Latin Music: Universal Leads On First-quarter Latin Charts

Univision Music Group (UMG) continues to be the leading Latin label in the United States for the first quarter of 2004.

According to sales figures provided by Nielsen SoundScan and year-to-date Billboard charts (from the Dec. 6, 2003, issue through the April 3, 2004, issue), UMG has an ample sales lead in the market (see charts, page LM-16).

The label, which includes Univision Records, Fonovisa Records and Disa Records, has a total of 43 titles charting on the Top Latin Albums Labels chart so far. That is almost double the number of runner-up Sony Discos, which has 24 titles.

When broken down by imprints, UMG-owned Fonovisa tops the Top Latin Albums Imprints chart with a total of 25 titles. Sony Discos follows with 20, while Univision Records comes in with 18.

UMG has a strong-selling roster of mostly regional Mexican acts. Leading the Top Latin Albums chart, for example, is Marco Antonio Solís' "La Historia Continúa" (Fonovisa). At No. 2 is another Fonovisa mainstay, Los Temerarios, with "Tributo al Amor."

UMG has a total of seven of the top 20 titles on Top Latin Albums. Sony follows with six, including Sin Bandera's "De Viaje" and La Oreja de Van Gogh's "Lo Que Te Conté Mientras Te Hacías la Dormida."

EMI weighs in with A.B. Quintanilla III & Kumbia Kings' "La Historia," which comes in at No. 3 on the Top Latin Albums chart.

In a continuing trend, compilations have dominated first-quarter sales of Latin music titles—the three top-sellers in the market are greatest-hits sets from established acts Solís, Los Temerarios and A.B. Quintanilla III & Kumbia Kings.

The only new act on the Top Latin Albums chart is Akwid, with its successful debut, "Proyecto Akwid" (Univision Records).

On the Top Latin Albums Artists chart, the leader is Maná. This is in large part due to showings from its three compilation albums and its studio album, for a total of four charting titles. Solís follows with two.

Even as Univision dominates in sales, Sony Discos amply tops the Hot Latin Tracks Imprints and Hot Latin Tracks Labels charts. Sony has a total of 25 charted titles on the Imprints chart, followed by Fonovisa with 15.

On Hot Latin Tracks Labels, Sony leads with 29 charted titles, followed by Universal Music Latino with 16. Fonovisa is third with 16.

Sony was aided in its radio rally by multiple tracks from pop acts Chayanne and Sin Bandera. Universal Music Latino continued to reap the benefits of Juanes while adding tracks from David Bisbal and Luis Fonsi.

The top Hot Latin Tracks title for the time period, however, belongs to neither label. It is Obie Bermúdez's "Me Cansé de Tí," from his EMI Latin album "Confesiones."

Bermúdez also tops the Hot Latin Tracks Artists chart, besting such stalwarts as Chayanne, Sin Bandera and Cristian.

As reported in Billboard earlier this year, Universal Music & Video Distribution (UMVD) has confirmed its position as the leading distributor of Latin music in the country.

UMVD has seen a market-share boost thanks to distribution agreements with UMG, which includes Fonovisa Records. For this first quarter, UMVD has a total of 84 charting titles, followed by Sony with 24.

Perhaps the biggest surprise in these first-quarter charts is a no-show.

BMG is not among the top five in either the Top Latin Albums Labels or Top Latin Albums Imprints charts. And none of its artists or titles make the Top Latin Albums Titles or Top Latin Album Artists charts.

BMG's sole showing is at No. 5 on the Hot Latin Tracks Labels chart, thanks to Mexican star Cristian.