From career milestones to new music releases to major announcements and those little important moments, Billboard editors highlight uplifting moments in Latin music. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.
Sebastián Yatra scholarship goes to …
The Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation awarded the Sebastián Yatra Scholarship, or Prodigy Scholarship, to Cuban double bass player Leo Luna Roblejo during a ceremony in Miami on Aug. 7.
“Music has the power to change lives and unite cultures, and I am excited to see how these young people, like Leo, will carry forward the legacy of Latin music with passion and dedication,” Yatra said in a statement. “I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to their education and artistic development.”
The scholarship holds a maximum value of $250,000, allowing Luna Roblejo to pursue a bachelor’s degree at Berklee College of Music in Boston starting this fall.
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“Music has been my calling and my passion ever since I was a young child, and to have the opportunity to pursue my dream thanks to the support of Sebastián Yatra and the incredible Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation is beyond anything I could have imagined,” said Roblejo. “I am committed to making you all proud, and I will take full advantage of this opportunity, working hard every day to make the most of this gift.”
Los Ángeles Azules to receive special award
Los Ángeles Azules will receive the 2024 Hispanic Heritage Award for the Arts Award during the 37th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Opera House on Sept. 5, which will be featured on the PBS broadcast, online and PBS video app.
“Los Angeles Azules have literally moved audiences around the world through their music and messages for decades,” Antonio Tijerino, HHF president and CEO, said in a statement. “We are thrilled to honor this remarkable group of musical giants with our Arts Award, and we look forward to sharing our collective cultural pride, achievement and vision, along with the other Honorees, at the Kennedy Center and on PBS with all of America and beyond during Hispanic Heritage Month.”
The iconic Mexican cumbia group added, “We are very grateful to the Hispanic Heritage Awards for this great recognition of our long artistic career. We also want to thank all our followers and those who have supported us throughout this time. It is thanks to them and to those who enjoy and dance to our songs that we will continue building this great career.”
Coldplay confirms collab with Tini
Mark your calendars: Coldplay is set to drop “We Pray” on Aug. 23, which features Argentine star Tini, along with other international artists such as Palestinean-Chilean artist Elyanna, Burna Boy from Nigeria and British rapper Little Simz. “This is so exciting,” Tini commented on the post shared by Coldplay on social media.
Listen to a preview of the song below:
Lele Pons’s IG Live with María Corina Machado
Lele Pons, the Venezuelan influencer and singer with the most followers on social media (53.3 million on Instagram alone), had Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado as a guest on an IG Live on Friday (August 9) to talk about the current situation in their country, where tensions and repression by the government have increased since the presidential elections of July 28.
Almost two weeks after the Venezuelan electoral authority declared Nicolás Maduro the winner and the opposition published records according to which its candidate Edmundo González won with close to 70% of the votes — something that has been widely recognized, even by the U.S. — Machado reiterated her message that they will continue to press through peaceful means and her faith that they will get “to the end.” She also answered questions from Pons’ followers and said that in the coming days they will be announcing a massive event in which the international community will be able to participate.
Announced just three hours in advance in a post shared by Pons and Machado, the Live attracted some 135,000 people and received mostly positive messages. Watch it below.
Celia Cruz gets her coin
The image of the legendary singer Celia Cruz is now depicted on a U.S. quarter. The late Cuban artist, known as the Queen of Salsa, was chosen along with four other women from history to be featured on the U.S. quarter as part of the American Women Quarters Program this year. She also makes history by becoming the first Afro-Latina to appear on the coin.
The four-year American Women Quarters Program “celebrates the accomplishments and contributions made by women of the United States,” states the U.S. Mint’s website, which also sells the coins individually and as a set. The other 2024 honorees are Patsy Takemoto Mink, the first woman of color to serve in Congress; Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, a women’s rights advocate and Civil War era surgeon; poet, activist, and lawyer Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray; and Native American writer, composer, educator and political activist Zitkala-Ša.
—Additional reporting by Sigal Ratner-Arias.