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By Carlos Quintana, About.com Guide

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Who Is Your Favorite Bachata Artist?

Monday May 21, 2012

With the recent development of Urban Bachata, this Dominican genre has consolidated an important spot within the Latin music world. Thanks to stars like Prince Royce and Romeo Santos, Bachata has become a mainstream phenomenom that has captured a whole new generation of fans especially across the US. However, the popularity that Bachata enjoys today is also the result of the music that artists like Anthony Santos, Zacarias Ferreira, Raulin Rodriguez and Hector Acosta have been producing for the past decade. In the following poll you can cast your vote for your favorite Bachata star. Let's see how it goes.

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Photo Courtesy Sony U.S. Latin, Top Stop Music and Mayimba Music, Inc.

Grupo Niche's Tour Celebrates 30 Years of Wonderful Colombian Salsa

Friday May 18, 2012

This year, the legendary Salsa band Grupo Niche is celebrating its 30th anniversary with an exhausting tour that is taking the band all over the world. In the next days, the popular group from Colombia, whose extensive repertoire includes timeless hits such as "Cali Pachanguero" and "Una Aventura," will be visiting different cities across the US including venues in New York and California. The following are the upcoming shows included in the schedule of this famous Salsa band.

Grupo Niche Tour Dates:

May 18 - Salt Lake City, Utah - Club Karamba.
May 19 - New York, NY - Lehman College New York.
Jul. 19 - Silver Spring, MD - The Filmore.
Jul. 20 - New York, NY - La Boom.
Jul. 21 - Carlstadt, NJ - Dragon Fly.
Jul. 22 - Anaheim, CA - Phoenix Club.

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Photo Courtesy Tropisounds

MTV Tr3s Signs Unplugged Special with Reggaeton Duo Wisin Y Yandel

Thursday May 17, 2012

Reggaeton and Latin Urban sensation duo Wisin y Yandel will be recording an Unplugged program next year. According to an announcement made by Jose Tillan, General Manager of MTV Tr3s, the duo has signed on to appear on a special Unplugged show from the same franchise that recently produced the album Juanes MTV Unplugged.

The Reggaeton duo is one of the most popular names of today's Latin Urban movement. This year, Wisin y Yandel will hit the road alongside Jennifer Lopez and Enrique Iglesias in one of the most exciting Latin music events of the year. Before that, however, the Reggaeton duo is planning to release in June their next album Lideres.

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Kevin Winter / Getty Images

Latin Rock Band Enanitos Verdes To Bring Rock en Espanol Classics This Summer

Tuesday May 15, 2012

Enanitos Verdes , one of the most influential bands in the development of the Rock en Espanol movement that evolved in Latin America during the 1980s, will be hitting the road this summer with a come back tour that includes several venues across the country. The legendary Latin Rock band will kick off his US tour on July 5 at the House of Blues in Chicago.

Enanitos Verdes played an important role in the making of Rock en Espanol during the 1980s and 1990s. Some of their most enduring tracks include titles such as "Lamento Boliviano," "La Muralla Verde" and "Igual Que Ayer". The following are the tour dates of this exciting Latin music event.

Enanitos Verdes Tour Dates:

Jul. 5 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues Chicago.
Jul. 7 - Silver Spring, MD - The Fillmore Silver Spring.
Jul. 8 - Boston, MA - House of Blues Boston.
Jul. 10 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza powered by Klipsch.
Jul. 12 - Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore Charlotte.
Jul. 13 - Orlando, FL - House of Blues Orlando.
Jul. 14 - Miami Beach, FL - The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater.
Jul. 19 - Houston, TX - House of Blues Houston.
Jul. 20 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues Dallas.
Jul. 27 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore.

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Photo Courtesy Sony U.S. Latin

A Defining Moment for Latin Music Superstar Juanes

Monday May 14, 2012

There are only two weeks left for the release of the anticipated JUANES MTV Unplugged album. This production, which will hit the global market on May 29, could easily define an important step in the musical evolution of the Colombian superstar. In a recent interview with the Colombian radio station W Radio, Juanes expressed his desire to move in a new direction. While talking about "La Camisa Negra," one the most popular songs by Juanes, the Latin Pop artist said that even though he loves that song, "he won't go back to that sound". "The future is in a different place," he added.

Because of this, the JUANES MTV Unplugged album has the potential to provide us with a good indication of the future that the Colombian singer wants to build. "La Senal" and "Hoy Me Voy," the first two singles that have been released from the upcoming album, introduce a more sophisticated and reflective style that could be the one Juanes wants to embrace.

Likewise, this album could be the beginning of a more intimate period for Juanes. In fact, the Latin music star has announced a series of concerts in small theaters where he plans to promote his JUANES MTV Unplugged album with the same feeling of the original recording. The Colombian singer is planning to kick off a huge world tour and he has already added the following US dates for his upcoming tour:

Juanes Tour Dates:

Jun. 9 - Dallas, TX - H2O Music Festival.
Aug. 17 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.
Aug. 18 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.

Besides the new album, Juanes is still able to find room for all kinds of activities. Tomorrow, for example, the Latin Pop artist will speak to students of the Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music. Juanes also continues to thrive on social media sites with almost 10 millions of fans and followers on Facebook and Twitter. This is definitely a very special time for the music career of Juanes.

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Photo Courtesy Tr3s: MTV, Musica y Mas

Romeo Santos and Prince Royce Lead Nominations for The 2012 Premios Juventud (Youth Awards)

Friday May 11, 2012

The Spanish-language network Univision has just announced the names of the finalists for the 2012 Premios Juventud (Youth Awards). Similarly to what happened at the Billboard Latin Music Awards, this year's edition of Premios Juventud is matching Romeo Santos against Prince Royce. In fact, the two Bachata stars top the list of finalists with 11 nominations for Romeo Santos and 10 for Prince Royce.

Behind these two artists, Cuban-American rapper Pitbull and Latin Pop singer Ricardo Arjona shared the third place with seven nominations each. The popular Mexican music singer Gerardo Ortiz received six nominations followed by Latin Urban star Daddy Yankee who is competing in five categories. Other popular names in the list include artists like Shakira, Mana, Jesse & Joy and Enrique Iglesias.

Although Premios Juventud is mainly about music, this event also covers additional categories such as movies, soap operas, and sports. Some of the people who received nominations in those categories include celebrities like Sofia Vergara, Penelope Cruz, Antonio Banderas and Gael Garcia Bernal as well as the popular soccer stars Lionel Messi and Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez.

The nominations and winners of Premios Juventud are established by online voting. Now that Univision has revealed the names of the finalists, you can cast your vote in the official Premios Juventud site. This online voting will be closed on May 31. The 2012 Premios Juventud will be held at Miami's BankUnited Center on Thursday, July 19, and the Spanish-language network Univision will air the event.

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Kevin Winter / Getty Images

Sound Carta Y Su Orquesta and The Eclectic Combination of Salsa and Hip-Hop

Thursday May 10, 2012

Sound Carta Y Su Orquesta is a new band from Brooklyn, New York, whose music is defined by an exciting combination of Afro-Cuban rhtyhms with Rap and Hip-hop. The band, which is centered around its lead singer Sound Carta, is about to release its very first album Nos Fuimos. This 6-track EP, which stands in the middle of the Latin Urban world and the Salsa realm, will hit the Latin music market on May 15.

Apart from the upcomign EP, Sound Carta Y Su Orquesta has recently created a fund on Kickstarter to raise money in order to participate in the National Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York. If you are into Salsa and Latin Urban music, Nos Fuimos offers a nice hybrid that does a decent job trying to stay away from the commercial and repetitive stuff that defines mainstream music today.

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Photo Courtesy Sound Carta Music

Luis Miguel Announces Concerts in Las Vegas To Celebrate Mexican Independence Day

Tuesday May 8, 2012

Latin music superstar Luis Miguel has confirmed three concerts in Las Vegas this coming September. The popular Mexican singer will be one of the top acts of the festivities that the city organizes every year to celebrate Mexican Independence Day. Warner Music Latina, the record label of the Latin Pop artist, has confirmed the three shows. All the three concerts will take place at the Colosseum At Caesars Palace between September 13-15.

After winning the prestigious Gaviota de Platino Award at the Vina del Mar Festival early this year, Luis Miguel is currently wrapping up his tour around Spain. The shows of the famous Latin music artist will definitely entertain all of those who are going to Las Vegas to celebrate Mexican Independence Day. Stay tuned for more news regarding one of the biggest Hispanic celebrations of the year.

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Ethan Miller / Getty Images

Pitbull Prepares US Leg of 'Planet Pit' World Tour

Monday May 7, 2012

Latin music superstar Pitbull has already confirmed dates and venues for the US leg of his worldwide tour Planet Pit. This coming summer, Pitbull will take his music across different states including Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Georgia, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California and Nevada. The US tour kicks off on July 26 at the Charter One Pavilion in Chicago.

Pitbull is one of the today's most popular Latino artists. Originally from Miami, the music of this Cuban-American rapper combines influences from the Latin Urban scene with Latin Pop and Dance music. The 2012 tour bears the name of his hit album Planet Pit, which includes popular songs like "Give Me Everything," "Rain Over Me" and "Hey Baby". The following are the tour dates for this exciting event.

Pitbull Tour Dates:

Jul. 26 - Chicago, IL - Charter One Pavilion.
Jul. 28 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre.
Jul. 29 - Cleveland, OH - Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica.
Jul. 31 - Atlanta, GA - Chastain Park Amphitheatre.
Aug. 2 - Woodlands, TX - Woodlands Pavilion.
Aug. 3 - Thackerville, OK - Global Event Center at WinStar World Resort.
Aug. 4 - Albuquerque, NM - Hard Rock Casino Albuquerque Presents The Pavilion.
Aug. 5 - Tuscon, AZ - AVA Amp.
Aug. 7 - Chula Vista, CA - Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre.
Aug. 8 - Los Angeles, CA - Universal Amphitheatre.
Aug. 10 - Las Vegas, NV - Red Rock Amphitheatre.
Aug. 11 - San Francisco, CA - Bill Graham Civic Center.

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Kevin Winter / Getty Images

Shakira's New Video 'Addicted To You' Hits The Million Mark in One Day

Thursday May 3, 2012

Latin music superstar Shakira only needed one day to break the million mark on YouTube with her latest released video Addicted To You. The song, which is included in the hit album Sale El Sol, provides the prevalent Merengue sound that Shakira incorporated into her popular production.

The new video was recorded in one day on a ranch near Los Angeles, and was directed by the well known music video director Anthony Mandler. Addicted To You is definitely one of Shakira's sexiest videos, and you can see the famous Latin Pop singer in different outfits while she lays on a bed, a bathtub and a pile of leaves. Of course, her sensual dancing moves are in full display on this video.

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Kevin Winter / Getty Images

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