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.
DJ Nelson launches Flowmixx
Billed as a one-stop-shop for all DJs, Puerto Rican producer DJ Nelson has teamed up with Dominican Republic producer and engineer Alfred Matías to launch Flowmixx. The company will be a space for DJs to acquire “top of the line edits” and “prepare records and singles with various deejay friendly versions to maximize your song’s reach all around the world with exposure in clubs, private events and radio,” according to a statement.
“This has been a dream of mine for a really long time and finally it’s become a reality,” DJ Nelson tells Billboard. “The purpose of this project is to elevate the urban culture and help advance the career of producers and deejays of the new generation.” For more info, check out the new venture’s website at flowmixx.com.
Latin Music Week lineup
Billboard announced that Daddy Yankee, Karol G and Nicky Jam will headline the 2021 Latin Music Week presented by Samsung in partnership with Amazon Music and Bacardi. Taking place Sept. 20-24 at the Faena Forum in Miami, Billboard Latin Music Week returns under the slogan “The Beat of Latin Music,” making its mark as the longest running and biggest Latin music industry gathering in the world.
Early-bird registration for Billboard Latin Music Week is now open, register here.
Aventura adds new tour dates
Aventura announced four new stadium dates across the U.S. as part of their final run together as a group. After selling out their Aug. 14 show at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, the bachata supergroup will also now visit Chicago; Los Angeles; Arlington, Texas; and East Rutherford, N.J. The Live Nation-produced 2021 stadium tour went on sale July 23 through ticketmaster.com. See the new dates below.
Tommy Torres & Bad Bunny digital cover
Puerto Rican stars Tommy Torres and Bad Bunny graced one of Billboard‘s digital covers this week for our Producers Now package. The Q&A with Torres and Bunny explores their unprecedented collaboration for Torres’ new album, El Playlist de Anoche, that was produced and written by both artists.
“The behind-the-scenes photos seem like it was a session between a psychologist and a patient,” Bad Bunny told Billboard. “I was the patient lying down on the couch, and Tommy was the psychologist taking notes with a guitar and a computer.” Check out our story here.
J Balin covers Metallica
Metallica’s 1991 metal anthem “Wherever I May Roam” just got a new version — in Spanish — thanks to J Balvin, who released his cover Wednesday (July 21). The Colombian star’s reinvention of the track, which will be included in the upcoming star-studded covers album, The Metallica Blacklist, finds Balvin rapping about his humble beginnings, his hustle, and fame over hip-hop drums.
“One of my favorite bands and favorite songs,” the reggaeton star wrote on social media. “For the culture! Music was created to unite.” The release, out on Sept. 10, celebrates the 30th anniversary of The Black Album with a covers set that will feature more than 50 artists taking on songs from Metallica’s chart-topping 1991 LP.
