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.
Eslabon Armado Inspires Students in NYC
Mexican music superstars Eslabon Armado made a special visit to Baruch College in New York City to participate in Eres Arte: A Panel con Eslabon Armado. The event, moderated by Billboard Español’s Isabela Raygoza, was inspired by a creative student-made video imagining the band visiting their college to perform and speak as a playful alternative if unable to attend their concert.
With about 150 students, the panel offered a rare opportunity for the young fans to engage directly with the Mexican-American group where they shared their journey, from their origins as a family group to their rise to fame. The discussion touched on their leap into independence with their own label, Armado Records, and their excitement about their upcoming tour in Mexico, where they’ll play live in the country of their ancestry for the very first time. “We want to tell our story to people that are our age, that are maybe inspired by us, that just want to make a change in their lives or want to superarse,” frontman Pedro Tovar shared during the discussion. Following the 30-minute panel, Eslabon Armado treated the crowd to an intimate live performance, playing new releases “Esa Noche,” “Eres Arte <3,” and their 2020 hit “Jugaste y Sufrí.”
“Organizing Eres Arte was a labor of love — bringing together students all over NYC to celebrate música mexicana and cultural identity as inspired by Eslabon Armado,” assistant professor Lizbeth De La Cruz Santana, who organized the event, told Billboard Español. “It’s a testament to the power of representation and the role of public institutions in uplifting diverse voices.”
“Tocando El Cielo”
Luis Fonsi’s “Tocando el Cielo” will be the official song for the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, in collaboration between the league and Universal Music Latino. The announcement was made on Thursday (April 10) during the official draw of the 2025 Gold Cup, which was broadcasted live on YouTube Live. This year’s tournament will feature 16 national teams: the top 15 from the Concacaf region, which qualified through the latest edition of the Concacaf Nations League and the Gold Cup 2025 preliminaries, along with the invited team, Saudi Arabia.
The Latin Grammy Mentorship Program
The Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation announced the fourth edition of Leading Ladies of Entertainment Connect TogetHER mentorship program, in partnership with She Is The Music. This year’s mentors will provide “one-on-one virtual mentoring sessions with young women looking to follow a career in the music and entertainment industries,” according to a press release.
“We are proud to support the next generation of women in the Latin music industry with the Leading Ladies who generously share their time and expertise, and She is the Music”, Raquel “Rocky” Egusquiza, executive director of the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation, said in a statement. “Together, the impact of community is made visible as we work towards closing the gender gap within the Latin music industry.”
The mentors include artists such as Ivy Queen, Vivir Quintana, Janina Rosado and Julieta Venegas, among a number of executives in Latin music.
Tribute to Selena Quintanilla
At this year’s Tecate Pa’l Norte in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, A.B. Quintanilla III was among the surprise guests of the year, where he took the stage to honor his late sister Selena. The Mexican American hitmaker was joined by Ximena Sariñana, Matisse and Belanova to sing a medley of Selena hits, including “Amor Prohibido, “El Chico del Apartamento 512,” “La Carcacha” and “No Debes Jugar,” to name a few.
Watch a fan-captured video of the tribute here.
Additional reporting by Isabela Raygoza.
