Shakira and Jennifer Lopez kicked off what seemed to be a promising 2020 with an epic, historical and unforgettable halftime performance at the Super Bowl LIV on Feb. 2.
The event set a precedent and inevitably we thought, who can top that? It’s hard to say that any other Latin artist “topped” Shakira and J.Lo’s special moment, but a handful of Latin artists dominated this year their own way.
Bad Bunny, for example, delivered three chart-topping albums: YHLQMDLG, Las Que No Iban a Salir and El Último Tour Del Mundo, which became the first-ever Spanish-language album to top the Billboard 200. For a second year in a row Bunny, who scored a Grammy nomination for YHLQMDLG, was named the top Latin artist and top male artist in Billboard’s year-end ranking.
Meanwhile, Maluma’s “Hawái” ruled the first Billboard Global 200 Excl. U.S. chart (dated Sept. 19). The chart-topping track was later re-released as a remix featuring The Weeknd.
On the regional Mexican space, emerging artists Natanael Cano, Junior H and Eslabon Armado cemented their spot in the genre as chart-topping artists. On the year-end ranking Eslabon Armado is the top duo/group and Cano is top new artist. Junior H crossed the finish line at No. 22 on the year-end Top Latin Artists list. His sophomore album, Atrapado en Un Sueño, earned the singer-songwriter’s first entry on any Billboard album chart. Thriving in the male-dominated genre, Chiquis scored her first-ever Latin Grammy win for her banda album Playlist.
And Latin pop had a big year thanks to pop darlings Kany García, Ricky Martin and Camilo who delivered beautiful pop-ballad sets that scored them Latin Grammy wins and Grammy nominations in the best Latin pop or urban album.
Below, vote for the Latin artist you think dominated this extraordinary year:
