[Laura Pausini singing alongside her husband, Paolo Carta]
[L-R: Kali Uchis in conversation with Isabela Raygoza]
[L-R: Tokischa and Ivy Queen]
Photo Credit: Billboard
Miami, FL. (October 22, 2025) – On Tuesday, October 21, Billboard Latin Music Week, the most prestigious and longest-running week dedicated to celebrating Latin Music, continued the festivities with more exciting conversations and groundbreaking discussions on day two at The Fillmore Miami Beach. The schedule was packed with dynamic panels and thought-provoking discussions, showcasing some of the most influential figures in Latin music.
The day began with Cafecito con Immigration Attorney Lea A. Salama DiMitri at Stardust Lounge, where Lea A. Salama DiMitri of Behar Law Group joined moderator Griselda Flores to discuss the ABC’s of artist visas and the realities of navigating immigration in the Trump era — a particularly relevant topic for international creators and industry professionals alike.
From there, the Fillmore mainstage opened with Making the Hit LIVE, a one-of-a-kind conversation and live demonstration with superstar Pablo Alborán and acclaimed producer Julio Reyes Copello. Moderated by Sigal Ratner-Arias, the session gave audiences an intimate look at the creative alchemy behind crafting a hit song from idea to execution. In one of the most memorable moments of the day, Pablo Alborán, Julio Reyes Copello, and Riza joined forces to compose a brand-new song live, from scratch. The creative energy flowed instantly, and the chemistry between the three artists was evident when they revealed they would head straight to the studio to finish the track.
During the session, Pablo Alborán shared his experience working with a producer like Julio Reyes Copello: “From Julio, I learned not to settle — to constantly seek out emotion in everything I do in the studio. I rarely feel as understood by a producer as I do with him. It’s special to work with him because he understands your roots. It’s truly a privilege to be around him.” Julio Reyes Copello added: “We share the same vision of beauty. What happened with Pablo is that he far exceeds even the best versions of what I imagined. He’s an artist from another planet and understands music in a sacred way — the same way I do.”
The conversation expanded into The Globalization of Latin Music, where John Janick, CEO of Interscope Records, and Nir Seroussi, Head of Interscope Capitol Miami, sat down with Leila Cobo to discuss how their team has championed artists like Karol G and Xavi, helping fuel Latin music’s exponential global reach. “Being able to sign artists like Karol G and J Balvin, for example, has been a great success. But the important thing here is that we treat developing artists with the same passion we treat big artists,” shared John Janick. “The key is that the artist has vision – who they are and where they want to go. We want to be artists partners, they are our bosses. We want to achieve what they want.” Nir Seroussi, recognized by Billboard as Latin Executive of the Year during the Latin Power Players 2025 event, added: “Everything we do comes from passion… Our strategy is that we invest in talented artists, and support them every step of the way. That’s the beauty of that.”
One of the most anticipated panels of the day, The Women’s Panel: Global Rising,brought together some of the brightest young stars shaping Latin music’s future — Aitana, Ela Taubert, Silvana Estrada, Yailin, and Yami Safdie — for a conversation on artistry, visibility, and empowerment, moderated by Sigal Ratner-Arias.
Ela Taubert spoke about the pressure she felt after winning the Latin Grammy for Best New Artist: “When the Latin Grammy happened, it was hard for me to believe it — I felt so emotional. I think after that, there’s a lot of pressure. I’m really afraid of letting people down. The pressure is real. There’s always a moment in your career when you ask yourself: Should I stop? Should I keep going? And then dreams come true, like the Latin Grammy. You have to keep going — for that inner child and for what we’re representing.”
Silvana Estrada addressed the importance of unity among women in the music industry: “I released an album that I produced, mixed, and for which I directed the videos. I produced it, I mixed it with the engineer, I directed the music videos — but I feel like there’s this preconception that it was all done by a man, when in fact I did it all, and I’m a woman. It’s important to shine a light on what women are doing in every stage of the creative process. And we can support each other through it all.”
Meanwhile, Dominican artist Yailin shared the challenges she has faced and gave advice to those listening: “Fight for your dreams. Many people told me I wouldn’t make it, and by believing in myself, look at everything I’ve achieved. Trust in your dreams and in God. If you don’t have God in your life, you are absolutely nothing.”
In Desde La Raíz, presented by Billboard Argentina and Billboard Colombia, iconic artists Soledad and Silvestre Dangond explored how folklore serves as both foundation and bridge, connecting generations and fueling creative reinvention. Agustín Contepomi led the thoughtful exchange, celebrating heritage as a catalyst for innovation. “I always sought refuge with my hands tied to the root — my parents, my grandparents, my friends. That’s why I never got lost. I always know where to return, where my refuge is, my essence… Watching my father sing was my biggest influence. He was always my idol. And when he told me his idol was Jorge Oñate, I fell even more in love with Vallenato,” shared Silvestre Dangond. He also spoke about how he deals with criticism: “It’s a beautiful thing to have purists criticize you, bruise your ego, and tell you you’re destroying vallenato… but here I am. I don’t regret standing up to them, because that made me who I am today.”
Soledad shared a bit about her beginnings and what music represents to her: “I started getting on stage when I was six years old. But my dad had cassettes of Mercedes Sosa, and folklore was the first thing I was exposed to… Today, I value every step I took through the representative music of my country. Like the dialogue between generations within a family, music is also that — a connection that reminds you who you are.”
The morning’s programming culminated with an Icon Q+A featuring global superstar Laura Pausini in conversation with Leila Cobo. The discussion traced Pausini’s beginnings and remarkable career, creative evolution, and enduring global impact. “On the day of my eighth birthday, we were at a pizzeria in Bologna and my dad was singing. While we were eating, he said, ‘I have something for you — I got you a doll.’ And I told him what I really wanted was the microphone,” shared Pausini. “From that moment on, I would sing with him in the evenings and had my own setlist every Friday.” The session also included karaoke and a live performance of Bad Bunny’s “Turista,” which she sang alongside her husband, Paolo Carta — a version that will be part of her upcoming album. She even closed the conversation with an a cappella performance of her next single, improvising the lyrics as a dedication to Leila Cobo.
In the afternoon, the conversation turned to global influence with Afrobeats: The New Global Rhythm of Latin Music, presented by Walmart. Goyo, Humberto “Humby” Viana, Kapo, Ozuna, and Venesti joined moderator Jessica Roiz to explore how Afrobeats and Latin rhythms are merging to redefine contemporary pop and global soundscapes. On this topic, Colombian artist Kapo, whose global hit “Ohnana” catapulted his career, shared: “We were born with that feeling. I can’t tell you how Afrobeat was born — it’s something you feel. In the end, we do this because it comes naturally to us. It’s not about singing just to sing, it’s about feeling it and creating a real connection.” Ozuna added: “In reggaeton, we made it happen — the unity, the collaborations. Now it’s our turn to do it with others, to take this Afrobeat genre to another level.”
In Music and Film: The Making of Clika, presented by Sony Pictures, Sony Music Latin, and Rancho Humilde, Afo Verde, JayDee, and Jimmy Humilde joined Leila Cobo to offer a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Clika and the power of storytelling across mediums.
Sports and culture took center stage in The Power of Music and Sports, featuring Carlos Arroyo, De La Ghetto, and Jowell. Moderated by Ingrid Fajardo, the conversation explored the shared language of community, identity, and global fandom that unites both industries. Regarding the connection between sports and music, urban artist Jowell shared: “A few years ago, Anuel was involved with a basketball team, as were Ozuna, Benito, Wisin, and I’ve had my collaborations too… It makes us really happy to see that we’re supporting sports. By getting involved, it adds a lot of value to the union between sports and music.” Meanwhile, Carlos Arroyo expressed: “As an athlete, I imagine what it’s like to be an artist. Discipline and the desire to do things right are the most important things… Sometimes we forget the impact of what we do in society. We’re constantly inspiring others, and it’s really important not to forget that.”
In Breaking Stereotypes, two icons — Tokischa and Ivy Queen — came together for a powerful dialogue on feminism, sexuality, and challenging conventions in music. “We need to educate women. It seemed like people were afraid to see us sitting together. Sometimes it’s outsiders who label us. And meeting you in person is not the same,”said Ivy Queen at the beginning of the conversation. “People think I’m going to show up in places moaning, but I don’t… People don’t expect me to believe in God or ask for forgiveness… I even say sorry when I break a glass,” expressed Tokischa, addressing the misconceptions many people have about her.
Regarding her current work, the Dominican artist shared: “I’ve had to spend a lot of time on things nobody knows about, writing songs that have taken me up to seven months in the studio. Since I’ve always been raw, in these songs I’m talking about my traumas, about the times I’ve been betrayed.”
The day’s conversations on identity and artistry continued with a Superstar Q+Afeaturing Kali Uchis, moderated by Isabela Raygoza. Uchis spoke candidly about creative freedom, cultural duality, and forging her own path as a global artist. On making music in both Spanish and English, Kali Uchis shared: “At home, I was used to speaking like that, mixed. It wasn’t a strategy to do it that way — it’s who I am, and I bring that into my music.” She also mentioned that despite the struggles, creativity has always come before money: “When I was making music while living in my car, I never had it in my mind that I needed to make money or anything like that. Intention is very important. For me, creativity comes first — my music.”
As the sun set, attendees gathered for the peermusic Showcase & Happy Hour at Stardust Lounge, featuring performances by Alejo, Christian Alicea, Lupita Infante, and Zizzy. The showcase spotlighted emerging voices and rising talent, bringing the energy of discovery to the heart of Miami.
The evening escalated with Billboard En Vivo ft. Anuel AA, an exclusive event for Insider ticketholders at M2, followed by After Beat – Presented by Billboard Argentina & Billboard Colombia at Miami’s Midtown Art District — an immersive late-night celebration that captured the energy and creativity pulsing through Latin Music Week.
From industry-shaping conversations to unforgettable performances, Day Two spotlighted the innovation, diversity, and global influence of Latin music. Each session underscored the genre’s unstoppable momentum and its power to connect communities around the world.
