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.
Premios Juventud performances
Karol G, Justin Quiles, Sebastián Yatra, Tainy, Tommy Torres, Yandel, Chimbala, El Alfa, Nino Freestyle and Zion & Lennox have been confirmed to perform at this year’s Premios Juventud. Joining the already star-studded lineup that features artists such as Grupo Firme, Kali Uchis, Los Ángeles Azules, Lunay, Myke Towers, Natti Natasha and Ricky Martin, the 18th edition of PJ will air live from the Watsco Center on July 22 at 7 p.m. ET on Univision.
Premios Juventud previously announced that it will honor superstar Daddy Yankee with its Agent of Change award at the ceremony.
J Balvin’s international NEON experience
J Balvin announced the first international NEON experience, which is set to take place at the Meliá Punta Cana Beach Resort in the Dominican Republic from December 8-12. The experience will include performances by Rauw Alejandro, Sech, Arcángel, Nio Garcia, Mariah Angeliq, Zion & Lennox, Cazzu, among others. J Balvin will headline a show on the beach on the final night. The Dominican Republic event follows three sold-out NEON events in Las Vegas in September.
Tickets are scheduled to go on sale July 14.
Eslabon Armado’s new milestone
Now comprised of brothers Pedro and Brian Tovar after Gabriel Hidalgo exited the group, Eslabon Armado becomes the first Latin act to debut two albums at No. 1 in 2021 on any of the five Latin albums charts (Top Latin Albums, Regional Mexican Albums, Latin Pop Albums, Tropical Albums and Latin Rhythm Albums). Tu Veneno Mortal, Vol. 2 is the duo’s third No. 1 debut in less than 12 months on Regional Mexican Albums as it arrives atop the tally — the act’s fourth No. 1 in just over a year.
Tu Veneno Mortal, Vol. 2 is an emotional journey about falling in and out of love with achingly personal guitar-powered songs. The album marks Eslabon’s first record without Hidalgo.
Gilberto Gil honored at Berklee
Berklee Valencia, the Spanish campus for Berklee College of Music, honored legendary Brazilian artist Gilberto Gil with an honorary Doctor of Music degree at their virtual commencement. The ceremony, which took place July 5, featured graduate students and faculty paying tribute to Gil, who joined them for a prerecorded selection of his songs including “Palco,” “Refazenda” and “Eu Vim Da Bahia.”
“After more than 60 years of music, I have the feeling that it is worth dedicating a life to music,” Gil said in a speech. “Now that you have music with you, life has given you this present — bring it to the public to get to other individuals, to other communities. My support to your musical career.”
Billion views club
Maluma‘s “Borro Cassette” has crossed the one billion views mark on YouTube, scoring the Colombian superstar his seventh entry in the Billion Views Club. The 2015 anthem was part of Maluma’s chart-topping Pretty Boy, Dirty Boy album, which peaked at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Latin Albums Chart (dated Nov. 20, 2015). “Borro Cassette” spent 40 weeks on Hot Latin Songs peaking at No. 3 on the tally.
Other Maluma songs that have entered the billion views club include “Sin Contrato,” “Corazón,” El Perdedor” and “Felices Los 4.”
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