Bad Bunny Wins First-Ever American Music Award Prizes of His Career

Bad Bunny is celebrating a big night…

The 26-year-old Puerto Rican Latin trap and reggaeton superstar took home two trophies at this year’s American Music Awards, the most of any Latinx artist.

Bad Bunny

Bad Bunny, who picked up the first-ever AMAs of his career, beat himself in the Favorite Album – Latin category. His second studio album YHLQMDLG, which became the highest-charting all-Spanish album ever on the Billboard 200 at number two when it debuted in February, won against his own Las que no iban a salir, the surprise follow-up album he released two months later. He also beat out Anuel AA’s Emmanuel for the coveted trophy.

Bad Bunny, who had to cancel his scheduled performance on the show due to testing positive for COVID-19, also won in the Favorite Male Artist – Latin category.

Becky G picked up her first AMAs trophy…

The 23-year-old Mexican American bilingual singer/rapper took home the award for Favorite Female Artist- Latin.

Becky G gave a heartwarming acceptance speech that celebrated her Mexican and immigrant heritage. She told fans she “proudly waves both flags Mexican and American.” She went on to dedicate the award to immigrant parents, students, and her abuelitos.

Karol G took home her first-ever American Music Awards prize – in the Favorite Song – Latin category – for her chart-topping “Tusa” single, featuring Nicki Minaj; while Cardi B won in the Favorite Song – Rap/Hip-Hop category for her Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper “WAP,” featuring Megan Thee Stallion.

Hosted by Taraji P. Henson, this in-person ceremony aired on ABC and was wildly socially distanced with cardboard cutouts of Beyonce, Jay Z, Dolly Parton and others in the orchestra section of the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, select masked fans who were tested for COVID and socially distanced were in the balcony of the theater to provide live energy to performers that included Jennifer Lopez, Billie Eilish, Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes, Megan Thee Stallion, Dua Lipa, Katy Perry, Darius Rucker, BTS as well as the unexpected duet of The Weeknd and Kenny G.

Here’s the full list of winners:

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Taylor Swift

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Doja Cat

COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber, “10,000 Hours”

FAVORITE SOCIAL ARTIST
BTS

FAVORITE MUSIC VIDEO
Taylor Swift, “Cardigan”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK
Justin Bieber

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK
Taylor Swift

FAVORITE DUO OR GROUP – POP/ROCK
BTS

FAVORITE ALBUM – POP/ROCK
Harry Styles, “Fine Line”

FAVORITE SONG – POP/ROCK
Dua Lipa, “Don’t Start Now”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – COUNTRY
Kane Brown

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST- COUNTRY
Maren Morris

FAVORITE DUO OR GROUP – COUNTRY
Dan + Shay

FAVORITE ALBUM – COUNTRY
Blake Shelton, “Fully Loaded: God’s Country”

FAVORITE SONG – COUNTRY
Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber, “10,000 Hours”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – RAP/HIP-HOP
Juice WRLD

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – RAP/HIP-HOP
Nicki Minaj

FAVORITE ALBUM – RAP/HIP-HOP
Roddy Ricch, “Please Forgive Me For Being Anti Social”

FAVORITE SONG – RAP/HIP-HOP
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B
The Weeknd

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B
Doja Cat

FAVORITE ALBUM – SOUL/R&B
The Weeknd, “After Hours”

FAVORITE SONG – SOUL/R&B
The Weeknd, “Heartless”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – LATIN
Bad Bunny

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST- LATIN
Becky G

FAVORITE ALBUM – LATIN
Bad Bunny, “YHLQMDLG”

FAVORITE SONG – LATIN
Karol G & Nicki Minaj, “Tusa”

FAVORITE ARTIST – ALTERNATIVE ROCK
Twenty One Pilots

FAVORITE ARTIST – ADULT CONTEMPORARY
Jonas Brothers

FAVORITE ARTIST – CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL
Lauren Daigle

FAVORITE ARTIST – ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC (EDM)
Lady Gaga

FAVORITE SOUNDTRACK
“Birds of Prey: The Album”

Bad Bunny Earns Four American Music Award Nominations

Bad Bunny’s crossover into the American music scene continues…

This year’s American Music Awards nominations have been revealed, with the 26-year-old Puerto Rican Latin trap and reggaeton singer earning four nods.

Bad Bunny

Bad Bunny is nominated in the Favorite Male Artist – Latin category for the second year in a row. In addition he earned two nods in the Favorite Album – Latin category for his chart-topping albums YHLQMDLG and Las que no iban a salir.

His fourth nod comes in the Favorite Song – Latin category for his hot single “Vete.”

Nipping on Bad Bunny’s heels… his Oasis album collaborator J Balvin, with two nods.

The 35-year-old Colombian singer is nominated in the Favorite Male Artist – Latin category, as well as Favorite Song – Latin for his smash Black Eyes Peas collaboration “RITMO (Bad Boys For Life).”

Cardi B is the Latina artist with the most nods.

The 28-year-old half-Dominican American rap superstar is nominated in three categories.

Cardi B is up for Favorite Female Artist – Rap/Hip-Hop, as well as Collaboration Of The Year and Favorite Song – Rap/Hip-Hop for her chart-topping hit single WAP,” featuring Megan Thee Stallion.

Karol G has picked up her first-ever American Music Award nods…

The 29-year-old Colombian singer is nominated for Favorite Female Artist – Latin and Favorite Song – Latin For her No. 1 collaboration with Nicki Minaj, “Tusa.”

Jhene Aiko picked up a Favorite Female Artist – Soul/R&B nod, while Anuel AA earned a nod for Favorite Album – Latin  for his acclaimed album Emmanuel.

Other nominees include Ozuna (Favorite Males Artist – Male), and Becky G and Rosalia in the Favorite Female Artist – Latin category.

 

The ceremony is set to take place live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on November 22 at 8:00 pm EST/PST on ABC.

This year, the AMAs added new categories to their slate including Favorite Male Artist and Favorite Female Artist (Rap/Hip-Hop); and Favorite Male Artist, Favorite Female, Favorite Album and Favorite Song (Latin).

The AMAs are the worlds largest fan-voted award show and is seen in over 200 countries and territories around the world. Voting is now open for all AMA categories.

Here’s the complete list of nominations:

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Justin Bieber
Post Malone
Roddy Ricch
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lewis Capaldi
Doja Cat
DaBaby
Lil Baby
Roddy Ricch
Megan Thee Stallion

COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion “WAP”
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch “Rockstar”
Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber “10,000 Hours”
Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande “Rain On Me”
Megan Thee Stallion ft. Beyoncé “Savage Remix”

FAVORITE SOCIAL ARTIST
BTS
Billie Eilish
EXO
Ariana Grande
NCT 127

FAVORITE MUSIC VIDEO
Doja Cat “Say So”
Future ft. Drake “Life Is Good”
Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande “Rain On Me”
Taylor Swift “cardigan”
The Weeknd “Blinding Lights”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK
Justin Bieber
Post Malone
The Weeknd

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST –  POP/ROCK
Dua Lipa
Lady Gaga
Taylor Swift

FAVORITE DUO OR GROUP – POP/ROCK
BTS
Jonas Brothers
Maroon 5

FAVORITE ALBUM – POP/ROCK
Harry Styles “Fine Line”
Taylor Swift “folklore”
The Weeknd “After Hours”

FAVORITE SONG –  POP/ROCK
Lewis Capaldi “Someone You Loved”
Dua Lipa “Don’t Start Now”
Post Malone “Circles”
Roddy Ricch “The Box”
The Weeknd “Blinding Lights”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST –  COUNTRY
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST –  COUNTRY
Gabby Barrett
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris

FAVORITE DUO OR GROUP – COUNTRY
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Old Dominion

FAVORITE ALBUM – COUNTRY
Luke Combs “What You See Is What You Get”
Blake Shelton “Fully Loaded: God’s Country”
Morgan Wallen “If I Know Me”

FAVORITE SONG – COUNTRY
Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber “10,000 Hours”
Maren Morris “The Bones”
Blake Shelton (Duet with Gwen Stefani) “Nobody But You”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – RAP/HIP-HOP
DaBaby
Juice WRLD
Roddy Ricch

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – RAP/HIP-HOP
Cardi B
Nicki Minaj
Megan Thee Stallion

FAVORITE ALBUM – RAP/HIP-HOP
Lil Baby “My Turn”
Lil Uzi Vert “Eternal Atake”
Roddy Ricch “Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial”

FAVORITE SONG – RAP/HIP-HOP
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion “WAP”
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch “Rockstar”
Roddy Ricch “The Box”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B
Chris Brown
John Legend
The Weeknd

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST –  SOUL/R&B
Jhene Aiko
Doja Cat
Summer Walker

FAVORITE ALBUM – SOUL/R&B
Doja Cat “Hot Pink”
Summer Walker “Over It”
The Weeknd “After Hours”

FAVORITE SONG – SOUL/R&B
Chris Brown ft. Drake “No Guidance”
Summer Walker “Playing Games”
The Weeknd “Heartless”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – LATIN
Bad Bunny
J Balvin
Ozuna

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – LATIN
Becky G
KAROL G
Rosalía

FAVORITE ALBUM – LATIN
Anuel AA ”Emmanuel”
Bad Bunny “Las que no iban a salir”
Bad Bunny “YHLQMDLG”

FAVORITE SONG – LATIN
Bad Bunny “Vete”
Black Eyed Peas X J Balvin “RITMO (Bad Boys For Life)”
KAROL G & Nicki Minaj “Tusa”

FAVORITE ARTIST – ALTERNATIVE ROCK
Billie Eilish
Tame Impala
twenty one pilots

FAVORITE ARTIST –  ADULT CONTEMPORARY
Lewis Capaldi
Jonas Brothers
Maroon 5

FAVORITE ARTIST –  CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL
Lauren Daigle
for KING & COUNTRY
Kanye West

FAVORITE ARTIST –  ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC (EDM)
Kygo
Lady Gaga
Marshmello

FAVORITE SOUNDTRACK
Birds of Prey: The Album
Frozen II
Trolls: World Tour

J Balvin Earns 13 Latin Grammy Award Nominations, Including Two for Album of the Year

J Balvin is the man to beat…

The Latin Grammy Award nominations have been announced, with the 35-year-old Colombian reggaeton singer leading the pack of nominees with 13 nominations.

J Balvin

J Balvin’s nominations include two for album of the year and two for record of the year (“Rojo” & “China”).

Balvin has a chance to win his first album of the year prize — a category with 10 contenders — thanks to his fifth solo album “Colores” and “Oasis,” his collaborative project with Bad Bunny. Other nominees include Bad Bunny’s sophomore release “YHLQMDLG” as well as albums from Ricky Martin, Carlos Vives, Jesse & Joy, Kany García, Natalia Lafourcade, Camilo and Fito Paez.

Bad Bunny received nine nominations, including two for album of the year (YHLQMDLG & Oasis) and one for record of the year (“Vete”).

Ozuna has eight nominations, including one for record of the year (“China”).

For record of the year, which also has 10 nominees, contenders include popular hip-hop-flavored Latin songs that have dominated the Latin music charts and earned hundreds of millions plays on streaming services, with some even reaching the billion-mark on YouTube, including Karol G and Nicki Minaj’s global hit “Tusa” and “China” by Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, Karol G, Ozuna, Balvin and Marco Masis. Other nominees include Balvin’s “Rojo” and Bad Bunny’s “Vete.”

“Tusa” is the sole Latin trap nominee in the song of the year category, where 11 tracks are in contention. It’s a departure for Karol G, who didn’t receive a single nomination last year and was part of the group of uber-successful Latin trap and reggaeton artists who were dissed in top categories like album, song and record of the year.

This year, the 29-year-old Colombian performer, who was named best new artist in 2018, has four nominations, including two shared with Minaj. Karol G’s fiance, Puerto Rican rapper-singer Anuel AA, marked a major breakthrough this year as a first-time nominee. He scored seven nominations, including a bid for best new artist.

“Over the last year, we continued engaging in discussions with our members to improve the awards process and actively encouraged diverse Latin music creators to join and participate,” Latin Academy President and CEO Gabriel Abaroa Jr. said in a statement, calling this year’s nominees “a group that reflects the constant evolution of Latin music.”

As a result of last year’s debacle social media exploded as Latin artists posted images of the Grammy logo with a large red “X″ across it, with words on the image reading in Spanish: “Without reggaeton, there’s no Latin Grammys.” Balvin even skipped the live show and Bad Bunny, who won best urban music album during the telecast, told the audience: “With all due respect, reggaeton is part of the Latin culture.”

To honor Latin rap and reggaeton performers, the Latin Grammys added new categories this year, including best reggaeton performance and best rap/hip-hop song.

Balvin’s 13 nominations includes several categories where he will compete with himself: Outside of album and record of the year, he’s a double nominee in the best urban music album, best urban fusion/performance and best reggaeton performance categories. Ozuna and Bad Bunny will also compete with themselves in several categories.

Others who scored multiple nominations include Juanes, Martin, Alejandro Sanz, Camilo, Carlos Vives, Kany García and Residente, the most decorated winner in the history of Latin Grammys. Rosalía, who won album of the year last year and became the first solo female performer to win the top honor since Shakira’s triumph in 2006, earned four nominations this year.

Apart from Minaj’s two nominations, other popular American artists who will compete for awards include rapper Travis Scott (best short form music video for “TKN” with Rosalía); jazz master Chick Corea and his Spanish Heart Band (best Latin jazz/jazz album for “Antidote”); DJ-producer Diplo (best urban song for “Rave de Favela” ); and rapper Tyga (best reggaeton performance for “Loco Contigo” with DJ Snake and Balvin). Justin Bieber’s right-hand songwriter, Jason Boyd aka Poo Bear, earned an album of the year nomination for his work on Jesse & Joy’s “Aire (Versión Día).”

The 21st annual Latin Grammy Awards will air live on November 19 on Univision. The nominees in the 53 categories were selected from more than 18,000 entries. Songs and albums released between June 1, 2019 through May 31, 2020 were eligible for nomination.

Click here to see the full Latin Grammy nominations.

Bad Bunny Releases ‘Out of This World’ Music Video for His “YHLQMDLG” Single “Una Vez,” Featuring Mora

Bad Bunny’s work is out of this world

The 26-year-old Puerto Rican Latin trap and reggaeton singer, rapper, and songwriter has surprised fans with the official music video for “Una Vez,” one of the tracks from his chart-topping album YHLQMDLG.

Bad Bunny

In collaboration with up-and-coming artist and producer Mora, “Una Vez” tells the story of a person who’s infatuated with someone in a relationship. “And let me feel you one time, in case I never see you again/ Then I’ll continue my life normally, and you with him,” goes the infectious chorus.

The music video, helmed by Bunny’s longtime director Stillz, shows a lonely astronaut walking across U.S. landmarks in search of his long-lost love. He navigates through secluded deserts, highways, bridges, oceans, and even an empty Las Vegas strip holding a photograph of his love interest before burying it.

“Una Vez” was released on Sunday following Bad Bunny’s first-ever virtual concert in New York City, which garnered 10 million live views. Making a remote appearance from Puerto Rico, Mora was one of the night’s special guests, in addition to Sech and J Balvin.

On the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, “Una Vez” debuted at No. 18 on the March 14-dated tally.

Bad Bunny Featured in YouTube Music’s “Artist Spotlight Stories” Series

Bad Bunny’s in the spotlight

The 27-year-old Puerto Rican Latin trap and reggaeton singer, who recently made history with his appearance on the cover of Playboy, will be part of YouTube Music’s “Artist Spotlight Stories” series.

Bad Bunny

“Sometimes I feel I attract everything with my mind,” Bad Bunny expressed in a one-minute trailer posted on his YouTube channel. “I think a lot of people, if not everyone, can do the same. But not everyone knows that.”

Bad Bunny’s short documentary will share his road to success from the beginning of his career to his chart-topping YHLQMDLG album.

“I try never to limit myself, at least not me and when someone tries to do so, I try to push them to the limit, as far as I can,” he added in the trailer.

Bad Bunny’s Artist Spotlight Story will premiere on Wednesday, July 22 on YouTube Music.

He now joins OzunaJ BalvinBillie EilishShawn Mendes, and other artists who’ve been featured as part of the intimate series.

Bad Bunny Leads Latin Music’s Double-Digit Audio Consumption Growth in 2020 So Far

Bad Bunny’s leading Latin music’s charge in consumption…

Latin music has posted a healthy increase in audio consumption album equivalents in the U.S. in the first six months of 2020, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data‘s midyear report, with the 26-year-old Puerto Rican Latin trap and reggeaton singer earning top artist honors.

Bad Bunny

Overall, audio consumption of Latin music grew to 14.56 million units in the first six months of 2020, up 15.9% from the 12.6 million units registered for 2019’s midyear total. That number helped the overall growth of the genre.

Following R&B/Hip-Hop, Latin was the greatest percentage point gainer among the large genres, now comprising 4.09% market share of the total U.S. music market. That’s up from 3.86% at midyear 2019.

Latin’s market share growth comes despite the fact that, like other genres, it has suffered a decline in its weekly streaming average since the economic shutdown beginning the week of March 13. Latin saw its average weekly on-demand count drop from 1.182 billion prior to the advent of the pandemic to 1.143 billion average weekly streams from the pandemic period onward through July 2, a 3.3% drop.

Like other genres, Latin’s physical sales was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with physical album sales dropping 48.7% to 212,000 copies from 414,000 in the first half of 2019. As with other genres, Latin enjoyed a digital sales bump with download albums growing 11.7% to 248,000 copies from 222,000 the year before.

That means overall, album sales fell 27.6% to 461,000 from 636,000 copies, and digital track sales fell 32.6% to 3.35 million copies, versus 4.83 million in the six-month year earlier period.

In terms of top artists for the first six months of the year, Bad Bunny was king. His YHLQMDLG became the highest-charting all-Spanish-language album in the history of the Billboard 200 when it reached No. 2 on the March 14 tally.

It’s also the sixth-most-consumed album of the year and the lone Latin title in the top 10. Interesting fact: When Bad Bunny’s Las Que No Iban a Salir debuted on the May 14 Top Latin Albums chart at No. 1, Bad Bunny also held the No. 2 (YHLQMDLG) and No. 3 (X100PRE) slots.

Following Bad Bunny in consumption for the first six months of the year is Ozuna, and in third place, newcomer Natanael Cano

In terms of songs, the most-consumed track for the first six months of the year was Karol G and Nicki Minaj’s “Tusa,” followed by Bad Bunny’s “Yo Perreo Sola.”

At the midyear mark, Bad Bunny gets an artist credit, either as a solo or in collaboration, in seven of the top 10 most streamed Latin songs.

Bad Bunny Makes Playboy History with Digital Cover Appearance

Bad Bunny is real Playboy.

The 26-year-old Puerto Rican Latin trap and reggaeton singer and rapper has become Playboy’s first-ever digital cover star with two covers. 

Bad Bunny x Playboy

In the brand’s 66-year lifespan, Bad Bunny also becomes the only man, besides the late Hugh Hefner, to appear solo on the cover.

Bad Bunny x Playboy

In a story dubbed “Bad Bunny Is Not Playing God,” the “Yo Perreo Sola” singer opens up about his career and his surprise 2020 albums,

including the success of his second album “Yo Hago Lo Que Me Da La Gana,” which shot to No.2 on the Billboard 200 chart, and became the highest-charting all-Spanish language album of all time, with tracks that tackle sexism head-on. 

“The music industry and society in general (treat women) like they’re nothing,” he is quoted as saying. “Women are human beings and deserve respect and the same treatment as anybody else.”

And he opens up about being a queer ally in the world of reggaeton and Latin hip-hop. 

“I do all of this and I’m not even sure what I cause,” he admitted. “It’s not until someone comes up to me and tells me, ‘Man, thank you,’ that I realize the impact.”

Bad Bunny x Playboy

Of sex, Bad Bunny told Playboy it’s a “giant world.”

“Everyone is free to see it as they want and do it with whoever they want, however they want, with infinite possibilities. In the end, we are human beings. Everybody feels, everybody falls in love with whoever they’re meant to,” he expressed.

Bad Bunny x Playboy

Shot in Miami before the global pandemic hit by STILLZ, the cover story’s original photos show Bad Bunny dressed as a Greek God with his nails on fleek and bedazzled with the iconic Playboy bunny logo.

Bad Bunny x Playboy

Click here to read the full story.

The digital feature comes amid significant changes at Playboy. In March, the magazine announced it would suspend its US print edition for the rest of the year, citing “disruption” in production and supply chains caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Bad Bunny’s “Los Que No Iban a Salir” Headed for No. 1 Debut on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums Chart

Bad Bunny  could be his own usurpador

The 26-year-old Puerto Rican Latin trap and reggaeton singer is looking to replace himself at No. 1, again, on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart. 

Bad Bunny

Bad Bunny’s surprise release Las Que No Iban a Salircould register more than 40,000 equivalent album units in the week ending May 14, according to industry forecasters. 

If it starts as projected, the new album (LQNIAS) will bump his own YHLQMDLGfrom the top spot on the tally next week, where it’s held the pole position for 10 straight weeks since its debut at No. 1 on the chart dated March 14.

The Top Latin Albums chart ranks the most popular Latin albums of the week based on multi-metric consumption, which comprises traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). 

Las Que No Iban a Salirdropped without warning in the mid-afternoon on Sunday, May 10, so it will only have about four-and-a-half days of activity before the tracking week’s end on May 14. (Most new releases tend to drop on Friday each week, the first day of the tracking week. Bad Bunny has bucked this trend repeatedly with his earlier albums, opting to release them at varying times of the week.)

Assuming Las Que No Iban a Salir starts at No. 1 on Top Latin Albums, it will replace Bad Bunny’s own YHLQMDLG at the top. 

It would not the first time Bad Bunny has replaced himself at No. 1. WhenYHLQMDLG debuted at No. 1, it bumped X 100PRE from the top. And, whenJ Balvin and Bad Bunny teamed up for the Oasis collaborative album, it opened at No. 1 on July 13, 2019, replacing X 100PRE.

Bad Bunny’s new 10-track album is effectively a compilation of previously unfinished songs. 

The set includes, amusingly, simple-named songs like “Canción Con Yandel” with Yandel, and “Bad Con Nicky” with Nicky Jam.

Most of the first-week activity for Bad Bunny’s album will come via streaming services. (There are no merchandise/album bundles in play as of May 12.) The album has proven to be so popular out of the gate with streamers, that, according to Apple Music, it became the first Latin album to reach the top of Apple Music’s Top Albums tally. Apple Music’s Top Albums ranking ranks the most streamed albums within the service at any given point in time.

Bad Bunny’s “YHLQMDLG” Headed to Historic Debut on Billboard 200

Bad Bunny is ready to make history…

The 25-year-old Latin trap and reggaeton singer is heading for a historic debut on the Billboard 200 chart with his new album YHLQMDLG.

Bad Bunny

Forecasters believe the set, which was released late in the evening on February 28 via Rimas, could debut at No. 2 on next week’s Billboard 200 chart and earn between 125,000 and 145,000 equivalent album units in the week ending March 5. 

That would mark the biggest week for a Latin album, in units earned, since Billboard began tracking titles by equivalent album units in December 2014.

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week based on multi-metric consumption, which includes traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). The top 10 of the March 14-dated Billboard 200 chart (where YHLQMDLGcould debut at No. 2) is scheduled to be revealed via Billboard’s website on Sunday, March 8.

Most of YHLQMDLG’s starting sum will be powered by streaming activity, with perhaps as much as 25,000 generated by album sales. Bad Bunny’s YHLQMDLG is profiting from merchandise/album bundle offers sold through his official webstore.

Further,YHLQMDLG will likely land the biggest streaming week ever for a Latin album, surpassing the record set by Ozuna’s Aura, which bowed with 53.2 million on-demand audio streams, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data (chart dated Sept. 8, 2018).

Bad Bunny has charted two previous albums on the Billboard 200: Oasis (with J Balvin, No. 9) and X 100PRE (No. 11), both in 2019.

Bad Bunny Releases New Album “YHLQMDLG”

Bad Bunnyis doing whatever he wants, including releasing a new surprise album…

The 25-year-old Puerto Rican Latin trap and reggaeton singer released YHLQMDLG, which stands for “Yo hago lo que me da la gana,” on Saturday at midnight.

Bad Bunny

The title is a testament to what Bad Bunny’s fans love about him. From redefining men’s fashion to his outspokenness about Puerto Rican politics, Bad Bunny has always stayed true to himself.

“My job is what I’m passionate about. I simply do what fulfills me,” Bad Bunny told Entertainment Tonight, ahead of the album drop. “I try to please people. I try to please myself.”

The sprawling 20-track album includes an all-star lineup of guest stars, including Daddy YankeeÑengo FlowSech and Jowell y Randy— as well as uncredited vocals by ArcángelAnuel AA and Myke Towers. The song “Bichiyal” also features a surprise comeback from Puerto Rican cult favorite, Yaviah.

Said Bad Bunny of the new album on Twitter Friday afternoon: “Les recomiendo que esta noche se reunan con sus amistades y seres queridos, compren cervezas, tengan el surtido correcto para toda la noche y la pasen cabrón escuchando mi álbum.” In short, the album goes down best with a few beers and your best buddies.

Bad Bunny’s star has been on the meteoric rise since 2018. After he dropped his debut album X 100pre, which won best urban music album at the Latin Grammys, he released an album with J Balvin the very next year, Oasis.