Tag: Hamilton

Colombia’s Caribbean Coast Leads a New Music Wave

August 14, 2025

Colombia has long been a powerhouse of musical innovation. From Medellín’s reggaetón revolution to Bogotá’s indie and rock scenes and Cali’s salsa legacy, artists from across the country have helped shape the sound of Latin America. Now, Colombia’s Caribbean coast is stepping into the spotlight, driven by a new generation of artists claiming their space with pride, creativity, and global ambition.

Home to vibrant cities like Cartagena, Barranquilla, Santa Marta, and Valledupar, the Colombian Caribbean is rich in culture. The region’s musical contributions include genres like vallenato, a traditional folk style known for its storytelling and distinctive use of the accordion, and champeta, an Afro-Colombian rhythm from Cartagena that blends African influences with Caribbean percussion. Many local artists got their start in champeta, which continues to shape their music. But their sound is evolving, now inflected with Afrobeats, reggaetón, pop, and experimental styles.

Afrobeats, in particular, are gaining momentum in Colombia—in both listening and local production. Colombia is becoming a regional leader in Afrobeats-inspired music, especially in its Pacific and Caribbean regions. Artists are fusing traditional rhythms with Afrobeats, creating new sounds that are reaching audiences far beyond the coast. In fact, streams of Afrobeats in Colombia have surged by more than 580% since 2022 on Spotify, a sign of just how deeply the genre is resonating with fans and creators alike.

Below, we spotlight seven standout artists from the region, each bringing their own style and energy to Colombia’s evolving music scene.

Meet the artists redefining Colombia’s Caribbean sound

Hamilton

Cartagena’s Hamilton is at the forefront of Colombian Afrobeats. With more than 2 million monthly listeners on Spotify, he blends sleek Afrobeats production with melodies rooted in his hometown. Tracks like “Mi Reina,” “A Poca Luz,” and “Madrid” have racked up millions of streams, while collaborations with artists like Justin Quiles and Ryan Castro have expanded his reach.

Aria Vega

Barranquilla’s ARIA VEGA brings a fresh perspective to urban music, merging contemporary pop with her Colombian roots. Her 2025 single “Costeñita,” a collaboration with DEKKO, was created at Casa Spotify Medallo and has topped 1.5 million streams. Another standout, “La Última” with Juan Duque and Kapo, has reached 2.4 million streams.

Luister La Voz

Cartagena’s Luister La Voz (Luis Carlos Cabeza De Ávila) is known for his heartfelt vocals and a strong coastal identity. Drawing on champeta and romantic melodies, he’s struck a chord with younger listeners. With hits like “Otra Cosa (Remix)” and “Espacio,” his appearances on Colombia’s Viral 50 chart highlight his impact.

Zaider

With more than a decade in music, Zaider is one of the most recognizable voices of the Colombian Caribbean. He started in champeta and now blends Afrobeats into his sound, bringing a distinct coastal style to his tracks. His hit “Alma” with Kapo has been streamed more than 20 million times, and collaborations with artists like Goyo and Blessd have helped him reach new audiences.

Criss & Ronny

Twins from Cartagena, Criss & Ronny first broke onto the scene as dancers—a physicality that comes through in their music. Their fusion of champeta and Afrobeats is made for the dance floor: bold, rhythmic, and catchy. Their viral hit “El Sticker” has amassed more than 12 million streams, and their fanbase continues to grow.

LuisRa

Valledupar’s LuisRa is breathing new life into the classic genre of vallenato. By blending his city’s storytelling traditions with reggaetón and Afrobeats, he’s reaching new generations of listeners. His top track, “Como Así,” has surpassed 5.5 million streams.

Barboza

Cartagena’s Barboza is a fast-rising star in Colombian Afrobeats. “Tus Labios,” his collaboration with Jheral, is his most-streamed track, and in 2025, his plays jumped by more than 5,000%. With a raw-yet-refined style, Barboza is helping bring the Colombian Caribbean’s newest voices to a global audience.

To discover even more of Colombia’s sound, press play on Spotify’s Made in Colombia playlist.

El Caribe colombiano impulsa el nuevo sonido del país

August 14, 2025

¡Colombia siempre ha sido potencia en innovación musical! Desde la revolución del reggaetón en Medellín, pasando por las escenas indie y rockeras en Bogotá, y el legado salsero de Cali, los artistas del país han moldeado el sonido de la región. Hoy, la mirada se posa sobre la Costa Caribe colombiana, impulsada por una nueva generación de talentos que están reclamando su espacio con orgullo, creatividad y ambición global.

Con ciudades como Cartagena, Barranquilla, Santa Marta y Valledupar, el Caribe colombiano es un territorio profundamente cultural. Aquí nacieron joyas como el vallenato—con sus historias y el inconfundible acordeón—y la champeta, ese ritmo afrocolombiano nacido en Cartagena que mezcla influencias africanas con percusiones caribeñas.  Muchos de los artistas actuales comenzaron precisamente en la champeta, un género que sigue marcando el pulso de su música. Sin embargo, sus sonidos están en evolución, y hoy integran elementos del Afrobeats, el reggaetón, el pop y otras propuestas experimentales.

Y ojo con los Afrobeats, porque están prendidos en Colombia. No solo en escuchas, también en producción local. El país se está volviendo referencia en este sonido, sobre todo en la costa Caribe y el Pacífico, mezclando ritmos de casa con beats africanos y creando algo nuevo que viaja más allá del mar. Para que te hagas una idea: en Spotify, las reproducciones de Afrobeats en Colombia crecieron más de un 580% desde 2022. Eso habla de una conexión real entre género, fans y creadores.

Los siete artistas que están encendiendo la Costa

Hamilton

Desde Cartagena, Hamilton lidera la movida de Afrobeats en Colombia. Tiene más de 2 millones de oyentes mensuales en Spotify y suena fino, mezclando beats elegantes con melodías costeñas. Sus temas  “Mi Reina,” “A Poca Luz,” y “Madrid”  suman millones de streams, y sus colabs con  Justin Quiles y Ryan Castro  han llevado su música a otro nivel.

Aria Vega

Barranquilla le dio al mundo a ARIA VEGA, una voz que mezcla pop contemporáneo con raíces colombianas. Su sencillo “Costeñita” (2025) junto a DEKKO, grabado en Casa Spotify Medallo, supera 1.5M de streams. Y “La Última” con Juan Duque y Kapo, ya va en 2.4M.

Luister La Voz

Cartagena también tiene a Luister La Voz  (Luis Carlos Cabeza De Ávila), con un sonido que se siente auténtico y cercano. Parte de champeta, parte de balada romántica, conecta fuerte con el público joven. Temas como  “Otra Cosa (Remix)” y “Espacio” lo han puesto varias veces en el Viral 50 Colombia.

Zaider

Más de una década en la música y Zaider sigue innovando. Empezó en champeta, pero ahora combina su flow costeño con Afrobeats.“Alma” junto a Kapo tiene más de 20M de streams, y trabajar con Goyo y Blessd lo ha llevado a nuevos públicos.

Criss & Ronny

Criss & Ronny son unos gemelos cartageneros pasaron del baile al micrófono, y se nota: su música es puro movimiento. Fusionan champeta y Afrobeats con un estilo pegajoso y listo para la pista. Su hit viral “El Sticker” ya pasó los 12M de reproducciones.

LuisRa

Con tan solo 22 años y directamente desde Valledupar, LuisRa le está dando un refresh al vallenato. Lo mezcla con reggaetón y Afrobeats para conquistar a nuevas generaciones. “Como Así” es su tema más escuchado, con más de 5.5M de streams.

Barboza

Cartagena tiene en Barboza a una de las promesas más frescas del Afrobeats colombiano. “Tus Labios”, junto a Jheral, es su hit más fuerte, y en 2025 sus plays crecieron un 5.000%. Su estilo crudo pero fino está llevando la voz del Caribe a todas partes.

Descubre aún más del sonido de Colombia: dale play a la playlist Made in Colombia en Spotify.

Revisit the Biggest Songs, Artists, and Cultural Moments of the Last 10 Years with Spotify’s ‘The Decade Wrapped’ Podcast

December 16, 2019

With 2020 right around the corner—and the 2010s coming to a close—we’re taking a journey through the last decade in music with a new original podcast, The Decade Wrapped.

The podcast’s host, Eric Eddings, will be joined by critics, comedians, influencers, and writers as they look back at the music stories that defined pop culture between 2010 and 2019. This 10-episode series incorporates data and insights from Spotify’s popular Wrapped campaign. Launched earlier this month, the campaign revealed through personal Wrapped e-cards what our listeners have been streaming—not only over 2019, but over the past decade—as well as what the world listened to during that time. 

The first three episodes are available starting today, December 16, in the U.S. (The next seven episodes will be released daily over the course of the week.) Get a taste for the episode topics and featured songs:

2010: Nicki Minaj Tells Us to “Check It Out”/Female-Driven Pop

In the early 2010s, women like Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Rihanna, and Katy Perry took the stage . . . but no one matched the omnipresence of Nicki Minaj. Before even dropping a full album, she was featured on tracks by Lil Wayne, Kanye, will.i.am, and Gucci Mane. Her debut album, Pink Friday, didn’t disappoint—and over the years she became a force in hip-hop.

2011: One Direction (Re)invents the Stan

In 2011, British boy band One Direction recorded their first album, released “What Makes You Beautiful,” and finished up their first tour. One Direction’s teen audience was fully internet literate and ready to make the band their own. Fanfiction and fanart take flight. So of course we had no choice but to stan.

2012: “Gangnam Style” Introduces K-Pop to the U.S.

One of the most-watched videos in the history of YouTube, “Gangnam Style” set the stage for K-Pop hits like BTS to come. The song, which has been streamed over 208 million times on Spotify, is credited with bringing Korean culture into the American mainstream.

2013: Harlem Shake[s the Internet]

If there was any year that your grandma might be caught dancing to an EDM song, 2013 was it. The “Harlem Shake” showcased the immense viral power of crossover appeal and memes, and the song became a mainstream number-one hit, with more than 2.1 million streams on Spotify. The 2010s were the decade of user-created content—and this song embodied that ideal.

2014: “Uptown Funk” and Taylor Swift Go Retro

In 2014, the 1980s came back to the top of the charts as Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” and Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk,” featuring Bruno Mars, battled for number one. “Uptown Funk” propelled producers to the forefront; it became one of Ronson’s biggest hits and underscored the increasingly key role of producers in music then and today.

2015: Kendrick’s To Pimp A Butterfly Takes Flight, Drake Has the Biggest Year Ever, and Hamilton Shoots Its Shot

There were three differing perspectives on what the biggest musical story of 2015 was. Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly cemented Lamar as a cultural icon as it examined race, discrimination, anger, and violence. Meanwhile, Drake’s “Hotline Bling” and his diss track feud with Meek Mill fueled a massive year for him. And Lin-Manuel Miranda turned Broadway upside down when his hip-hop musical Hamilton exploded as a hit inside and outside the theater.

2016: Beyoncé Drops Lemonade

 With her release of Lemonade, Beyoncé solidified her status as a powerful force in music. Lemonade appeared to divulge intimate details about her life while at the same time commenting on black life in America. It was universally praised for its personal and political content—and also for crossing genres. Its controversial snub at the Grammys also marked the beginning of a broader conversation around recognizing black musicians.

2017: “Despacito” Gets All the Views

In 2017, “Despacito,” a catchy song from Luis Fonzi and Daddy Yankee, crossed a huge milestone to become the most-watched video. Not music video. Video. Oh, and it surpassed 1.3 billion streams on Spotify, making it the first Spanish-language song to reach the billion-stream milestone. 

2018: “thank u, next” and the Evolution of Ariana Grande

The year 2018 was all about Ariana Grande. She returned to music with the One Love Manchester concert and came out on top with “thank u, next,” proving that music has the power to help us process, heal, and face what’s next.

2019: The Yeehaw Agenda

The end of the decade gave us giant breakthroughs for two artists. For Lizzo, it’s a story of years of hard work that culminated in the artist’s becoming a mainstay in the mainstream. And for Lil Nas X, it was the perfect storm of a catchy song on TikTok and a cowboy hat.  

Take it all the way back with a listen to the first episode on Nicki Minaj and female-driven pop below.

https://open.spotify.com/show/4C9SyDbX6N7HfgxYAVs9NP?si=DSOxhIGkQsa7bQGpREV_cw

Broadway’s Broadening Appeal

June 10, 2019

There’s a certain magic involved with attending a Broadway show—whether it be a Rodgers and Hammerstein revival, or a brand-new production from Anaïs Mitchell. And now, due to streaming, fans can experience that Broadway magic from the comfort of their headphones.

In fact, as streaming on Spotify has become more widespread, there’s also been an increase in streaming of the Broadway genre. From 2012 to 2018, we’ve seen an 81% surge. People are taking to Spotify to prep themselves for highly anticipated shows, re-live their favorites, or experience musicals they might not have gotten a chance to see.

Additionally, showtunes listeners complete Broadway albums in the prescribed song order at 124% higher a rate than that of people who complete non-soundtrack albums. There’s truly something to be said about experiencing a musical’s story the way the writers and composers intended.

In honor of the 73rd Tony Awards this past weekend, we looked into streaming of musicals over the last 90 days to see which performances have that everlasting Broadway magic.

Stream Hadestown, the Tony Award-winning best musical of 2019, below.