Shakira Honors Community Heroes and Latin Music Milestones
From career milestones to new releases and major announcements, the Latin music world continues to thrive with uplifting moments. This week, the industry saw significant gestures of gratitude and recognition, highlighting the powerful connection between artists and their communities.
Shakira Honors World Cup Workers, Venezuela Relief Volunteers, and Colombian Small Businesses in NYC
Shakira is turning her upcoming Brooklyn concert into a celebration of the people who have been showing up for others. Ahead of her Tuesday (July 21) show, the Colombian superstar gifted tickets to three groups of New Yorkers: volunteers at Lulla’s supporting earthquake relief efforts in Venezuela, union workers whose labor helped make the World Cup possible, and Colombian restaurant owners who participated in the city’s $26 World Cup dining special launched by Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
“So much of what made this World Cup special is the work that most fans never see: the thousands of hotel rooms kept clean, all of the stadiums that worked so smoothly,” Shakira says in a statement shared exclusively with Billboard. “I wanted to show my gratitude for the people of New York City who made this incredible experience possible. Thank you for all of your hard work; you are the true she-wolves and it will be an honor to have you with me!”
Ximena Sariñana to Receive Hispanic Heritage Award for Music
Ximena Sariñana is set to receive the award for music at the 39th annual Hispanic Heritage Awards on Sept. 10 at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. The recognition, announced on Thursday (July 16), honors the Mexican singer-songwriter’s more than two decades of work across music, activism, and film.
BelicoFest’s Los Angeles Debut Draws 17,500 Fans
BelicoFest made its L.A. debut in a big way this past weekend (July 11), drawing more than 17,500 fans to BMO Stadium for a one-day celebration of música mexicana headlined by Tito Double P. The festival’s first L.A. edition underscored just how dominant música mexicana has become in one of its most important U.S. hubs, with the lineup collectively reaching nearly 38 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
