The Hot Latin Songs chart (formerly Hot Latin 50 and Hot Latin Tracks),[1] published in Billboard magazine, is a record chart based on Latin musicairplay. The data were compiled by the Billboard chart and research department with information from 70 Spanish-language radio stations in the United States and Puerto Rico.[2] Those radio stations were selected based on their number of listeners, and were asked to report their playlists for the week. This information was then entered to the Billboard computer system, and points were tabulated for each song.[2] Before this chart's inception, the Latin music information on the magazine was presented only in the form of the biweekly album sales chart Top Latin Albums, which was divided into Latin Pop, Tropical/Salsa, and Region Mexican and continues to be listed separately.[2]
In 1987, a biographical film about Ritchie Valens was released and American band Los Lobos were among the musicians chosen for the movie soundtrack, since the director chose to record new music for the film rather than use Valens' own recordings.[7] They performed the title track "La Bamba", which became a worldwide success, topping the charts in the United States (including this chart and the Billboard Hot 100), Australia, France, New Zealand and Switzerland.[8] The song "Qué Te Pasa" by Mexican singer Yuri spent 16 weeks at number one in 1988, becoming the longest-running chart topper of the 1980s, followed by fellow Mexican performer Ana Gabriel, who spent 14 weeks (in two separate runs) at the top with her single "Ay Amor".[9]
Cuban singer-songwriter Gloria Estefan became the first artist to simultaneously peak at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Don't Wanna Lose You", and the Billboard Top Latin Songs with the Spanish version titled "Si Voy a Perderte" on September 16, 1989.[10][11] This single was her first release as a solo artist, independent of her role in the group Miami Sound Machine.[12] Mexican singers Emmanuel, José José and Luis Miguel released the most number-one hits in the 1980s, with three each.[13][14][15]
Number-one songs
American band Los Lobos reached the top of the chart with their version of the song "La Bamba" in 1987.Mexican singer-songwriter Ana Gabriel spent 14 weeks at number-one with her song "Ay Amor".
"Top Latin Songs database". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved December 18, 2014. For information about every week of this chart, follow this link; in the chart date section select a date and the top ten positions for the week selected will appear on screen, including the number-one song, which is shown in the table above.
Specific
^ ab"Hot Latin 50". Billboard. 98 (40). Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 71 1986-10-04. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
