The past year was tough, agonizing and unprecedented. But in terms of music, 2020 was our Latin year.

Despite the shutdown of touring, Latin music — defined as music performed predominantly in Spanish — recorded unprecedented consumption growth. It ended the year as the fastest growing genre in the U.S., according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data.

Globally, Latin over-indexed in YouTube charts and Spotify’s fastest-growing user base in the world was Latin America. According to the IFPI’s annual 2020 Global Music Report in April, for the fifth consecutive year, Latin America was the fastest-growing region in the world.

Beyond the stats, however, this was the year in which the world finally seemed to not only hear but also see Latin music, recognizing both beats and artists in unprecedented fashion. Of course, movements don’t happen in a vacuum. Here are the 10 news stories that shifted the lens for Latin music in 2020.

1. Jennifer Lopez and Shakira co-headline the first all-Latin Super Bowl Halftime Show (with Bad Bunny and J Balvin as supporting stars)

For the first time in history, every act on the stage was Latin, a momentous statement that underscored a unique moment in this nation’s history: One filled with divisiveness that this show sought to mend, but also, one full of diversity like never before. Performances were in English and Spanish, full of symbolism, messages and multicultural significance (among other things, the country was officially introduced to Colombian champeta). At the end of the day, Super Bowl ratings increased 1.7% over the previous year, according to Nielsen data, thanks in part, to the Spanish-language simulcast of the game, Fox said.

2. The Black Eyed Peas Go Bilingual (and top the charts)

It took a decade and a bilingual song in English and Spanish for what was once the biggest pop group in the world to get back on the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The Black Eyed Peas’ Spanish-titled “Ritmo,” featuring J Balvin, topped Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart and was the lynchpin for the bilingual Translation, the group’s first outing since Fergie’s 2011 departure.

3. Bad Bunny Scores, and Scores Again

Bad Bunny’s surprise album YHLQMDLG, released in February, came in at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, the highest debut ever for an all Spanish album. Not to worry. Nine months later, he upped the ante, debuting at No. 1 on the chart with El ultimo tour del mundo. It marked a first for Spanish-language music that few people thought could ever come.

4. And on the subject of Bad Bunny…

The Puerto Rican rap/trap star ended the year as the most-streamed artist globally on Spotify, also a first for an act who only performs in Spanish.

5. Maluma tops the Global chart

Billboard’s Global charts debuted in September with Maluma at the helm of the ex U.S. list with his all-Spanish “Hawái.” It was uncontested confirmation that Latin had become global. Two months later, The Weeknd jumped on the song, singing in English and Spanish, also a first.

6. Maluma Goes to Hollywood

And on the subject of Maluma, the Colombian music star announced his stardom in a totally different realm, co-starring next to Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson in the upcoming feature film Marry Me. It is the most prominent role in Hollywood in at least 25 years for a Latin music star. Along the way, Maluma and Lopez graced the cover of Billboard.

7. J Balvin Gets a namesake McDonald’s Meal

The fast-food giant chose Balvin as the second celebrity (following Travis Scott) to get a namesake meal since basketball icon Michael Jordan. Balvin also released a signature Nike Air Jordan 1 shoe. Both accomplishments underscore the commercial and marketing appeal of Latin acts.

8. “Dákiti” by Bad Bunny and Jhay Cortez Is the Most Listened-to Song in the Planet

Shortly after Maluma made his Global ex U.S. No. 1 debut, “Dákiti” — an all-Spanish reggaetón jam — came in at No. 1 in the overall global chart. It was another show of global power for music in Spanish.

9. Latin Billionaire Club

In the last week of September, Latin music, defined as music performed predominantly in Spanish, surpassed 1 billion streams in the U.S. in a single week for the first time. The appetite for Spanish-language music was finally in evidence in the U.S. as well.

10. Rosalía Lands Nike Deal and Snags ‘Vogue’ Cover

The rising Spanish star consolidated her global presence with a major Nike deal and commercial campaign as well as landing the cover of Vogue in America, becoming the first music artist who performs only in Spanish to do grace the cover of the fashion magazine.

New Year’s Eve might be different this year, but one thing remains the same: Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest will still broadcast live from New York’s Times Square as always — albeit without the typical shoulder-to-shoulder crowd.

On Wednesday (Dec. 30), Billboard caught up with Seacrest and his Rockin’ Eve co-host Lucy Hale to talk all about this year’s modified celebration — where Jennifer Lopez will headline from Times Square, alongside Miley Cyrus, Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, Machine Gun Kelly and more artists performing across parties in NYC, Hollywood and New Orleans.

“In thinking about the balance of what we wanted to do, we obviously want to acknowledge what a challenging year this has been for so many people who haven’t been able to work or have had to work from home or haven’t had the chance to see friends and family,” Seacrest tells Billboard News’ Tetris Kelly. “But at the same time, we want to create some normalcy, we want to create some fun, we want to create the New Year’s Eve that we love with the ball dropping and look forward to the new year. So there will be that respect for what we’ve been through and we’ll celebrate those people who are working on the front lines, but we’re also going to have a show you can turn up the volume to and enjoy and have a cocktail or glass of champagne to as well.”

The co-hosts — who will be joined by Billy Porter in NYC, Ciara in LA and Big Freedia in New Orleans — also reminisced about past New Year’s Eve smooches, with Seacrest saying with a laugh, “I’ve kissed fans, I’ve kissed Jonas Brothers, I’ve kissed different artists that have been up on that stage over the years — because it’s midnight, and you turn to your left or right on the stage, and those who are couples are kissing, and those who are just left standing, we end up kissing each other on the cheek.” Hale, meanwhile, tried to score a kiss from Seoul’s finest: “BTS was there last year, and I was like, ‘Oh my God,’ like trying to sneak up on one of them. Didn’t happen.”

Watch the full interview above — in which Hale discusses whether she would make a cameo in the upcoming HBO Max reboot of Pretty Little Liars — and tune in to Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest starting at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2021 is produced by dick clark productions, which is owned by MRC Entertainment, the parent company of Billboard.

–Reporting by Tetris Kelly

The partnership of R&B hitmakers Kem and Toni Braxton pays dividends as their collaboration “Live out Your Love” rises 2-1 to lead Billboard’s Adult R&B Songs airplay chart dated Jan. 2, 2021. The track, billed to Kem featuring Braxton, ascends despite suffering a 7% drop in plays in the week ending Dec. 27, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data.

The new champ dethrones Chris Brown and Young Thug’s “Go Crazy,” which slips to No. 2 after one week in charge.

“Live” secures Kem’s seventh No. 1 on the Adult R&B Songs chart and gives the singer-songwriter his second consecutive leader, after “Lie to Me” reigned for seven weeks in June – August. The combo No. 1s makes for Kem’s second time posting back-to-back chart champs, following his double play of “It’s You” (four weeks in 2014) and “Nobody” (nine weeks, 2015).

Here’s a look at Kem’s full No. 1 collection on the chart:

Song Title, Weeks at No. 1, Date Reached No. 1
“Love Calls,” two, Sept. 13, 2003
“I Can’t Stop Loving You,” seven, May 21, 2005
“Why Would You Stay?,” two, Sept. 25, 2010
“It’s You,” four, Sept. 6, 2014
“Nobody,” nine, Feb. 21, 2015
“Lie to Me,” seven, June 27, 2020
“Live out Your Love,” featuring Toni Braxton, one (to date), Jan. 2, 2021

Plus, with seven No. 1s, Kem matches the totals of R. Kelly and Maxwell for the second-most among male artists since the chart began in 1992. The trio trail only Charlie Wilson in that count, who owns eight.

Alicia Keys leads the pack for all artists, with 11 No. 1s on the radio ranking.

But she also has competition. With “Love,” featured artist Toni Braxton banks her 10th leader on Adult R&B Songs, moving within one of Keys’ record.

Here’s a look at the full leaderboard:

11, Alicia Keys
10, Toni Braxton
8, Charlie Wilson
7, R. Kelly
7, Kem
7, Maxwell
6, Mary J. Blige
6, Whitney Houston
6, Brian McKnight
6, Usher
6, Luther Vandross

It’s possible, though the odds are slimming, that the contest between Braxton and Keys could renew soon. Both singers currently have singles in the Adult R&B Songs top 10 – Keys’ “Show Me Love,” featuring Khalid, and Braxton’s “Gotta Move On,” featuring H.E.R. – though the tracks are retreating from the pole position. On the current list, Keys slides 7-9, while Braxton similarly backtracks two spots, 8-10, with both enduring 16% tumbles in airplay.

Part of the slide, however, comes from the adult R&B radio format’s general shift toward holiday music in the past weeks. As that play will likely vanish in the next tracking week (Dec. 28 – Jan. 3), one or both songs may rebound and restart their ascents.

Alto Reed, the longtime saxophonist for Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, died Wednesday (Dec. 30) after a long battle with colon cancer. He was 72.

“It is with a heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of our lifelong friend and band mate, Alto Reed,” Seger wrote in a social media tribute to his former bandmate. “Alto has been a part of our musical family, on and off stage, for nearly 50 years.”

Born Thomas Neal Cartmell on May 16, 1948, the gifted Detroit musician began playing with Seger in 1971 before joining the Silver Bullet Band three years later. He’s widely recognized for his saxophone solo in “Turn the Page” from the band’s Back in ’72 album, and “Old Time Rock and Roll” from Stranger in Town, the latter of which became a top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979 and soundtracked an iconic scene in Tom Cruise’s 1983 film Risky Business.

“No doubt his iconic performance on ‘Turn the Page’ helped lift us to another level. He has been with us on that stage virtually every show, ever since,” continued Seger, who gave Reed his stage name after being inspired by the alias used in Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band. “And whether it was ‘Turn the Page,’ ‘Mainstreet,’ or ‘Old Time Rock and Roll,’ audiences roared every time he played his part. In our band, Alto was the rock star.”

As a member of Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, Reed won a 1980 Grammy for best rock performance by a duo or group with vocal for Against the Wind. The group’s fourth studio album topped the Billboard 200 for six weeks in the spring of 1980. It was their only No. 1 album.

Aside from his work with the Silver Bullet Band, Reed performed alongside Grand Funk Railroad, Ted Nugent, Little Feat, Foghat, Dave Mason, Spencer Davis, the Blues Brothers, George Thorogood, Robin Gibb and the Motor City Horns. He co-led the Reed & Dickinson Band with Steve Dickinson and released an album together titled Tonight We Ride. 

He is survived by his children, Chelsea Reed Radler and her husband Jon Radler and Victoria Reed and her husband Erik Deutsch; his grandson Harry Radler; his partner Christiana Van Ryn; his stepdaughter Sophia Van Ryn; his ex-wife Monica Reed; and his sister Nancy Neumann.

In lieu of flowers, Reed’s family requested that fans, friends and others donate in his name to Detroit Symphony’s Detroit Harmony Fund, which aims to place an instrument in the hands of every student in his hometown. They also encouraged people to regularly screen for colon cancer and learn about other preventative methods.

“His skillfulness, dedication and brilliance as an artist and performer made him a hero not only to us, but to thousands of others, if not millions,” Chelsea and Victoria wrote as part of his family’s statement. “He lived for the stage and most importantly, his role for nearly 50 years in the Silver Bullet Band with his musical family; Bob, Craig, Chris, and so many other talented musicians who played alongside him. We are truly comforted in knowing that his spirit will shine brightly on through the music that he has left behind, and the impression that he’s had on so many souls in concert.”