Tag: J Balvin

Meet the New Generation of Colombian Urban Artists Making Waves

April 10, 2024

In recent years, reggaeton has become practically synonymous with Colombia. The country has infused its own sounds and a unique flow into the genre, establishing itself as a hub for reggaeton’s global expansion. Colombian urban artists like J Balvin, Maluma, KAROL G, and Feid have become international stars, helping drive the popularity of Colombian reggaeton around the world. According to Spotify data, beyond its home turf, the genre is most consumed in Mexico, the U.S., Spain, Chile, and Argentina.

Today, more than 350 million user-generated playlists globally on Spotify include at least one song by a Colombian reggaeton artist. The success of the genre has paved the way for emerging talent to embrace these rhythms and start building a new legacy, broadening the spectrum of urban music, experimenting with new sounds, and gaining recognition as the next wave of Colombian artists to watch.

These rising stars plan to follow in the footsteps of the genre’s greatest artists, topping charts around the world. Here are five Colombian artists from the new generation who should be on your radar.

Juan Duque

Born in Marinilla, Antioquia, Juan Duque launched his music career in 2018 and has been steadily raising his profile ever since. On Spotify, the artist has seen a 245% increase in worldwide streams in the last 12 months, having amassed his largest audiences in Colombia, Mexico, the U.S., Spain, and Peru.

His top song on the platform is “Maria” with 17.9 million streams, followed by “Juan Duque Hotline: Cobuz & Bustta” (10.3 million), “+ Chimbita” (5.9 million), and “Maria – Remix” featuring reggaeton star Ryan Castro (5.1 million).

Pirlo

Currently sitting at 4.4 million monthly Spotify listeners, Pirlo is one of the members of the “Cali Cartel,” a collective of urban artists from Cali, one of Colombia’s most important cities. In the last year, the artist’s song streams on Spotify have increased by 657% worldwide and 543% in Colombia, where he has his largest audience, followed by the U.S., Mexico, Spain, and Chile.

He has also teamed up with artists like Feid and Blessd, further boosting his reach. “CUAL ES ESA,” a collaboration with Feid, is Pirlo’s top song with 62.4 million streams, followed by “Ziploc (Blessd Version)” with the Paisa artist Blessd, which has racked up 33.8 million streams.

El Clooy

Carlos Alberto Valoyes Rentería, known by his stage name, El Clooy, is a young, versatile urban artist from Antioquia. Growing up, he was influenced by genres like R&B and hip-hop, as well as artists like Chris Brown and Justin Bieber, though he cites Puerto Rican artist Arcángel as his biggest inspiration.

On Spotify, El Clooy currently has over 366,000 monthly listeners. He has seen a nearly 20% increase in streams in Colombia in the last year, with his top song “Ganas” surpassing 8.7 million streams.

Esteban Rojas

Also known as “La Nue,” Esteban Rojas is another member of the “Cali Cartel.” As a performer-improviser-rapper-singer with over 1.8 million monthly Spotify listeners, the Cali native has emerged as an artist to watch. 

The artist’s song streams on Spotify have increased by an impressive 2,400% worldwide and 2,246% in Colombia. His top song is “Todos Mienten,” a collaboration with Soley that has racked up 12.6 million streams, followed by “Bulevar” with 10.8 million streams.

Soley

Soley is a singer-songwriter whose vocal versatility and discipline have earned her recognition across various genres, with songs like “3:33” and “Respira” racking up 4.2 million and 1.4 million streams, respectively.

Born in Armenia, the young Colombian artist currently has over 427,000 monthly Spotify listeners, and she was one of the openers for Karol G’s Mañana Será Bonito Fest in Medellín last December. Her audience is largely based in Colombia, Spain, the U.S., Mexico, and Peru.

Stream our Made in Colombia playlist to discover more of the country’s hottest artists.

Spotify Teams Up With Artists and Creators To Help You ‘Tune In To Yourself’ on World Mental Health Day

October 7, 2022

There are times when it feels like the world around us gets too loud, distracting us from experiencing the moment and connecting with ourselves. And while mental health has always been important, these last few years have brought it to the forefront. In a sea of demands for our attention, it’s important to take time to get grounded. To help Spotify listeners find quiet amid the chaos, we’re inviting them to turn down the noise and tune in to themselves on World Mental Health Day this year. 

At Spotify, mental health is a top priority. It’s the reason why we started our Heart and Soul mental health initiative in 2018 as a way to raise awareness, build knowledge, encourage self-care and professional support, and normalize the conversation to reduce stigma. And in the years since, we have continued to make mental health conversations and resources available to our employees, as well as to all who come to Spotify looking for the moments of inspiration and healing that music and podcasts can provide.

This year is no exception. We believe that audio is one of many beneficial tools for mental well-being, and so we’re supporting listeners and employees with our lineup of hand-curated content and collaborations with artists, creators, and influencers. We’re also continuing to evolve our partnership with Headspace, the mental wellness provider that promotes health and happiness through mindfulness and meditation. Our hope is that everyone discovers audio that helps them continue to connect with themselves and with others in their everyday lives.

Connect with your favorite artists and creators in our Wellness hub

Across our Wellness hub, we’re highlighting content that can help listeners find some respite from noisy thoughts and buzzing news feeds. We’re also collaborating with artists and podcasters to share their personal experiences of feeling overwhelmed and stressed––along with their ways to bring themselves back to a place of connection. When you first open the Spotify app, you’ll be greeted with a pop-up or banner with a link that will take you to the hub. 

There, you’ll find not only some of our most popular editorial wellness playlists like Calm Vibes, Noise Cancelling, and lofi meditation, but also a wide range of curated playlists from artists and podcasters like J Balvin, Hayley Kiyoko, We Can Do Hard Things’ Glennon Doyle, and Meditation with CurlyNikki’s Nikki Walton.

We’ll also be working with a few of India’s and Sweden’s brightest stars. This includes India’s singer-songwriters Armaan Malik and Hanita Bhambri, actors Rajkummar Rao and Mithila Palkar, and writer Shaheen Bhatt—and from Sweden, artist SHY Martin and Det skaver’s Cassandra Klatzkow, Elsa Ekman, and Nadia Kandil. Each playlist will feature some inspiring words from the artists and creators themselves about the importance of mental health and well-being. 

Additionally, you’ll find exclusive content on our social channels, where creators and influencers such as Zion Clark, Eli Rallo, and Bran Flakezzz will be sharing their own thoughts on mental health awareness and encouraging viewers to visit the Wellness hub.  

Sundays get less scary with Headspace

In addition to having our Wellness hub, we’re also partnering with Headspace to launch the limited podcast series Sunday Scaries Student Edition on October 9. Based on the hit podcast Sunday Scaries, the series pairs Gael Aitor—cohost of the popular Gen Z podcast Teenager Therapy—with Headspace wellness expert Dora Kamau to discuss meditation, mindfulness, and most importantly, life. At the top of each episode, the two tackle a subject that’s affecting students and young people, and Gael has a conversation with Dora about it. 

“It is extremely important to break the taboo surrounding topics such as mental health and anxiety, especially with younger generations,” Gael told For the Record. “This limited podcast series of Sunday Scaries is aimed at reaching young people and teaching them to learn and understand that these feelings are normal, and there are so many tools and techniques to help combat those situations.” 

Whether she’s talking Gael through the feelings of fear that come with following his dreams, or helping him to reframe his thoughts around the idea of being alone, Dora opens up new perspectives in each of the six weekly episodes. And after every conversation, Dora leads Gael through a bespoke meditation on the subject.

“Young people are struggling more than ever with their mental health, with 50% of mental health conditions starting by age 14. Together with Gael, our intention is to help destigmatize and normalize conversations surrounding mental health by providing listeners a space to explore and investigate their feelings, emotions, and unique experiences,” said Dora. Through sharing our own stories, it’s our hope that folks can find a sense of comfort through the advice and resources shared with them.

Finally, Spotify will also be donating directly to Backline, the Music Health Alliance, the MINDS Foundation, and SEARCH.  

Turning down the noise can be tough––especially in moments of stress. If you or someone you know is struggling to safely tune in to themselves, our Mental Health Resources can provide immediate help.

Need a moment to focus on yourself? Take a break with our Calm Vibes playlist below.

Update as of August 21, 2023: We want to help connect listeners who may be thinking about self-harm with the support they need. Anyone who searches for terms that are associated with this type of behavior will receive a localized in-app message prompting them to explore our Mental Health Resources Hub and help them find locally relevant emergency mental health and support services.

Celebrate Medellín with Casa Spotify Medallo, an Open Studio Residency for Emerging Artists and Creators

September 7, 2022

Medellín, Colombia, has been one of the gravitational poles for Latin music and a pillar of the music industry in the region for over a century. This city is home to great Colombian popular music artists such as Lucho Bermúdez and the salsa orchestra Fruko y sus Tesos. Famously, the city also gave birth to the Colombian reggaeton explosion with stars like Maluma, J Balvin, Karol G y Sebastián Yatra, artists that have put Medellin on the map as a capital of urban Latin music.

Now, to celebrate the musical tradition of the city, Spotify is presenting Casa Spotify Medallo, a place for inspiration, collaboration and education, dedicated to urban artists, producers, composers and podcast creators. 

Casa Spotify Medallo will open in Medellín on October 11th to November 3rd, where it will be an artistic residency and recording studio open to emerging audio creators. Artists and creators will find a daily program that includes workshops, masterclasses, panels and showrooms with producers and influential personalities, designed to promote and enhance their creative abilities.

The doors to the house, located in a historic place in the heart of the city, will be open to the new paisa urban wave and local creators, to continue raising the talent of a city that has given so much to the global music industry. 

“We celebrate Colombia for its cultural and musical richness, recognized worldwide thanks to its artists, producers and composers,” says Mia Nygren, General Manager for Latin America. “We are here in Medellin to listen to emerging artists and audio creators with the goal of generating collaboration opportunities and empowering local talent to reach new audiences through our platform. We want to show emerging talent that Spotify is their best ally to get more listeners to discover their art.”

Located within a valley and surrounded by captivating mountains, Medellín is the birthplace of legendary labels such as Discos Fuentes, Codiscos and Sonolux, which shaped Latin music for decades, as well as the city that adopted Carlos Gardel’s tangos as its own. 

In the eighties, rock took over withEkhymosis, which later gave life to Juanes‘ solo career, metal with bands like Kraken, punk with I.R.A, and more recently Hip-hop with legendary bands like AlcolirykoZ. 

Later, the city’s reggaeton boom opened the doors to the new wave of local heroes represented by Feid, Ryan Castro and talents that have been part of Spotify’s RADAR Andinos like Ovy on The Drums and Blessd, and other artists like Farina, our program ambassador of EQUAL Colombia. 

With Casa Spotify Medallo, we seek to recognize the original sounds and stories of the new paisa creators who have shown that their sounds break barriers  while also expressing our commitment to a new generation of creative talent. That’s why creators interested in being part of Casa Spotify Medallo can register on this link and submit one of their favorite compositions hosted on the platform. The link will be open from September 7 to september 13 .

We want you to enjoy Casa Spotify Medallo with us.

Learn more about the programming of all the educational sessions at Casa Spotify Medallo here, where you can sign up for the events that interest you.

Discover the urban sounds of Medellín in our Fino playlist. 

Two-Time Most-Streamed Artist Bad Bunny Just Released His Fifth Album, ‘Un Verano Sin Ti,’ and Spotify Is Here To Help You Stream It

May 6, 2022

Bad Bunny is centered in frame and stares into camera on a deep blue background. A film real of other images lines the left side.

When Bad Bunny released his debut album, x100PRE, on Christmas Eve 2018, there was little way the Puerto Rican reggaeton artist could have known what the next few years would bring. But alongside the publishing of his next two albums—the second, Oasis, a collaboration with J Balvin, and the third, 2020’s YHLQMDLG—his fame rose worldwide. His next pair of albums, Las Que No Iban a Salir and El Último Tour del Mundo, also both released in 2020, propelled him to the top spot as the most-streamed artist on Spotify with more than 8.3 billion streams.

In 2021 he did it again, grabbing the title of most-streamed artist for the second year in a row. Over the course of the year, he had accumulated 9.1 billion streams without even releasing a new album. Plus, in the two years combined, his music was streamed for over 63 billion minutes. Since 2015, Bad Bunny has been streamed over 35 billion times across more than 344 million listeners. 

Today, Bad Bunny is releasing the highly anticipated album Un Verano Sin Ti, “a summer without you,” just in time for summer. As always, fans can expect collaborations—this time with Rauw Alejandro, Chencho Corleone, Jhayco, Tony Dize, Bomba Estereo, The Marias, and Buscabulla. 

“The vibe in this album is so it can be your summer playlist,” Bad Bunny told For the Record. “I personally see it like that album you play when you go on vacation to an island and you’re on the beach all day. Then you go back to your vacation resort and put it on while you’re getting ready to go for a late dinner with your friends. And on your way to that dinner you ask the driver to play the album again.”

To celebrate the release, Bad Bunny teamed up with Spotify to create Los Elementos Del Verano, an original film that brings the summertime sights and sounds of his beloved Puerto Rico to the world. In the short original film, Bad Bunny shares his favorite things about his home and how it has influenced his music, and Un Verano Sin Ti in particular.

“The album is very versatile, very Bad Bunny,” he shared. “But the versatility is different from the others; this one has different sounds—reggaeton, dembow, reggae influence, afro beats—and all of them relate to the Caribbean beats. They all feel happy and you want to dance to them.”

To mark this new album, Bad Bunny collaborated with Spotify to give users in the free tier around the world* on-demand access to listen to the 23 tracks as many times and in the order they wish to enjoy it for one week. Fans can also catch Bad Bunny on billboards in Times Square, Downtown Los Angeles, Toronto, Mexico City, Bogotá, and Buenos Aires.

Don’t wait—get in the summer groove with Un Verano Sin Ti now. 

*181 markets worldwide, not including Japan and South Korea

El artista más escuchado por dos años consecutivos Bad Bunny acaba de lanzar su quinto álbum, ‘Un Verano Sin Ti’, y Spotify está aquí para ayudarte a escucharlo

May 6, 2022

Cuando Bad Bunny lanzó su álbum debut, x100PRE, en la víspera de Navidad de 2018, difícilmente el artista de reggaeton puertorriqueño podría imaginar lo que traerían los próximos años. Pero junto con sus siguientes dos álbumes, el segundo, Oasis, una colaboración con J Balvin y, y el tercero, YHLQMDLG de 2020, su fama aumentó en todo el mundo. Sus siguientes dos álbumes, Las Que No Iban a Salir y El Último Tour del Mundo, también lanzados en 2020, lo impulsaron al primer puesto como el artista más escuchado en Spotify con más de 8.300 millones de streams.

En 2021 lo volvió a hacer, consiguiendo el título de artista más escuchado por segundo año consecutivo. En el transcurso del año, acumuló 9.100 millones de streams sin siquiera lanzar un nuevo álbum. En los dos años combinados, su música se escuchó durante más de 63 mil millones de minutos. Desde 2015, Bad Bunny se ha escuchado más de 35 mil millones de veces por más de 344 millones de oyentes.

Hoy, Bad Bunny lanza Un Verano Sin Ti, el esperado álbum justo a tiempo para la temporada. Como siempre, los fanáticos pueden esperar colaboraciones, esta vez con Rauw Alejandro, Chencho Corleone, Jhayco, Tony Dize, Bomba Estéreo, The Marías y Buscabulla.

‘La vibra en este álbum es la de tu playlist para el verano”, Bad Bunny dijo a For The Record. “Personalmente lo veo como ese disco que pones cuando te vas de vacaciones a una isla y estás todo el día en la playa. Luego regresas a tu hotel y lo pones mientras te preparas para ir a cenar con tus amigos. Y de camino a esa cena le pides al conductor que vuelva a poner el disco”.

Para celebrar el lanzamiento, Bad Bunny se asoció con Spotify para crear Los Elementos Del Verano, un filme original que trae al mundo las vistas y los sonidos del verano de su amado Puerto Rico. En un cortometraje original, Bad Bunny comparte sus cosas favoritas sobre su hogar y cómo ha influido en su música y en Un Verano Sin Ti en particular.

El álbum es muy versátil, muy Bad Bunny”, compartió. “Pero la versatilidad es diferente a los demás, este tiene diferentes sonidos, reggaeton, dembow, influencia del reggae, ritmos afro, y todos se relacionan con los ritmos caribeños y te hace querer bailar”.

Con motivo de este nuevo álbum, Bad Bunny colaboró con Spotify para brindar a los usuarios del servicio gratuito de todo el mundo* acceso bajo demanda para escuchar las 23 pistas las veces que quieran y en el orden en que deseen disfrutarlas durante una semana. Los fanáticos también pueden ver a Bad Bunny en vallas publicitarias en Times Square, el centro de Los Ángeles, Toronto, Ciudad de México, Bogotá y Buenos Aires.

No esperes, entra en la vibra del verano con Un Verano Sin Ti ahora.

*181 mercados en todo el mundo, sin incluir a Japón y Corea del Sur

After 7 Years of Breaking Boundaries, Spotify’s Baila Reggaeton Playlist Hits 10 Million Followers

May 14, 2020

Reggaeton first surfaced in Panama in the 1970s and quickly took on a vibrant life of its own. As the genre found footholds in Colombia, Puerto Rico, and the United States, it also welcomed new talents and sounds. In the years to follow, the reggae-dancehall fusion solidified as a prevailing cultural movement with its own language, symbols, and artistic identity. In 2013, Spotify recognized this rapidly growing movement and created the Baila Reggaeton playlist. Now, seven years later, the playlist has skyrocketed—much like the genre itself—and has now reached 10 million followers.

From Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina” in the mid-2000s to 2017’s “Mi Gente” by J Balvin, the genre—and the playlist that captured it all—has seen explosive growth and influence throughout the years. Two reggaeton artists (Daddy Yankee and J Balvin) have even become the number-one-streamed artist on Spotify globally following the release of their hits on the playlist.  

But these milestones are only the tip of the reggaeton iceberg. The Baila Reggaeton playlist has ridden the genre’s groove and helped break the new wave of reggaeton artists like Sech, Rauw Alejandro, and Lunay. The top 10 songs streamed on the playlist from January 1, 2014, to now encompass many of the artists who make up the sounds of the genre.    

  1. “Sola (Remix)” — Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, Farruko, Wisin, Zion & Lennox
  2. “Te Boté – Remix” ­— Bad Bunny, Casper Magico, Darell, Nicky Jam, Nio Garcia, Ozuna
  3. “Me Rehúso” — Danny Ocean
  4. “Escápate Conmigo” ­— Ozuna, Wisin
  5. “La player (Bandolera)” ­— Zion & Lennox
  6. “Otra vez” — J Balvin, Zion & Lennox
  7. “Sin Pijama” — Becky G, Natti Natasha
  8. “Criminal” ­— Natti Natasha, Ozuna
  9. “Vaina Loca” ­— Manuel Turizo, Ozuna
  10. “Ahora Dice” ­— Arcangel, Chris Jeday, J Balvin, Ozuna

The increasing popularity of reggaeton is reflected not only on this playlist, but also heavily across social media platforms, where reggaeton artists thrive and have become cultural influencers, tastemakers, and role models for the new generation of Latin music fans. See what some of your favorites have to say.

What does it feel like to be part of a genre that has now revolutionized the music industry?

Becky G: I feel empowered to be a part of a genre that is revolutionizing the music industry. I have always believed in the power of music and how it can bring others together, so I love seeing how the universal language of music is starting to pick up a little slang from us too. 

J Balvin: It feels amazing. I have spent my entire career trying to push the “Latino Gang” culture forward, so it feels special to see the genre become a truly worldwide movement.

Ivy Queen: I feel great pride to see how a genre that started off in Borinquen’s streets and garages has shaken the world.

Daddy Yankee: I always had the vision that reggaeton would be heard in the entire world. It was already a lifestyle but it took some time to realize that people would grow within this new culture—it was a movement. I was absolutely clear about it, and even if they called me crazy I always envisioned what we are now living through.

El ícono del reggaetón J Balvin cuenta su historia en el nuevo podcast original de Spotify ‘Made in Medellín’

January 23, 2020

J Balvin no solo es uno de los grandes nombres del reggaetón —es uno de los grandes nombres de la música en la actualidad, punto. ¿Qué tan grande? Pues tan grande como el cuarto artista más escuchado en el mundo: 58 millones de oyentes en Spotify cada mes. En el verano de 2018, los streams de sus fans lo llevaron a un nivel que muy pocos artistas alcanzan —ser el artista número uno en Spotify—. Ahora sus seguidores pueden estar más cerca del reggaetonero en Made in Medellín, el nuevo podcast original de Spotify.

La serie de seis episodios cuenta la historia de J Balvin, que nació como José Álvaro Osorio Balvin, siguiendo su sueño de convertirse en cantante y alcanzar la fama mundial hasta los todos los retos que tuvo que afrontar. Narrado por el mismísimo J Balvin, y con historias de sus amigos y familiares más cercanos, el podcast ofrece una mirada íntima a la vida del artista.

Antes de sintonizar el podcast, mira lo que él y sus seres queridos tienen que decir sobre su viaje por las siguientes citas.

Reggaetón Artist J Balvin Gets Personal in the New Spotify Original Podcast ‘Made in Medellín’

January 23, 2020

J Balvin isn’t only one of the biggest names in reggaetón—he’s one of the biggest names in music today, period. How big? Try fourth-most-played artist in the world big. That’s 58 million Spotify listeners every month. In summer 2018, his fans’ streaming propelled him to a level few artists ever achieve—the number one artist on Spotify. Now, fans can get up close and personal with the reggaetón artist in the new Spotify original podcast Made in Medellín.

The six-episode series tells the story of J Balvin, who was born José Álvaro Osorio Balvin. It follows his dreams of becoming a singer and rising to global fame and shows the challenges that came along with it. Narrated by J Balvin himself and featuring stories from the friends and family closest to him, the podcast offers an intimate look at the artist’s life.

Before you tune into the podcast, see what he and his loved ones had to say about his journey by scrolling through the quotes below. 

Los Cañonazos Bailables: Los clásicos de la rumba colombiana llegan a Spotify

December 19, 2019

Una de las tradiciones en el mes de diciembre en Colombia es reunirse con familia y amigos durante los nueve días antes de la Navidad para celebrar las “Novenas” para disfrutar platos típicos, risas y, un poco más entrada la noche, música bailable colombiana para prender la rumba.

¿De dónde viene ese ritmo que convirtió una tradición en un baile de barrio? La respuesta está en Los Cañonazos Bailables, el compilado anual de éxitos que produce la reconocida disquera Discos Fuentes.

Los Cañonazos Bailables cambiaron la forma de escuchar y comercializar la música al reunir por primera vez en la historia de la música en Colombia –y en América Latina– los éxitos bailables en una misma entrega. El primer volumen de Los Cañonazos incluyó éxitos de Lucho Bermúdez Y Su Orchestra, Pedro Laza Y Sus Pelayeros y Los Teen Agers.

Después de 1960, Discos Fuentes seguirían publicando cada año un nuevo volumen de Los Cañonazos Bailables, que se convertiría en una pieza clave en la cultura y un acontecimiento anual para los amantes de la rumba. Aún hoy, canciones que fueron grandes éxitos de este compilado como El Preso de Fruko y Sus Tesos con Wilson Manyoma, Rebelión del Joe Arroyo y La Verdad o Isla para Dos de Galileo Y Su Banda, despiertan entre los colombianos un incontrolable impulso de bailar y un sentimiento de nostalgia a las fiestas.

Los Cañonazos Bailables son solo uno de los destacados aportes de Discos Fuentes a la cultura musical en América Latina. La compañía fue fundada en 1934 en Cartagena por Antonio, uno de los seis hermanos de la familia Fuentes, después de un viaje a los Estados Unidos. Impresionado con la tecnología de la industria musical, Antonio regresó a Colombia con la idea de grabar las canciones de los artistas locales. 

En una época en que la música se consumía a través de la radio y la gente iba a bailar a los salones inspirados en Cuba, Discos Fuentes llevó la música y el baile al público masivo gracias a la introducción de tecnologías innovadoras para la época como la producción de discos en serie. Con presentaciones como la de Lucho Bermúdez o la de Pacho Galán, la disquera le apostó a la reivindicación de los ritmos tradicionales de la región caribeña junto con grandes actos al mejor estilo de las big bands americanas. La música tropical colombiana conquistaría muchos corazones –y caderas– y atraería la atención de los públicos internacionales.

“Cuando le preguntas a los jóvenes por artistas colombianos de talla internacional, muchos no recuerdan que hace 40 años llenábamos escenarios en todo el mundo con artistas como Los Corraleros de Majagual”, señala Tony Peñarredonda, actual gerente general de Discos Fuentes, recordando los grandes éxitos de la música colombiana antes de Shakira, J Balvin y Maluma. “Teníamos al Joe Arroyo, Rodolfo Aicardi, Latin Brothers y Fruko y Sus Tesos en el Madison Square Garden de Nueva York. Era el inicio de una explosión de nuestro folclor por todo el mundo”.

85 años después del nacimiento de Discos Fuentes, la música se escucha diferente. Gracias al streaming, sus canciones están trascendiendo fronteras. Asimismo, su música está evolucionando para responder a las nuevas audiencias, cada vez mejor perfiladas gracias a la data y la información que ofrece la tecnología. Ejemplo de esto son artistas como Afrosound y la DJ Electropika, quienes han tomado las raíces musicales y el folclor latino con instrumentos como la gaita y el acordeón, y le han sumado nuevos elementos provenientes del rock, el pop y la música urbana.  

A través de Spotify, la disquera quiere proyectar su idea de música para la posteridad. Una propuesta creativa, más que comercial, seguros de que lo que surge como una manifestación del ingenio y del gusto en la música, puede convertirse en un éxito. “Lo que está naciendo son nuevas propuestas donde hay más apertura, los artistas no están encasillados y son más abiertos a nuevos ritmos. Lo más importante es que tengan calidad y que realmente transmitan alegría, baile y movimiento, que es lo que buscamos con la música”, concluye Peñarredonda.

¿Quieres explorar más? Revisa playlists de la disquera como los Cañonazos bailables 59, Discos Fuentes Top 100 y DICIEMBRE COLOMBIANO.

Santiago de Chile: la capital del streaming de reggaetón de Spotify

October 16, 2019

Cuando la estrella del reggaetón colombiano J Balvin y el artista puertorriqueño de trap Bad Bunny lanzaron su álbum colaborativo de ocho tracks, OASIS, en junio de este año, cada canción llegó al Top 50 de Chile en el primer día de su lanzamiento. Aunque es potencialmente sorprendente a primera vista, una mirada más cercana muestra que este logro está totalmente en línea con el reggaetón.

Puerto Rico y Panamá pueden ser los lugares de nacimiento del género, y Colombia una potencia actual de producción, pero con más de 400 millones de reproducciones por mes, Santiago de Chile es la capital indiscutible del streaming de reggaetón. En Santiago se toca el doble de canciones de reggaetón que la segunda ciudad de la lista, Ciudad de México (a pesar de que la capital mexicana tiene una población casi el doble del tamaño de su contraparte chilena).

“Lo que estamos viendo con el reggaetón en Chile es un gran testimonio de la potencia absoluta que es América Latina cuando se trata de construir y entregar audiencias para artistas latinos”, dijo Mia Nygren, directora gerente de Spotify en América Latina.

Santiago, Chile: Spotify’s Streaming Capital of Reggaetón

October 16, 2019

When the Colombian reggaetón star J Balvin and Puerto Rican trap artist Bad Bunny dropped their eight-track collaborative album, OASIS, in June this year, every single song  made it into Chile’s Top 50 on the first day of its release. Though potentially surprising at first glance, a closer look shows this chart-topping is right in line for reggaetón.

Puerto Rico and Panama might be the birthplaces of the genre—and Colombia a current production powerhouse—but with over 400 million plays per month, Santiago, Chile is the indisputable capital of reggaetón streaming. Twice as many reggaetón songs are played in Santiago as the second city on the list, Mexico City (even though the Mexican capital has a population nearly double the size of its Chilean counterpart). 

“What we are seeing with reggaetón in Chile is a great testimony to the absolute powerhouse that is Latin America when it comes to building and delivering audiences for Latin artists,” said Mia Nygren, Managing Director for Spotify in Latin America. 

Spotify Flagship Playlist ¡Viva Latino! Hits 10 Million Followers

July 26, 2019

It’s been growing five times faster than any other playlist in Spotify’s top 1000. It’s propelled numerous Spanish-language songs to the Global Top 100 and Top 50 charts. And now, ¡Viva Latino!, our flagship Latin music playlist, has hit a remarkable 10 million followers. 

Spotify users from all over the world are tuning into ¡Viva Latino! to hear the hits from the hottest Latin artists – whether it’s the latest global anthems by Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Ozuna, or Nicky Jam, the soulful sounds of Karol G, the sultry hits of Becky G, or Rosalia’s reinvention of flamenco, to name just a few. ¡Viva Latino! is loaded with songs that grab your attention, fill your day with music, and secure a place in your heart.

The growth of the third-most-followed playlist reflects the incredible movement within Latin music over the past few years. Since 2014, Latin artists have seen a staggering 250% increase in representation across the Global Top 100. Plus, in the past two years alone on Spotify, we’ve seen an average 33% year-over-year increase in streams of Latin music.  

We’re excited about this 10-million-follower milestone—thanks in large part to you, the listeners and fans. The artists who made the playlist great are thankful and excited too. Check out the video below for best wishes from Daddy Yankee, Anitta, Wisin & Yandel, and more. We are 10,000,000 strong.

If you’re as excited about this milestone as we are, come celebrate with us in Miami at the second ¡Viva Latino! Live concert, featuring Bad Bunny, Nicky Jam, Rosalia, Sebastian Yatra, and Sech. Get tickets on Ticketmaster.