Shakira's Heart of Gold: Global Icon Honors Heroes with Brooklyn Show Tickets and Latin Music's Uplifting Spirit
This week in Latin music, Shakira honored New York's World Cup workers and volunteers, Ximena Sariñana was announced as a Hispanic Heritage Award recipient, and the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation launched its fifth mentorship program. BelicoFest made a successful L.A. debut, while Becky G initiated a rainwater project in Mexico, and Tainy represented Latin music at a major film premiere.
Billboard editors recently highlighted a series of uplifting moments in Latin music, spanning career milestones, new releases, and major announcements. This week's news included a humanitarian gesture from Shakira, a prestigious award for Ximena Sariñana, the launch of a significant mentorship program by the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation, a successful music festival debut, a community project led by Becky G, and a film premiere appearance by Tainy.
Colombian superstar Shakira orchestrated a heartfelt celebration ahead of her July 21 Brooklyn concert, gifting tickets to three distinct groups of New Yorkers. These beneficiaries included volunteers from Lulla’s engaged in Venezuela earthquake relief, union workers whose labor was instrumental in the World Cup's success, and Colombian restaurant owners participating in Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s $26 World Cup dining special. Shakira expressed her gratitude, stating, "So much of what made this World Cup special is the work that most fans never see... I wanted to show my gratitude for the people of New York City who made this incredible experience possible." Maya Handa, New York World Cup Czar, echoed this sentiment, calling it a "beautiful gesture" that embodies the spirit of the World Cup.
The recognition was particularly meaningful for individuals like NYHTC member Biviana Pereira Leiva, a room attendant from Barranquilla, Colombia, who felt honored by the acknowledgment. Similarly, Queens-based 32BJ member Sandra Leiton praised Shakira's resilience, noting how immigrant women identify with her strength and representation of Colombia, as she recognizes "hardworking women and fighters like herself."
In other news, Mexican singer-songwriter Ximena Sariñana is slated to receive the esteemed Hispanic Heritage Award for Music at the 39th annual Hispanic Heritage Awards on September 10 at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. This marks a significant moment as the ceremony moves out of Washington, D.C., for the first time. The award celebrates Sariñana’s more than two decades of influential work across music, activism, and film. Sariñana expressed immense gratitude, emphasizing the shared responsibility to continue creating, uplifting, and celebrating the Hispanic community. Antonio Tijerino, president and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, lauded Sariñana as an "embodiment of the leadership" needed in the community and globally, recognizing her extensive career that includes landmark albums such as 'Mediocre' (2008) and 'Existencia Kamikaze' (2025).
The Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation announced the launch of its fifth annual Leading Ladies of Entertainment Mentorship Program and Virtual Panel on July 15. This initiative, presented in partnership with Open Society Foundations, aims to expand access and inspire the next generation of women in music and entertainment. The program provides aspiring women with three months of one-on-one mentorship from past Leading Ladies honorees and other pioneering professionals. It also features a new virtual panel hosted by Dayanara Torres to broaden the conversation. Raquel “Rocky” Egusquiza, executive director, noted a "significant increase" in young women seeking mentorship since the program's 2021 launch. This year's mentors include notable figures like Lila Downs, Goyo, Leslie Grace, Angie Martínez, Dayanara Torres, Diana Rodríguez, and Mónica Vélez.
BelicoFest made a resounding Los Angeles debut on July 11, drawing over 17,500 fans to BMO Stadium for a vibrant, one-day celebration of música mexicana. Headlined by Tito Double P, the festival featured a stellar lineup including Gerardo Ortiz, Santa Fe Klan, Régulo Caro, Chuyin, Snow Tha Product, and Clave Especial. A highlight of the night was OhGeesy’s set, which included surprise appearances by Ty Dolla $ign and YG. The festival underscored the formidable dominance of música mexicana in one of its most critical U.S. markets. The artists in this year's lineup collectively boast nearly 38 million monthly listeners on Spotify and have generated over 10.2 billion streams in the past year, with Los Angeles alone contributing more than 74 million streams, marking another significant live milestone for the globally growing genre.
In a notable humanitarian effort, Becky G partnered with Patrón and the Mexican non-profit Isla Urbana to launch the Rainwater Project Limited-Edition PATRÓN Silver bottle. Beyond a collectible bottle designed by the Mexican-American superstar, the initiative will fund the installation of 200 rainwater harvesting systems for households in Jalisco, the ancestral home of Becky G’s four grandparents. These systems are designed to collect and store rainfall for daily uses such as washing, bathing, cleaning, and watering plants, providing a more reliable water source for various communities. Becky G highlighted the importance of clean water, stating, "Clean water isn’t a given for everyone in Jalisco... If you have a platform, you use it to lift others up, and I’m proud to do that alongside Patrón and Isla Urbana."
Finally, Puerto Rican GRAMMY-winning producer Tainy represented Latin music at the U.S. premiere of Christopher Nolan’s 'The Odyssey' in New York at AMC Lincoln Square on July 14. Widely recognized as a pivotal creative force in modern reggaetón, Tainy shared glimpses of his red carpet moment at one of the summer’s biggest film premieres on Instagram, showcasing Latin music's star power on a global stage.