Latin music has taken the world by storm in recent years, and its popularity shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, according to Forbes, in 2022, Latin music represented 6.3% of the total music consumed, up from 5.4% in 2021.
Moreover, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) reported that the revenues of the Latin music market have continued to experience impressive growth in 2022. Building on a remarkable 35% increase in revenues in 2021, the first half of 2022 saw a further 23% increase, bringing the total revenue generated by U.S. Latin music to $510 million.
With a mix of reggaeton, pop, and urban beats, Latinx artists are dominating the charts and taking over the global music scene. These five artists have risen to fame through their unique sound, relatable lyrics, and captivating performances.
These are the five most popular Latinx artists in the U.S. today, as per Billboard’s year-end chart, which is based on an artist's chart performance on the Hot Latin Songs, Top Latin Albums, and Boxscore touring revenue.
Bad Bunny
Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, needs no introduction: the Puerto Rican rapper and singer is credited with helping Spanish-language music achieve mainstream popularity in the worldwide market.
In 2020, he made history by becoming the first non-English language act to be Spotify's most-streamed artist of the year, a feat he repeated in 2021. However, he didn't stop there. In 2022, Bad Bunny shattered records by having the biggest streaming year for any artist on Spotify.
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The Puerto Rican artist's exceptional talent and hard work have earned him numerous awards and accolades. He boasts three Grammy Awards, four Latin Grammy Awards, eight Billboard Music Awards, and thirteen Lo Nuestro Awards, among others. In 2022, Bad Bunny was crowned Artist of the Year at the prestigious Apple Music Awards, solidifying his status as a musical icon.
His fifth and latest album, “Un Verano Sin Ti,” released in May 2022, made history by spending 13 consecutive weeks atop the prestigious Billboard 200 chart. Four of the album's singles also peaked in the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
“Un Verano Sin Ti” was not only the number-one album of the year in the U.S., but it also earned the title of the world's best-selling album of 2022. The album's massive success marked a significant milestone in the Latin music industry, as it was the first Spanish-language album to receive a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year.
Karol G
Carolina Giraldo Navarro (a.k.a. Karol G), the Colombian singer and songwriter, has just become the first woman to ever debut at number one on the Billboard 200 chart with a Spanish-language album, thanks to “Mañana Será Bonito,” her album released February 24, 2023.
The musician born in Medellín started her career thanks to her appearance in the Colombian spinoff of the “X Factor” when she was just a teenager.
Her hit song "Tusa," a collaboration with Nicki Minaj, not only charted internationally but also received 28× Latin Platinum certification by the RIAA. The song spent an impressive 25 weeks on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, further solidifying Karol G's position as a global superstar.
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In 2020, the talented artist earned four nominations at the Latin Grammys. Her collaboration with Becky G on the top 20 song "Mamiii" also earned her the highest-charting single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Rauw Alejandro
Rauw Alejandro (born Raúl Alejandro Ocasio Ruiz) is a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter, known as the "King of Modern Reggaeton." He’s also a part of the new generation of Puerto Rican urban musicians.
In November 2020, Rauw Alejandro released his highly anticipated debut studio album, "Afrodisíaco," which quickly gained critical acclaim. The artist followed up with his second studio album, "Vice Versa," released in June 2021, featuring the lead single "Todo de Ti" (the official music video currently has 649 million views on YouTube).
Rauw Alejandro's unique blend of reggaeton, trap, and pop has earned him a massive following worldwide. He has been nominated for 12 Latin Grammy Awards, winning two prestigious awards for his exceptional work in music.
Eslabón Armado
Eslabon Armado is a Mexican-American regional Mexican music group from California, formed in 2017. The group consists of three members: Pedro Tovar (vocals and guitar), Gabriel Hidalgo (bass), and Brian Tovar (tuba).
Eslabon Armado gained widespread recognition after their song "Con Tus Besos" went viral on social media, amassing millions of views and streams.
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They released their first singles in 2020, which entered the Hot Latin Songs chart. Their debut album, “Tu Veneno Mortal,” was released in April 2020, followed by “Vibras de Noche” and “Corta Venas” later that year. All three albums topped the Regional Mexican Albums chart, and the first two were certified platinum in the US.
Eslabón Armado won several awards, including Duo/Group Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year and Regional Mexican Album of the Year at the 2021 Billboard Latin Music Awards. They released their fifth album, “NOSTALGIA,” in May 2022, which peaked at number nine on the Billboard 200 chart
Farruko
Farruko's real name is Carlos Efrén Reyes Rosado. He was born on May 2, 1991, in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. He began his music career in 2009, when he released his debut single, "Sexo Fuera del Planeta".
The artist has collaborated with many famous artists, including Daddy Yankee, J Balvin, Nicki Minaj, Bad Bunny, and Cardi B.
He is known for his eclectic style, which incorporates elements of reggaeton, hip-hop, and dancehall. Farruko has won several awards throughout his career, including Latin Grammy Awards, Latin American Music Awards, and Billboard Latin Music Awards.
On June 24, 2021, Farruko released his hit single "Pepas", which has more than one billion streams on Spotify and 533 million views on YouTube. The song is a mixture of Tribal guarachero and reggaeton.
Image credits: Kobby Dagan, Kathy Hutchins and Tinseltown on Shutterstock and Eslabon Armado Facebook
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