2023 in Latin music

The following is a list of events and new Spanish and Portuguese-language music that happened in 2023 in the Latin music industry, namely music released in Ibero-America. Ibero-America encompasses Latin America, Spain, Portugal, and the Latino population in Canada and the United States.

Events

January–March

• January 8 – Daddy Yankee makes his final concert after performing for 32 years. It was held at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
• January 12 – After just nine hours, "Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53", performed by Bizarrap and Shakira, breaks the record of the most streamed Spanish-language song on YouTube in a single day. It was previously held by "Despacito (remix)", performed by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber.
• January 16 – "Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53" becomes the song with the best debut performance in Spain of the 21st century, debuting atop the chart with just one day of tracking.
• January 22 – For the first time in Spotify history, the Latin artist with the most monthly listeners is a woman: Shakira.
• February 4 – "Eaea", written by Álvaro Tato, Blanca Paloma Ramos and Jose Pablo Polo, and performed by Blanca Paloma, wins the second edition of the Benidorm Fest, and will represent Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool.
• February 5 – The 65th Annual Grammy Awards are scheduled to take place at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Pasieros by Rubén Blades and Boca Livre wins Best Latin Pop Album. Motomami by Rosalía wins Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album Un Canto por México - El Musical by Natalia Lafourcade wins Best Regional Mexican Music Album. Un Verano Sin Ti by Bad Bunny wins Best Música Urbana Album Pa'llá Voy by Marc Anthony wins Best Tropical Latin Album. Fandango at the Wall in New York by Arturo O'Farrill and The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra featuring The Congra Patria Son Jarocho Collective wins Best Latin Jazz Album.
• February 11 – "Sintiéndolo Mucho", performed by Joaquín Sabina and Leiva, wins the Goya Award for Best Original Song.
• February 19 – The Viña del Mar International Song Festival makes its comeback after being canceled for three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• February 22 – Juan Manuel Moreno, President of the Regional Government of Andalusia announces that the 24th Annual Latin Grammy Awards will take place in Seville, marking the first time the event is celebrated outside the United States.
• February 23 – The 35th Premios lo Nuestro awards ceremony takes place at the Dade Arena in Miami, United States. Un Verano Sin Ti by Bad Bunny wins Album of the Year. "Mamiii" by Becky G and Karol G wins Song of the Year. Karol G wins Artist of the Year. Bizarrap wins Best New Male Artist. Kim Loaiza wins Best New Female Artist.
• February 25 – Mañana Será Bonito by Karol G breaks the record for the most-streamed female Spanish-language album in a single day with 32 million streams.
• March 1 – Becky G is awarded with the Impact Award at Billboard Women in Music, Ivy Queen is presented the Icon Award, while Rosalía receives the first-ever Producer of the Year award.
• March 4 – "TQG", performed by Karol G and Shakira, tops the Spotify Global chart, marking the second time a Latin song tops the list after "Envolver".
• March 5 – Mañana Será Bonito by Karol G becomes the first ever female Spanish-language album to debut atop the Billboard 200.
• March 11 – "Ai coração", performed by Mimicat, wins the 57th Festival da Canção, determining Portugal's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest.
• March 24 – Spanish musician Rosalía announces her engagement with Puerto Rican singer Rauw Alejandro on the music video for "Beso.

April–June

• April 6 – Billboard and Telemundo announce its inaugural Billboard Latin Women in Music event.
• April 14 – Bad Bunny headlines the twenty second edition of Coachella, becoming the first Latino artist to headline the festival. Other performers include Becky G, Rosalía, Eladio Carrión and Los Fabulosos Cadillacs.
• April 15 – Five Peso Pluma songs simultaneously chart on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, breaking the record as the Mexican artist with the most entries on the list, surpassing Paulina Rubio. His song "Ella Baila Sola" reaches the seventeenth spot, becoming the highest position for any Mexican in the United States, beating Thalía's "I Want You", released in 2003.
• April 17 – "Ella Baila Sola", performed by Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma, tops the Spotify Global chart, becoming the first Regional Mexican song to do so.
• April 20 – The 8th Annual Latin American Music Awards take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Un Verano Sin Ti by Bad Bunny wins Album of the Year. "Mamiii" by Becky G and Karol G wins Song of the Year. Karol G wins Artist of the Year. Bizarrap wins New Artist of the Year.
• April 21 – Brazilian singer Anitta departs from Warner Music citing frustrations with the record label and signs with Universal Music.
• April 27 – The 4th Annual Premios Odeón take place in Madrid to celebrate the best in Spanish music. Motomami by Rosalía wins Album of the Year. "Quevedo: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 52", by Bizarrap and Quevedo wins Song of the Year. "Quevedo: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 52", by Bizarrap and Quevedo wins Video of the Year. Álvaro de Luna wins Best New Artist.
• May 7 – Shakira is awarded Woman of the Year at the inaugural edition of the Billboard Latin Women in Music. Other winners include Ana Gabriel, Emilia, María Becerra, Evaluna, Goyo, and Thalía.
• May 13 – Spain places seventeenth at the 67th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Eaea", performed by Blanca Paloma. Portugal ends twenty-third.
• May 16 – The 25th Annual Premios Gardel take place at the Movistar Arena in Buenos Aires to celebrate the best in Argentinian music. Bien o Mal by Trueno wins Album of the Year. "La Triple T" by Tini wins Song of the Year. "Argentina" by Trueno and Nathy Peluso wins Record of the Year. Noelia Recalde wins Best New Artist.
• May 17 – The 15th Premios MIN take place at the Auditorium in Palma de Mallorca to celebrate the best in Spanish independent music. Burbuja Cómoda y Elefante Inesperado by Los Estanques y Anni B Sweet win Album of the Year. "Brillabas", by los Estanques y Anni B Sweet win Song of the Year. Los Estanques y Anni B Sweet win Artist of the Year. Los Estanques y Anni B Sweet win Best New Artist. "Ay Mamá" by Rigoberta Bandini wins Video of the Year.
• May 17 – The 12th Premios Nuestra Tierra take place at the Jorge Eliecer Gaitán Theater in Bogotá to recognize the best in Colombian music. "La Bachata" by Manuel Turizo wins Song of the Year. Feliz Cumpleaños Ferxxo by Feid wins Album of the Year. Feid wins Artist of the Year, Luis Alfonso wins Best New Artist.
• May 31 – The Latin Recording Academy announces names Italian singer Laura Pausini as the Person of the Year, becoming the first musician of non Iberian-American descent to receive the honor.
• June 4 – The 9th Pulsar Awards take place in Santiago live from a TVN studio, to recognize the best in Chilean music. Luzdeflash by Congreso wins Album of the Year. "Chao" by Yorka wins Record of the Year. "Ultra Solo" by Polimá Westcoast and Pailita wins Song of the Year. "Aunque Te Mueras Por Volver" by Mon Laferte wins Video of the Year.
• June 8 – 8th Heat Latin Music Awards take place at Margaritaville Reserve Cap Cana in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. "Provenza" by Karol G wins Song of the Year. Feid wins Best Male Artist. Greeicy wins Best Female Artist. Lit Killah wins Best New Artist.
• June 15 – The 4th Premios Tu Música Urbano take place at the Coliseo José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Karol G wins Artist of the Year. "Provenza" by Karol G wins Song of the Year.
• June 14 – Spanish singer Alejandro Sanz departs from Universal Music Group and signs on with Sony Music.
• June 15 – Puerto Rican rapper Vico C releases Pánico, his first album in fourteen years.

July–September

• July 20 – The 20th Premios Juventud take place at José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
• August 4 – The 10th MTV MIAW Awards take place at Pepsi Center WTC in Mexico City, Mexico.
• September 12 - The 40th MTV Videos Music Awards take place at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Anitta, Karol G, Peso Pluma & Shakira all took the stage to perform with Peso Pluma being the first regional Mexican artist to perform at the VMA's. Shakira was honored with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, being presented by Wyclef Jean. Karol G & Shakira took home the award for Best Collaboration for "TQG" and Anitta took home the award for Best Latin for "Funk Rave".

October–December

• October 5 – The 30th Billboard Latin Music Awards take place at Watsco Center in Coral Gables. Bad Bunny wins Artist of the Year. "Ella Baila Sola", performed by Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma wins Hot Latin Song of the Year. Peso Pluma wins New Artist of the Year.
• October 17 – Nicky Jam announces his retirement at age 42, after twenty years in the industry.
• October 21 – The 43rd Tejano Music Awards took place at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. At the event, Siggno's Jesse Turner and Mike Gonzalez & The Iconiczz were the night's biggest winners with two wins each, while Monica Saldivar received the most nominations at five. Beto Ramon was the sole honoree for the Lifetime Achievement Award after the organization rescinded Joe Lopez following backlash from fans following his 2006 conviction for multiple sex offenses.
• October 23 – "Si No Estás" by Íñigo Quintero tops the Spotify Global chart, making him the first solo Spanish singer to do so.
• October 26 – The inaugural edition of the Premios Rolling Stone en Español Awards are scheduled to take place at The Fillmore in Miami Beach.

• November 3 – The 18th edition of LOS40 Music Awards take place at the WiZink Center, in Madrid. Ana Mena wins Best Spanish Act. Alpha by Aitana wins Best Spanish Album. "Todo Contigo" by Álvaro de Luna wins Best Spanish Song. "Las Babys" by Aitana wins Best Spanish Video.
• November 5 – The 30th MTV Europe Music Awards air on MTV live from Paris. Anitta wins Best Latin. Mauté wins Best Brazilian Act. Kenia Os wins Best Latin America North Act. Feid wins Best Latin America Central Act. Lali wins Best Latin America South Act. Bispo wins Best Portuguese Act. Samantha Hudson wins Best Spanish Act.

• November 16 – The 24th Annual Latin Grammy Awards are held at FIBES Conference and Exhibition Centre in Seville, Spain, marking the first time the awards are held outside of the United States. Women dominate the general fields for the first time: "De Todas las Flores" by Natalia Lafourcade won Record of the Year. Mañana Será Bonito by Colombian singer Karol G wins Album of the Year. "Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53" by Shakira, Bizarrap Santiago Alvarado, Kevyn Mauricio Cruz, and wins Song of the Year Joaquina wins Best New Artist.

Number-one albums and singles by country

• List of Billboard Argentina Hot 100 number-one singles of 2023
• List of number-one albums of 2023 (Portugal)
• List of number-one albums of 2023 (Spain)
• List of number-one singles of 2023 (Brazil)
• List of number-one singles of 2023 (Spain)
• List of number-one Billboard Latin Albums from the 2020s
• List of Billboard Hot Latin Songs and Latin Airplay number ones of 2023

Awards

Spanish- and Portuguese-language songs on the Billboard Global 200

The Billboard Global 200 is a weekly record chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks the top songs globally based on digital sales and online streaming from over 200 territories worldwide.

An asterisk (*) represents that a single is charting for the current week.

Spanish-language songs on the Billboard Hot 100

The Billboard Hot 100 ranks the most-played songs in the United States based on sales (physical and digital), radio play, and online streaming. Also included are certifications awarded by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) based on digital downloads and on-demand audio and/or video song streams: gold certification is awarded for sales of 500,000 copies, platinum for one million units, and multi-platinum for two million units, and following in increments of one million thereafter. The RIAA also awards Spanish-language songs under the Latin certification: Disco de Oro (Gold) is awarded for sales 30,000 certification copies, Disco de Platino (Platinum) for 60,000 units, and Disco de Multi-Platino (Multi-Platinum) for 120,000 units, and following in increments of 60,000 thereafter.

Albums released

The following is a list of notable Latin albums (music performed in Spanish or Portuguese) that have been released in Latin America, Spain, Portugal, or the United States in 2023.

First quarter

January

February

March

Second quarter

April

May

June

Third quarter

July

August

Fourth quarter

October

November

December

Major tours, concerts, and festivals

• Luis Miguel announces self-titled 2023 and is scheduled to start on 3 August 2023.
• Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, and Pitbull announce their Trilogy Tour and are scheduled to start the tour on 14 October 2023.
• Alejandro Sanz will make his first US tour (Sanz En Vivo) since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Andres Calamaro launch his Agenda 2023 tour in the US with four confirmed concerts.
• Ángela Aguilar headlines her own solo Piensa En Mi tour for the first time. Her father Pepe Aguilar is also touring through Mexico and the US as well.
• Banda MS begins touring in February 2023 to celebrate their 20th anniversary.
• Becky G tours throughout the US in her Mi Casa, Tu Casa tour, her first headlining tour.
• Blessd commences his Blessd Corner North American Tour on 29 April.
• Boza kicks his first US tour under the Volar Tour which begins on 22 June 2023.
• Carín León launches his Colmillo de Leche tour throughout the US.
• Carlos Rivera announces his Un Tour a Todas Partes beginning on 7 June where he tours throughout Mexico, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, the US, and Spain.
• To celebrate his 30 years of music, Carlos Vives launches the El Tour de los 30 which begins in August 2023.
• Christian Nodal tours in the US in his Foraji2 tour beginning on 25 August 2023.
• CNCO will perform their farewell tour titled Última Cita and will tour throughout Latin America, Europe, and the US.
• Danna Paola will tour in the US with heir XT4S1S USA tour for the first time.
• Diego El Cigala will visit several cities throughout his Obras Maestras tour.
• El Alfa will beginning touring his La Leyenda Del Dembow USA Tour beginning in October 2023.
• Fonsceca will tour throughout the US and Europe on his Viajantes tour.
• Grupo Frontera will commemorate their first anniversary with the El Comienzo tour, touring in the US for the first time.
• To further promote their album Clichés, Jesse & Joy will tour throughout the US and Canada beginning on 15 June 2023.
• Jhayco will tour throughout the US on his Vida Rockstar tour.
• Kany García tours throughout the US on her 2023 U.S.A. Tour.
• Laura Pausini will begin her first tour since 2019 throughout Europe, Latin America, and the US.
• Los Fabulosos Cadillacs will perform in five cities in the US.
• Lupita D'Alessio will perform her favor tour titled Gracias U.S. Tour following a five decade stint with her music career.
• To further promote Don Juan, Maluma will tour throughout the US.
• Maná began tour in the US with their México Lindo y Querido tour in February 2023.
• After touring with his former band Los Bukis in 2021 and 2022, Marco Antonio Solís returns to doing a solo tour with his El Buki Tour throughout the US.
• To celebrate her 20 years in music, Natalia Jiménez will tour in Spain, Mexico, and the US titled Antología: 20 Años.
• Peso Pluma will headline his first-ever US tour.
• Piso 21 launches their Los Muchachos Tour to promote the album of the same name.
• RBD members (except for Alfonso Herrera) reunites for the Soy Rebelde Tour and will perform throughout Mexico, Brazil, and the US.
• Ricardo Arjona extends his Blanco y Negro tour with the North American leg being titled Blanco y Negro: Volver.
• To promote Formula, Vol. 3 (2022), Romeo Santos will tour throughout Latin America and the US with his Fórmula, Vol. 3: La Gira.
• Santa Fe Klan will tour the US again with his Todo y Nada tour.
• Santiago Cruz launches his Después de la Tormenta tour on 24 October 2023.
• Siddhartha is touring throughout Mexico and the US.
• Sin Bandera will celebrate their 20-year trajectory with their @Frecuencia Tour throughout the US.
• Tini tours throughout Latin America, Europe, and the US on her self-titled tour.
• Young Miko launches her world tour in Guatemala and will tour throughout Spain, Latin America, and the US.
• The La Línea festival in London, England featuring Jorge Drexler, Susana Baca, and Emicida.
• The Tamarindo Festival in Washington DC highlighting Afro-Latino and Caribbean disapora and featuring artists such as Sech, Tokischa, and Chimbala.
• The Sauce Boyz Fest in Puerto Rico highlighting artists from the urbano field.
• The Reggaetón Lima Festival featuring the genre in Lima, Peru.
• The Sueños will feature its second annual show with artists such as Becky G, Eladio Carrión, Chencho Corleone, Junior H, Gera MX, Ryan Castro, Young Miko, and paopao.
• The My Fest Cantabria Infinita in Spain, a new festival featuring Spanish and Argentinian artists.
• The Milano Latin Festival in Milano, Italy.
• The 2023 Baja Beach Fest in Mexico.
• The second annual Bésame Mucho event featuring Latin rock artists.
• The Lali Tour by Lali throughout Europe, the United Arab Emirates, and Mexico.

Year-End

Performance in the United States

Albums

The following is a list of the 10 best-performing Latin albums in the United States according to Billboard and Nielsen SoundScan, which compiles data from traditional sales and album-equivalent units.

Songs

The following is a list of the 10 best-performing Latin songs in the United States according to Billboard and Nielsen SoundScan, which compiles data from streaming activity, digital sales and radio airplay.

Deaths

• January 4: Albita Eagan, 69, Cuban-born American public and talent relations executive Walter Ulloa, 74, Mexican American music executive
• January 8 – Eddie Lopez, 66, Salsa music DJ
• January 10 – José Evangelista, 79, Spanish composer.
• January 18 – Victor Rasgado, 63, Mexican pianist and composer.
• January 26 – Héctor Rey, 54, Puerto Rican salsa singer ("Te Propongo")
• February 11 – Tito Fernández, 80, Chilean singer-songwriter.
• February 16 – Marilú, 95, Mexican singer and actress (El barchante Neguib).
• February 17 – Pansequito, 78, Spanish flamenco singer, brain cancer.
• February 22 – Germano Mathias, 88, Brazilian samba singer.
• March 1 – Irma Serrano, 89, Mexican actress (Tiburoneros, El monasterio de los buitres, Las amantes del señor de la noche) and singer, heart attack.
• March 3 – Sueli Costa, 79, Brazilian composer and singer.
• March 9 – Polito Vega, 84, Puerto Rican salsa DJ
• March 13 – Canisso, 57, Brazilian bassist
• March 15 – Théo de Barros, 80, Brazilian composer and musician (Quarteto Novo).
• March 17 – Fito Olivares, 75, Mexican cumbia musician.
• March 28 – Blas Durán, 73, Dominican bachata singer.
• April 2 – Pedro Lavirgen, 92, Spanish tenor.
• April 10 – Julián Figueroa, 27, Mexican singer, son of Joan Sebastian
• April 17 – Ivan Conti, 76, Brazilian drummer (Azymuth) and composer.
• May 8 – Rita Lee, 75, Brazilian singer (Os Mutantes), lung cancer.
• May 20 – Paul Desenne, 63, Venezuelan cellist and composer, heart attack.
• May 23 – Javier Álvarez, 67, Mexican composer.
• June 1: Pedro Messone, 88, Chilean singer, composer and actor. Pacho El Antifeka, 42, Puerto Rican rapper, shot.
• June 5 – Astrud Gilberto, 83, Brazilian singer
• June 30 - Abel Chavarrilla (known as AC Cruz), 57, American Tejano DJ and podcaster
• July 4 – Canelita Medina, 84, Venezuelan salsa singer.
• July 7 – Violeta Hemsy de Gainza, 94, Argentine pianist and piano pedagogue.
• July 17 – João Donato, 88, Brazilian jazz and bossa nova pianist.
• July 24: Leny Andrade, 80, Brazilian singer and musician. Cecilia Pantoja, 79, Chilean singer-songwriter.
• August 8 – Chico Novarro, 89, Argentine singer-songwriter.
• September 3: Lefty SM, 31, Mexican rapper, shot Camilo Valencia, 63, Cuban arranger, musician, and producer
• September 4 – Teté Caturla, 85, Cuban singer (Cuarteto d'Aida).
• September 6 – Javier Andrade, 58, Argentine MTV Latino host
• September 7 – María Jiménez, 73, Spanish singer.
• September 22 – Olga Chorens, 99, Cuban singer and actress.
• September 27 – Ernesto 'Teto' Ocampo, 54, Colombian guitarist
• November 4 – Manuel Castillo Girón[es], 83, Honduran musician
• November 14 – Chabelita Fuentes[es], 92, Chilean harpist and folk singer
• November 19 – Sara Tavares, 45, Portuguese singer, brain tumour.
• November 21 – Horacio Malvicino, 94, Argentine jazz and tango guitarist and composer.
• December 13 – Pedro Henrique[pt], 30, Brazilian gospel singer
• December 16: Óscar Agudelo, 91, Colombian musician, complications from Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. Carlos Lyra, 90, Brazilian singer and composer ("Maria Ninguém").
• December 18 – Pilarín Bueno[es], 79, Spanish jota singer
• December 23 – Lisandro Meza, 86, Colombian singer and accordionist, complications from a stroke.
• December 28 – Pedro Suárez-Vértiz, 54, Peruvian singer-songwriter and guitarist, heart attack.

Notes