Bad Bunny Is the First Latine To Win Apple Music’s Artist of the Year
Today (Nov. 9), Apple Music announced its Artist of the Year – and it’s none other than Bad Bunny. The global Puerto Rican superstar was honored for his “artistic excellence and influence on global culture in 2022.” He’s the first Latine artist to receive this award since Apple Music began awarding the title in 2019.
“When I started, I didn’t have a global fan base,” Bad Bunny said in an Apple Music exclusive video clip. “I’m grateful for everything I’ve accomplished and everything I’ve experienced.”
Per the press release, he said: “The Latin music movement has grown so much. I would never take full credit or say, ‘It’s because of me.’ No, it’s every one of us. A whole generation. Our energy and presence is always felt.”
When he received the award, Apple Music’s host Zane Lowe asked Benito how he felt. “It’s like what I always say, I just do me, and make my music – feeling everything,” he expressed. “And that’s why I feel it, and that’s why I like it so, this represents everything.” He added: “All the energy that I share with people and do everything from the heart.” He then thanked his fans and Apple Music for everything.
Bad Bunny’s had a fantastic 2022. This specific award alone captures many of his Apple Music accomplishments. Just to name a few achievements on the platform, these include being most streamed Latine artist of all time worldwide; Un Verano Sin Ti being the biggest Latine album of all time on (the album also holds the record for first-day streams worldwide); “Moscow Mule” holding the record for the biggest Latine song of all time; and charting 22 songs on the Daily Top 100: Global – which broke the record for most simultaneous entries by a single Latine artist.
“We’re thrilled to celebrate the achievements of Bad Bunny, whose influence on every corner of culture could not be ignored in 2022,” Apple’s vice president of Apple Music and Beats, Oliver Schusser, said in a written statement. “Watching Bad Bunny ascend from an Apple Music Up Next artist in 2018 to our Artist of the Year this year has been nothing short of extraordinary. We congratulate him on his record-breaking year and for continuing to bring Latin music to a massive global audience.”
With this news, Benito also took over Apple Music’s La Fórmula playlist, featuring artists like Myke Towers, Rauw Alejandro, and Mora, among others.
What’s next for the global star? We’ll see how many Latin Grammy awards he ranks up next week, and if he’s nominated for the gringo Grammy awards.
