Latin music in the United States is defined by both the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and Billboard magazine as any release with 51% or more of its content recorded in Spanish. [1] [2] Since 2010, Billboard has tracked the best-selling Latin Digital Songs chart on January 23, 2010 which shows the top downloaded Spanish-language song of the week. [3] On October 11, 2012, the methodology for the Hot Latin Songs chart were changed to include sales of digital downloads and streaming activity as well as excluding non predominately Spanish languages from appearing on the chart. [4] As a result, English-language versions of a track sung in Spanish are not factored to the digital sales of a Latin song. [5]
Sales certifications for US singles sales are awarded by the RIAA. [6] The RIAA began awarding certifications in 1958. [7] Certifications are based on unit retail sales: sales of 500,000 were awarded gold, 1,000,000 for platinum and 2,000,000 or more for multi-platinum. [7] Beginning on May 9, 2013, the RIAA updated the methodology for singles to include digital downloads and streaming (with 100 streams counting as one download). [8] Since February 1, 2016, 150 streams are equivalent to one download. [9]
In 2000, the RIAA launched Latin certifications to acknowledge that market in the United States. [10] The thresholds for a Latin certification were — 50,000 for gold, 100,000 for platinum, and 200,000 or more for multi-platinum. [11] "La Bomba" by Azul Azul was the only single to receive a Latin certification based on units sold to retails (it was certified platinum). [12] On December 20, 2013, the RIAA established the Latin Digital Singles Award for Spanish-language digital songs. The threshold for the Latin digital songs are 30,000 for gold, 60,000 platinum, and 120,000 or more for multi-platinum. The Latin Digital Singles Awards uses the same methodology as the Digital Singles Award. [13] The RIAA also awards the Latin diamond certification for singles that have been certified at least 10× multi-platinum for sales plus track-equivalent streams of 600,000 units. "Ay Vamos" and "6 AM" by J Balvin are the first Latin singles to receive the diamond (Latin) award. [14] As of January 2018, the highest-certified Latin single is "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, which has been awarded a diamond certification.
| † | Indicates Latin digital single certification |
| * | Indicates digital single certification |
| ^ | Indicates standard single certification |
| Single | Artist(s) | Record label [lower-alpha 3] | Released | Chart peaks [lower-alpha 4] | Multi-platinum certification [lower-alpha 5] | Certified units | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | Latin | |||||||
| "Despacito (Remix)" | April 17, 2017 | 1 | 1 | 10× * | 10,000,000 | [18] [19] [20] | ||
| "Danza Kuduro" | Machete | August 15, 2010 | 82 | 1 | 5× * | 5,000,000 | [21] [22] [23] | |
| "Te Boté (Remix)" | Flow La Movie Inc. | April 13, 2018 | 36 | 1 | 100× † | 6,000,000 | [24] [25] [26] | |
| "Mi Gente" | Universal Latin | June 30, 2017 | 3 | 1 | 68× † | 4,080,000 | [27] [28] [29] | |
| "Macarena" | Los del Río | RCA | August 11, 1995 | 1 | 12 | 4× ^ | 4,000,000 | [30] [31] [32] |
| "Bailando" | Republic | March 18, 2014 | 12 | 1 | 4× * | 4,000,000 | [33] [34] [35] | |
| "Despacito" | January 13, 2017 | 1 | 1 | 55× * | 3,300,000 | [18] [19] [20] | ||
| "Taki Taki" | Geffen | September 28, 2018 | 11 | 1 | 3× * | 3,000,000 | [36] [37] [38] | |
| "Dura" | Daddy Yankee | El Cartel | January 18, 2018 | 43 | 2 | 43× † | 2,580,000 | [39] |
| "Con Calma" | El Cartel | January 24, 2019 | 22 | 1 | 41× † | 2,460,000 | [40] | |
| "Sin Pijama" | Sony Latin | April 20, 2018 | 70 | 4 | 38× † | 2,280,000 | [41] | |
| "X" | Sony Latin | March 2, 2018 | 41 | 1 | 35× † | 2,100,000 | [42] [43] [44] | |
| "La Tortura" | Epic | May 20, 2005 | 23 | 1 | 32× † | 1,920,000 | [42] [43] [44] | |
| "Felices Los 4" | Maluma | Sony Latin | April 21, 2017 | 48 | 2 | 29× † | 1,740,000 | [45] [46] [47] |
| "El Perdón" | Sony Latin | February 5, 2015 | 56 | 1 | 27× † | 1,620,000 | [48] [49] [50] | |
| "La Bicicleta" | Sony Latin | May 27, 2016 | 95 | 2 | 27× † | 1,620,000 | [51] [52] [44] | |
| "Mia" |
| October 11, 2018 | 5 | 1 | 26× † | 1,560,000 | [39] | |
| "Calma (Remix)" | Sony Latin | October 5, 2018 | 71 | 3 | 25× † | 1,500,000 | [39] | |
| "Shaky Shaky" | Daddy Yankee |
| April 8, 2016 | 88 | 1 | 22× † | 1,320,000 | [39] |
| "Hasta El Amanecer" | Nicky Jam | Sony Latin | January 15, 2016 | 73 | 1 | 22× † | 1,320,000 | [49] [50] |
| "Adiós Amor" | Christian Nodal | Universal Latin | January 13, 2017 | – [lower-alpha 6] | 4 | 21× † | 1,260,000 | [54] [55] |
| "Mayores" | Sony Latin | July 14, 2017 | 74 | 3 | 21× † | 1,260,000 | [56] [41] [57] | |
| "Propuesta Indecente" | Romeo Santos | Sony Latin | July 30, 2013 | 79 | 1 | 20× † | 1,200,000 | [58] [59] [60] |
| "Promise" | Sony Latin | September 6, 2011 | 83 | 1 | 19× † | 1,140,000 | [59] [60] | |
| "Fiebre" | Sony Latin | February 23, 2018 | – | 17 | 1× * | 1,000,000 | [61] [62] | |
| "Chantaje" | Sony Latin | October 28, 2016 | 51 | 1 | 16× † | 960,000 | [43] [44] | |
| "Krippy Kush" | Sony Latin | July 31, 2017 | 75 | 5 | 16× † | 960,000 | [63] [64] [65] | |
| "Vivir Mi Vida" | Marc Anthony | Sony Latin | April 30, 2013 | 92 | 1 | 16× † | 960,000 | [66] [67] [68] |
| "La Mordidita" | Sony Latin | April 21, 2015 | – | 6 | 15× † | 900,000 | [69] | |
| "No Me Acuerdo" | Sony Latin | June 1, 2018 | – | 14 | 14× † | 840,000 | [70] | |
| "Síguelo Bailando" | Ozuna | Sony Latin | November 10, 2017 | – | 16 | 13× † | 780,000 | [71] |
| "Odio" | Sony Latin | January 28, 2014 | 45 | 1 | 13× † | 780,000 | [59] [60] | |
| "El Amante" | Nicky Jam | Sony Latin | January 20, 2017 | 92 | 2 | 13× † | 780,000 | [49] [50] |
| "Duele El Corazón" | Sony Latin | March 17, 2016 | 82 | 1 | 12× † | 720,000 | [33] [34] [35] | |
| "La Gozadera" | Sony Latin | May 4, 2015 | – [lower-alpha 7] | 2 | 12× † | 720,000 | [73] [74] | |
| "Corazón" | Sony Latin | November 3, 2017 | 87 | 5 | 11× † | 660,000 | [46] [47] | |
| "Eres Mía" | Romeo Santos | Sony Latin | February 25, 2014 | – | 2 | 11× † | 660,000 | [59] [60] |
| "Me Niego" | Sony Latin | February 16, 2018 | 77 | 6 | 10× † | 600,000 | [75] | |
| "6 AM" | Capitol Latin | December 3, 2013 | – | 5 | 10× † | 600,000 | [28] [29] | |
| "Ay Vamos" | J Balvin | Capitol Latin | September 16, 2014 | – [lower-alpha 8] | 1 | 10× † | 600,000 | [28] [29] |
| "Ginza" | J Balvin | Capitol Latin | July 17, 2015 | 84 | 1 | 10× † | 600,000 | [27] [28] [29] |
| "Báilame" | Nacho | Universal Latin | April 14, 2017 | – [lower-alpha 9] | 5 | 10× † | 600,000 | [78] [79] |
| "Ahora Me Llama" | Universal Latin | May 26, 2017 | – | 10 | 10× † | 600,000 | [80] [81] | |
| "Encantadora" | Sony Latin | October 2, 2015 | – | 3 | 10× † | 600,000 | [82] [83] | |
Since Billboard and the RIAA only provide overall sales of a song without separating Spanish-language versions of a track sung in English, some Spanish versions' sales are incalculable. Counting both versions, "Hips Don't Lie" by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean sold 3,553,000 copies, [84] [85] "She Wolf" by Shakira sold 1,812,000 as of March 2014, [86] [85] "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" by Shakira featuring Freshlyground sold 1,763,000 as of March 2014, [87] [85] and "Livin' La Vida Loca" by Ricky Martin sold 1,100,000 physical copies as of 1999 [88] [89] and 502,000 digital units as of 2011. [90]
Since Billboard and Nielsen SoundScan are inconsistent with the definition of Latin music (Billboard states that the US Latin Digital Songs chart only ranks Spanish-language songs [91] but the English-language song "Conga" was ranked on the 2016 US Latin Digital Songs year-end chart), [92] some Spanglish songs primarily sung in English were excluded from the table above. Following that, "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)" by Pitbull sold over two million digital units as of November 2009 [93] and "Bailamos" by Enrique Iglesias sold 700,000 physical copies as of 1999. [89]
This is a list of the best-selling Latin digital songs in the United States since 2010.
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) award certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards. Certification is not automatic; for an award to be made, the record label must first request certification. The audit is conducted against net shipments after returns, which includes albums sold directly to retailers and one-stops, direct-to-consumer sales and other outlets.
Music recording certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped, sold, or streamed a certain number of units. The threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory.
American singer Christina Aguilera has released nine studio albums, two extended plays (EPs), six compilation albums, one soundtrack album, 54 singles, and 17 promotional singles. To date, Aguilera has sold around 90 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling female music artist of all time. Billboard ranked Aguilera as the 37th Greatest Hot 100 Women of All Time and the 44th Greatest Billboard 200 Women of All Time. In the United States alone, Aguilera has sold 18.3 million albums. Through the RIAA she has 18.6 million certified albums units and 10 million certified digital singles units. Aguilera is recognized as the 20th best-selling artist of the 2000s. She has also achieved 10 number one hits on Billboard's Dance Club Songs. In the United Kingdom, Aguilera has sold over 3.3 million albums and 6.1 million singles.
Colombian singer and songwriter Shakira has released 11 studio albums, five live albums, two compilation albums, 69 singles and 62 music videos. With 95 million certified records worldwide, she is the highest-selling Colombian artist and the best-selling female Latin artist of all time. She is the only South American artist to peak at number one on the Australian Singles Chart, the UK Singles Chart, and the US Billboard Hot 100. Her singles "Hips Don't Lie" and "Waka Waka ", have achieved sales in excess of ten million units, becoming some of the best-selling singles worldwide.
American singer-songwriter Kelly Clarkson has released ten studio albums, eight extended plays, one compilation album, one remix album, and 54 singles. In 2002, she won the inaugural season of the television competition American Idol and was immediately signed to a recording deal with 19 Recordings, and RCA Records. She made her chart debut in September 2002 with the double A-side single "Before Your Love"/"A Moment Like This", latter of which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart and eventually became the year's best-selling single in the United States. Her debut album, Thankful, was released in April 2003 and entered the US Billboard 200 chart at number one. Thankful produced the hit lead single "Miss Independent" and was certified double-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
"Hips Don't Lie" is a song by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira featuring Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean, released by Epic Records in 2006 as the second single from Shakira's seventh studio album, Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 (2005). Shakira and Jean wrote the lyrics and jointly composed the music with additional co-writing by Shakira's percussionist Archie Pena. The song was produced by Shakira and Jean with additional co-production by Jerry Duplessis. "Hips Don't Lie" is a reworking of Jean's earlier single "Dance Like This", therefore it features additional composing credits by Omar Alfanno, Duplessis, Luis Días, and LaTavia Parker. The song incorporates samples from "Amores Como el Nuestro" written by Alfanno, and "Carnaval " written by Días.
The discography of Brad Paisley, an American country music singer, consists of 12 studio albums, three compilation albums, and 46 singles. All but two of Paisley's singles have hit the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, with all but six reaching the top ren. He has 21 number ones, including a streak of ten consecutive, starting with the 2005–06 Dolly Parton duet "When I Get Where I'm Going". When "Waitin' on a Woman", reached number 1 in late 2008, Paisley set a new record for the most consecutive number ones (10) by any country artist since the inception of Nielsen SoundScan in 1990. This streak lasted until mid-2009's number 2 single "Welcome to the Future".
Top Latin Albums is a record chart published by Billboard magazine and is labeled as the most important music chart for Spanish language, full-length albums in the American music market. Like all Billboard album charts, the chart is based on sales. Nielsen SoundScan compiles the sales data from merchants representing more than 90 percent of the U.S. music retail market. The sample includes sales at music stores, the music departments of electronics and department stores, direct-to-consumer transactions, and Internet sales of physical albums or digital downloads. A limited array of verifiable sales from concert venues is also tabulated. To rank on this chart, an album must have 51% or more of its content recorded in Spanish. Listings of Top Latin Albums are also shown on Telemundo's music page through a partnership between the two companies.
American country music singer Miranda Lambert has released ten studio albums, one extended play, one video album, and has made 23 other album appearances. She has released 39 singles, nine promotional singles, and 37 music videos. Lambert has sold 7 million albums in the United States, with her first seven studio albums being certified platinum. In 2001, Lambert released a self-titled and self-financed independent album. After gaining exposure as the third-place winner of the television competition Nashville Star, Lambert signed with Epic Nashville in 2004.
American singer Demi Lovato has released eight studio albums, two video albums, two soundtrack albums, one remix album, five extended plays (EPs), 53 singles, and 13 promotional singles. According to Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Lovato has achieved 51 million certified units. As of August 2023, she has sold 9.7 million albums and 23.9 million song downloads and her songs have registered 7.7 billion on-demand streams in the United States. She has a total of 39 chart entries on the US Billboard Hot 100, including four top-ten songs.
The discography of Puerto Rican rapper, singer-songwriter and producer Daddy Yankee has released eight studio albums, two live albums, eighty-nine singles, and one soundtrack. He made his debut on DJ Playero's Playero 34 mixtape, released in 1991. He was later featured on Playero's 37 and 38 albums, before releasing his first solo record in 1995, titled No Mercy. During the rest of the 1990s, he continued working on underground reggaeton records and released his first album as producer El Cartel de Yankee in 1997. After the release of his 2001 independent album El Cartel II: Los Cangris, he released his second studio album, El Cangri.com, in June 2002. It is cited as the record that made him notorious outside his natal Puerto Rico, being his music introduced in New York City and Miami. Without any major label backing him, El Cangri.com managed to peak at number 43 on the US Top Latin Albums chart. A track from the album, "Brugal Mix", became his first Billboard chart entry by peaking at number 40 on the US Tropical Songs chart in November 2002.
American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars has released three studio albums, one collaborative studio album, one EP, 32 singles and four promotional singles. With estimated sales of over 26 million albums and 200 million singles worldwide, Mars is one of the best-selling artists of all time. Six of his singles are among the best-selling singles of all time: in order of release date, "Just the Way You Are", "Grenade", "The Lazy Song", "When I Was Your Man", "Uptown Funk" and "That's What I Like". According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), he has sold 91.5 million copies in the United States. His first two albums have sold 5.04 million copies in the US alone. In 2012, Mars was named 2011's best selling music artist worldwide. In 2022, he became the first artist to receive six diamond certified songs in the United States.
American singer and songwriter Thomas Rhett has released six studio albums, two extended plays and 28 singles, including five as a featured artist. USA Today dubbed him the "Prince of Country Music" for attaining 18 No. 1 hits in just 9 years. Billboard ranked him as the 12th Top Country Artist of the 2010s decade and the 95th Top Artist of the Decade overall. Rhett has scored 2 No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Rhett has sold 40 million singles and 4.5 million certified albums in the United States.
"Chantaje" is a song by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira, featuring fellow Colombian singer-songwriter and rapper Maluma. It was released on October 28, 2016, via Sony Music Latin as the lead single from Shakira's eleventh studio album, El Dorado (2017). The song was written by Shakira and Maluma and produced by the two and The Rudeboyz, with musical composition done by the former three and Kenai. The song is Maluma and Shakira's second collaboration, after the two were featured on a remix of Carlos Vives' single "La Bicicleta".
"Despacito" is a song by Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi featuring Puerto Rican rapper and singer Daddy Yankee as the lead single from Fonsi's 2019 studio album Vida. Released on January 13, 2017, the song was written by Fonsi, Erika Ender and Daddy Yankee, and produced by Mauricio Rengifo and Andrés Torres. A remix version featuring Canadian singer Justin Bieber was released on April 17, 2017, which helped to improve the chart performance of the song in numerous countries, including various number-one positions. "Despacito" has been widely credited by music journalists as being instrumental in the renewed popularity of Spanish-language pop music in the mainstream market.
El Dorado is the eleventh studio album by Colombian singer and songwriter Shakira, released on 26 May 2017, by Sony Music Latin. The album is mainly sung in Spanish, with three songs in English. After her self-titled tenth studio album (2014), Shakira had her second child, suffered from writer's block and was uncertain about the future of her career. However, her collaboration on "La Bicicleta" with Carlos Vives, encouraged Shakira to continue to work on music.
American rapper Cardi B has released one studio album, three mixtapes, 38 singles, and 17 music videos. 4,376,138 albums, including 4,000,000 in the United States and 100,000 in the United Kingdom. Her debut album Invasion of Privacy was the best selling female rap album of the 2010s according to The Recording Academy. It also became the most streamed female rap album on Spotify history. According to IFPI, "Girls Like You" was the 5th best-selling single of 2018 worldwide, selling 11.9 million units that year alone.
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