From career milestones to new music releases to major announcements, Billboard editors highlight uplifting moments in Latin music. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.
Best New Artist Showcase
The Latin Recording Academy hosted its first Best New Artist Showcase of the year at the Museo de Arte de San Juan in Puerto Rico. Former best new artist Latin Grammy winners, Kany García (2008) and Joaquina (2023), were the night’s special performers. “Taking the Best New Artist Showcase series to Puerto Rico for the first time, alongside Joaquina and Kany García, is an exciting opportunity to continue celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Latin GRAMMY Awards,” said Manuel Abud, CEO, The Latin Recording Academy in a statement. “The support of our Presenting Partner Mastercard, and Official Sponsor Rums of Puerto Rico, enables us to continue delivering on our mission to foster the next generation of Latin music makers.” The next showcase will be hosted later this year.
Joaquina and Kany Garcia performed at The Best New Artist Showcase, presented by Mastercard, on June 13, 2024 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Marc Anthony’s Son Turns One
Marc Anthony and Nadia Ferreira’s son, Marco, celebrated his first birthday party this week. “Today marks one year since you came into the world, to teach me so many things… one of them being the greatest love that exists… being your mother, my son,” the Paraguayan model expressed on her Instagram account, sharing a sweet photo of her and her son. “There’s no way to explain the infinite love I feel for you and the excitement of watching you grow and teaching you new things every day. Happy birthday to the greatest blessing of my life. My beloved Marco!”
The couple announced the arrival of their son In a joint Instagram post shared on Father’s Day last year via a black-and-white photo of Anthony carrying their newborn and holding Ferreira’s hand. “God’s timing is always perfect. Happy Father’s Day,” read the sweet and short caption. This is Ferreira’s first baby and the salsa singer’s seventh child, following his sons and daughters Arianna, Chase, Cristian, Ryan, and twins Emme and Maximilian; he shares his twins with ex-wife Jennifer Lopez.
Marc Anthony and Nadia Ferreira at the 35th Premio Lo Nuestro at Miami-Dade Arena on Feb. 23, 2023 in Miami.
Jay Wheeler & Zhamira Are Expecting!
In other baby news, Jay Wheeler and Zhamira Zambrano are expecting their first child. The two-part announcement was made via an Instagram post with four images of the couple loving each other, and a new single by Zambrano called “Bienvenida.” “My life is about to change in a couple more months,” she croons sweetly against a slow pop ballad. Its accompanying music video follows the timeline of her pregnancy while she’s embraced by her husband.
Zambrano and the Puerto Rican artist met at the East Hotel in Miami, and made their relationship Instagram official in February 2022. They tied the knot later that year in December in a civil ceremony. The couple collaborated on “Dicelos” and “Extrañándote.” The latter earned Zambrano her first top 10 on the Latin Pop Airplay chart and Wheeler his third. They performed the song at the 2024 Latin American Music Awards in April.
Jay Wheeler & Zhamira Zambrano
Yordano’s Honorary Doctorate
Italian–born Venezuelan singer-songwriter Yordano di Marzo will receive an honorary doctorate in art from the University of the Andes in Colombia, in recognition of his prolific music career that spans more than five decades. “Di Marzo has been one of the most influential singer-songwriters of his generation, notable for his social sensitivity, the literary quality of his songs, and the high level developed in each of his albums,” reads the official press statement, also noting that the artist has been “raising the name of Venezuela, with his indisputable contribution to the development of the arts, particularly music, as a pioneer in the fusion of elements taken from Latin American and Caribbean heritage with rock, pop, and jazz.”
Yordano—who was previously honored with a Latin Grammy for Musical Excellence in 2022—will receive the ULA honorary doctorate during a ceremony on June 22nd at the university’s Mérida campus. He now joins past honorees such as fashion designer Giorgio Armani, tenor Luciano Pavarotti, and Catalan soprano Monserrat Caballé, among others.
Yordano
