Shakira, RBD, Myke Towers, Wisin & More at Billboard Latin Music Week!
Billboard Latin Music Week continued at the Faena Forum in Miami Beach. Global music icons united to close out the final conference day, including Shakira, Fonseca, Wisin, Luny Tunes, Arcángel, RBD members Christian Chávez, Maite Perroni and Christopher von Uckermann Eladio Carrión, Myke Towers, Manuel Turizo and more!
Artists took the stage in front of a sold-out crowd for captivating panel discussions and performances. During “Hits Don’t Lie: The Superstar Q&A With Shakira,” the chart-topping singer-songwriter spoke about her career, her sons, and was surprised with a presentation of an RIAA four-time Platinum® Award for her hit single “Acróstico” and a RIAA two-time Platinum® Award for her latest collaboration with Manuel Turizo, “Copa Vacía.” Fonseca was also present for The Icon Q&A and Manuel Turizo sat down for an intimate interview, The Rising Star Q&A. Renowned international pop group RBD members Christian Chávez, Maite Perroni and Christopher von Uckermann also stepped onto the Billboard Latin Music Week stage in a first-ever panel conversation titled Reviving RBD alongside their manager Guillermo Rosas. Legendary hitmakers Dj Nelson, Luny Tunes, and Hyde joined reggaetón icon Wisin and took attendees down memory lane discussing the “Golden Era” of the genre in the early 2000s. Night three concluded with a Netflix premiere and multiple concert experiences across Miami Beach.
10/4 - Billboard Latin Music Week Highlights:
To open the third day of Billboard Latin Music Week, Leila Cobo, Chief Content Officer, Billboard Latin/Español, introduced Jorge Mejia, president/CEO, Sony Music Publishing Latin America and U.S. Latin who welcomed the powerhouses Edgar Barrera and Keityn to the stage for The Superstar Songwriter Panel. During the panel, Leila Cobo sat down with Edgar and Keityn to talk about the process behind songwriting for some of today’s biggest hits for artists like Shakira (“El Jefe”), Maluma (“Hawái”), Karol G (“Mi Ex Tenia Razon”), and more. Edgar and Keityn talked about their first song together, Maluma’s hit song “Hawái,” which they revealed was originally sent to many artists before it went to Maluma.
Michelob ULTRA presented The Icon Q&A with Fonseca, in which the Columbian singer sat down with Billboard Español’s Deputy Editor, Sigal Ratner-Arias, and took attendees through his career trajectory starting in Venezuela and with his first international hit “Te Mando Flores,” granting him entry into the Billboard Charts. Fonseca broke out to a live rendition of his hits “Te Mando Flores,” “Entre Mi Vida y la Tuya,” “Ven,” and “Si Tú Me Quieres” on stage joined by lead guitarist Jairo Barón, surprising fans in the audience. He previewed his upcoming album and announced the title of his new song exclusively during Billboard Latin Music Week, “Canto a la Vida,” which will be out this month and is a homage to Colombian music.
Dr. Tania Medina, also known as “The Doctor Who Sings”, delighted the audience with a musical performance with JC Rosary during BIllboard Latin Music Week’s Artist Showcase presented by Bridger Communications.
Four-time Billboard Latin Music Award finalist Manuel Turizo arrived at the Faena Forum in Miami for Billboard Latin Music Week’s The Rising Star Q&A presented by Delta Air Lines, and sat down with Jessica Roiz, Assistant Editor, Billboard Latin for a conversation about his breakout year, including his breakout hit with Marshmello, “El Merengue” and shared his favorite go-to spots in Miami, and what drove him to staying in the city coming from Colombia. Jessica and Manuel Turizo discussed the making of “Una Lady Como Tú,” the first song written by Turizo which went on to be a global hit putting him on the mainstream latin music scene, along with Turizo’s biggest Billboard hits such as “Déjala Que Vuelva,” and “La Bachata,” and his latest collaboration with Grupo Frontera “De Lunes a Lunes.”
Reggaetón icon and superstar Wisin was joined by legendary hitmakers DJ Nelson, Luny Tunes, and Hyde for a sit-down conversation on their definitive views of Reggaetón, identifying trends in the industry, and creating hits in a panel titled Wisin & La Base: Eye of the Tiger, presented by Smirnoff. The Reggaetón power players discussed the state of the Latin music industry and the importance of quality and passion in the creative process, taking attendees down memory lane discussing the “Golden Era” of Reggaetón in the early 2000s.
President of Billboard Mike Van shared highlighted Latin Music Week’s exponential growth over the years and thanked the audience for being a part of this important week. Billboard's Chief Brand Officer, Dana Droppo paid tribute to Latin Music Week’s non-profit partners, Con Cora Foundation and Green Haven Project, announcing that as of today, Billboard has officially hit their fundraising goal thanks to a generous donation from their parent company PMC.
New York Mets’ Francisco Alvarez and Venezuelan shortstop for the Colorado Rockies, Ezequiel Jesus Tovar made their way to Miami to participate in The Latin Swing: From Music to Sports panel alongside artists Eladio Carrión and Arcángel to discuss the connection between sports and music with Rapetón founder Ángel "El Guru" Vera. During the panel presented by Rimas Sports, Alvarez and Tovar shared how they each select their walk-ups ahead of each game.
Global hitmaker Myke Towers was joined by Project Runway winner Shantall Lacayo and creator and artist Rob The Orginal, for a conversation on art, creativity and the importance of giving back to the community titled Deja Tu Huella presented by Cheetos®. Mike Towers, with nine #1 hits on Billboard’s Latin Airplay, discussed the passion he puts into his music and the responsibility he feels towards his fans, who he has received unwavering support from and shared the inspiration behind his latest hit “LALA”.
Billboard Latin Music Week’s historic panel presented by AT&T featured renowned international pop group RBD members Christian Chávez, Maite Perroni and Christopher von Uckermann in a first-ever panel conversation titled Reviving RBD alongside their manager Guillermo Rosas moderated by Griselda Flores. The members of RBD sat down to discuss their extraordinary comeback story with their manager and how it came to fruition. Maite Perroni expressed her emotional return to the stage and joy in knowing latin pop music still reigns, Christian Chávez spoke on the connection and love the group has to their fans, Christopher von Uckermann touched on the return to a new music scene as a more mature team, and Guillermo Rosas explained the ecosystem created with the team. Christian Chávez also touched on highlights from the tour, sharing how nostalgic it feels and how amazing it is to see their fans grown up and have access to revisit their inner child and heal through their Soy Rebelde Tour. The star shared an anecdote from coming out 15 years ago and being afraid to perform at RBDs next concert and was touched by the unwavering support when he saw Pride flags and his parents in the audience.
Columbian Grammy Award®-winning singer, songwriter, philanthropist and entrepreneur Shakira graced the Billboard Latin Music Week stage in a rare interview with Leila Cobo, Chief Content Officer, Billboard Latin/Español. During the interview titled Hits Don’t Lie: The Superstar Q&A With Shakira, the international sensation spoke for the first time publicly about her creative process, her history of No.1s on the Billboard Charts, and discussed her latest hit with Fuerza Regida titled “El Jefe.” The multi-generational superstar reflected on the last year and shared her strength and motivation telling Cobo when she realized she was stronger than she originally thought and music has been her main tool. Shakira let the audience know her sons, Milan and Sasha, encouraged her to collaborate with Argentine DJ and record producer Bizarrap and were also behind some of the ideas featured in the music video for “El Jefe.” After a rapid fire question session, Leila Cobo surprised Shakira by presenting her with an RIAA four-time Platinum® Award for her hit “Acróstico” and a RIAA two-time Platinum® Award for her latest collaboration with Manuel Turizo “Copa Vacía.”
“Era menos frágil de lo que pensaba, la música ha sido mi herramienta principal” said Shakira
The conference capped with an advanced screening party for NEON, presented by Netflix. The new series was screened for attendees brought from creator Shea Serrano and Max Searle and Executive Producer, Daddy Yankee, featuring original songs produced by Tainy and One Six. NEON is a new series about three friends’ quest to find fame in the world of reggaeton. The advance screening gave Billboard Latin Music Week attendees an exclusive glimpse behind the scenes ahead of the series premiere on October 19, only on Netflix.
DannyLux made his presence in Miami performing in a private show to Billboard Latin Music Week attendees titled The Mexican Music Revolution.
A Night of Mexican Music at Billboard Latin Music Week featured live performances from La Maquinaria Norteña, Carlos Sarabia, Los Cuates de Sinaloa and Sebastián Esquivel at WhiskyLucan in Miami. The night’s musical performances were presented by Sonidos Mexicanos Promotores Unidos, Zamora Group and Rancho Humilde.
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