Month: December 2022

From career milestones and new music releases to major announcements and more, Billboard editors highlight the latest news buzz in Latin music every week. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.

The year in Latin charts

While Bad Bunny may have owned 2022, Colombian star Karol G is No. 1 on Billboard’s year-end Top Latin Artists – Female chart for a fourth consecutive year. The success comes after her strong showing in 2022 with her fusion of Colombian rhythmic tunes with pop and Afrobeats (“Provenza”) and her collaboration with Becky G on “MAMIII.” At No. 1 on the year-end Top Latin Artists chart is Bad Bunny for a fourth straight year. Earning him the top spot was his success during the 2022 chart year on both the weekly Top Latin Albums chart and Hot Latin Songs chart, as well as his tour earnings as reported to Billboard Boxscore.

More about the year-end Latin charts here.

Shakira’s “Waka Waka” re-emerges

With the 2022 FIFA World Cup in full swing, Shakira‘s “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” has made its debut on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, peaking at No. 46 on the tally dated Dec. 3. On the Billboard Global 200, it debuted at No. 96. The resurfacing of “Waka Waka” makes her the ultimate queen of World Cup music, as it becomes the only official World Cup song or anthem from previous years to appear on the Billboard global charts.

Niña Dioz scores fútbol-themed ad

Mexican rapper Niña Dioz and U.S. women’s national soccer team player Ashley Sanchez are both starring in the new ‘Donde We All Play’ spot for Taco Bell, that is airing now during the World Cup. The TV spot features her recently debuted track “Siéntelo,” which is about moving forward and pushing the boundaries. “I’m so excited they gave me a platform to elevate my voice through one of the biggest stages in the world because I’m able to represent the Latinx community, being Mexico’s first openly queer rapper and showing the young Latin community that anything is possible,” Niña Dioz said in a statement.

Sanchez added: “I’ve been playing soccer since I was young and to become one of the few Latinas to ever play for the U.S. women’s national team is a huge accomplishment, especially growing up and not seeing much Latin representation in sports. Working with Taco Bell on the campaign allowed me to fuse my cultural heritage and passion for soccer as well as love for the brand to reach a wider audience in hopes that it’ll inspire the younger Latin generation to do what they love.”

Viña del Mar lineup

The Festival de Viña 2023 will feature performances by Latin artists such as Karol G, Maná, Alejandro Fernández, Christina Aguilera and Camilo. Set to take place from Feb. 19 to 24 in Chile, additional artists will be announced soon. The Chilean event’s organizing committee announced that tickets for the general public can be purchased starting Wednesday (Nov. 30) on the PuntoTicket website.

Spotify’s most-streamed Latin artists are …

For the third year running, Bad Bunny was the most streamed artist in the world on Spotify in 2022, the music streamer announced earlier this week.

Beyond Bunny, the most streamed Latin artists on Spotify in 2022 were J Balvin, Rauw Alejandro, Daddy Yankee and Karol G., with slight variations in order between the U.S. and the world. While Balvin came in second in streams in the U.S., Alejandro bested him globally, with Yankee coming in at No. 4 and Karol G at No. 5.

The “Provenza” singer was the most streamed female Latin artist in the world for the third consecutive year. She was followed by Shakira and Rosalía, while Latin heritage artists Camila Cabello and Selena Gomez came in at Nos. 4 and 5 respectively.

Bizarrap is at it again, as his latest collaboration with Duki, “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 50,” tops the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 chart (dated Nov. 26). The track tops the tally after its No. 11 debut the week prior. It’s the DJ and producer’s seventh No. 7, while Duki secures his third.

As “Vol. 50” arrives at the summit, it sends Manuel Turizo’s “La Bachata” to the runner-up slot after its 11-week reign, the longest domination in 2022, and the fifth-most overall.

Meanwhile, Rosalía’s “Despechá” drops 2-3 and Bizarrap and Quevedo’s “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 52” moves 3-4 (the song ruled for eight consecutive weeks starting the July 16-dated recap.) Plus, La Joaqui’s “Dos Besitos,” featuring Salas and Gusty DJ, advances to the top five with a 9-5 ascent.

Elsewhere, Miranda’s “Don” scores the Greatest Gainer of the week as the song surges 79-40. It’s the group’s highest-charting title since its first chart entry in September 2020.

One ranking below, Emilia’s Underground” debuts at No. 40 as the Hot Shot Debut of the week.

Further, four other songs debut this week: Pablo Alborán and Maria Becerra’s “Amigos” joins at No. 43; Trinidad Cardona, Davido and Aisha’s World Cup anthem “Hayya Hayya (Better Together)” opens at No. 47; while Quevedo secures his sixth entry with “Punto G” at No. 78. Lastly, both Punto40 and Marcianeke make their first chart appearance as “Mini Mini” bows at No. 95.

Cher knows her 40-year age difference with new boyfriend Alexander “AE” Edwards is making headlines, but she doesn’t mind at all.

The 76-year-old icon stopped by The Kelly Clarkson show this week, where she talked about her relationship with the 36-year-old artist. “On paper, it’s kind of ridiculous,” she admitted. “But in real life, we get along great. He’s fabulous. And I don’t give men qualities that they don’t deserve.”

She added that Edwards is “very kind, very smart, he’s very talented, and he’s really funny,” before adding, “And I think he’s quite handsome.”

Clarkson then asks Cher if it’s true that she’s always thought older men were “intimidated” by her, to which the “Believe” singer replied, that she “would’ve never had a date” if there weren’t younger men in her life. “Older men just didn’t like me all that much,” she explained. “Do you know what I mean? I have had a couple boyfriends that were hovering around my age, but they just didn’t like me for some reason. And maybe younger men don’t care if you’re funny or outrageous and want to do stupid things, and you have the strong personality. I’m not giving up my personality for anybody, okay?”

Cher and Edwards met at Paris Fashion Week in September, and were later spotted holding hands. The rapper and music executive was previously linked to Amber Rose, with whom he shares three-year-old son Slash Electric.

Watch the full clip of Cher on The Kelly Clarkson Show below.

DJ Khaled took the stage at Soundstorm Festival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Friday night (Dec. 2), where he took a moment to honor his friend and former musical collaborator, Migos‘ Takeoff, who was shot and killed at age 28 on Nov. 1.

“We love you brother,” Khaled declared from the stage, as captured by Billboard from the festival. “You’re one of the nicest people I ever met in my life. Every time I talk to you, you said you love me. I hit you back, and said I love you. I’ll never forget my last text with Takeoff. Long live forever Takeoff. He said, ‘Khaled, I’m so happy to call you my brother.’ I’m so happy to you call you my brother, Takeoff.”

The Grammy winning producer went on to play a series of Migos hits including “Fight Night” and “Versace,” before he revealed that the hip-hop trio was scheduled to perform with him at the festival. “It was going to be my surprise guest,” Khaled revealed. “They’re still here. Make some noise for my brother, Takeoff. Takeoff is here right now. We love you. We appreciate you.” I’m doing this for hip-hop. I represent hip-hop across the world.”

Earlier in the day, Houston Police Department Chief Troy Finner announced during a news conference that a man has been arrested and charged in connection to Takeoff’s murder. 33-year-old Patrick Xavier Clark was arrested on the east side of Houston, Texas, on Thursday (Nov. 1), and charged with murder, while another man, 22-year-old Cameron Joshua, was arrested and charged with the unlawful carrying of a weapon.

Actress and singer/songwriter Rita Wilson and Grammy-nominated Latin pop star Sebastián Yatra have teamed up to record the new track “Til You’re Home” for the upcoming film A Man Called Otto starring Wilson’s husband Tom Hanks.

“I am extremely honored by Rita Wilson’s invitation to join her on ‘Til You’re Home’ for the A Man Called Otto soundtrack,” Yatra said in a statement. “The story behind the film is heartwarming and moving and I was inspired to convey that emotion in this song. Overall, this project has been very inspiring and I’m proud to be a part of it.”

“Til You’re Home” was co-written by Wilson and Grammy-nominated songwriter/producer David Hodges. Its co-producers include Wilson and Grammy winner Matt Rollings. The song, with its warm, inviting vocals over a piano, is already receiving recognition, as it was nominated for best song in a film (independent) at the 2022 Hollywood in Music Media Awards.

The collaboration is a first for Wilson and Yatra, which was sparked after the director of A Man Called Otto, Marc Forster, asked Wilson to write a song for the film.

“I was very humbled and grateful for the opportunity, but also made him promise to be honest with me if he didn’t want to use the song. As the producer of the film, my first allegiance is to the film and to the director’s vision,” Wilson said. “David Hodges and I had written together before and have always been like-minded musically and lyrically. A lot of the inspiration began with David Magee’s script. This is a movie about love, the depths of love and how love continues even after a person leaves this earth,” she continued.

“There are two LatinX characters in the film – I wanted to find a way to bring them into the song,” Wilson added. “I envisioned it as a duet… I have loved Sebastián Yatra’s voice since hearing him in Encanto, and he felt like the perfect person to do it. We were incredibly lucky he said ‘yes’ and all the planets aligned.”

A Man Called Otto — which hits theaters on Christmas Day — tells the story of Otto Anderson (Hanks), someone who no longer sees purpose in life after losing his wife. He plans to end it all, but his plan is derailed when a young family moves next door and he meets his match in the character Marisol, who challenges Anderson to see life through a different lens, leading to a friendship that changes his life for the better.

The A Man Called Otto soundtrack album, featuring composer Thomas Newman’s score and “Til You’re Home,” will be released Dec. 30 via Decca Records.

Watch the “Til You’re Home” video below.

Of all the Latin music released this week, which is your favorite? Let’s take a look at the options…

Before the year comes to an end, Ryan Castro is gifting fans with new music. The Colombian up-and-comer has unleashed Los Piratas, his second EP of the year (following Reggeatonea). The nine-track set sticks to Castro’s signature urbano beats with back-to-back reggaeton bops. (Tip: listen to “El Pan de Estefania,” a merenguito for a little pick-me-up.)

Other releases include Pedro Capó‘s highly anticipated album La Neta. The 10-track set finds him navigating emotions of honesty and vulnerability with the magic of its lyrics loaded with everyday emotions. He started working on it in 2019, which led him to create a studio at home due to the pandemic. On this new album, Capó kicks off the album with “Hoy Me Siento Cabrón” where his powerful vocals rap over an urban rhythm. The song also thrives thanks to killer transitions between alternative rock and hard-hitting perreo beats, which are laced with his sensual, raspy vocal.

Another Puerto Rican act dropping gems this week is Tommy Torres. The singer-songwriter experiments with bachata, dropping “Mi Secreto.” While the sound may be different, the track is a quintessential Torres song, with mature and poetic lyrics that narrate a love story. “Love me here and now, don’t ask about the past,” he croons.

Other new releases this week include MAR’s new take on her father Marco Antonio Solís‘ anthem “Más Que Tu Amigo,” Junior H’s Contingente album and Arcangel’s new set Sr. Santos. Which release is your favorite? Cast your vote — or enter in your favorite selection — in the poll below.