Carin León durante un concierto de su gira Colmillo de Leche en el estadio Fernando Valenzuela en Hermosillo, México, el 2 de marzo de 2024.
Luis Gutiérrez/Norte Photo/Getty Images
From career milestones to new music releases to major announcements and those little important moments, Billboard editors highlight uplifting moments in Latin music. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.
Carin León & The Rolling Stones
Regional Mexican star Carin León is set to open for The Rolling Stones at their show in Glendale, Ariz. on May 7. “This is one of those things I dreamed about when I was a little boy,” León posted on social media. The “Según Quién” singer will join the rock band, which is set to embark on its Stones Tour ‘24 Hackney Diamonds in the U.S. in April. Most recently, León teamed up with Kane Brown to release “The One (Pero No Como Yo),” a landmark crossover between country and música mexicana. In February, León achieved a career milestone with his debut performance at Nashville’s iconic Grand Ole Opry.
Lupita Infante’s version of “Canto del Bracero”
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Mexican American singer Lupita Infante has released a new version of “Canto Del Bracero,” a song originally released by her grandfather, the iconic Mexican singer and actor Pedro Infante. The track shines a spotlight on the sacrifices and hardships experienced by immigrants, particularly Mexican laborers, in their pursuit of the so-called “American Dream.”
“I felt a special connection to this beautiful song by my grandfather, which speaks about the difficulties of being an immigrant living in this country,” Lupita said in a statement. “My maternal family (not Infantes), came to this country to work as braceros (Mexican agricultural laborers), and my mom would work on the grape vines. The lyrics of the track are about the braceros who came to this country in the hope of achieving their dreams of a better life but instead suffered. I wanted to bring my grandfather’s powerful message back to the forefront, as it still resonates true today.”
First ever Billboard Spanish-Language Music Forum in Madrid
The inaugural Forum on Spanish Language Music in Madrid, presented by the Community of Madrid and powered by Billboard, took place March 19 at the WiZink Center. The one day event — attended by some 500 artists, managers and industry execs — sought to highlight the growing consumption of music in Spanish across continents, and featured four panel conversations, as well as a Q&A and performance by Nicki Nicole. The Argentine superstar shared that she made music with Alejandro Sanz and talked about putting her mental health first in her career and on a personal level.
Check out highlights from Nicki Nicole’s Q&A here.
Shakira’s new album is finally here
Good things come to those who wait and Shakira’s fans have waited long enough. The Colombian hitmaker released Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, her new album in seven years. The project, the superstar’s most personal album yet, takes her on a healing journey following a very public breakup. With this set, Shakira takes control of her narrative declaring that women no longer cry, a statement she made in her Bizarrap-produced music session that became a motto for women around the globe. “I hope that with this album you can celebrate, laugh, dance and find your own strength, just how I’ve found mine” Shakira said at an album release party in Miami on March 21.
Billboard ranked all of the songs on Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran. See which one took the No. 1 spot.
Seeing double?
J Balvin has two new Madame Tussauds wax figures: one in New York and one in Las Vegas. The Colombian artist expressed his excitement on Instagram over his two likenesses. “Amazing how dreams come true seldom you find yourself face to face with yourself and it’s not a reflection in a mirror hehehehe Triple JoSSSe,” he captioned the clip. “Keep dreaming and believe it yourselves ⚡️ Go see it and take a picture with me Thanks @madametussaudsusa PA LA CULTURA.”
“J Balvin’s wax figures at Madame Tussauds New York and Madame Tussauds Las Vegas epitomizes his indelible influence on music and culture,” said Matthew Clarkson, head of marketing at Madame Tussauds USA. “With our newly renovated Music experience in New York and the brand new Club T in Las Vegas, his presence adds another dimension to the immersive experiences we offer. It’s a testament to his enduring impact and our dedication to creating dynamic experiences that resonate with visitors worldwide.”
See the wax figures below: