Silence – William Bolcom & Frederic Chopin (Ran Dank) (A)

Field 24 – Classical

Best Orchestral Performance
“Price: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3”
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor (Philadelphia Orchestra)

Best Opera Recording
“Glass: Akhnaten” (WINNER)
Karen Kamensek, conductor; J’Nai Bridges, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Zachary James and Dísella Lárusdóttir; David Frost, producer (The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus)

Best Choral Performance
“Mahler: Symphony No. 8, ‘Symphony Of A Thousand’”
Gustavo Dudamel, conductor; Grant Gershon, Robert Istad, Fernando Malvar-Ruiz and Luke McEndarfer, chorus masters (Leah Crocetto, Mihoko Fujimura, Ryan McKinny, Erin Morley, Tamara Mumford, Simon O’Neill, Morris Robinson and Tamara Wilson; Los Angeles Philharmonic; Los Angeles Children’s Chorus, Los Angeles Master Chorale, National Children’s Chorus and Pacific Chorale)

Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance
“Beethoven: Cello Sonatas – Hope Amid Tears”
Yo-Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax

Best Classical Instrumental Solo
“Alone Together
Jennifer Koh

Best Classical Solo Vocal Album
“Mythologies”
Sangeeta Kaur and Hila Plitmann (Virginie D’Avezac De Castera, Lili Haydn, Wouter Kellerman, Nadeem Majdalany, Eru Matsumoto and Emilio D. Miler)

Best Classical Compendium
“Women Warriors – The Voices Of Change”
Amy Andersson, conductor; Amy Andersson, Mark Mattson and Lolita Ritmanis, producers

Best Contemporary Classical Composition
“Shaw: Narrow Sea”
Caroline Shaw, composer (Dawn Upshaw, Gilbert Kalish and Sō Percussion)

Field 25 – Music Video/Film

Best Music Video
“Freedom”
Jon Batiste
Alan Ferguson, video director; Alex P. Willson, video producer

Best Music Film
“Summer of Soul” – (Various Artists)
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, video director; David Dinerstein, Robert Fyvolent & Joseph Patel, video producers

J Balvin Lands Two Singles on Spotify’s “Billions Club” Playlist

Posted on June 18, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

J Balvin is officially in special company…

Spotify has launched its “Billions Club” playlist to highlight the music of the members of its Billion Streams Club, including two of the 36-year-old Colombian singer/songwriter’s most iconic singles.

According to Spotify, the new playlist — which currently features more than 150 songs — highlights the megahits that have surpassed the one billion streams mark. Included on the new playlist are J Balvin’s “Mi Gente” with Willy William and his collaboration with Cardi B and Bad Bunny, “I Like It.”

In all Cardi B has three singles on the playlist. Along with “I Like It,” the other singles are “Girls Like You” with Maroon 5, and “Taki Taki,” her collaboration with Selena Gomez, Ozuna and DJ Snake.

Selena Gomez has three singles. Along with “Taki Taki,” her other singles on the playlist include “We Don’t Talk Anymore” with Charlie Puth, and “It Ain’t Me” with Kygo.

Bruno Mars has three singles on the playlist “That’s What I Like” and “Just the Way You Are,” as well as “Uptown Funk” with Mark Ronson.

Other Latin artists appearing on the playlist include Karol G, Danny Ocean, Fifth Harmony, Camila Cabello and Luis Fonsi.

“Spotify has long celebrated artist milestones and we wanted to find a unique way to honor the artists and songs fans can’t stop listening to,” Ashley Graver, Global Head of Creative Artist Partnerships, tells Billboard. “The Billions Club playlist is a natural evolution of the plaques you have seen from multiple artists, and we are excited to give fans a one-stop destination to enjoy some of the most streamed songs in the world.”

Also in celebration of the newly rounded up collection of songs, Spotify created a video sharing how various artists have reveled when learning of the milestone and receiving their One Billion Streams plaque from the streamer.

Prior to the launch of the “Billions Club” playlist, some artists have marked hitting the billion streams achievement by doing more than just showing off their shiny new plaques on social media. Several have literally eaten off the platter-shaped badge of honor: Halsey dug into some Cheetos and candy, Joe Jonas dined on some McDonald’s, and Quavo ate some scrambled eggs and waffles with plenty of syrup, for example. (See Billboard’s gallery.)

Spotify has been busy this year launching new features beyond the just announced “Billions Club” playlist.

In April, the streaming service started adding some livestream events to artist pages, and in late May, partnered with Driift for tickets to a virtual concert series.

Cardi B, “I Like It,” featuring Bad Bunny & J Balvin
Cardi B, “Girls Like Me,” with Maroon 5
Bruno Mars, “That’s What I Like”
Bruno Mars, “Just the Way You Are”
Bruno Mars, “Uptown Funk,” with Mark Ronson
Fifth Harmony, “Work From Home,” featuring Ty Dolla $ign
Karol G, “Tusa,” featuring Nicki Minaj
Selena Gomez, “We Don’t Talk Anymore,” with Charlie Puth
Selena Gomez, “Taki Taki,” with DJ Snake, Cardi B & Ozuna
Selena Gomez, “It Ain’t Me,” with Kygo
Camila Cabello, “Senorita,” with Shawn Mendes
Camila Cabello, “Havana,” featuring Young Thug
Luis Fonsi, “Despacito – Remix,” with Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber
Luis Fonsi, “Despacity,” with Daddy Yankee
J Balvin, “Mi Gente,” with Willy William
Danny Ocean, “Me Rehuso”

Bruno Mars Earns Eighth No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 with Silk Sonic Single “Leave the Door Open”

Posted on April 13, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Bruno Mars is Leave-ing his mark yet again…

“Leave the Door Open” by Silk Sonic, the duo of the 35-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer and Anderson .Paak, rises from No. 3 to No. 1 for its first week at the summit of the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart.

It’s Mars’ eighth Hot 100 No. 1, while Anderson. Paak earns his first.

The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. streaming (official audio and official video), radio airplay and sales data.

“Leave the Door Open” drew 21.5 million U.S. streams (up 13%) and sold 28,600 copies, downloads and CDs combined (up 138%), in the week ending April 8, according to MRC Data. It also attracted 59.1 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 9%) in the week ending April 11.

Combining digital and physical sales, the song was the most-sold of the tracking week, aided by two CD versions that shipped to purchasers in that span (one for $2.50 and a live version for the standard $1.29 single price), as it wins the Hot 100’s top Sales Gainer award.

Bruno Mars’ Hot 100 No. 1s:
“Nothin’ on You” (B.o.B feat. Mars), two weeks, beginning May 1, 2010
“Just the Way You Are,” four weeks, Oct. 2, 2010
“Grenade,” four weeks, Jan. 8, 2011
“Locked Out of Heaven,” six weeks, Dec. 22, 2012
“When I Was Your Man,” one week, April 20, 2013
“Uptown Funk!” (Mark Ronson feat. Mars), 14 weeks, Jan. 17, 2015
“That’s What I Like,” one week, May 13, 2017
“Leave the Door Open” (Silk Sonic [Mars & Anderson. Paak]), one week to-date, April 17, 2021

With eight Hot 100 No. 1s dating to his first, as featured on B.o.B‘s “Nothin’ on You” on the chart dated May 1, 2010, Mars ties Drake, Katy Perry and Rihanna for the most in that span. Mars becomes one of 18 artists in the Hot 100’s entire history with at least eight leaders.

Meanwhile, “Leave the Door Open” reaches No. 1 in its fifth week on the Hot 100, completing Mars’ quickest coronation. He wrapped a prior-best eight-week ascent to the summit with “Uptown Funk!” in 2015.

Silk Sonic pushes “Leave the Door Open” from No. 2 to No. 1 for its first week atop the multi-metric Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, where it’s Mars’ fourth leader, after “That’s What I Like” (10 weeks, 2017), “Finesse” (one week, 2018) and “Please Me” (one week, 2019), the latter two with Cardi B.

“Door” concurrently rebounds 2-1 for a third week atop the Hot R&B Songs chart, which, like Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, uses the same methodology as the Hot 100.

Bruno Mars’ “Grenade” Video Hits 1 Billion Views Mark on YouTube

Posted on March 10, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a slow blow up for one of Bruno Mars‘ original hits…

The 35-year-old half-Puerto Rican Grammy-winning singer/songwriter’s music video for “Grenade” has reached 1 billion views on YouTube a decade after its 2010 release.

It’s now Mars’ sixth music video to have reached this milestone, following “Just the Way You Are” (1.5 billion views, 2010), “The Lazy Song“ (2 billion views, 2011), “Uptown Funk“ with Mark Ronson (4 billion views, 2014), “24K Magic“ (1.3 billion views, 2016), and “That’s What I Like“ (1.8 billion views, 2017).

Released as the second single to Mars’ 2010 debut studio album Doo-Wops & Hooligans, “Grenade” earned the singer his third Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit. It was nominated for record of the year, song of the year and best pop solo performance at the 2012 Grammy Awards, and “Grenade” was certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) last October.

In the visual, Mars depicts the unrequited love he has for his girlfriend by lugging a piano through Los Angeles as a sign of the lengths he would go to for her, only to find her at home with another man, leaving him devastated.

The video’s new feat after his partnership with Anderson .Paak as Silk Sonic and the band’s inaugural release, “Leave the Door Open,” on March 5.

The Recording Academy has left the performance lineup open for these two past Grammy winners to join them for the 63rd annual Grammy Awards this Sunday.

Mars Receives Innovator Award at the iHeartRadio Music Awards

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Bruno Mars is a transformer…

The 31-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer-songwriter picked up the Innovator Award at this year’s iHeartRadio Music Awards.

But for Mars, who continues to make waves with his musical endeavors, including his latest album 24K Magic, the best is yet to come.

“Innovator is a very heavy word,” said Mars in his acceptance speech. “It’s a little ironic because I genuinely feel like I’m just getting started.”

But Mars wasn’t the only Latino artist to take home a trophy (or two)…

Ally Brooke Hernandez, Lauren Jauregui and their fellow Fifth Harmony members, including recently departed member Camila Cabello, claimed three awards.

For the second straight year, the all-girl group took home the Best Cover Song award. Last year, they won the award for their cover of Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk;” this year they won for their performance of Elle King’s
“Ex’s and Oh’s.”

Additionally, Fifth Harmony won for Best Music Video for their “Work From Home” clip featuring Ty Dolla $ign, and Best Fan Army for their Harmonizers.

Other winners include J Balvin, Nicky Jam, Joss Favela, Robert Trujillo and his fellow Metallica bandmates, CNCO, Calibre 50, Los Plebes Del Rancho De Ariel Camacho and Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizárraga.

Here’s a look at this year’s winners:

Innovator Award:
Bruno Mars

Song of the Year:
“Can’t Stop The Feeling” – Justin Timberlake

Female Artist of the Year:
Adele

Male Artist of the Year:
Justin Bieber

Best New Artist:
The Chainsmokers

Best Duo/Group of the Year:
twenty one pilots

Best New Pop Artist: (New Category)
The Chainsmokers

Pop Album of the Year:
25 – Adele

Producer of the Year: (New Category)
Benny Blanco

Alternative Rock Song of the Year:
“Heathens” – twenty one pilots

Alternative Rock Artist of the Year:
twenty one pilots

Alternative Rock Album of the Year:
Blurryface – twenty one pilots

Rock Song of the Year:
“Bang Bang” – Green Day

Rock Artist of the Year:
Disturbed

Best New Rock/Alternative Rock Artist: (New Category)
The Strumbellas

Rock Album of the Year:
Hardwired… to Self-Destruct – Metallica

Country Song of the Year:
“Somewhere On A Beach” – Dierks Bentley

Country Artist of the Year:
Thomas Rhett

Best New Country Artist: (New Category)
Kelsea Ballerini

Country Album of the Year:
Traveller – Chris Stapleton

Dance Song of the Year:
“Closer” – The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey

Dance Artist of the Year:
The Chainsmokers

Dance Album of the Year:
Collage – The Chainsmokers

Hip-Hop Song of the Year:
“One Dance” – Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla

Hip-Hop Artist of the Year:
Drake

Best New Hip-Hop Artist: (New Category)
Chance The Rapper

R&B Song of the Year:
“Work” – Rihanna featuring Drake

R&B Artist of the Year:
The Weeknd

R&B Album of the Year:
Anti – Rihanna

Latin Song of the Year:
“Duele El Corazon” – Enrique Iglesias featuring Wisin

Latin Artist of the Year:
Nicky Jam

Best New Latin Artist: (New Category)
CNCO

Latin Album of the Year:
Energía – J Balvin

Regional Mexican Song of the Year:
“Solo Con Verte” – Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizárraga

Regional Mexican Artist of the Year:
Calibre 50

Regional Mexican Album of the Year:
Recuerden Mi Estilo – Los Plebes Del Rancho De Ariel Camacho

Best New R&B Artist: (New Category)
Bryson Tiller

Best New Regional Mexican Artist: (New Category)
Joss Favela

Best Tour:
A Head Full of Dreams Tour – Coldplay

Best Lyrics: *Socially Voted Category
“Love Yourself” – Justin Bieber

Best Collaboration: *Socially Voted Category
“Work” – Rihanna featuring Drake

Best Cover Song: *Socially Voted Category
“Ex’s and Oh’s” – Fifth Harmony

Best Song from a Movie: *Socially Voted Category
“Girls Talk Boys” – 5 Seconds of Summer (Ghostbusters)

Best Music Video: (New Category) *Socially Voted Category
“Work From Home” – Fifth Harmony featuring Ty Dolla $ign

Best Underground Alternative Band: (New Category) *Socially Voted Category
Pierce the Veil

Social Star Award: (New Category) *Socially Voted Category
Jack and Jack from Snapchat

Best Fan Army: *Socially Voted Category
Fifth Harmony – Harmonizers

Best Solo Breakout
Zayn

Mars & Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk” Achieves RIAA Diamond Certification

Posted on October 20, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Bruno Mars has a Funk-y diamond…

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has announced that the 31-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer’s inescapable hit collaboration with Mark Ronson, “Uptown Funk,” has achieved diamond certification.

The award makes Mars and Ronson only the 10th act to reach 10 million sales for a single or album since the RIAA’s gold and platinum program expanded in 1999 to include a diamond award.

The certification comes less than two years since “Uptown Funk” was released in November 2014 and is the 13th diamond song in RIAA history.

The RIAA’s certification program was launched with the gold record in 1958. Presently, the RIAA awards a gold honor for 500,000 units sold, a platinum honor for 1 million units sold and a diamond award for more than 10 million units sold, with 100 streams counting as one certifiable unit.

“Uptown Funk” has sold over 12,422,016 in downloads and 938,694,569 audio streams in the U.S., according to a press release. The video has streamed over 1.9 billion times.

The track held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 14 weeks, making it the second longest chart topper in the chart’s history.

It was also the best-selling song of 2015 and won the record of the year award at the 2016 Grammy Awards. It has been certified multi-platinum in Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Mexico and the United Kingdom as well as being awarded Diamond certification in Canada and France.

Mars to Release New Single “24K Magic” This Friday

Posted on October 4, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Bruno Mars is ready to share a little music Magic…

The 30-year-old part-Puerto Rican actor has announced plans to release the new single “24K Magic” on October 7.

“Excited to announce 24K Magic, out this Friday!!” he said on Instagram. “You can call it my first single, but I call it the invitation to the party.”

“24K Magic” will be the first track from his forthcoming third studio album, the follow-up to 2012’s Unorthodox Jukebox, which yielded the hits “Locked Out of Heaven,” “When I Was Your Man” and “Treasure.”

Since that album’s release, Mars has collaborated on Mark Ronson‘s 2014 hit “Uptown Funk,” written “All I Ask” with Adele, performed at two Super Bowls and debuted the ballad “Rest of My Life” on the season-two finale of The CW‘s Jane the Virgin.

Skrillex has mentioned that he’s an upcoming collaborator on new material.

No album release date or title has been revealed.

But Mars reassured his fans on Twitter, “You think I’ve been playin this whole time? You don’t think I’m masterminding the return?”

Mars’ “Uptown Funk” Among Top Digital Songs on IFPI’s 2015 Global Music Chart

Posted on April 9, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Bruno Mars is global Funk star…

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) has unveiled two of its top charts, which cover the global recording industry, with the 30-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer making the final cut.

The IFPI will release its complete annual Global Music Report on Tuesday. Covering the entirety of 2015, the IFPI’s Digital Singles and Global Albums charts boast plenty of familiar faces atop the rankings.

Mars lands at No. 2 on the Digital Singles chart with “Uptown Funk,” his chart-topping collaboration with Mark Ronson.

Mars and Ronson picked up the award for Best Male Video for “Uptown Funk” at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Here’s a look at the top digital songs and global albums rankings:

Digital Singles

Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth, “See You Again”
Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars, “Uptown Funk”
Ed Sheeran, “Thinking Out Loud”
Maroon 5, “Sugar”
Major Lazer feat. MØ and DJ Snake, “Lean On”
Ellie Goulding, “Love Me Like You Do”
Adele, “Hello”
Taylor Swift, “Blank Space”
OMI, “Cheerleader”
Jason Derulo, “Want To Want Me”

Global Albums

Adele, 25
Ed Sheeran, x
Taylor Swift, 1989
Justin Bieber, Purpose
Sam Smith, In The Lonely Hour
One Direction, Made In the A.M.
Various Artists, Fifty Shades of Grey Official Soundtrack
Coldplay, A Head Full of Dreams
Meghan Trainor, Title
The Weeknd, Beauty Behind The Madness

Gomez Earns Triple Threat Trophy at the iHeartRadio Music Awards

Posted on April 4, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Move over Jennifer Lopez… Selena Gomez is the new Triple Threat…

The 23-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress picked up the award for Biggest Triple Threat at this year’s iHeartRadio Music Awards, which were handed out Sunday night.

Gomez, heralded as a singer, actor and dancer, beat out Lady Gaga, Hailee Steinfeld, Jason Derulo, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Timberlake, Nick Jonas, Troye Sivan, Usher and Zendaya for the prize.

Bruno Mars continues to Funk things up. The 30-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer won the award for Best Collaboration for his smash hit single “Uptown Funk“ with Mark Ronson.

Meanwhile, Ally Brooke Hernadez, Camila Cabello and Lauren Jauregui and their fellow Fifth Harmony members, as well as 22-year-old half-Mexican American singer Jasmine V, picked up the award for Best Cover Song for Mars and Ronson’s “Uptown Funk.” They share the award with Jacob Whitesides and Mahogany Lox.

Other winners include Pitbull for Latin Artist of the Year, and Nicky Jam and Enrique Iglesias’ smash hit single “El Perdón“ for Latin Song of the Year.

The awards show aired live on TBS, TNT and truTV from the Forum in Inglewood, California. Jason Derulo served as the night’s host.

Here’s a look at this year’s Latino winners:

Triple Threat: Selena Gomez – Singer/Actor/Dancer
Best Collaboration: “Uptown Funk” – Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
Best Cover Song: “Uptown Funk” – Fifth Harmony, Jasmine V, Jacob Whitesides and Mahogany Lox covering Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
Latin Artist of the Year: Pitbull
Latin Song of the Year: “El Perdón” – Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias
Regional Mexican Artist of the Year: Banda Los Recoditos
Regional Mexican Song of the Year: “Levantando Polvadera” – Voz de Mando

Mars & Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk” Earns 2015 Top Track Honors in the U.K.

Posted on January 5, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Bruno Mars is celebrating a Funktastic 2015 in the United Kingdom…

The 30-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer’s retro blockbuster collaboration with Mark Ronson, “Uptown Funk,” was the top track in the U.K. last year.

The song spent seven weeks at No. 1 and chalked up combined sales and streams of 1.76 million to finish 2015 at the peak of the Official Charts Company’s end-of-year chart, well ahead of tracks by OMI and Hozier.

“Uptown Funk” registered 39 weeks in the Top 40 before finally departing in October. Its total combined U.K. sales since release in November 2014 now top 2.25 million, according to the OCC.

The song, lifted from Ronson’s fourth studio album Uptown Special, proved to be an unstoppable force on both sides of the Atlantic.

“Uptown Funk” spent 14 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, a feat tied for second behind the 16-week reign of Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day.”

No other song has spent so long at the U.S. summit during the 2010s.

Ronson, who is based in the U.S. but was born in London, won British single of the year for “Uptown Funk” at the 2015 Brit Awards and he’s a former Brit Award winner for male artist of the year.

Check out the Official Top 40 Biggest Songs of 2015 list here.

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

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