5 Uplifting Moments in Latin Music This Week (July 11)

Rauw Alejandro.Born and raised in Bonaire, an island municipality of the Netherlands, Ir-Sais is also half Dominican, telling Billboard that his favorite artist of all time is Romeo Santos and that he was raised with Latin music.“Dream Girl (Remix)” marks his first collaborative effort with a Latin artist.Fusing the best Caribbean rhythms found in Bonaire and Puerto Rico, the remix is a sultry dancehall-meets-reggaeton sung in Spanish and the Portuguese-based creole language.Currently with over

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle EditorPulitzer Prize winner Quiara Alegría Hudes is set to write “Life Is a Carnival,” a Latin music-infused new film for Warner Bros.The movie will mark her second collaboration with “In the Heights” producers Scott Sanders and Mara Jacobs after Hudes wrote the book for Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway musical as well as the screenplay for the Jon M.

calma, because Pedro Capó has released a new single—and it’s perfect for quarantine. The Latin Grammy winner dropped his catchy summer track La Sábana y los Pies on Friday.

From career milestones and new music releases to major announcements and more, Billboard editors highlight the latest news buzz in Latin music every week. Here's what happened in the Latin music world this week:

Fabio Acosta began his career in 2002, when he joined EMI Latin in Miami as an assistant to Lucas Piña, who at the time was the label's director of radio and promotion. From that platform, Acosta went on to launch his own independent radio promotion company, Akela Family Music."I worked with lots of artists, many number ones," he said.

Latin Music Week 2020 is set to take place October 20-23.

What’s the story?Even as a child Walter was regarded as a healer in his community, and somehow the shy farm boy from Ponce, Puerto Rico managed to transform himself into the flamboyant showman that everyone grew to love.A natural performer, Walter was cast in telenovelas including Una Sombra and La Intrusa before becoming an on-air astrologer in 1969, after comedian and producer Elfin Ortiz asked him to fill in for another act.He was an instant hit and went on to appear on the Puerto Rican news

Puerto Rico in the song released on Friday, whose title — literally translated as “The Goat Pulls The Mountain” — borrows from a Latin American saying about the return to one’s origins. “I don’t see it as a death,” the veteran producer told The Associated Press Friday from his studio in San Juan.

From career milestones and new music releases to major announcements and more, Billboard editors highlight the latest news buzz in Latin music every week. Here's what happened in the Latin music world this week:

Patrick Hipes Executive Managing EditorDelays in production for Marvel Studios’ upcoming Disney+ original series The Falcon and The Winter Soldier caused first by an earthquake in Puerto Rico and then the coronavirus will keep the Marvel spinoff series from making its previously set August premiere date.The series was not on Disney+’s list of next month premieres released Friday.

Lunay returns to the spotlight with his brand new single and video “Relaciones,” out Thursday (July 16).At the helm of his go-to production team, Chris Jeday, and Gaby Music, the 19-year-old Puerto Rican artist sings about a topic that many people will relate to— friends with benefits.With his melodic voice and captivating reggaeton beats, “Relaciones” tells the story of a person who wants everything besides the commitment.

Latin music posted a healthy increase in audio consumption album equivalents in the U.S. in the first six months of 2020, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data's midyear report.

Kany Garcia found many creative ways to keep in touch with her fans during the global pandemic. Thanks to social media, she offered fans weeks of activities, including a day of self-care, cooking, fitness and acoustic sessions.

Puerto Rican astrologist Walter Mercado, who died last year on Nov. 2, is one of the most recognizable figures in Latinx culture — for his horoscope breakdowns, his bedazzled capes, and above all, his unwavering positivity.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans EditorDocumentary “Mucho Mucho Amor,” from Latinx filmmakers Cristina Costantini (“Science Fair”) and Kareem Tabsch (“The Last Resort”), focuses on the legacy of Walter Mercado, the iconic gender-nonconforming Hispanic astrologer who disappeared from the public eye, choosing to live off the grid in Puerto Rico, before resurfacing to prepare for the opening of a late-in-life exhibition at the HistoryMiami Museum. Cinematographer Peter Alton had worked with Costantini on

Bad Bunny and singer Romeo Santos have emerged as the toast of the 2020 ASCAP Latin Awards.The Puerto Rican artist was named Songwriter of the Year, while Santos claimed the Songwriter/Artist of the Year prize.Daddy Yankee’s Con Calma, featuring Snow, was also a winner, taking the Song of the Year title, while Universal Music Publishing Group officials earned Publisher of the Year, and Kobalt Songs Music Publishing bosses landed Independent Publisher of the Year.The news was announced online on

Walter Mercado enamored audiences with his astrology readings, positivity and words of wisdom for many years. Now audiences will get an intimate look at the iconic Puerto Rican, gender-nonconforming astrologer's life in Netflix's documentary, streaming July 8.The doc captures Mercado's final two years, when he grappled with aging and his legacy, and prepared for one last star-studded spectacle.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorASCAP has announced the winners of the most performed songs of the past year in Latin music via its @ASCAPLatino and @ASCAP social media platforms.

Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino rang in his 38th birthday with his Jersey Shore roommates on Saturday night. The cast — which included Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, Deena Nicole Cortese and Jenni “JWoww” Farley and Vinny Guadagnino — enjoyed a sit-down dinner, along with Mike’s loved ones, at The Butcher’s Block in New Jersey.