Tag: reggaeton

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

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

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

Quiz: Are You a True MANSIÓN REGGAETÓN Fan?

It’s no surprise that MANSIÓN REGGAETÓN  has amassed a huge following as our flagship playlist for the reggaeton genre. After all, last year listeners clocked 3.6 billion hours of reggaeton on Spotify. That equals 412,000 years’ worth of streaming!

Since its launch two years ago, the playlist has become the go-to destination for the genre’s most-talked-about artists. It’s also Spotify’s most-streamed editorial playlist in Latin America, and MANSIÓN REGGAETÓN continues to carve out a growing fanbase around the world.

However, not every listener is an expert in the genre’s bold sounds. That’s why we’re challenging reggaetoneros to test their genre knowledge. Are you as bad as Bad Bunny or more of a bad beginner? Let’s find out.

 

1. Speaking of Bad Bunny, let’s start with his leading role in the genre. As Spotify’s number-one-streamed artist of 2020, approximately how many streams did the rapper rack up last year?
2. What is the top song on the MANSIÓN REGGAETÓN playlist right now? (No cheating!)
3. Latin America boasts the most reggaeton fans, but where else has the genre’s catchy beats taken hold?
4. Who did J Balvin collaborate with to create the new hit song “Qué más pues?”
5. How many times does artist Jhay Cortez appear on the MANSIÓN REGGAETÓN playlist?
6. What is the playlist’s tagline? Hint: It sums up how the top hits in the genre find their home in the playlist.
7. Which song has been on the playlist the longest?
8. In which of the following remixes did KAROL G participate?
9. This playlist has resonated with younger reggaetoneros—about 40% of streams come from listeners between the ages of 18 and 24. Who is the youngest of these four artists featured on the playlist at 19 years old?
10. What was the name of the Daddy Yankee and Nicky Jam duo from the ’90s?

Prueba: ¿Eres Un Verdadero Fan de MANSIÓN REGGAETÓN?

No es ninguna sorpresa que MANSIÓN REGGAETÓN haya cautivado a tantos seguidores como nuestra playlist emblemática para el género de reggaetón en Latinoamérica. Después de todo, los auditores marcaron 3,6 miles de millones de horas de reproducción de reggaetón en Spotify. ¡Eso es equivalente a 412.000 años de streaming!  

Desde su lanzamiento hace dos años, la playlist se ha vuelto el destino preferido para los artistas más comentados del género. También es la playlist más reproducida de Spotify en Latinoamérica, y MANSIÓN REGGAETÓN continúa conquistando una creciente base de fans en todo el mundo. 

Sin embargo, no todos los auditores son expertos en los audaces sonidos del género. Por eso estamos desafiando a los reggaetoneros a probar su conocimiento en el género. ¿Eres “malo” como Bad Bunny o en realidad eres “malo” respondiendo? Descubrámoslo

1. Hablando de Bad Bunny, comencemos con su rol de líder en el género. Como el artista número-uno-en-reproducciones 2020 en Spotify, ¿aproximadamente cuántas reproducciones acumuló el rapero el año pasado?
2. ¿Cuál es la canción top en la playlist MANSIÓN REGGAETÓN en este momento? (¡No hagas trampa!)
3.  Latinoamérica tiene la mayor cantidad de fans de reggaetón, ¿en qué otro lugar han echado raíces sus contagiosos ritmos?
4. ¿Con quién colaboró J Balvin para crear su hit “Qué más pues?”?
5. ¿Cuántas veces aparece el artista Jhay Cortez en la playlist MANSIÓN REGGAETÓN?
6. ¿Cuál es el lema de la playlist? Pista: Representa cómo los principales hits del género han llegado a encontrar su hogar en esta playlist.
7. ¿Qué canción ha estado por más tiempo en la playlist?
8. ¿En cuál de los siguientes remixes participó KAROL G?
9. Este playlist resuena mucho con los reggaetoneros más jóvenes –cerca del 40% de las reproducciones viene de auditores entre las edades de 18 a 24 años. ¿Quién es el más joven de estos cuatro artistas destacado en la playlist a sus 19 años?
10. ¿Cuál es el nombre del duo entre Daddy Yankee y Nicky Jam de los ‘90s?

A Beat, a Queen, and a Lot of Gasoline: ‘LOUD’ Podcast Explores a Genre’s Evolution

Few genres have taken the world by storm in recent years quite like reggaeton. The beat is said to have originated in San Juan, Puerto Rico, but it soon became a staple in music throughout Latin America, influencing countless musicians who have become icons of the genre. 

Starting today, LOUD, a new Spotify Original podcast, explores the full tapestry of reggaeton music—from its origins in San Juan to the successes of cultural hits like Daddy Yankee’s Gasolina” to its prominence in cities like Santiago, Chile, and Medellín, Colombia. 

And who better to tell this story but Puerto Rican singer, rapper, and songwriter Ivy Queen?

Follow along over the course of 10 chapters and across five countries as host Ivy Queen weaves a story featuring special guests and Latinx music icons such as Nicky Jam, Zion y Lennox, Sech, and Maluma. They speak about their stories within the history of the genre, one that has generated massive hits, global artists, and the futuristic sound defining the 21st century.

For the Record spoke to creative producer Julio A. Pabón about the series, which was three years in the making. 

You’ve been reporting on this topic for years. What prompted the idea for this podcast?

I’ve always wanted to make the definitive audio documentary on reggaeton. There are so many stories, rumors, half-truths, and exaggerated facts out there that I knew someone had to set the record straight and tell as close to a definitive oral history as possible. At the time, our team helped with podcast development, so I took the opportunity to develop the series as an audio-exclusive offering.

The podcast is broken down into three parts. How and why did you pick the themes for these chapters? How do they come together to tell the overarching story?

The three parts are essentially created by watershed moments in reggaeton’s history that most people would describe as “genre defining.” Without giving too much away, the release of  Daddy Yankee’s song “Gasolina was an example of one of those moments. 

We followed a chronological approach to telling this story, starting with the roots of reggaeton in the Black communities of Panama. As with most documentary storytelling, the themes revealed themselves as we moved forward and did more research from there. 

The podcast features the voices of so many influential artists and creators. Did anyone have thoughts or stories that surprised you?

So many things, and I grew up on reggaeton! I had a great experience learning about the origins of certain rivalries between MCs, Jamaican immigration to Panama, and the true meanings of certain colloquialisms, just to name a few. The one that probably will stand out most is that Daddy Yankee was a baseball prospect before getting shot in the leg and deciding to take music seriously. What would the genre be without him? And yet it almost didn’t happen.

What were the main challenges in putting together a podcast of this scope? 

Access was our biggest challenge. The genre is now in its thirties, so there are some people who are no longer with us and others who changed careers and never looked back.

What conversations about reggaeton are you hoping this podcast can spark?

I want this podcast to spark conversations about race, sex, and the politics of the culture. In the end, it’s an inspirational tale of how a marginalized community created a genre of music with universal appeal. The idea behind LOUD is to spark that inspiration many times over. This isn’t exclusive to reggaeton thoughwe want to explore K-pop, Afrobeat, and Brazilian funk in future seasons.

Stream the first episode of LOUD today. 

Panamanian Artist Boza Brings His Local Sounds to the Global Stage With RADAR

Panamanian artist Boza is making waves far beyond his geographical roots, and as the latest artist to join Spotify’s RADAR roster in the United States, his rise may very well continue.

The singer-songwriter is the newest RADAR artist in the U.S., but he’s no stranger to the program, which spotlights emerging talent from around the globe. In 2020, Boza was chosen as the first March RADAR artist of the month for the Central America and Caribbean region. Listeners quickly gravitated toward his music, and his success in the program is what led him to be picked as a 2021 RADAR artist for the U.S. region. Boza’s tracks can be found on over 80 Spotify playlists and he has nearly 12 million monthly listeners. Fans particularly love his song “Hecha Pa’ Mi,” which has racked up more than 330 million streams. On his debut album, Mas Negro Que Rojo, listeners will find sounds that follow a mix of dancehall, reggaetón, R&B, and more.

“Over the last two years we have witnessed Boza develop one of the strongest fan bases in all of Central America, which has quickly scaled throughout the rest of Latin America and Europe,” shares Jose Nova, a Spotify Senior Editor for Latin America. “Boza consistently provides his fans with unique storytelling through his lyrics that have deep connections with audiences around the world.”

Through RADAR, Boza will be featured on the RADAR playlist and will record music for our Spotify Singles program, and Spotify will provide a full suite of on- and off-platform marketing and promotional support. Spotify also worked with the artist to release a mini documentary, out today. Taking place in his hometown of Panama City in the La Meri neighborhood, the film gives viewers an intimate look at Boza and his journey from the streets to the stage. 

Watch the documentary in Spanish.

For the Record caught up with Boza to ask a few questions about his first album release, his musical style, and how he’s using Spotify to reach fans all over the world.

The last year has been quite busy for you, with your first full album release and the popularity of the song “Hecha Pa’ Mi.” What has it been like to see your career take off? 

Seeing my career take off with “Hecha Pa’ Mi” marks a before and after. To really see a track like this hit the whole world is what every artist dreams of. Seeing that they write to me from countries where they don’t even speak Spanish is so exciting.

Your music includes elements of the Panamanian style “canela.” How would you describe this sound to new listeners?

Canela is a little bit of Panama in my music. It is “The Hood” (El Barrio) and represents my friends, my experiences, and my life experiences in words.

What artists have inspired you the most, in terms of their sound and lyrics?

I really like Bad Bunny. I also like Kafu Banton from Panama—he is one that I always listen to, and I like his way of composing. El Roockie was also an influence. I also like all kinds of music such as salsa, merengue, Haitian, and rock and roll. I learn, gain knowledge, and take elements from everything that I listen to.

You’ve been working with Spotify’s RADAR program since 2020, when you were named  RADAR artist of the month for Central America & the Caribbean. Now you’re expanding as a U.S. RADAR artist. What has this experience been like?

This is another dream that I didn’t think would come so soon. It is very important to connect and see this happening in my country and in Central America, but as an artist, to come to the United States and see that my music is sneaking in everywhere, it’s wonderful. This is going to help me to grow that dream!

Your music has found international popularity in countries like Spain and Italy. Do you think working with Spotify and the RADAR program has helped introduce your music to other areas of the world, outside of Latin American?

The data available to artists on the platform allows me to know how many people are streaming my music in real time, how the number of listeners change over time, where they live, and to also be able to know which of my songs are liked the most. It’s incredible.

You can’t imagine my, and all my team’s, excitement when we saw we were number three in Spain. We were jumping with joy, because really when we entered the top 200 it was already an achievement, then at 100, and then at 50 we said, “Wow, the dream came true.” But when we got to number three, it is one of those moments that you thank God and reflect on all the effort and sacrifice, because it is not easy. It is almost impossible to have a number three in Spain with so many good artists there. In Italy, we asked ourselves, “How did it reach number seven when the song is in Spanish?” That is where one learns that music has no borders. 

What advice do you have for fellow emerging artists?

The best advice I can give you is to be prepared, and to 100% create your own style and your own music. Learn every day from everything you can in studios, in meetings—listen and know that your future depends on many things but the main one is that it depends on yourself.

 

Check out the latest music from Boza below and keep an eye out for his new track, “En La Luna,” coming out June 25.

Dance Along to Spotify’s Most-Streamed Editorial Playlist in Latin America: Mansión Reggaetón

The catchy sounds of reggaetón have seen unprecedented growth in recent years, and the genre’s popularity now expands far beyond its birthplace of Puerto Rico. Those who demand proof need look no further than Spotify’s number-one-streamed artist of 2020, rapper Bad Bunny, who racked up more than 8.3 billion streams last year.

The beats of reggaetón have made waves around the world, but the genre still holds a particular place in the hearts of listeners in Latin America. Mansión Reggaetón, Spotify’s flagship playlist for the genre, is now the most-streamed Spotify editorial playlist in the region. Since its creation two years ago, the playlist has amassed over 3.6 million followers.

The playlist is a one-stop destination for the most-talked-about artists of the genre. Listeners will find music from big stars like KAROL G and Myke Towers, as well as newcomers like Maria Becerra and Boza. Mansión Reggaetón is notably popular with a younger audience—more than 40% of its streams come from listeners between the ages of 18 and 24 years old. 

In celebration of the playlist’s success, Spotify unveiled a new visual design. The vibrant artwork aptly represents reggaetón’s bold sounds and includes the tagline “from the STREET to the TOP,” representing how the top hits in the genre find their home in the playlist.  

The beats of reggaetón have become a true representation and cultural symbol of Latin America, and the Mansión Reggaetón playlist is helping to expand the genre’s footprint to listeners around the globe. While Mexico is the country that currently streams reggaetón the most, the U.S. ranks second, and Spain follows. In the last two years, India has seen a 95% growth of reggaetón streams, and countries like Egypt and Bahrain have also experienced listening spikes in the genre. 

In 2020 alone, listeners clocked 3.6 billion hours of reggaetón on Spotify. That translates to 412,000 years’ worth of listening. This year, fans—whether they’re in Santiago de Chile or Cairo—show no signs of slowing down. 

Listen to the Mansión Reggaetón playlist below to get started on your reggaetón journey.

A perrear con la playlist editorial más escuchada de Spotify en América Latina: Mansión Reggaetón

Los sonidos pegadizos del reggaetón han experimentado un crecimiento sin precedentes en los últimos años, y la popularidad del género ahora se expande mucho más allá de su lugar de nacimiento: Puerto Rico. Aquellos que necesiten pruebas, no deben buscar más allá del artista número uno en streaming de Spotify en 2020, el rapero Bad Bunny, quien acumuló más de 8.300 millones de streams el año pasado.

El reggaetón ha causado sensación en todo el mundo, y ocupa un lugar particular en el corazón de los oyentes de América Latina. Mansión Reggaetón, la playlist insignia de Spotify para el género, es ahora la playlist editorial de Spotify más escuchada en la región. Desde su creación hace dos años, la playlist ha acumulado más de 3.6 millones de seguidores.

Mansión Reggaetón es un destino único para los artistas más comentados del género. Los oyentes encontrarán música de grandes estrellas como KAROL G y Myke Towers, así como de recién llegados como Maria Becerra y Boza. Mansión Reggaetón es notablemente popular entre una audiencia más joven: más del 40% de sus streams provienen de oyentes entre las edades de 18 y 24 años.

Para celebrar el éxito de la playlist, Spotify presentó una nueva identidad visual. La gráfica vibrante representa acertadamente los sonidos atrevidos del reggaetón e incluye el lema, “de la CALLE a la CIMA”, que representa cómo los principales éxitos del género encuentran su hogar en la playlist. 

Los ritmos del reggaetón se han convertido en una verdadera representación y símbolo cultural de América Latina, y la playlist Mansión Reggaetón está ayudando a expandir la huella del género a los oyentes de todo el mundo. Si bien México es el país que más escucha actualmente reggaetón, Estados Unidos ocupa el segundo lugar, seguido por  España. A su vez, en los últimos dos años, India ha experimentado un crecimiento del 95% en los streams de reggaetón, y países como Egipto y Bahrein también han experimentado picos de escucha en el género.

Solo en 2020, se escucharon 3.600 millones de horas de reggaetón en Spotify, ¡que se traducen en más de 412.000 años de escucha! Este año, los fanáticos, ya sea en Santiago de Chile o en El Cairo, no muestran signos de desaceleración.

Escucha la playlist de Mansión Reggaetón para comenzar tu viaje por el reggaetón.

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

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’

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’

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. 

Save the Date for the First Ever Spotify Awards in Mexico City

This March, Spotify is changing the game with our first awards show—one based entirely on user-generated data. That’s right: your streaming choices—whether hip-hop or rock, reggaeton, banda, or cumbia—matter.

Your plays, patterns, and habits will help determine the award categories, finalists, and winners, for the Spotify Awards by providing a true reflection of what fans are listening to. You can get excited for an awards ceremony that actually speaks to what the people are streaming.

Through a partnership with Turner Latin America, the Spotify Awards will be broadcast live on March 5 from the streaming capital of the world, Mexico City. The Mexican capital has the most listeners on Spotify globally, ahead of even New York City, London, and Paris. 

Since Spotify’s launch in Mexico back in 2013, the country has evolved into one of the most sophisticated digital music markets, becoming a magnet for major live acts and inviting rising singers and songwriters to connect with fans and make their mark. And now, it’s the host for the first Spotify Awards, which will be broadcast live on TNT for all of Spanish speaking Latin America.

So save the date—and get streaming. You’ve got the power.