As Latin music gains global traction, it’s easy to forget the impact it has on today’s music landscape. From the pop anthems of Spanish-speaking stars to the Latin trap revolution, the growth of Latin music genres has allowed for an increasing number of Latin artists and their music to find global success. This article looks at the impact of Latin music and artists on global charts, from the origins of the Latin music phenomenon to its future potential.
1. Introduction to Latin Music and its Artists
Latin music and its artists have shown exponential growth, rapidly grabbing the attention of music fans all over the world; thanks to features such as complex rhythms, melodic harmonies, and alluring lyricism. This has significantly increased its appearance on the global charts. Let’s take a closer look.
Novel Rhythms, Melodies & Lyricism
Latin music is an amalgamation of a wide range of styles from all across Latin America. Traditional dances like the Samba, Merengue, Cumbia, and tango, characterize each country differently; a traditional toque of the Puerto Rican bomba or the Colombian Cumbia can send a shiver down any music fan’s spine. This musical diversity creates a flavor and feel unique to latin music that can’t be imitated: its rhythms and melodies capture the essence of each country’s characteristics in a truly evocative manner.
Hit Single Rise to the Top
Recently, the hit single “Despacito” has broken all streaming records on Spotify and YouTube, peaking at billions of views and streams. This success continues to propagate as more and more latin songs enter the Billboard’s Hot Chart 100, reinventing the panorama of the music industry. Such is the impact of Latin music on the global charts.
Emerging Talent Currently Storming Charts
Currently, Latin music is taking the charts and livening up the music industry with new dynamic rhythms and melodic majestic harmonies from its ever-growing pool of talented artists. Some of the most notable artists are Ozuna, Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Daddy Yankee, Anuel AA, Karol G, Residente, and many more.
Overall, Latin music’s takeover of the global charts has undoubtedly made it one of the world’s most popular genres in music. It is expected to keep growing in the years to come.
2. Latin Music Genres and Subgenres
Latin music spreads around the world in many different genres and subgenres. Each genre has a distinct sound and feel that captures the sensibilities of what it means to be “Latin.” Here is an overview of the most popular Latin genres and subgenres:
- Tropical Music – Reggaeton, Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, and Cumbia are just a few of the Latin music genres that make up this umbrella term. These genres are tailor-made for the dance floor with their tropical flavors and intricate rhythms.
- Rock en Español – From bands like Maná and Jaguares to solos like Alejandro Sanz and Café Tacvba, this genre is all about mixing classic rock and roll melodies with Latin music beats and rhythms.
- Latin Pop – Latin Pop draws on influences from music around the world, while remaining true to Latin culture. Think Selena Gomez’s Spanglish collaboration “Despacito” or Enrique Iglesias’s “Bailando.”
- Latin Hip-Hop – From Bad Bunny to Daddy Yankee, Latin Hip-Hop has enjoyed great success in recent years. Combining elements of American hip hop culture with elements of Latin American culture allows this genre to appeal to a wide audience.
These genres of Latin music have made a huge impact on global charts in the last decade, and have earned their rightful place alongside other popular genres. Latin music is only getting bigger and the influence that it wields is one of its greatest gifts.
3. Popular Latin Music Artists and Their Impact on Global Charts
Latin music has a long and rich history of influence on global charts that dates back to the 1941 song “The Bee” by Cuban musician & composer Moises Simons. Since then, there have been many Latin music artists and groups who have made an impact on global charts. Here are 3 examples of popular Latin music artists and their influence:
- Ricky Martin: Ricky Martin is one of the most successful and recognizable Latin music artists. In 1999, the chart-topping single “Livin’ La Vida Loca” propelled him to worldwide fame, and he has since released multiple hit singles and albums, cementing his status as a Latin music icon. He has also received numerous awards, including multiple Latin Grammy awards and two Billboard Latin Music awards.
- Enrique Iglesias: Enrique Iglesias is one of the most successful and beloved Latin music artists of all time. He has released over 10 albums and 60 singles, and has sold over 100 million albums worldwide. He is the recipient of the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and four of his albums are certified Diamond. He is also known for his energetic live performances, making him a fan favorite.
- J Balvin: Colombian Reggaeton singer J Balvin is one of the most popular Latin music artists in the world. He is known for hits such as “Mi Gente” and “Ay Vamos”, which have reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and Latin Pop Airplay charts. His album “Vibras” was the first Latin album to receive a Diamond certification, and he has been nominated for numerous awards, including six Latin Grammys.
The influence of these Latin music artists goes beyond their chart success. They have demonstrated the reach of Latin music and their influence can be felt in new genres, such as reggaeton, which owes much of its success to artists such as J Balvin. Through their music, they have bridged Latin culture with the rest of the world.
4. Latin Music’s Impact on Pop Culture and Globalization
Latin music and artists have had an enormous impact on pop culture and globalization. Their diverse influence is evident in many of today’s popular genres and artists. Here are four ways Latin music has impacted global charts:
- Latin music and genres have become globally popular. Songs like “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber made it to the top of the US and Global charts, proving that Latin music can be just as popular as other genres.
- Latin music has heavily influenced some of the biggest pop artists of this decade. Artist like Cardi B, Bad Bunny, and Drake have collaborated with Latin influences in their music, evolving pop music in a way many didn’t expect.
- Streaming services have become a powerful force in the Latin music industry. These sites have enabled Latin America and the Caribbean to become the fastest-growing music market worldwide.
- Latin Music has also had an impact on the fashion industry. Designers like Givenchy and Dior have used Latin music styles to define their collections, from heavily jeweled looks to vibrant colors.
Latin Music clearly has had a profound effect on today’s music landscape. It has opened the door for better access to the genre and inspired some of today’s biggest stars.
5. Summary
In recent years Latin Music and its artists have had a significant impact on the global charts. It can now be said that Latin Music has gained an undeniable popularity that is shown in the success of their top singles, artists and albums:
- The US is the largest music market for Latin Music in the world and saw a considerable growth of 24.8% from 2018 to 2019.
- Latin Music is now the fastest-growing music genre worldwide, and in 2019 represented 19.3% of global music consumption.
- As of mid-May 2020, two Latin Music singles, Ritmo by The Black Eyed Peas, J Balvin and Jennifer Lopez and Pa’ La Calle by Farruko, Rafa Pabon, Lunay were at the top 10 music chart of Billboard’s Hot 100.
- Latin Music artists also dominate the streaming scene. Bad Bunny has the fourth most weeks at No. 1 all-time on Billboard’s Streaming Songs chart, with Yo Perreo Sola becoming his fourth chart-topper.
- J Balvin became the first Latin Music artist to debut atop the Billboard 200 Albums chart with his 2019 album OASIS.
- Rosalia had demonstrated her commercial impact in the global charts with strong accolades such as two consecutive No. 1’s in the US on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart, and a No. 1 on Spain’s sales chart for Con Altura, her collaboration with J Balvin and El Guincho.
Latin Music’s success in the global charts is hard to ignore, with increasingly more Latin Music acts commanding and dominating the top spots. Thanks to their unique sound of Mexican and Caribbean Latin flavours, they are likely to stay in the top for a long time. The impact of Latin music and artists on global charts in the past few years has been undeniable. It is clear that Latin crossover artists have become increasingly influential in mainstream culture, strongly contributing to the growth of the music industry as a whole. With the emergence of several young and promising Latin artists, the global charts are certainly set to reap the rewards in the years to come.
Lori Randolph is an expert in technology and innovation, crafting informative and accessible articles that demystify complex concepts. With a knack for breaking down technical jargon, he empowers readers to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and make informed decisions in a rapidly advancing digital landscape.