October 14, 2024, 12:09 PM
October 14, 2024, 12:09 PM
The 35th edition of Billboard’s Latin Music Week began this Monday with Alejandro Sanz, Gloria Estefan, Pepe Aguilar, Yandel, J Balvin, Peso Pluma and Feid as guests of honor, and the incorporation of unpublished panels such as the power of the ‘influencers’ in the promotion of songs and the new movement of Venezuelan artists.
Also for the first time there will be a panel on mental healthwith Thalía and María Becerra, and the conjunction of K-Pop with Latin music will be explored, with the South Korean band NMIXX.
The conference, considered the most important meeting of the music industry in Spanish, takes place at the iconic Fillmore theater Miami Beachthe city from where the internationalization of Latin artists took place more than three decades ago.
“It all started here and here we are celebrating this anniversary, in which for the first time we are opening up to incorporating influencers and examine emerging currents such as what is happening with Venezuelan music,” Leila Cobo, director of Latin music content in English and Spanish at the Billboard organization, told EFE.
“The conference is the epicenter of panels, concerts, intimate interviews and collaborations that celebrate the rich diversity and global impact of Latin music,” he added.
A multi-billion dollar industry
Latin music revenues reached a record $685 million in the first half of 2024, according to the latest report from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). This is an increase of 7% compared to the first half of 2023.
More than 70 artists of this multi-million dollar industry, producers and executives, among whom Alejandro Sanz stands out, they meet starting today in the 2024 edition of Latin Music Week.
The Spanish artist will participate in the main session on Wednesday and will be honored for his more than 30 years of career during the Billboard Latin Music Awards gala, which will be presented on Thursday.
Colombian J. Balvin, for his part, will focus on his new album ‘Rayo’ and his vision on the future of reggaeton; will present ‘Next Gen Reggaeton: An Evening Curated by J Balvin’, where he will perform live together with collaborators and friends.
Meanwhile, Gloria Estefan, Pepe Aguilar, Yandel and Young Miko will also participate in individual question and answer sessions.
In the Mexican regional area, Featherweight will host the ‘New Mexican:’ panel Peso Pluma and Friends’, in which he will discuss with other emerging artists the impact of this movement on the international scene. Hassan Labande, his given name, is one of the most nominated for the Latin Billboards, along with Karol G and Bad Bunny.
Mexican American artists from Eslabón Armado and Yahritza y su Esencia will talk about what it’s like to be in a group with their brothers, while the members of Grupo Frontera, one of the most popular groups in Mexican music, will compose a live song.
Nacho, Danny Ocean, Elena Rose, Lele Pons and Mau y Ricky will talk about the growing presence of Venezuelan artists in international music.
In an interview with EFE, the Venezuelan duo Mau y Ricky considered, on the other hand, “inevitable that we talk about what is happening in the country.”
“We don’t censor anything,” said Cobo. about the possibility of the conversation turning political.
Female empowerment and social networks.
Female empowerment will also be a central theme. The ‘She Runs the Boards’ panel will focus on the Challenges and opportunities faced by women in the music industrywith the participation of Andrea Portela, marketing leader at Apple Music, and Yira Santiago, entertainment lawyer.
Bad Gyal, Belinda, Danna, Debi Nova, Mon Laferte and Zhamira Zambrano will participate in the now classic panel of women in music. For their part, Chiquis, Majo Aguilar, Camila Fernández and Lupita Infante will explore the experience of being part of a musical dynasty.
Mexican content creators Domelipa and Mario Bautista, who have developed a career in music, their compatriots Yeri MUA and Kunno, and Venezuelan Marko will premiere Billboard’s first panel on the effect of influencers on the industry.
Latin Music Week includes the Billboard Awards ceremonywhich will air on Telemundo on Sunday.
In Miami Beach, the conference closes on Friday with a concert at the Fillmore with Ana Mena, Belinda, Elvis Crespo, Floyy Menor, Tito Double P and Young Miko, as well as a celebration by the organization of the Bresh Party. EFE
