A behind the scenes look at the music that is currently the soundtrack of the globe, reported on and written by Leila Cobo, Billboard’s VP of Latin Music and the world’s ultimate authority on popular Latin music.

Decoding “Despacito” tracks the stories behind the biggest Latin hits of the past fifty years. From the salsa born and bred in the streets of New York City, to Puerto Rican reggaetón and bilingual chart-toppers, this rich oral history is a veritable treasure trove of never-before heard anecdotes and insight from a who’s who of Latin music artists, executives, observers, and players. Their stories, told in their own words, take you inside the hits, to the inner sanctum of the creative minds behind the tracks that have defined eras and become hallmarks of history.

FEATURING THE STORIES BEHIND SONGS BY:
José Feliciano • Los Tigres Del Norte • Julio Iglesias • Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine • Willie Colón • Juan Luis Guerra • Selena • Los Del Río • Carlos Vives • Elvis Crespo • Ricky Martin • Santana • Shakira • Daddy Yankee • Marc Anthony • Enrique Iglesias with Descemer Bueno and Gente De Zona • Luis Fonsi with Daddy Yankee • J Balvin with Willy William • Rosalía

LIKE A BLAZING SHOOTING STAR, JENNI RIVERA LIT UP THE LIVES OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, YET THE SKY SWEPT HER AWAY BEFORE HER TIME

Jenni Rivera: The Incredible Life of a Warrior Butterfly:

   •  Full color photos 
   •  The complete discography of Jenni Rivera
   •  Billboard lists of sales rankings of Jenni’s songs
   •  Exclusive interviews 
   •  A complete, entertaining, and objective biography
   •  Written by one of the country’s leading experts in Latin music 

Jenni Rivera was the top-selling artist within the Regional Mexican music genre. With a weekly radio show, her own reality show, a makeup and clothing line, and her own foundation, she was at the height of her career and life. Everything she had conquered, with blood, sweat, tears, and smiles, hap¬pened, as she said, with God leading her by the hand. However her life, her dreams, and the joy she shared with so many came to a tragic end just before dawn on December 9, 2012.

In Jenni Rivera: The Incredible Story of a Warrior Butterfly, Leila Cobo—pianist, TV host, and Executive Director for Latino content and programming at Billboard—brings us Jenni Rivera’s intimate and moving biography, reflecting on the party girl, the elegant woman, the great diva, the friend, the mother, and the grandmother. Discover the humble beginnings of Jenni’s life and career, as well as the emotional and sometimes turbulent moments that defined her persona and spirit. Like a candle blown out before her time, we not only lost the “Unforgettable One,” the “Queen of Queens,” the “Warrior Butterfly,” we also lost a brave woman who fearlessly faced life’s ups and downs to attain the happiness she so fervently wanted for herself and her family. With Jenni’s departure, we celebrate a shining legacy that will forever reverberate within every note of her voice.

“Leila Cobo, vicepresidenta de Billboard, es posiblemente la principal periodista de la música Latina en Estados Unidos. Su libro repasa la historia de la música Latina, desde la salsa, nacida y criada en las calles de Nueva York, hasta el reggaetón puertorriqueño. El libro incluye entrevistas y anécdotas personales de los más grandes pioneros de la música latina, como Shakira, Daddy Yankee, Marc Anthony y muchos más”. ­—Variety

Escrito por Leila Cobo, la mayor autoridad de la música latina, La fórmula “Despacito” es una mirada profunda al detrás de escenas de la música que hace bailar al mundo entero.

Seguramente conoces “Despacito”, la canción de Luis Fonsi y Daddy Yankee con un remix de Justin Bieber, que rápidamente se convirtió en la canción más escuchada del mundo y cuyo video fue el primero en conseguir 6 billones de vistas en YouTube. Sin duda bailaste a “I Like It”, el relanzamiento de un hit de boogaloo de los setentas en la voz de Cardi B, Balvin y Bad Bunny. A donde quiera que vayas encontrarás los sonidos de la música latina, la cual se ha convertido en un fenómeno global, con 30 canciones entrando en la lista de las Hot 100 de Billboard en 2018.  

La fórmula “Despacito” contiene las historias desconocidas de la creación de los éxitos más grandes de la música latina de los últimos cincuenta años. Desde “Conga” hasta “Mi gente”, esta historia oral es un verdadero tesoro de anécdotas exclusivas contadas por las mentes creativas de los artistas, los expertos agentes y los gurus de marketing detrás de cada cancion, dándole vida a las melodías que han definido cada década y se han convertido en sellos distintivos de cada generación.

DECODING “DESPACITO”

A behind the scenes look at the music that is currently the soundtrack of the globe, reported on and written by Leila Cobo, Billboard’s VP of Latin Music and the world’s ultimate authority on popular Latin music.

Decoding “Despacito” tracks the stories behind the biggest Latin hits of the past fifty years. From the salsa born and bred in the streets of New York City, to Puerto Rican reggaetón and bilingual chart-toppers, this rich oral history is a veritable treasure trove of never-before heard anecdotes and insight from a who’s who of Latin music artists, executives, observers, and players. Their stories, told in their own words, take you inside the hits, to the inner sanctum of the creative minds behind the tracks that have defined eras and become hallmarks of history.

FEATURING THE STORIES BEHIND SONGS BY:
José Feliciano • Los Tigres Del Norte • Julio Iglesias • Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine • Willie Colón • Juan Luis Guerra • Selena • Los Del Río • Carlos Vives • Elvis Crespo • Ricky Martin • Santana • Shakira • Daddy Yankee • Marc Anthony • Enrique Iglesias with Descemer Bueno and Gente De Zona • Luis Fonsi with Daddy Yankee • J Balvin with Willy William • Rosalía