Billboard Latin Music Week 2025 officially returned to The Fillmore Miami Beach, reigniting its legacy as the longest-running and most influential event celebrating Latin music and culture. The opening day set the tone for an unforgettable week packed with exclusive panels, industry insights, live showcases, and networking events featuring the most influential artists, producers, and executives in the game.
The Power of Independence
The day began with The Power of Independence, presented by Platoon, featuring Lenny Tavárez, Pinky Mordan, and producers Yan and Yon MadMusick, moderated by Ingrid Fajardo. The conversation dove deep into the artist’s journey from A&R to release, highlighting how independence has become a path toward creative freedom and authenticity.
“The positive side of being independent is that they don’t try to change your DNA. Thanks to social media, we can show ourselves as we are,” shared Lenny Tavárez, reflecting on his journey from early struggles to artistic freedom.
Yan and Yon added their perspective on digital strategy:
“Social media is the most powerful tool, but many artists use it only to sell music instead of showing who they are. Personality builds fandom.”
BRESH & Zumba: Dancing Up the Charts
In a vibrant discussion moderated by Isabela Raygoza, Atella (Zumba) and Bröder (BRESH) explored how lifestyle brands like theirs are driving cultural trends and global visibility for Latin music through community, dance, and celebration.
Let Your Music Speak Louder
Presented by Rimas Publishing, Let Your Music Speak Louder brought together Emilio Morales, King Savagge, Machael, and Michelle Maciel for a conversation with Pamela Bustios about fan engagement, royalties, and the balance between art and business.
The Power Duo: Carín León & Jorge Juárez
One of the day’s standout sessions featured Carín León and his manager Jorge Juárez in The Power Duo, moderated by Leila Cobo. León spoke candidly about overcoming criticism and blending genres to create his unique sound:
“They criticized me for being different, but we created a signature. Genres feel like limits — it’s all music.”
León also revealed that he’s working on a country music album, signaling yet another genre-defying move in his career.
Juárez added:
“Carín isn’t just a regional Mexican artist he’s a global artist. When you work from the heart, the music speaks louder than the genre.”
Breaking a New Artist & The Influencer Effect
The Breaking a New Artist panel, presented by SONAR, featured Matt Louis, Slow Jamz, and Siggy Vázquez with Juan J. Arroyo, focusing on how emerging talent can stand out in today’s competitive landscape.
Later, The Influencer Effect, presented by L’Oréal, brought together top creators Karime Pindter, La Segura, Mario Ruiz, and Pao Ruiz with Gabo Llano (TikTok) to discuss how influencer culture drives music discovery and marketing success.
“We’re the bridge between the world and the music,” said La Segura. “But you have to genuinely connect with the song for the campaign to work.”
Pao Ruiz highlighted her viral success with Grupo Niche, whose salsa challenge generated over 17 million views and boosted streaming numbers worldwide.
In Conversation: Anuel AA & DJ Khaled
The day’s biggest moment came when Anuel AA and DJ Khaled took the stage for a powerful conversation on collaboration and Latin music’s global takeover.
“When I started in trap, I thought if Eminem can do it in English, I can do it in Spanish,” shared Anuel, revealing he has a new album on the way.
DJ Khaled brought his signature energy to the panel:
“Viva los Latinos! I’ve always loved Latin music. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come — and there’s still so much more to do.”
The Globalization of Latin Touring
Presented by Live Nation, this discussion with Jorge Garcia, Leizer Guss Guss, Mac Clark, and Griselda Floresexplored how Latin artists are expanding their reach across continents, making the genre one of the most powerful touring movements in the world.
Networking, Showcases & Nightlife
Throughout the day, attendees connected with representatives from Billboard, Boombastic, Live Nation, Symphonic Distribution, Tickeri, Viña del Mar Festival, and more during intimate roundtable sessions.
The evening continued with two high-energy showcases: the Emerging Artist Showcase at Stardust Lounge, presented by Platoon, featuring Jheral, Golden, and MadMusick; and the Opening Night Showcase at Mad Club Wynwood, presented by Boombastic, with performances by GALE, J Álvarez, Luck Ra, Lauty Gram, Los Ricos, Yami Safdie, and others.
To close the night, Duetti hosted an exclusive after-party at Dante’s HiFi, where DJ MUTIS soundtracked an unforgettable celebration of music, culture, and creativity.
What’s Next
The excitement continues today with more must-see conversations featuring Laura Pausini, Kali Uchis, Goyo, Ozuna, Venesti, Ivy Queen, and more.
For full schedules, speaker lists, and exclusive coverage, visit BillboardLatinMusicWeek.com