From Bad Bunny to Rosalía, Spanish-language artists are finally gaining critical acclaim

<p>This week on <em>Under the Radar with Callie Crossley:</em></p> <p>Even if you don't know his name, you have probably heard his music. Bad Bunny is a Puerto Rican superstar who has <a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/bad-bunny-top-artist-of-the-year-billboard-chart-2022-1235176759/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">topped Billboard charts</a> for years. For three years in a row he has been Spotify's <a href="https://newsroom.spotify.com/2022-12-13/spotify-celebrates-3-years-of-record-breaking-bad-bunny-streaming-with-a-mexico-city-fiesta/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">most streamed artist</a> in the world.</p> <p>While he has won Grammys before, his global appeal hasn’t translated to wins in the Recording Academy's biggest categories. No Spanish-language album had ever been nominated for the the Grammys’ Album of the Year — until Bad Bunny's "<a href="https://www.grammy.com/news/how-bad-bunny-took-over-the-world-2023-grammys-un-verano-sin-ti-album-of-the-year" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Un Verano Sin Ti</a>" was nominated for that honor in November.</p> <p>Two experts examine why a handful of Spanish-language artists were finally able to transcend The Grammys' niche categories, and what this says about the rise and undeniable influence of Latin music in America.</p> <p><strong>GUESTS</strong></p> <p><strong><a href="https://www.billboard.com/author/leila-cobo/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Leila Cobo</a></strong>, journalist, author, and Billboard’s Chief Content Officer of Latin</p> <p><strong><a href="https://www.bertarojas.com/en/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Berta Rojas</a></strong>, associate professor in Berklee's Guitar department and winner of two 2022 Latin Grammys, Best Classical Album for “Legado,” and Best Classical Contemporary Composition for the song "Anido's Portrait: I. Chacarera”</p>