Shakira has been named Billboard’s first Mujeres Latinas en la Msica “Latin Woman of the Year,” the publication announced on Monday. The Colombian superstar singer will accept the award at the “Mujeres Latinas en la Msica” — or “Latin Women in Music” — celebration, which will be broadcast exclusively on Telemundo in Spanish on May 7.
“Shakira is the ultimate musical woman.” “She has empowered Latin women all over the world to write and perform deeply personal music,” said Leila Cobo, Billboard’s chief content officer for Latin/Espaol.
Global superstar @shakira will be honored as Billboard’s Woman of the Year at the first-ever #BBMujeresLatinas. 🏆💜 @telemundohttps://t.co/OOgn4ZWxJ4
— billboard latin (@billboardlatin) April 24, 2023
Her song “Sessions” is currently the most-streamed Latin track in Spotify history, as well as the most-viewed Latin track on YouTube in 24 hours, with over 63 million views. The magazine claims that it broke 14 Guinness World Records. The superstar has sold over 95 million records worldwide, making her one of the most successful musicians of all time.
“Shakira has been pivotal in shaping the vibrant and diverse landscape of Latin music and music in general throughout her career,” said Ronald Day, Telemundo’s president of entertainment and content strategy.
Shakira’s song “Monotona” featuring Ozuna was also the biggest Spanish-language debut of 2022, and her song “Shakira: BZRP Music Sessions #53” debuted at No. 9 on Billboard’s Hot 100 music chart, which is the magazine’s weekly list of the most popular tracks in music, based on data from radio airplay, sales, and streaming numbers, in January of this year. According to Billboard, her debut made her the first woman to reach the top ten with a Spanish song.
The honor comes at a difficult time in the star’s life. “Out of Your League,” also known as “Shakira: BZRP Music Sessions #53,” is a collaboration between Shakira and Argentinian DJ Bizzarap as part of his BZRP music sessions series. The song is directed at Shakira’s ex-husband, former soccer player Gerard Piqué, with whom she has two sons. When the former couple announced their divorce in 2022, they were in the midst of a public and acrimonious divorce. She is also accused of tax evasion in Spain, with Spanish prosecutors accusing her in 2018 of failing to pay 14.5 million euros — or $13.9 million — in taxes on income earned between 2012 and 2014. Shakira has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
The two-hour special, hosted by Ivy Queen and Jacqueline Bracamontes, will be taped the day before in Miami. According to Billboard, the event is “a first of its kind for Latin music,” and it “celebrates Latin female artists, executives, and creatives who are proactively working for positive change, inclusion, and gender parity in the music industry.”
Evaluna, Ana Gabriel, Emilia, Goyo, and Thalia are among the other Latin superstars honored at the event.
