The Meteoric Rise of Latin Music: Conquering the Global Stage

The Latin music industry has experienced a remarkable transformation in recent years, solidifying its position as a dominant force in the global music landscape. According to Luminate's 2024 Midyear Music Report, Latin music is now the fastest-growing core genre in the United States, and Spanish is the second-most-consumed language in music both stateside and globally, trailing only English.

Unlocking the Power of Latin Music: From Viral Hits to Billboard Dominance

The Influence of Content Creators: Bridging the Gap Between Fans and Artists

The rise of content creators has played a pivotal role in amplifying the reach and popularity of Latin music. Influencers like Mexican TikTok sensation Kunno, who has close ties to many Latin music stars, have become instrumental in introducing new artists and trends to their vast audiences. This has led to a surge of Latin music-focused content, captivating fans worldwide and driving increased engagement and discovery. As a result, several content creators have taken the next step, signing recording deals with major labels such as Sony Music and Warner, further blurring the lines between social media and the music industry.

Grupo Frontera: Mastering the Art of Adaptation and Hitmaking

For the fourth consecutive year, Latin Music Week will host a groundbreaking session featuring the norteño band Grupo Frontera, which has earned an impressive 20+ No. 1 hits on the Billboard charts since 2022. The band's ability to seamlessly adapt songs from various genres into their distinctive style has been a key factor in their meteoric rise. This year's panel will showcase the group's creative process as they develop a hit in real-time, building on the success of previous Latin Music Week collaborations, such as Blessd and Ovy on the Drums' "Billboard" and Pedro Capó and Carín León's "Existo."

From Clubs to Stadiums: The Remarkable Journey of Latin Superstars

The Latin music industry has witnessed an unprecedented surge in stadium-filling acts, with artists like Bad Bunny, Karol G, Grupo Firme, and Feid captivating audiences on a global scale. Colombian star Feid's remarkable rise culminated in July with his first-ever stadium concert at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, a testament to the genre's ability to transcend traditional boundaries. In a candid conversation, Feid, his manager Luis Villamizar, and Live Nation's senior vice president of global touring, Hans Schafer, will share insights into the strategies and challenges of building a touring career that can sell out major venues worldwide.

The Winning Combo of Sports and Music: Forging Powerful Partnerships

The intersection of Latin music and the sports world has become increasingly prominent, with artists like Anitta, Anuel AA, Ozuna, Bad Bunny, and Marc Anthony exploring various collaborations and ventures. The recent Copa América soccer tournament, held in the United States, demonstrated the strong synergy between Latin acts and the world of sports, with steady cross-promotion and engagement between athletes and musicians. This panel will delve into the symbiotic relationship between the two industries, featuring insights from music stars and soccer players Igor Lichnovsky and Leonardo Campana, moderated by Latin sports manager-agent Daniella Durán.

Redefining the Latin Music Business: Innovative Dealmaking and Entrepreneurship

The Latin music industry is witnessing a surge of innovative dealmaking and entrepreneurial spirit. Trailblazing labels like Rancho Humilde, founded by Jimmy Humilde, have been at the forefront of this evolution, forging strategic partnerships with major labels and distributors while also crafting unique deals with their own artists. This panel, featuring Humilde, Sony Music U.S. Latin's VP of A&R Txema Rosique, Virgin Music Group's managing director of artist and label strategy/GM of Latin Cris Falcão, and producer Atella, who leads the newly launched ZML Records, will delve into the transformative changes shaping the Latin music business landscape.

Honoring Legacies: The Dynasties of Regional Mexican Music

The rich cultural traditions of regional Mexican music are being carried forward by a new generation of artists, each with a deep connection to the legacies of their famous parents and grandparents. This once-in-a-lifetime panel will bring together Chiquis Rivera, daughter of the late banda legend Jenni Rivera; Camila Fernández, following in the mariachi footsteps of her father, Alejandro, and grandfather Vicente Fernández; Lupita Infante, upholding the legacy of the iconic ranchera singer and actor Pedro Infante; and Majo Aguilar, representing the golden age of Mexican cinema through her musical heritage from grandparents Antonio Aguilar and Flor Silvestre. Sponsored by Smirnoff Ice, this discussion will delve into the individual and familial contributions to these rich cultural traditions.

Insights from a Latin Music Icon: The JOP (Jesús Ortiz Paz) Q&A

The mainstay Latin Music Week Q&A this year spotlights the leader of Fuerza Regida and founder of Street Mob Records, JOP (Jesús Ortiz Paz). Introduced by Jorge Mejia, president/CEO of Sony Music Publishing Latin, and moderated by Billboard's chief content officer of Latin/Español, Leila Cobo, this session will provide deep insights into the band's industry achievements and the expansion of its record label. Fuerza Regida made history as the first Latin band to top Billboard's 2023 year-end Top Artists — Duo/Group list, and the act continues to innovate, blending Jersey club and corridos (dubbed "Jersey corridos") on their 2024 eighth studio album, Pero No Te Enamores.

The Legendary Gloria Estefan: A Conversation with an Icon

Fresh from receiving the Legend award at the 2024 Billboard Latin Women in Music celebration, the Cuban American superstar Gloria Estefan will sit for an intimate conversation about her four-decade career. Estefan, who rose to fame in the 1980s as the lead vocalist for Miami Sound Machine, alongside her husband, Emilio, revolutionized pop music by infusing English-language pop with Latin flavor, while also singing in Spanish. In 2023, she became the first female Latin artist to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and her life story is being adapted into a feature film, following the success of the Broadway musical, On Your Feet!.