Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) play a pivotal role in shaping global music, with artists from the region achieving remarkable milestones on streaming platforms. This influence is particularly pronounced on Spotify, the world’s biggest audio streaming platform – where Latin American and Caribbean artists frequently rank among the platform’s top-streamed albums. With a GDP nearing USD 7 trillion and a population of 650 million, LAC is positioned as the world’s fourth-largest economy.
Beyond its economic significance, the region extends from the U.S.-Mexico border to the southern tip of South America encompasses Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South America stands out as the third-most democratic globally, trailing only Europe and North America.
Musically, the region is one of the fastest growing in the global music industry, surpassing 19.5% last year according to the IFPI’s Global Music Report. Some of the the most influential superstars hail from these countries with Rihanna and Bad Bunny being the top female and male artist from the region. The Caribbean Music Report 2024 takes a look at the top 10 highest-ranking albums by LAC artists on Spotify.
- Bad Bunny – Un Verano Sin Ti
- Year Released: 2022
- Record Label: Rimas Entertainment
- Streams: 17.9 billion
This summer-themed album is the second most-streamed album in Spotify history, surpassed only by Post Malone’s compilation, The Diamond Collection. Un Verano Sin Ti (translated as A Summer Without You) is the Puerto Rican rapper’s fourth solo studio album, featuring 23 tracks and collaborations with artists such as Chencho Corleone and Rauw Alejandro. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, making Bad Bunny the second artist to have an all-Spanish language album reach the top. The album spent 13 weeks at number one and was named the best-performing album of the year on the Billboard 200 Year-End Chart, the first Spanish-language album to achieve this honor. Additionally, it was the first album by a Latin artist to reach 10 billion streams on Spotify, winning the Latin Grammy Award for Best Urban Music Album and receiving a nomination for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards—the first Spanish-language album to do so.
2. Bad Bunny – YHLQMDLG
- Year Released: 2020
- Record Label: Rimas Entertainment
- Streams: 10.3 billion
YHLQMDLG (translated as I Do Whatever I Want) is Bad Bunny’s second solo studio album. Released on February 29, 2020, the album showcases a strong influence of “old-school” reggaeton and includes collaborations with artists like Daddy Yankee, Anuel AA, and Myke Towers. It debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200, becoming the highest-charting all-Spanish album at that time until the release of Bad Bunny’s subsequent album, El Último Tour Del Mundo. As of 2024, YHLQMDLG ranks as Spotify’s 19th most-streamed album of all time and was the best-selling Latin album in the United States in 2020. It also won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop or Urban Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.
3. Rihanna – ANTI
- Year Released: 2016
- Record Label: Roc Nation
- Streams: 7.5 billion
ANTI is the eighth studio album by Barbadian singer Rihanna, released on January 28, 2016. The album marks a departure from her earlier radio-friendly dance tracks, blending pop, dancehall, psychedelic soul, and alternative R&B. It features guest vocals from SZA and Drake and explores complex themes of love, desire, betrayal, and liberation. The album produced four singles, including the number one dancehall hit “Work,” and became Rihanna’s second number-one album in the US. ANTI also achieved six-times platinum certification from the RIAA and topped charts in Canada and Norway. It received six Grammy nominations at the 2017 awards, including Best Urban Contemporary Album, and as of 2024, is the fourth-longest-charting female album in Billboard 200 history.
4. Karol G – MAÑANA SERÁ BONITO
- Year Released: 2023
- Record Label: Universal Music Latin
- Streams: 6.6 billion
Mañana Será Bonito (translated as Tomorrow Will Be Beautiful) is a groundbreaking album by Colombian superstar Karol G, released on February 24, 2023. The album features 17 tracks that blend reggaeton and Latin pop, with collaborations from Shakira, Romeo Santos, and Sean Paul. It made history by becoming the first all-Spanish language album by a female artist to debut at number one on the US Billboard 200, amassing 94,000 album-equivalent units in its first week. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Música Urbana Album at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, marking Karol G’s first Grammy victory.
5. Bad Bunny – X 100pre
- Year Released: 2018
- Record Label: Rimas Entertainment
- Streams: 6 billion
X 100pre, meaning Forever, is Bad Bunny’s debut studio album, released on December 24, 2018. Featuring collaborations with Diplo, El Alfa, and Drake, the album primarily showcases Latin trap and reggaeton while incorporating pop and rock elements. Released unexpectedly following Bad Bunny’s successful La Nueva Religión Tour, the album’s lead single, “Estamos Bien,” was released on June 28, 2018, followed by the hit “Mía,” featuring Drake. The album debuted at number 29 on the US Billboard 200 and topped both the Top Latin Albums and Latin Rhythm Albums charts.
6. Rihanna – Good Girl Gone Bad
- Year Released: 2007
- Record Label: Def Jam
- Streams: 5.7 billion
Good Girl Gone Bad is the third studio album by Rihanna, released on May 31, 2007. This album marks a significant evolution in her musical style, moving from Caribbean influences to a more pop and R&B sound. It features production from notable producers like Timbaland and Tricky Stewart. The album is credited with showcasing Rihanna’s transformation into a mature and edgier persona. It spawned five successful singles, including the Grammy-winning “Umbrella,” and debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200. Good Girl Gone Bad has been certified six-times platinum in the US, selling over 2.8 million copies domestically and more than nine million worldwide. Rihanna supported the album with her first worldwide tour, the Good Girl Gone Bad Tour, and it was later reissued as Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded, featuring new hits like “Take a Bow” and “Disturbia.”
7. Camila Cabello – Romance
- Origin: Cuba/United States
- Year Released: 2019
- Record Label: Epic Records
- Streams: 5.5 billion
Romance is the second studio album by American singer Camila Cabello, released on December 6, 2019, through Epic Records and Syco Music. The album, recorded from November 2018 to October 2019, features pop with R&B, Latin pop, and rock influences, with production from Frank Dukes, Louis Bell, the Monsters and the Strangerz, and others.
It includes the chart-topping lead single “Señorita” (a duet with Shawn Mendes) and other singles like “Liar,” “Shameless,” “Living Proof,” and “My Oh My” (featuring DaBaby). The album centers around themes of love, with much of its inspiration drawn from Cabello’s relationship with Mendes.
Romance debuted at number one in Canada and within the top ten in the US, Australia, and other countries. It was certified platinum by the RIAA in May 2020.
8. Luis Fonsi- Vida
- Year Released: 2019
- Record Label: Universal Music Latin
- Streams: 5.4 billion
Featuring the global smash hit “Despacito,” Vida masterfully blends pop and reggaeton while maintaining Fonsi’s signature romantic sound. It is the tenth studio album by Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi, released on February 1, 2019, by Universal Music Latin Entertainment. The album earned nominations for Best Latin Pop Album at the Grammy Awards and Album of the Year at the Latin Grammy Awards. This was Fonsi’s first album in five years and other singles include “Échame la Culpa,” “Calypso,” and “Imposible.” It sold over one million copies in the U.S., topping the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart.
Vida also includes a blend of upbeat urban/pop tracks and ballads like “Sola” a sultry R&B-inspired song. Billboard named it one of 2019’s most anticipated albums. It debuted at #18 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and reached #1 on multiple Latin charts. Certified multi-platinum in the U.S., Brazil, and other countries, the album includes 15 tracks with contributions from artists like Daddy Yankee, Demi Lovato, and Ozuna.
9. Rauw Alejandro- VICE VERSA
- Year Released– 2021
- Record Label– Sony Latin/Duars Entertainment
- Streams: 5.2 billion
Vice Versa is the second studio album by Puerto Rican artist Rauw Alejandro, released on June 25, 2021, by Sony Music Latin and Duars Entertainment. It marked a stylistic departure from his debut album, Afrodisíaco (2020), as Alejandro explored electropop, house, reggaeton, Latin pop, bolero, and Brazilian funk. The album’s production team included notable names like Tainy and Caleb Calloway.
The album spawned five singles, including the global hit “Todo de Ti,” which topped charts in 18 countries and became the third all-Spanish song to reach the top three on the Billboard Global 200. It received nominations for Favorite Latin Album at the American Music Awards and Top Latin Album at the Billboard Music Awards. Commercially, Vice Versa debuted at #1 on the U.S. Top Latin Albums and spent 54 weeks on the Billboard 200. It also achieved multiple certifications, including octuple platinum (Latin) in the United States.
10. Karol G – KG0516
- Year Released: 2021
- Record Label: Universal Music Latin
- Streams: 5.2 billion
KG0516, the third studio album by Colombian singer Karol G, was released on March 25, 2021, by Universal Music Latino. Featuring a blend of reggaeton and various guest artists like Nicki Minaj, J Balvin, Anuel AA, Ozuna, Nathy Peluso, and Ivy Queen, the album comprises sixteen tracks and was promoted through seven singles, including hit tracks like “Tusa,” “Bichota,” and “Ay, Dios Mio!”
The album debuted at #1 on the US Top Latin Albums and reached #20 on the Billboard 200, marking Karol G’s highest debut on these charts. It also broke the record for the biggest debut for a Spanish-language album by a female artist on Spotify.
Critically acclaimed, KG0516 earned Karol G her first Grammy nomination for Best Música Urbana Album and won several awards, including Top Latin Album at the Billboard Music Awards and Latin Pop/Reggaeton Album of the Year at the iHeartRadio Music Awards.
