Paulina Rubio
Jesus Cordero*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.
Rauw Alejandro to make acting debut
Rauw Alejandro is set to make his acting debut as he joins season 2 of Netflix’s Sky Rojo. The first photos of him on set, alongside Argentine songstress Lali Esposito, were also shared on social media giving him a warm welcome. It’s unclear what role the “Todo De Ti” singer will take on, but according to the series’ official synopsis, Sky Rojo follows “a fatal turn of events as a brothel sends three women haunted by their pasts on a wild run from their pimp and his henchmen.”
Ovi becomes a dad
Trap singer Ovi took to social media to share the birth of his son Ovi Jr. In an emotional post, the “Día de Pago” singer wrote: “My heir is here. The owner of my life. He’s healthy and strong, thank you God. What I feel is incredible, I can’t explain, a love I’ve never felt before. It’s true what they used to say. This is what I love most in the world. Son, I promise to take care of you and give you the best of me.”
Premio Lo Nuestro to honor Paulina Rubio
Premio Lo Nuestro announced that Mexican pop star Paulina Rubio will be honored with their Premio a la Trayectoria (Trajectory Award), honoring her three-decade-long career in the music industry, which kicked off in the ’80s as part of Timbiriche.
Additionally, the 34th edition of the awards ceremony will feature a special performance by Sting, who will premiere his new single “Por Su Amor,” the Spanish-language version of his song “For Her Love.” Other artists set to perform include CNCO, Sebastián Yatra, Ángela Aguilar and Wisin Y Yandel, among many others.
The 2022 Premio Lo Nuestro will air live from Miami’s FTX Arena on Thursday, Feb. 24, with the “Noche de Estrellas” pre-show beginning at 7 p.m. ET/PT via Univision.
Sueños unveils dreamy lineup for first-ever edition
A new reggaeton and Latin trap festival, headlined by J Balvin, Ozuna and Wisin Y Yandel, is set to take place in Chicago during Memorial Day Weekend (May 28-29).
The first-ever edition of Sueños — presented by the producers behind Baja Beach Fest and Lollapalooza, respectively, and Chicago’s Reventon Promotions — will also include sets by artists such as Myke Towers, El Alfa, Tokischa, Sech, Natanael Cano, Fuerza Regida, Jhay Cortez, Blessd, Jowell & Randy and DJ Luian.
Tickets for Sueños are now on sale at suenosmusicfestival.com.
Pandora’s Billionaires
Pandora is expanding its Billionaires station suite by adding two new Latin stations: Latin Billionaires Pop and Latin Billionaires MX. Available to stream now, the newly launched stations join the digital streaming platform’s existing Billionaires stations in other genres such as pop, hip-hop and country.
Launched by Pandora in 2018 to spotlight artists who have surpassed one billion streams on the DSP, the service presents artists who had reached the marker with a commemorative plaque. The Latin Billionaires Pop station features songs by chart-topping acts including J Balvin, Shakira, Bad Bunny, among others. Meanwhile, Latin Billionaires MX spotlights billion-streaming Regional Mexican artists Banda MS, Los Tigres Del Norte, Los Tucanes De Tijuana, and more.
Listeners can find the new stations in the Billionaires module on the “For You” section of the Pandora app.
NEWS
Oliver Tree’s team has provided a new update following the singer’s death in a helicopter crash on June 14, confirming that a new artist grant will soon be established in his memory to help creatives secure funding, a plan he had detailed in his will before his passing.
Accompanying a collection of photos highlighting Tree’s performances, travels and creative work through the years, a post shared Sunday (June 21) on his Instagram account revealed that the musician’s remains have been brought back to California, the state he called home and where he will be laid to rest. “His legacy will live on through his foundation/endowment named ‘Dr. Oliver Tree’s Extremely Epic Grant For Baby Geniuses’ coming soon,” the caption reads. “This is something that Oliver had put together before his passing.”
“We will make sure his wish comes to fruition so that more joy, love and art can be spread into the world, that was his final wish,” the statement continued, adding that “the constant love, support and positivity” shown by fans throughout the past week has helped his “family, friends and collaborators make it through these extremely difficult times.”
Tree was among six people who lost their lives in a helicopter collision in Rio de Janeiro. The musician was in Brazil for his The World’s First Tour run and had performed what would ultimately be his final concert on June 6 in São Paulo. The other victims of the crash were identified as passengers Lucas Vignale, Gaspar Prim and Lucas Brito Chaves, along with pilots Alexandre Souza and Charles Marsillac.
Just months before his death, Tree discussed his plans to direct his fortune and future earnings from his music toward a grant program for artists during an appearance on the Zach Sang Show. “I take no credit for anything I’ve ever done,” he said during the April interview. “Furthermore, I don’t believe that any of the wealth or things that get made from it is mine. So when I die … my will is set up so that when I pass, my family, nobody is going to get a penny.”
“If I have a wife or kids or anything, they’re not getting a penny,” he added at the time, explaining that the initiative would focus on helping artists create work rather than funding education. “I’ll get my kids through college, that’s the agreement, but there’s not gonna be a silver spoon. All the money is going to go back to artists.”
