Billboard Introduces Revamped Latin Pop Airplay Chart – Billboard

The 25-position survey will better showcase pop songs played on Latin radio.

Billboard has revamped the Latin Pop Airplay chart to better reflect the reach of Latin pop music on Latin radio.

Previously, the Latin Pop Airplay chart ranked weekly plays of all songs, regardless of their genre or language, on a panel of 40 Latin pop-formatted stations, with many of these stations playing a mix of Latin pop, reggaetón and trap titles.

In order to better reflect the popularity of Latin pop music as a genre, the Latin Pop Airplay chart will now, at 25 positions in depth and ranked by audience, feature solely Latin pop songs based on their airplay on over 170 Latin stations that report to Billboard‘s genre-wide Latin Airplay chart. Stations are electronically monitored 24/7 by Nielsen Music/MRC Data.

For the revised Latin Pop Airplay chart, songs will be considered for inclusion if they are pop ballads or mid-tempo or up-tempo pop. Pop-rhythmic and Pop-dance tunes will be eligible for the chart if they are not predominantly rapped and/or do not include notable Latin rhythm, tropical or regional Mexican elements.

This is similar to how Billboard curates and compiles the Latin Rhythm Airplay and Tropical Airplay charts (which are also based on Latin Airplay audience totals) to best reflect the most-heard songs each week in both of those genres.

“I think it will give us a chart with real pop songs,” Victor Gónzalez, Universal Music Latin president, tells Billboard. “This, in essence, will give presence to those artists who come from a pop generation.”

“Changing the chart is not only a good idea, but a necessary step, as it will fairly highlight artists and songs in the pop genre,” says Alex Gallardo, Sony Music Latin president.  “It will certainly help pop artists who can excel in their own space.”

“The chart will make for a fairer scenario for both pop and urban-pop records,” echoes Ruben Abraham, Warner Music Latin vp of marketing.

The first remodeled Latin Pop Airplay chart, dated Aug. 15 and viewable here, is led by Anuel AA’s “Fútbol & Rumba,” featuring Enrique Iglesias.

Rounding out the top five of the revamped ranking are Maluma’s “ADMV” (No. 2); Black Eyed Peas, Ozuna and J.Rey Soul’s “Mamacita” (No. 3); J Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny and Tainy’s “Un Día (One Day)” (No. 4); and Karol G’s “Ay, Dios Mio!” (No. 5).

Among other songs that benefit from the methodology change are Raymix and Paulina Rubio’s “Tú y Yo” (No. 9); Sebastian Yatra and Ricky Martin’s “Falta Amor” (No. 19); Pedro Capo’s “La Sábana y Los Pies” (No. 20); Luis Fonsi’s “Girasoles” (No. 22); and Manuel Medrano’s “Cielo,” featuring Nile Rodgers (No. 25), none of which were previously on the chart.