Karol G Releases Merengue-Inspired Single “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”

Karol G is embracing a new sounds…

The 33-year-old Colombian Grammy-winning singer-songwriter has surprised fans with a new single called “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido,” released on Thursday, June 20.

Karol GReleased on the first day of summer, Karol G’s new single features a bold merengue sound.

“What would it have been like if I had met you before? Most probably you’d be dancing this song with me,” says part of the song’s lyrics.

In the music video, Karol G switched her baby pink locks for a new blonde look while performing the party-starting bop at a tiki bar.

On the eve of the song’s release, Karol G performed it for the first time in London, later explaining on her Instagram that the tribute to the merengue genre is because she owes a lot to The Dominican Republic.

“I worked on part of Mañana Sera Bonito there, and when I need to disconnect from the world and connect with myself I also go there,” she wrote. “Its culture, its music, its colors, the hospitality, the energy… everything feels very authentic and special there. Its people have embraced me in a way that fills my heart and inspires me all the time.”

“Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”—which is released in the midst of the European leg of the Mañana Será Bonito Tour—further demonstrates Karol’s ability to experiment outside of the reggaetón realm.

Prior to her merengue tune, she tapped into bachata (“El Barco”), corrido tumbado (“200 Copas”), cumbia (“Mi Ex Tenía Razón”), and even dropped a salsa version of “Amargura” at the 2024 Billboard Women in Music gala, where she was named this year’s Woman of the Year.

The vibrant “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” marks Karol G’s second single of the year following the Tiësto-assisted “Contigo,” which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart dated March 2; reached No. 27 on the Latin Airplay chart dated June 1; and debuted at No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in March, becoming Karol’s 30th entry on the all-genre chart.

Karol G Named Billboard’s 2024 Woman of the Year

Karol G is a woman on top…

After a year of career-defining moments, including a history-making album, a momentous stadium tour, headlining Lollapalooza and her first Grammy win, the 32-year-old Colombian singer-songwriter has been named Billboard‘s 2024 Woman of the Year.

Karol GKarol G will be honored with the award at the Billboard Women in Music Awards on Wednesday, March 6, at the YouTube Theater at Hollywood Park in Los Angeles, and streaming March 7.

Karol G will also grace the stage for a special performance.

Hosted by award-winning actor and producer Tracee Ellis Ross, the annual event will recognize music’s rising stars and A-List artists, creators and executives for their contributions to the industry and community.

“With her immense talent, Karol G has created a movement for women across the globe due to her empowering lyrics and inspiring confidence,” said Hannah Karp, Billboard’s editorial director. “The release of her groundbreaking album Mañana Será Bonito has proven her a force to be reckoned with in both the English and Spanish charts. We are so excited to honor her as Woman of the Year.”

Over the past few years, Karol G has become a leading force in Latin music. Two years after releasing her breakthrough album KG0516 in 2021, Karol G became the first female artist to top the Billboard 200 with a Spanish-language album thanks to Mañana Será Bonito.

The follow-up album, Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season), then debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. On Sunday, she won her first Grammy, taking home best música urbana album for Mañana Será Bonito.

Last summer, Karol launched her own Bichota Records and inked a distribution deal with Interscope. Additionally, The Con Cora Foundation was established to continue the artist’s social work and mission to support women who lead households, at-risk youth, children facing chronic or disabling diseases, those dealing with teenage pregnancy, women deprived of liberty and post-penalty, as well as low-income women.

Past recipients of Woman of the Year include SZA, Olivia Rodrigo, Cardi B, Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, Madonna, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift.

Karol G joins the previously announced lineup of powerhouse women set for the 2024 Billboard Women in Music Awards: Kylie Minogue will receive the Icon AwardMaren Morris will receive the Visionary AwardIce Spice will receive the Hitmaker AwardCharli XCX will receive the Powerhouse AwardYoung Miko will receive the Impact AwardVictoria Monét will receive the Rising Star award; NewJeans will receive the Group of the Year AwardTEMS will receive the Breakthrough Award; and Luísa Sonza will receive one of Billboard’s new Global Force Awards.

Tickets to attend the Billboard Women in Music Awards are available to the public. Prices range from $89 – $279. Fans can watch the show on Thurs, March 7 at 5:00 pm PT/8:00 pm ET on billboardwomeninmusic.com; more details about the stream will be announced soon.

Rosalía Signs with Jaime Levine for Global Management

Rosalía is under new management.

The 30-year-old Spanish Grammy-winning superstar has signed with Jaime Levine of Seven Mantels for global management.

RosaliaRosalía was previously managed by Rebecca León of Lionfish Entertainment, with whom she parted ways this past February after a five-year relationship.

Levine spent more than a decade managing global superstar Shakira but recently transitioned from management into a senior advisor role for the Colombian star on ongoing projects, sources say.

By all accounts, the two continue to have an amicable professional and personal relationship.

Shakira, who was named Billboard’s Woman of the year during the first-ever Billboard Latin Women In Music event in May, is currently recording a new album and planning a new tour for 2024.

Rosalía’s albums have earned a combined 747,000 equivalent album units in the United States, according to Luminate, with 880 million on-demand official streams across her catalog, 84,000 albums sold and 98,000 song downloads.

She also has seven entries on the Billboard Hot 100, the latest of which — “Beso” with Rauw Alejandro — is her highest-charting there, peaking at No. 52. She also has 21 entries on Hot Latin Songs, including seven top 10s; 10 entries on Latin Airplay, of which eight reached the top 10 and seven hit No. 1.

Her 2022 release, Motomami — her third studio album — ruled Latin Pop Albums for 25 weeks, making it the longest-leading Latin Pop set this decade. The album earned Rosalía her first and only entry on the Billboard 200, debuting and peaking at No. 33 in April 2022; it also received the Latin pop album of the year award at the Billboard Latin Music Awards.

Rosalía was poised to launch her international tour at the time of her split with León, with stops at major festivals including Coachella and Lollapalooza Chile and Argentina. She continued successfully with her touring plans, amidst much speculation about who would eventually take over as her manager.

Rosalía’s Motomami tour, her first-ever global trek, included 66 performances in 21 countries across three continents. The “Saoko” singer performed to nearly two million people around the world, according to a press statement. The tour ended with a July 22 performance at Lollapalooza Paris, where Rosalía gave an emotional speech.

“The blessings that Motomami has given me are endless,” she told a crowd during the tour. “Many of you discovered me thanks to this project, thanks to this album. I’m so thankful to all of you. I don’t know what the next chapter will look like, there are some ideas but I don’t know. Only God knows.”

Shakira Announces First-Ever Manuel Turizo-Collaboration “Copa Vacía,” Coming Out June 29

Shakira is dealing with an empty glass…

The 46-year-old Colombian superstar has joined voices with Manuel Turizo for the single “Copa Vacía,” which will be released on June 29.

Shakira“We made a movie,” the Colombian artists teased on social media of their first song together, sharing a poster that looks straight out of a movie with Shakira taking the role of a mermaid and Turizo as the prince.

The first time Shakira hinted at a new song was June 9, when she posted a photo of herself as a mermaid with the cryptic caption, “You want thingamabobs? I got twenty…,” a lyric from The Little Mermaid‘s “Part of Your World.”

But she didn’t offer anymore details, leaving fans wondering what she was up to.

Now, they know to expect a new song with “La Bachata” singer and a music video that promises to be a cinematic experience.

“Copa Vacía” will follow Shakira’s sweet song “Acróstico,” which is a love letter to her children.

The “Acróstico” music video, which dropped in May, features her two sons — Milan and Sasha — who sing and play the piano alongside her.

“This year Milan has written songs that have made me tear up and Sasha has dedicated hours playing the piano and discovering his voice,” Shakira wrote in Spanish on social media when the video dropped. “Both have spent some time with me in the studio and upon hearing this song, they’ve asked to be part of it. They’ve felt it and interpreted it in their own way and for themselves, with the same passion and emotion of a person who carries music within them.”

In May, Shakira was also honored at the inaugural Billboard Latin Women in Music gala as Woman of the Year, where she gave an emotional speech in which she acknowledged the hard times she’s been through, and thanked her mother, her friends and women in general.

Shakira to Be Honored as Billboard’s ‘Woman of the Year’ at First-Ever Mujeres Latinas en la Música Gala

t’s a career-recognizing first for Shakira

The 46-year-old Colombian global superstar will be honored as Billboard’s Woman of the Year at the first-ever Mujeres Latinas en la Música gala.

ShakiraThe two-hour music special, hosted by Ivy Queen and Jacqueline Bracamontes and honoring Latin women in music, will be taped at the Watsco Center in Miami on May 6 and will air exclusively on Telemundo on May 7 at 9:00 pm ET/8:00 pm CT.

A first of its kind for Latin music, Mujeres Latinas en la Música celebrates Latin female artists, executives and creatives who are proactively working for positive change, inclusion and gender parity in the music industry.

Superstars Ana GabrielEmiliaEvalunaGoyo and Thalia will also receive special awards at the inaugural event presented by Billboard with Telemundo.

Shakira’s honor comes in the wake of an extraordinary year that has seen the superstar break records with the biggest Spanish-language debut of 2022 (“Monotonía” featuring Ozuna). Then, in January 2023, her “Shakira: BZRP Music Sessions #53” debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making her the first woman to reach the top 10 on the chart with a song in Spanish.

“Shakira: BZRP Music Sessions #53” also made history as the most-streamed Latin track in 24 hours in Spotify history and the most-viewed Latin track on YouTube in 24 hours with over 63 million views, and it broke 14 Guinness World Records.

“Shakira is the ultimate Woman in Music. Thanks to her, Latin women all over the world have been empowered to write and perform deeply personal music. She created a movement all on her own, and continues to be more relevant than ever today, with grace, a deep tradition of giving back, and enormous talent. She is the definition of a Woman in Music,” said Leila CoboBillboard’s chief content officer for Latin/Español.

“Shakira has been pivotal in shaping the vibrant and diverse landscape of Latin music and music in general throughout her career. Her passion, talent and creativity have broken barriers and empowered generations to embrace our identity through music, and we are incredibly proud to recognize her as Woman of the Year in the industry,” said Ronald Day, president of entertainment and content strategy for Telemundo.

Shakira has sold more than 95 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time and the top-selling female Latin artist of all time. Her global success as a crossover artist opened doors for other Latin artists to enter international markets. She is the most-viewed Latin female artist, and one of the top 10 artists overall of all time on YouTube with over 20 billion cumulative views, and the most-streamed female Latin artist of all time on Spotify.

Aside from her stellar industry accolades, at the age of 18, Shakira created the Pies Descalzos Foundation, which has built and adapted nine public schools in Cartagena, Barranquilla, Guajira and Quibdó, with six in construction. The foundation has raised over 40 million dollars since inception and impacted more than 150,000 children and nearly 900,000 families.

Cardi B Releases Booty-Bouncing New Track “Up”

Cardi B is ready to rise up the charts…

The 28-year-old half-Dominican American rap superstar has released her latest single, the booty-bouncing track “Up,” as well as the song’s steamy music video.

Cardi B

Kicking off the clip in a cemetery, Cardi B, clad in a black corset, bids last year a final farewell as she steps on a man laying on top of a “RIP 2020” burial plot.

And it’s all up from there.

There’s twerking, tongue kissing and titillating looks, with Cardi B announcing: “Bardi’s back, and all you bitches f – – ked.”

Cardi B announced her new single on Monday, sharing the cover artwork and writing, “LETS GOOOOOO!”

It’s the follow-up single to Cardi B’s last release was “WAP,” her blockbuster team-up with Megan Thee Stallion that topped the Billboard Hot 100 last August.

 

She was named Billboard‘s 2020 Woman of the Year in December, accepting the honor from Breonna Taylor‘s mom, Tamika Palmer.

This weekend, Cardi B will be featured in an Uber Eats Super Bowl commercial alongside Mike Myers and Dana Carvey for the return of their Wayne’s World characters.

Cardi B to Release New Single “UP” This Week

Things are lookin’ up for Cardi B

The 28-year-old half-Dominican American rap superstar, whose real name is Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, has announced plans to release brand-new single “UP” this Friday.

Cardi B, UP

Cardi B took to Twitter on Monday night to announce the new release. “My new single ‘UP’ drops this Friday! LETS GOOOOOO! #Up.”

My new single “UP” drops this Friday! LETS GOOOOOO! #Up pic.twitter.com/LJRwzvW8Mv

— iamcardib (@iamcardib) February 2, 2021

On Sunday, Cardi B tweeted a video with the caption “I got an announcement to make tomorrow” and a loud-speaker emoji, so it’s safe to say this was her big news.

In addition to the single news, Cardi B also linked fans to her webstore, where she’s selling a CD single of the new song.

Cardi B’s last release was “WAP,” her blockbuster team-up with Megan Thee Stallion that topped the Billboard Hot 100 back in August.

She was named Billboard’s 2020 Woman of the Year in December, accepting the honor from Breonna Taylor‘s mom, Tamika Palmer.

Cardi B Named Billboard’s “Woman of the Year”

Cardi B is WAP-ping up the year with a bang…

The 28-year-old half-Dominican American rap superstar has been named the 2020 Woman of the Year by Billboard.

Cardi B

Cardi B, who continues to thrive with her Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper “WAP,” a brand-new already-sold-out Reebok collection and her political activism, will be presented the award during Billboard‘s Women in Music event on December 10.

The 15th annual event will go virtual this year due to the coronavirus pandemic and will stream live here starting at 8:00 pm ET. The ceremony will be hosted by Teyana Taylor.

Jennifer Lopez will be honored with this year’s prestigious Icon Award for her impact on the music industry and the greater artistic community, joining previous recipients Alanis MorissetteCyndi LauperMary J. BligeShania Twain and Aretha Franklin.

Following the success of her sophomore album, Future NostalgiaDua Lipa will receive the Powerhouse Award, given to an act whose music dominated streaming, sales and radio this year.

Dolly Parton is 2020’s Hitmaker Award recipient. The honor recognizes a songwriter whose compositions have significantly impacted culture.

Chloe x Halle will receive the Rising Star Award, and Jessie Reyez will be honored with the American Express Impact Award.

Brianna Agyemang and Jamila Thomas, the trailblazing minds behind #TheShowMustBePaused movement following the murder of George Floyd, will be honored with the 2020 Executive of the Year Award.

Selena Gomez & Marshmello’s Single “Wolves” Reaches No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs Chart

Selena Gomez is having a dancetastic week…

The 25-year-old Mexican American singer/actress’ collaboration with Marshmello, “Wolves,” rises 7-1 on BillboardHot Dance/Electronic Songs chart dated November 18, following its first full tracking week.

Selena Gomez

The song debuted a week ago with a day’s worth of streaming and sales data.

Gomez, Billboard‘s 2017 Woman of the Year honoree, earns her second No. 1 and first as a lead act, after “I Want You to Know” (by Zedd featuring Gomez), which spent six weeks at No. 1 in March and April 2015. “Wolves” is Marshmello’s first leader on the list.

“Wolves” reigns with 13 million U.S. streams, 8 million in all-format radio audience and 28,000 downloads sold, according to Nielsen Music.

It holds at No. 1 on the Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart and soars 13-2 on the Dance/Electronic Streaming Songs chart, behind Marshmello’s “Silence” (featuring Khalid) in the latter’s 10th week at the top.

On the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, “Wolves” vaults 88-35. Gomez earns her 19th top 40 Hot 100 hit, and 14th in a row, dating to “Love You Like a Love Song” (by Gomez and The Scene), which hit No. 22 in March 2012. She’s notched four top 40 entries apiece in both 2016 and 2017.

Meanwhile, a toast to Marshmello, who celebrates his first top 40 Hot 100 hit. He previously hit a No. 42 high with “Silence,” which remains near its peak this week, at No. 50.

 

Camila Cabello to Receive Breakthrough Artist Award at Billboard’s Women in Music Event

Camila Cabello is earning special recognition…

The 20-year-old Cuban singer will be honored at Billboard‘s annual Women in Music dinner and awards ceremony in Los Angeles on November 30.

Cabello, who rose to acclaim as a member of Fifth Harmony before departing the all-girl group in December, will receive the ‘Breakthrough Artist‘ award.

Since launching her solo career, Cabello’s star has been on the rise. She most recently earned her first No. 1 single in the U.K. with her steamy new single “Havana.”

Meanwhile, Kehlani will be handed the ‘Rule Breaker‘ award at the event.

The 21-year-old part-Spanish singer notched her first No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B Albums chart  earlier this year, and she most recently appeared on Calvin Harris’ new album, Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1.

Cabello and Kehlani will perform at the reception, which is set to take place at the Ray Dolby Ballroom.

The Women in Music event is held in conjunction with Billboard‘s Women in Music issue, honoring the industry’s most powerful artists and executives.

This year, Selena Gomez has been named Billboard‘s Woman of the Year.

“We look forward to celebrating the amazing talent and power of these female artists and executives who continue to inspire and impact others through their achievements and contributions to the music industry,” says Dana Miller, Chief Marketing Officer of The Hollywood Reporter – Billboard Media Group. “Each year, our Women in Music event brings together the most trailblazing women in music and this year will be no exception.”

Women in Music’s red carpet pre-show, as well as the event, are scheduled to live stream via Twitter on November 30 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm PT / 9:00 pm to 12:00 am ET.