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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.
Maluma launches new business
Anyone in the mood for a Maluma-style burger or hot dog? The colombiano has launched his very own delivery-only restaurant called Dembow. Available in four countries (Colombia, Mexico, Brazil and Perú), those who want to place an order can do it directly via WhatsApp or fast-food deliver app Rappi or online. “Another dream come true,” the “Junio” singer wrote on social media. “Taste the greatest hamburgers and hot dogs with Latin flavor.”
J Balvin receives special award
The Colombian star received the “Latino Impact Award” at the United Nations Latino Impact Summit for his work shining a light on mental health. J Balvin was honored on Nov. 3 at the United Nations headquarters in New York City during the summit, which returned to an in-person format for the first time since the pandemic. He was honored for raising awareness on mental health and wellness in the Latin community as well as for the launch of his mental wellness app, OYE.
Latin Grammys announces more performers
The Latin Recording Academy unveiled a new wave of performers set to take center stage at the 2022 Latin Grammy Awards. They include Christina Aguilera, Camilo, Christian Nodal, Elvis Costello, Jorge Drexler, John Legend, and Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández.
The Latin Grammy Awards — which “promise to honor the legacy, celebrate the present and embrace the future of Latin music, with deliberate consciousness, paying-it-forward to the next generations of music creators,” according to a press statement — will be held Nov. 17 at the Michelob Ultra Arena at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. The ceremony will air live on Univision beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
Blessd breaks down tracks
Calling all Blessd fans! The Colombian artist released his sophomore album, Siempre Blessd.
Home to 13 tracks, including the previously-released “Instagram (Remix)” with De La Ghetto and Darell, and “Tendendia Global” with Myke Towers and Ovy on the Drums, Siempre Blessd continues to consolidate the artist’s status as Colombia’s breakthrough performer.
The set navigates from songs that will inspire aspiring artists from the barrios to dream big (such as “Barrio Antioquia”), to songs about embracing solitude after a failed relationship (such as the Ñengo Flow-assisted “Solitario”) to songs inspired by him discovering the world (such as “Europa”).
Blessd breaks down five essential tracks from his new set. Read all about them here.
Halloween recap
Billboard compiled a list featuring some of the Latin music stars who understood the assignment this year. The list kicks off with Becky G and her boyfriend Sebastian Lletget, who dressed up as Santanico Pandemonium (Salma Hayek) and Seth Gecko (George Clooney) in the 1996 film From Dusk Till Dawn. The power couple is followed by artists such as Anittam who dressed as Beetlejuice’s wife, and Rauw Alejandro, who dressed up as the blue ranger from the timeless Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, to name a few. See the Halloween costumes here.
Aaron Carter, singer, television personality and younger brother of Backstreet Boys star Nick Carter, died Saturday (Nov. 5). He was 34.
A representative from his management team cofirmed his death to Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter. No cause of death was given. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department told THR that a suspicious death took place at the address of Carter’s residence but could not confirm the identity.
Representatives for Carter’s brother did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Born in Tampa, Fla., on December 7, 1987, Carter got his start opening for the Backstreet Boys on a 1997 tour, and his debut album, Aaron Carter, was released later that year, reaching gold status.
His follow-up album, Aaron’s Party (Come and Get It), was released in September 2000. Aaron’s Party peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and went triple platinum. It featured the singles “I Want Candy” and two Billboard Hot 100 hits, “Aaron’s Party (Come Get It)” (No. 35) and “That’s How I Beat Shaq” (No. 95). He supported the album as an opening act for Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears on the Oops!… I Did It Again Tour.
Carter’s third album, Oh Aaron, went platinum in 2001, and he has released two albums since then, most recently Love in 2018.
He dabbled in acting, appearing on shows including Lizzie McGuire, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and 7th Heaven and in such films as Fat Albert (2004) and the Channing Tatum-starring Supercross (2005). Carter made his Broadway debut in 2001 as JoJo the Who in Seussical the Musical and later had a long run as a cast member of the off-Broadway production of The Fantasticks.
Carter also made plenty of unscripted TV appearances, which included starring alongside Nick and their siblings B.J., Aaron, Leslie and Angel Carter on the E! series House of Carters in 2006. Leslie died of a drug overdose in January 2012 at the age of 25.
Among his other television credits, he competed on the 2009 season of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars, finishing in fifth place, and on the Food Network cooking battle series Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off in 2012.
Carter was a gossip-site fixture and known for headlines surrounding his personal life, dating back to his early years as a teen heartthrob. He welcomed son Prince with Melanie Martin in November 2021.
Over the years, the star was open about his struggles with substance abuse, including on a 2017 episode of The Doctors. In September 2022, he said he had checked into rehab for a fifth time in an effort to regain custody of his son. He had previously entered rehab back in 2017 following an arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence and marijuana charges.
During an interview with podcast No Jumper that was posted to YouTube earlier this month, Carter said he was grateful for all of his previous success and remained hopeful for the future, although he wasn’t concerned with achieving further fame.
“I enjoyed all of that, and I’m back to do that — that’s what I’m back to do,” Carter said about focusing again on his music. “I don’t really care about [stardom] because I’ve had so many levels in the industry, and fame and fortune, and highs and lows — it’s like a roller coaster.… I’m a singer, a songwriter, a performer, and this is what I do, and I’m never going to give up on it.”
Scott Feinberg contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on The Hollywood Reporter.
Aaron Carter, who rose to fame as a child pop star with hits like “Aaron’s Party (Come Get It)” and “That’s How I Beat Shaq,” died at the age of 34 on Saturday (Nov. 5). In the wake of his death, fellow artists and television stars paid tribute to Aaron, the younger brother of Backstreet Boys‘ Nick Carter.
Carter’s manager confirmed his death to Billboard on Saturday. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department also told The Hollywood Reporter that a suspicious death took place at Carter’s address but did not confirm the identity.
“Fame at a young age is often more a curse than a blessing and Surviving it is not easy. RIP Aaron Carter,” legendary songwriter Diane Warren wrote on Twitter.
Carter’s self-titled debut album was released in 1997, and it was followed by 2000’s Aaron’s Party (Come and Get It), which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. He went on to release three more studio albums: Oh Aaron (2001), Another Earthquake! (2002) and Love (2018). Carter also worked in scripted and reality television, with highlights including an appearance on Lizzie McGuire, starring alongside his siblings on House of Carters and competing on Dancing With the Stars.
“No…. This @aaroncarter news is heartbreaking… this kid had such a spark,” wrote musician Tyler Hilton. “Known him for years and always really liked him, he was warm and really funny. Loved putting on a show and he was good at it. Ill find some pics of us and post more later… damn RIP budddd.”
See the reactions to Aaron Carter’s death below.
Mariah Carey brought some holiday cheer to The Tonight Show.
The iconic singer-songwriter paid a visit to host Jimmy Fallon on Friday (Nov. 4) to promote her new children’s book, The Christmas Princess, and her upcoming Christmas concerts in Toronto and New York.
During her sit-down with Fallon, the “All I Want for Christmas Is You” songstress dished on her friendship with Stranger Things actress Millie Bobby Brown and confirmed that the pair has a secret collaboration in the works.
In late October, the 18-year-old actress revealed on The Tonight Show that she’s recorded music with the Elusive Chanteuse. While noting that Carey casually breaks into whistle tone while they eat Chinese food, Brown also let slip that the pair “have sung together… like in her studio sung together.”
Carey addressed her potential team-up with Brown, telling Fallon, “Maybe it’s not just musical. I don’t know. I can’t say what it is.”
The actress has, in fact, already collaborated with Carey in recent weeks by recreating the opening scene of the iconic “Honey” music video to help celebrate the 25th anniversary of Carey’s 1997 album, Butterfly. Back in 2020, Mimi also shared a photo of the stars hanging out.
Later in the show, Carey and Fallon appeared in a comical sketch, titled “The Naughty List,” where Carey gifts the host a free copy of her children’s book after discussing why he’s on Santa’s naughty list.
Watch Carey’s interview and “Naughty List’ skit with Fallon below.
Billie Eilish is making a passionate plea to her fans about voting.
The 20-year-old superstar singer took to Instagram on Saturday (Nov. 5) to encourage her 106 million followers to vote before Election Day on Tuesday (Nov. 8).
“I want to explain why I am voting this year and how important I think it is you for vote to,” Eilish says in the video. “Our rights, our freedoms, and our futures are on the line, and if we don’t show up, there is a good chance we will see a national ban on abortion, with no exceptions.”
The artist added, “They also wanna take away the freedom to marry who we love, restrict voting rights, and enact laws that threaten the progress that must be made on climate change… It scares me.”
Eilish’s caption included a link to BallotReady, which assists with polling locations and other voting information.
On Nov. 8, she will take part in the 2022 #iVoted Festival, with the Election Day webcast also featuring performances by Run the Jewels, CNCO, Rise Against, The Revivalists, OK Go, Lake Street Dive and more than 400 other artists.
Earlier this year, Eilish partnered with HeadCount, a non-partisan voter engagement organization, to get her fans voting in the 2022 U.S. midterm elections. During her career, she has also aligned with organizations including Global Citizen’s Just Vote, Planned Parenthood, and iHeartMedia’s Why I’m Voting.
“The only way to be certain of the future is to make it ourselves, which is why we must vote on or before Nov. 8,” she said in her video on Saturday. “Please promise me you’ll make a plan to vote. Let’s show them what our power looks like.”
Watch Eilish’s message to fans about voting on Instagram below.
The Ledger is a weekly newsletter about the economics of the music business sent to Billboard Pro subscribers. An abbreviated version of the newsletter is published online.
Apple Music’s recent subscription price increase and a likely forthcoming price hike by Spotify would provide a boost to U.S. and global music revenues and likewise impact catalog valuations.
Higher prices for Apple Music and Spotify’s individual plan could be worth hundreds of millions in additional subscription revenue annually in the U.S. Incremental revenues resulting from these price increases have the potential to reach roughly $650 million a year for streaming services. That assumes 7% growth in subscribers in 2023, no additional churn, a full year of higher prices and higher prices for both self-paid and promotional subscription plans.
However, a small amount of churn is possible, and Spotify is unlikely to raise rates at the beginning of the year. Additionally, not all subscription plans are subject to increase. (Apple is not raising the price on Apple Music Voice, for example.) Thus, the actual impact is likely to be lower next year and in successive years.
Apple Music’s individual plans rose $1 from $9.99 to $10.99 per month, while its family plan price increased $2 from $14.99 to $16.99. Apple One, a bundle that includes Apple Music, Apple TV+ and other services, rose $2 for the individual plan and $3 for the family plan (which includes Apple Arcade and iCloud+) and premier plan (which adds Apple News+ and Apple Fitness+).
Spotify could follow with similar price increases in the U.S. of $1 per individual subscription, though it may not further raise its family plan price on top of the $1 increase, to $15.99, that it imposed in April. Spotify also has discounted plans for students that cost $4.99 per month. For these purposes, Billboard assumes those discounted plans will remain untouched.
Creators and rights owners effectively get a raise from a price increase. The same percentage of streaming services’ revenue would flow as royalties to labels and publishers. Higher prices wouldn’t impact listening habits — although some churn is possible — so the math is favorable to creators and rights owners: a larger royalty pool would be divided by the same number of streams to calculate the per-stream royalty owed to each track.
Higher rates from the two largest subscription services in the U.S. would make songwriting and recording catalogs more valuable, too. Price increases will add revenues to a catalog’s existing royalty income, and streaming growth has been positively correlated with higher valuations of music catalogs. As Billboard reported this week, a new paper by New York University professor Larry Miller found that streaming accounted for 62% of the average multiple paid for songwriting catalogs in 2021.
Spotify has not announced a broad price increase on its individual and family plan subscriptions, but CEO Daniel Ek signaled the company would likely follow Apple Music’s lead when speaking to investors during Spotify’s Oct. 25 earnings call. A U.S. price increase “is one of the things we would like to do,” Ek told investors, adding Spotify will have conversations with labels “in light of these recent developments with our label partners.”
Expect higher prices to become the norm. Amazon Music Unlimited raised its prices in May. Deezer raised its subscription prices in France, its largest market, in January and plans rate hikes in Germany and the U.S. in December. Apple Music’s decision to raise prices “opens the door for further price increases down the line,” Deezer CEO Jeronimo Folgueira said during its Oct. 28 earnings call. Exactly how much incremental revenue these price hikes will generate depends on many variables. In any case, creators and rights owners can expect more subscription royalties in 2023 and beyond.
With riveting performances by artists such as Rosalía, Maria Becerra, Manuel Turizo, Lola Índigo, Marc Seguí, Tiago PZK and many more, Los40 Music Awards was the place to be on a cold Friday night in Madrid.
The 2022 edition of the award’s ceremony took place Nov. 4 at the WiZink Center near the city’s downtown area. While performances were among the show’s highlights, there were also red carpet interviews and a speech by the legend Pedro Almodóvar that are worth an entry in the best moments of the night.
Below, highlights from this year’s Los40 Music Awards.
Morat on “No Se Va” Going viral
The Colombian band’s 2019 single “No Se Va” is currently having a moment — thanks to a cover by emerging regional Mexican ensemble Grupo Frontera. Their norteño rendition of the their norteño the track “No Se Va” became only the fifth regional Mexican song in Hot 100 history, reaching a No. 57 high after entering the all-genre songs chart in early October. About Frontera breathing fresh air into their single, Morat told Billboard this on the red carpet: “When we heard about it, it wasn’t that surprising. This has happened to us with many of our songs. We’re happy for them, and we’re happy for the song. It’s great that the song is transcending.”
Rosalía fangirls over a soccer player
When Rosalía picked up her award for best album for Motomami in the Spain category, she expressed her admiration for Alexia Putellas, who plays for Barcelona’s women’s fútbol team and won a Balón de Oro this year. “Wow this is crazy,” she said as she giggled her way to the stage. “I am such a big fan of Alexia and I had no idea that she would be the one handing this award to me. I’m a huge fan!”
Ricky Montaner on “Llorar, Llorar” being a gift that keeps on giving
“It’s one of my favorite songs that we’ve done in our entire career,” Ricky, of duo Mau Y Ricky, said about their collaboration with Carin Leon. “It’s a song that’s given us joy and has evolved organically with time. We released it a few months ago and just new we’re seeing it go up on the charts. It’s a blessing and I’m so proud of it.” The singer-songwriter also said he and his brother wrote the song while living in Mexico when they were recording the show La Voz México. “I needed a Mexican singer who would give it the seal of approval of someone from Mexico and we had so much chemistry with Carin. I love him and I’m so grateful.” Ricky also teased the the duo’s next album is due next year.
Tiago PZK takes a moment to reflect
The Argentine’s debut album, Portales, was a game-changer for him. “I learned so much about myself and how it is to have a more clear vision. It gave me identity,” he told Billboard. “I learned to work under pressure. Now, that I’ve released my first I have to start thinking about the next album. There’s no break in between.”
Pedro Almodóvar urges fans to watch movies … in a theater
The legendary film director, screenwriter and producer, Pedro Almodóvar, took the stage at Los40 to accept one of the Golden Music Awards that night. During his speech, he asked fans to go watch movies in theaters. “I know that you all don’t go out to the movies often,” he said confidently. “I’m not sure if you all know that movie theaters are going through an enormous crisis. My advice to you is go back and experience what it is to go watch a movie in a screen that’s way bigger than the one in your home. If you haven’t experience that yet, it will change your life. It’s hypnotizing. And for that hypnosis to happen, you have to become small and be surrounded by strangers in a dark place.
Sebastián Yatra danced the night away
If there’s anyone who hands down had the most fun on Friday, it was Sebastián Yatra. The Colombian star danced the night away as he cheered on his colleagues who took the stage such as María Becerra and Manuel Carrasco. He was the ultimate fan who also took the stage to accept the award for best album (Dharma) in the Global Latin category.
Los40 Music Awards are a wrap.
The 2022 edition of the ceremony took place Friday (Nov. 4) live from the WiZink Center in Madrid. The fan-voted awards, produced by the Los40 radio station, were broken into three categories: Spain, International and Global Latin.
The artists among the top nominees of the night were Rosalía, who was up for best album (Motomami) in the Spain category and Bad Bunny, who was nominated in the Global Latin category for best album (Un Verano Sin Ti) and best song (“Titi Me Preguntó”). The international category was ruled by David Guetta thanks to “Crazy What Love Can Do,” his collaboration with Becky Hill and Ella Henderson, and Adele who was up for best album (30), best song (“Easy On Me”) and best music video (“Oh My God”).
Below, see Los40 Music Awards complete list of winners.
CATEGORY: SPAIN
Best artist or group: Dani Fernández
Best new artist or group: Leo Rizzi
Best album: Motomami by Rosalía
Best song: “Música Ligera” by Ana Mena
Best music video: “360” by Marc Seguí
Best artist or group in concert: Lola Índigo
Best collaboration: “Formentera” by Aitana & Nicki Nicole
Best urban artist or group: Maikel de la Calle
Best festival, tour or concert: Motomami World Tour by Rosalía
Artist ‘Del 40 al 1’: Chanel
CATEGORY: INTERNATIONAL
Best artist or group: Ava Max
Best new artist or group: Yungblud
Best album: Harry’s House by Harry Styles
Best song: “Enemy” by Imagine Dragons
Best music video: “Maybe You’re the Problem” by Ava Max
Best artist or group in concert: Dua Lipa
Best collaboration: “Crazy What Love Can Do” by David Guetta, Becky Hill & Ella Henderson
Best dance artist or producer: David Guetta
CATEGORY: GLOBAL LATIN
Best artist or group: Anitta
Best new artist or group: Tiago PZK
Best album: Dharma by Sebastián Yatra
Best song: “La Bachata” by Manuel Turizo
Best music video: “Te Felicito” by Shakira & Rauw Alejandro
Best artist or group in concert: María Becerra
Best collaboration: “París” by Morat & Duki
Best urban artist or producer: Bizarrap
Best festival, tour or concert: De Adentro Pa Afuera Tour by Camilo
GOLDEN MUSIC AWARDS
Manuel Carrasco
Pedro Almodóvar
Leiva
Juanes
Rosalía
That’s my girl! Ally Brooke used TikTok to address questions about Fifth Harmony hypothetically getting back together on Thursday (Nov. 4).
“When will Fifth Harmony have a reunion???” she wrote on the screen. Taking off her sunglasses, the singer then swaggeringly lip synced, “First off, b—h, mind your business!” as her definitive answer on the subject.
While some fans wondered in the comments section about what prompted Brooke to make the video in the first place, others took it with either a grain of salt or a bit of hope. “Us harmonizers didn’t hear a no” while another declared, “Fifth harmony is dead, but I’m still holding hope for a reunion in the future” with a crossed fingers emoji.
“Nah, we need a lauren and normani album first!” another follower argued, pointing to the respective debut solo albums by Lauren Jauregui and Normani that have reportedly long been in the works.
Of course, all five members of the 10’s girl group have remained busy since announcing their indefinite hiatus in 2018 — more than a year after Camila Cabello abruptly exited the group in the closing days of 2016.
Since then, Cabello has released three solo albums — her latest being 2022’s Familia — and is currently in the midst of her freshman season as a coach on NBC’s The Voice. Normani made a splash in 2019 with her debut solo single “Motivation” and has collaborated with everyone from Sam Smith (“Dancing With a Stranger”) and Megan Thee Stallion (“Diamonds”) to Cardi B (“Wild Side”) and Calvin Harris (“New to You” with Tinashe and Offset). Meanwhile Jauregui dropped her first solo EP, Prelude, almost exactly one year ago in Nov. 2021.
For her part, Brooke has embraced her Mexican-American heritage on recent Spanish-language singles like “Mi Música,” “Por Ti” and “Tequila.” And Dinah Jane last released a string of singles like “Lottery,” “1501” and “Missed a Spot” back in 2020 before she forced to cancel a planned tour of the U.S. and Europe due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Watch Ally Brooke dismiss Fifth Harmony reunion questions below.
