J Balvin is gearing up to headline the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Week. This year’s 35th annual event will unfold from October 14-18 at The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater.

Known for his massive influence on Colombian reggaetón and global Latin music, the Medellín superstar — who is fresh off releasing his sixth solo studio album Rayo — will host a special night titled “Next Gen Reggaetón: An Evening Curated by J Balvin” during the week. The event promises an exciting lineup of surprise performances and guests, all chosen by Balvin himself.

The global superstar and entrepreneur is a highly decorated and critically acclaimed cultural icon who has won multiple Billboard Music Awards and plenty of chart accolades, including nine No. 1 tracks on the Hot Latin Songs chart, including “Mi Gente” with Beyoncé, “Ginza,” “RITMO (Bad Boys For Life)” with Black Eyed Peas) and a No. 1 on the Hot 100 (“I Like It” with Cardi B and Bad Bunny).

Apart from his curation, Balvin will engage in an exclusive Superstar Q&A moderated by Leila Cobo, chief content officer for Latin/Español at Billboard, providing deeper insights into his music and influence. The session, also sponsored by Cheetos, aims to foster intimate and enlightening discussions.

“Latin music is living its most successful and globally recognized moment ever this year. But Billboard has been proudly at its side for over 35 years as the main flagbearer, supporter and ultimate opinion maker for Latin music around the world,” said Cobo in a press release. “During a year when Latin music is dominating the charts and the cultural zeitgeist, we are thrilled to return to Miami Beach, the global capital of Latin music, for this exciting week-long event.”

The announcement also highlighted the expansive lineup for this legacy event, featuring a blend of established stars and emerging talents including Bad Gyal, DANNA, Danny Ocean, Domelipa, Fat Joe, Gloria Estefan, JOP, Keityn, Lele Pons, Luis Alfonso, Maria Becerra, Mau y Ricky, Mon LaFerte, N.O.R.E., Paola Jara, Peso Pluma, Pipe Bueno, Sophia Talamas, Yeison Jiménez, and Yeri Mua, with more to be announced in the coming months. Tickets are now available here.

“We are proud of the decades-long work we have done to celebrate Latin talent and bring the community together. This year’s event will be an unmatched celebration for artists, the industry and fans,” said Mike Van, President of Billboard, in a press release.

“Miami Beach is ready to once again host Billboard Latin Music Week, an event that truly showcases the vibrant and diverse culture of our community,” added Mayor of Miami Beach, Steven Meiner. “This week not only celebrates the rich heritage of Latin music, but also highlights Miami Beach as a global destination for arts and entertainment. We look forward to another unforgettable week of music.”

Billboard Latin Music Week will coincide with the Billboard Latin Music Awards, which will air on Telemundo. Latin Music Week tickets will not include access to the awards show this year. Instead, Billboard will host a special 35th-year anniversary celebration on the evening of October 18 where INSIDER badge holders will receive exclusive invitations to this star-studded event.

For more information on the Billboard Latin Music Week, updates on the schedule, and more exciting announcements, visit BillboardLatinMusicWeek.com.

Today (Aug. 20) signals the impending launch of the Gunna x BMAC 30349 Guaranteed Income Program. The Gunna-supported $500,000 initiative — a new alliance between Gunna’s Great Giveaway and the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) — will provide a $1000 monthly stipend to 30 families living in the 30349 zip code of South Fulton, Georgia. 

Applications for the Gunna x BMAC 30349 Guaranteed Income Program, which officially launches Sept. 18, are now available HERE. In a release announcing the initiative, the program’s stated goal is to “give families a guaranteed monthly income via cash placed directly in their hands for a year and, most importantly, provide support services ranging from financial empowerment to mental health.” Gunna and BMAC will work in tandem with South Fulton Mayor Khalid Kamau and community organizations that service South Fulton to identify the recipients.

“As mayor of South Fulton, I am deeply committed to fostering economic opportunities and uplifting our community,” said Kamau in the announcement. “The partnership between Gunna, BMAC, and the City of South Fulton represents a transformative step in addressing the economic disparities that some of our residents face. The Gunna x BMAC 30349 Guaranteed Income Program is not just an investment in our city’s future, but a powerful example of how we can create meaningful change through collaboration and innovation. I am proud to support this initiative and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the families in our community.”

Four-time Grammy Award nominee and multiplatinum rap icon Gunna, who was raised in South Fulton, added, “When I launched Gunna’s Great Giveaway, my goal was to uplift my hometown by providing resources that could make a tangible difference in at least one household. Partnering with BMAC to introduce the Guaranteed Income program in South Fulton is a significant step toward enhancing these communities and transforming the economic landscape of the city.”

The new program is the latest addition to Gunna’s other ongoing community initiatives. Those include Gunna’s Drip Closet, a free in-school clothing store, and the Goodr Grocery Store at McNair Middle School, through which students are given access to free necessities. Once the Guaranteed Income program begins, BMAC will also help mentor the grant recipients through its network encompassing music, film, fashion and technology.

“BMAC’s mission to achieve systemic equity must begin with economic justice,” said BMAC co-founder/president & CEO Willie “Prophet” Stiggers. “Black Americans are too often locked out of critical opportunities and pathways to climb the socioeconomic ladder despite being central to every cultural and financial movement in this country’s history. Partnering with Gunna to bring needed financial relief and, more importantly, mentorship and other services leading to sustainable change is very powerful. Our organization will continue to partner with artists and others looking to put equity in action so our community can tap into its fullest potential.”

Gunna and Stiggers will spotlight the Gunna x BMAC 30349 Guaranteed Income Program during the BMAC Gala in Los Angeles on Sept. 19, with celebrations continuing Sept. 29 to commemorate Gunna Day (whose official date is Sept. 16). Announced earlier this month, the fourth annual BMAC Gala will pay tribute to LL COOL J and Usher, among other honorees.

will.i.am has launched a new AI-driven radio service, RAiDiO.FYI, to evolve the static medium into a more personalized experience. With RAiDiO.FYI, users are able to have conversations with AI DJs about anything from music, to breaking news, to sports, to weather reports — and the service will create a listening experience designed to each user.

The new offering is part of FYI, a multi-faceted tech company which will.i.am founded to help “maximize creativity” for artists with the help of AI personas, file management, project management, design tools and more. Users can start listening for free on the FYI app, available for both iPhone and Android smartphones.

will.i.am says he had an “aha” moment when he was recently on a radio show and the DJ opened the request line. “The request line has always been always been awesome for radio with when the callers get to call in and talk to the DJ or talk to the guests, but they’re limited to one person at a time,” he tells Billboard. “And then after the broadcast you couldn’t talk the host.”

While the relevance of AM/FM radio continues to wane, particularly with younger audiences, will.i.am’s RAiDiO.FYI promises to reinvigorate the medium by switching it from a passive, immovable experience to one that is much more engaging and playful.

“This is an infotainment revolution where you can go back and forth with information in a deep way, and I’m so excited to be launching that with FYI, and to all the folks out there listening,” says will.i.am.

In the future, FYI will continue to partner with content creators from various internet niches to publish their own stations on the radio, including stations dedicated to spots, tech, politics, music and more.

The NFL is gearing up for a significant milestone by hosting its inaugural regular-season game in São Paulo, marking a historic expansion of American football into South America.

Amid this groundbreaking event, Brazil’s own baile funk superstar Anitta will kick off the halftime show, Billboard can exclusively announce Tuesday (Aug. 20). Her performance is set to meld the vibrant spirit of Brazilian music with the exhilarating intensity of American football. “I am incredibly excited to perform in São Paulo at the NFL’s first game in my home country of Brazil,” the artist tells Billboard Español. The event is taking place September 6 at 8:15pm ET.

Steering Anitta’s presentation are NFL’s head of music, Seth Dudowsky, Senior vp of global event operations & production, Jon Barker, and director of event presentation & content, Tim Tubito, all in collaboration with Production Club. “When we talked about artists that we wanted to work with, Anitta was at the top of that list,” explains Dudowsky. “We don’t want to come in and make this very American and Western. We want it to weave into the culture of the environment that we’re at,” adds Jon Barker.

In a discussion with Billboard Español, Anitta, Dudowsky, and Barker delve deeper into the preparations and expectations for this unprecedented NFL game, sharing their visions of blending sports, music, and culture to create an unforgettable experience for fans around the globe.

How do you feel about performing at the historic NFL game in São Paulo, the first of its kind in South America? 

Anitta: I am incredibly excited to perform in São Paulo at the NFL’s first game in my home country of Brazil. Growing up here has completely shaped me as an artist and, of course, as a person. So it means everything to be able to bring fans around the world the excitement and joy of our amazing music and culture. It’s really a dream come true to be a part of this moment.

Seth and Jon, how was Anitta decided on for this halftime show at the NFL’s first game in São Paulo?

Seth Dudowsky: We wanted to make sure that coming to Brazil, we were putting on the spectacle and the level of quality that you expect from an NFL event. Also, doing it in a way that felt natural and embracing the culture of São Paulo and Brazil. The most authentic way to do that is to work with artists and performers who are from those places. Artists who have been not only a face of Brazilian music, and what that represents around the world, but also being an icon in America as well. This creates a bridge for us to come from American culture down to São Paulo. When we talked about artists that we wanted to work with, Anitta was at the top of that list. It’s been an amazing opportunity, not only to have her perform at the game and help us create an incredible game-day experience for the fans, but also to help be an ambassador so that fans understand we’re coming down to Brazil. We’re going to do it in a special way that celebrates Brazilian culture.

Jon Barker: American football is becoming a global sport, and we are starting to play more games in different parts of the world. The opportunity to bring our game to São Paulo, Brazil, to South America, is really exciting. When you think about an opportunity to work with an artist like Anitta, it just elevates everything that we’re going to do. We don’t want to come in and make this very American and Western. We want it to weave into the culture of the environment that we’re at, so that fans who are coming to this game can identify with the entire experience. Anitta just brings that one hundred times for us, because she’s such a wonderful talent.

Anitta, have you previously followed American football? If so, what does this sport mean to you personally?

Anitta: I love sports in general, and I’m one of those fans who screams in front of the TV! With American football it would be no different. As a Brazilian, I love getting together with friends and family to have a barbecue and to cheer. 

How do you plan to connect with an audience that might be experiencing both Anitta and NFL football for the first time?

Anitta: Music is something that brings us all together, no matter where you’re from or what your background is. Football does the same, so I think that uniting force from both music and football creates a natural connection to the audience. I hope this global audience will really enjoy the performance.

Seth and Jon, how important is local culture in choosing a halftime performer for international NFL games?

Barker: Extremely important. It’s part of the overall environment that we create. I know we’re talking about halftime, about Anitta, but it sits in the way that we think about decor and the use of color and pattern, and how that reflects local culture. It’s in the music selection that we use in pregame DJs and artists who are going to be singing the national anthems for both countries. It shows up in many different ways, not just in the music that we select at halftime. It’s integrated along the journey. When you start to see the decor pattern that we’re using, you’ll see that it’s reflective of Brazilian culture.

Dudowsky: We’re going to make sure that we are representing and being authentic to the culture there. One of the most direct and effective ways to make it feel like I’m seeing something that’s not just another regular season game [with] the way we’re using art, imagery, and music. To go back to Anitta, we’ll have assets that are going to be created both in Brazil and America. For the fans in Brazil, it’s to make sure that they feel like we’re doing something authentic with an artist they recognize and love. But also for American fans to see that content, to see Packers-Eagles highlights. With Anitta and Brazilian music, it gives [Americans] that feeling that this is unique and special, even if [they’re] not actually going to São Paulo to experience it. 

The NFL is focusing on global expansion and bringing American football to new audiences. As a Brazilian artist, how do you see your role in this initiative?

Anitta: Seeing the NFL grow football internationally has been great to watch, and when I saw they announced the first game in South America, I felt like the stars were aligning. I know many football fans out here in Brazil, so having the opportunity to perform for so many of my fans here and beyond is an amazing experience.

Jon and Seth, how do you ensure that the music appeals to both longtime NFL fans but also new audiences?

Dudowsky: On the music strategy point, one of my biggest beliefs is that music is universal, just like sports is. Every country on earth has their own version of what they love in sports and what they love in music. You won’t find a corner of the planet that doesn’t have those two things as part of that culture. While it’s universal, it’s also specific. Everybody’s music choices and opinions on music are personal. So we know not every single piece of music everybody’s going to love, and that’s okay. We try to work with artists that are authentic and are uniquely themselves and represent a space in music. We speak a lot with our office counterparts in Brazil and Latin America. We work with labels and trusted sources, artists, agents, tastemakers, people that really are on the ground and know what’s relevant. 

Barker: It’s such a great line that sport and music are universal, and they don’t need to be translated; they just carry over. Who would have ever thought that playing John Denver in Munich, 70,000 people would just stop doing what they’re doing and sing together in unison? It happened! Sometimes we get it right, and sometimes we don’t. We experiment, and we see what hits and what doesn’t. You’ve got a different audience inside the stadium at varying ages, a different audience tuning in television locally, and a different one tuning in the United States. 

How do we listen and learn from the local community? And how do we weave that into this game and create the environment that we want new fans in São Paulo to experience? That’s the process we go through, and I hope that each year we get better and better at it. 

Anitta, can you give us a hint about what viewers can expect from your halftime show? 

Anitta: While I want to keep a lot of elements of the show a surprise, I can tell you I will perform Brazilian funk! I can’t wait to do this in front of so many Brazilians at home, as well as the global audience who will be able to see the show as well. It’s going to be big, and I’m excited for everyone to see what we have in store.

Last words? 

Barker: I don’t want to be hyperbolic but we’re about to do something historic, bringing our game to a place that’s never been played before. The excitement that is bouncing off the walls at our headquarters in New York and Seth’s offices in Los Angeles is palpable. How we’ve been received in [Brazil] from the day we made the announcement that we’re coming has been overwhelmingly welcoming. I’m proud that I can be a part of something like this, being part of the NFL, and being part of a group that’s bringing this game to Brazilians, and have them, hopefully, experience it and love it the same way that we all do here.

Dudowsky: One of the things that keeps me energized and passionate about being at the NFL for over a decade is the opportunity to not only learn about these cultures, but to be a part of something that is happening for the first time. Whether it was in Munich or the first Super Bowl in Las Vegas, when a city gets the opportunity to do something like this for the first time, it just feels extra special. The energy, the passion that especially Brazilian fans come with, we couldn’t be more excited to see it with our own eyes and to be a part of it; and to see what the country and fans of Brazil do with this game going into the future.

Working with a global icon like Anitta has only made everything we’re saying even more tangible. Her team has been amazing. She has been fantastic. We’re excited to have Anitta and all the energy and excitement that she brings. It’s only going to add to what we know is going to be a really special and historic night in São Paulo.

The 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago kicked off in style on Monday night (August 19) with rousing speeches from former Sec. of State Hillary Clinton and President Joe Biden and riveting performances from Jason Isbell and Mickey Guyton.

But on a night when Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and her VP nominee, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, made surprise appearances, one of the biggest unexpected moments came during the reveal of a new ad for the Harris/Walz campaign that is scored to Beyoncé‘s a cappella version of the bid’s theme song, “Freedom.”

The powerful Lemonade track that has quickly become the musical grace note of the 11th hour campaign that kicked off when Biden unexpectedly agreed to drop out of his second race against convicted felon and former one-term President Donald Trump soared from the speakers inside Chicago’s United Center to help hype the crowd up for what turned out to be a very long night.

Opening with images of horses running free on the prairie and trains moving through the desert West, the video was full of classic images of Americana, from desperate Dust Bowl families to American troops storming the beaches during WWII, plenty of American flags and the Statue of Liberty. “What kind of America do we want?” Oscar-nominee actor Jeffrey Wright intoned over video of regular citizens suiting up for a day’s work. “One where we’re divided, angry, depressed? C’mon! We’re Americans! Fascism? We conquered it. The Moon? Landed on it. The future? Building it. Freedom? Nobody loves it more.”

As pics of Black Lives Matter protests, the moon landing and Civil Rights, reproductive rights and gay pride marches mixed with training film of Paralympic athletes and citizens of all races and abilities filled the screen, Bey’s voice soared as she sang, “Freedom, freedom, I can’t move/ Freedom, cut me loose/ Singin’ freedom, freedom/ Where are you?”

In contrast to the often dark, dire message from Republicans during the RNC several weeks ago, the “Freedom” video offered a message of hope and unity, save for a bit that spotlighted the deadly Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol by Trump’s followers. “I’mma keep on running cuz a winner don’t quit on themselves,” Beyoncé’s bellowed as footage of Harris promised, “extremists want to take us back, but we are not going back!”

The convention that runs through Thursday (August 22) will nominate the nation’s first Black and Asian American woman to the precipice of the highest office in the land. It is expected to be a star-studded affair that will contrast with the RNCs roster of septuagenarian professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Fighting CEO Dana White, model Amber Rose, country singers Lee Greenwood, Jason Aldean and Chris Janson and rapper-turned-far-right country singer Kid Rock. Instead, the DNC will have nightly celeb hosts including Kerry Washington, Mindy Kaling, Ana Navarro and Tony Goldwyn as well as guest Julia Louis-Dreyfus, along with Jason Isbell and Mickey Guyton (who performed on night one) and James Taylor, who was cut for time on the first night.

After jumping into the race at the end of last month, Harris’ campaign rolled out “Freedom” during the veep’s walk-out at her inaugural visit to campaign headquarters; the rousing, full-band album version of the song was also featured in an early campaign video. Unlike Trump, who has been sued, issued cease & desist orders and strongly-worded requests to stop using the music of popular acts during his campaign stops by musicians who do not agree with his divisive, name-calling rhetoric, Queen Bey gave the Harris campaign full approval to use “Freedom” during the run for the White House.

And while Trump re-posted fake AI-generated images of what appeared to be Taylor Swift fans, and the singer herself, endorsing his third presidential bid over the weekend, the Harris campaign has been flooded with full-throated, A-list endorsements from a galaxy of contemporary and classic stars, from Olivia Rodrigo and Barbra Streisand to Megan Thee Stallion, John Legend, Spike Lee, Katy Perry, Charli XCX, P!nk, Cardi B, Kesha, Jane Fonda, Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro and George Clooney, among many others.

Watch the new “Freedom” campaign video below.

DNC airs new “Freedom” ad to kick off the Democratic Convention pic.twitter.com/lXLqKi2rAN

— Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) August 20, 2024