Over the holiday break, Billboard dropped their annual list of Latin stars who've been ruling the charts and the music scene in 2023. From reggaeton to regional Mexican vibes, this year’s lineup is once again diverse.
Taking the crown for the fourth time straight in the 2020s is none other than the unstoppable Bad Bunny.
“Bunny’s achievement solidifies him as the only artist to claim the year-end Top Latin Artist title five times since the category’s inception in 2011,” Billboard writes.
According to the outlet, the catalyst behind Bad Bunny’s unparalleled success in clinching this title is largely attributed to the monumental gains stemming from his latest album, "Un verano sin tí.”
The new album is said to be a game-changer, resonating worldwide and solidifying Bad Bunny not just as a chart-topper but as a trailblazer shaping Latin music’s future.
Coming in at No. 2 on the list is the rising star on the international music stage: Peso Pluma. Born Hassan Emilio Kabande Laija, the singer has been breaking records all year with his regional Mexican sound.
“In a historic moment, Pluma’s album, Génesis, debuted at an unprecedented No. 3 on the all-genre Billboard 200 in July, marking a groundbreaking achievement as the highest-charting regional Mexican album in Billboard history,” the outlet explains.
Also making the list is Karol G, who secured her spot at No. 3, as the only woman in the top 10.
“Karol G continues to break barriers and redefine the role of women in Latin music,” the Latin Times writes. “Her album ‘Mañana será bonito’ is proof of her versatility and the reason for her status as a global superstar.”
Billboard says it creates its annual year-end music summary by compiling data from Nov. 19, 2022 to Oct. 21, 2023, which encompasses various metrics for artists, titles, labels, and music contributors featured on the weekly charts. Rankings are then based on album units, airplay, sales, or streaming during the weeks these titles appeared on the charts within the tracking year.
For more on this year’s top Latino artists, dive into Billboard’s full 50 Top Latin Artists.
For now, here is the complete list of Billboard's Top 10 Latin Artists of 2023:
10. Ivan Cornejo: Rising from viral success with "Esta Dañada," the teenager made his mark on the Billboard Hot 100 before resurfacing with hits "Aquí Te Espero," "La Curiosidad" and "Perro Abandonado.
9. Feid: The Colombian songwriter is being called the “next Bad Bunny” and “one of Reggaeton’s hottest acts” with two Billboard Hot 100 tracks and a current world tour.
8. Junior H: The Mexican singer-songwriter is known for his corridos tumbados, and shining on Billboard music charts with his hits “Lady Gaga” and "Mafiosa.”
7. Grupo Frontera: The six-member Tejano band from Texas, that went from performing at weddings to headlining with Bad Bunny within a year, has been topping charts since their 2022 breakout hit “No Se Va.”
6. Rauw Alejandro: The Latin Grammy award-winning Puerto Rican singer-songwriter is known as the “King of Modern Reggaeton” and attracks millions with his music videos, including his collaboration with BZRP: Music Sessions #56.
5. Eslabon Armado: The group, made up of four Mexican American musicians, made music history in 2023 when their release “Ella Baila Sola” went viral on TikTok, and became the first regional Mexican song on Billboard’s top ten chart.
4. Fuerza Regida: The Mexican-American band, from California, has spent 2023 topping charts and selling out American arenas and stadiums across the country with their chart-topping corridos tumbados.
3. Karol G: The Latin Grammy award-winning Colombian reggaeton singer and songwriter has sold out tour dates and continues to top international charts in 2023 with hits like “TQG,” Oki Doki,” “S91,” and her hit “WATATI” from the Barbie movie.
2. Peso Pluma: At just 24, the artist has been called “the reigning king of corridos tumbados … ” by The New York Times, and set new records earlier in the year when his third album, "Génesis," entered the Billboard all-genre album chart at No. 3, marking the highest-ever position achieved by a regional Mexican music album.
1. Bad Bunny: The Puerto Rican rapper, singer, and actor – and Latin Times’ “The Undisputed King of Latin Music” – broke Spotify records with his new album, "Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va A Pasar Mañana," the most-streamed album on Spotify in a single day in 2023.
