With a new decade that finally has a name we can remember, a new crop of Latin artists and sounds look to make an indelible impact right out of the gate in the first months of 2020. From corridos and norteñas, to baladas and banda, Regional Mexican music continues to evolve and drive a huge portion of the Latin listenership on Pandora. We’re excited to see what’s next from Natanael Cano, Cheli Madrid, Grupo Firme, Adrián Chaparro and Jorge Almir. With the domination of urban music in Latin pop, we believe 2020 will mark a return to a more classic Latin pop sound, led by innovative songwriters like Camilo, Luis Figueroa and Cami. R&B was all the buzz in Latin music this past year, and that buzz will only grow with the innovative artistry of Paloma Mami and Omar Apollo. Urban music will continue its domination of Latin listening on Pandora, but don’t look for the same old same old in 2020; artists like Mariah, Lalo Ebratt, Eladio Carrión, Dímelo Flow and Haze are redefining the genre for new audiences. And for those who are looking to take a detour outside of the big genres, artists like Elsa y Elmar, La Doña and Ed Maverick are breaking down barriers with their unique voices. We are excited to see what takes shape in the Latin music world through the next 12 months.

Check out the Latin Artists to Watch 2020 mixtape HERE.

Adrián Chaparro: Adrián Chaparro made his debut on the Pandora Predictions chart this past October, after over a year of increasing viral attention. With his distinct voice and skilled songwriting, as evidenced in corridos like No Mencionan, Adrián signed with Fonovisa in 2019, bringing with him a ton of anticipation. In August of this year, Se Cae La Corona dropped, making a clear statement about the intended trajectory of this young artist from Tucson. Look for more singles to close out the year and the anticipated debut full-length album in January.

CAMI: Chilean-born singer-songwriter Cami’s pop stylings coupled with an affinity for folk traditions caught the ear of audiences in 2019 and earned her a nomination for Best New Artist this past November at the Latin Grammys. Anchored with an expressive and powerful voice, her sound is modern with touches of classic Latin American folk influences, giving her a distinct musical palate. Her audience has grown by over 1000% in the last month, making her one to keep an eye in 2020.

Camilo: Medellín-born Camilo had a big second half of 2019, which included the viral success of his hit, “Tutu,” followed up by a remix featuring Shakira and Pedro Capó, plus a Latin Grammy nomination for best new artist. Camilo has already put his stamp on contemporary music, with songwriting credits that include among many others, Becky G and Natti Natasha’s “Sin Pijama,” Juanes’ “Pa’ Dentro,” Bad Bunny’s “Si Estuviésemos Juntos” and Bomba Estéreo’s “Internacionales.” Debuting on Pandora’s Predictions Chart in October, his 2020 plans include the release of new material and a focus on further self-development.

Cheli Madrid: Cheli Madrid’s unique talent offers a huge opportunity to bridge pop and regional Mexican music for new audiences in ways that a male artist may have difficulty in achieving. This is evidence on dual versions of “Si Algún Día Te Encuentro,” in which Cheli fully owns both arrangements. Further illustrating the promise of this young talent, her audience has grown by 40% in the last month on Pandora, with over 70% being comprised of female listeners, showing that there is an audience for female artists in regional Mexican music, if the industry supports.

Dímelo Flow: Puerto Rican Miami-based producer Dímelo Flow is seriously impacting the direction of contemporary Latin urban music, as evidence on global smashes “Pa Mi” and “Otro Trago.” His unmistakable sound frequently incorporates strings into reggaeton production with low fi drum sounds, rich base tones and minimal arrangements, making for the perfect platform to support the talented Rich Music roster of romancers, which includes some of the best voices in the business, including Justin Quiles, Sech and Dalex, amongst others. As another producer stepping out from behind the boards and being developed as a solo artist, he deserves all the accolades and attention.

Ed Maverick: Eduardo Hernández, known artistically as Ed Maverick, has caught on in his native Mexico in a big way and that audience growth has now crossed over virally in the US. In the last week of November, the disaffected singer-songwriter shot up 17 places to the top spot on the Pandora Predictions chart, an impressive feat for an indie artist whose songs of love and loss are mostly acoustic-based and feature hushed vocals and minimal instrumentation. There is an honesty in his songwriting that has drawn fans in, and with every release, his artistic vision has become more fully developed. We are expect big things in 2020.

Eladio Carrión: Puerto Rican reggaetonero Eladio Carrion has had some big moments in 2019, beginning with the epic “Mi Error,” his collaboration with Zion which was recently given a super-sized remix with the addition of Lennox, Wisin & Yandel and Lunay. The Rimas label member also toured with J Balvin on his Arcoiris tour, further cementing his buzz. With cosigns and features from the biggest artists in the genre, Eladio has moved into the more melodic territory of pop reggaeton after his initial trap releases in 2018, making him very bankable for continued growth and success in 2020.

Elsa Y Elmar: To be clear, Colombian-born Elsa Carvajal is Elsa Y Elmar. There is no other dude. Her brand of subdued pop features tinges of rock, electronic, dub and R&B, led by somewhat ethereal vocals and an inventive lyricism that instantly engages. Having released her first album in 2015, it’s a little misleading to characterize her as a new artist, but that didn’t stop the Latin Grammys from also nominating her for Best New Artist this past November. Elsa y Elmar is poised to grow in 2020, with what seems like boundless creativity.

Grupo Firme: Grupo Firme is another group putting up big numbers on Pandora, having grown their audience by 45% in the last month to almost 1 million listeners. The definition of a party band, the Tijuana-based Firme has been putting in work touring the US and Mexico, winning over new fans with their high energy style of norteño banda and a live show that will leave you with a clouded memory the next morning. Look for big things in 2020.

HAZE: Haze has been at the top of the reggaeton production game for years and is the driving force behind many of the hits that have brought the genre to global dominance. From Yandel’s “Encantadora” to Ozuna and Natti Natasha’s “Criminal,” Haze makes vocalists look good, working alongside his House of Haze collaborator and fellow solo artist, Jhay Cortez. Most recently, “Amanece” with Anuel AA destroyed the charts and was one of the top songs of the past year, racking up 34 million spins and counting on Pandora. Revealing a peek of what’s in store for next year, Haze released “Lo Que Quieras” with Reik last month, a reggaeton ballad that demonstrates the sophistication of his arrangements and songwriting abilities.

Jorge Almir: Jorge Almir is not a new artist, already having released two albums since 2014, along with a handful of singles, but the promise of what’s to come is what landed him on this list. The inventively arranged and sung “El Cigarrito” instantly caught our attention with its release this past October. With all the hype around corridos verdes, it was unusual to hear a mariachi flavored marijuana-laced ballad. Jorge broke the mold and made a track that captured the buzz of the current verde fad, while also tying in the nuevo mariachi fad, and he managed to do it without sounding formulaic or contrived. Without revealing too much, the unreleased tracks that we’ve heard take his sound to the next level, as he will continue to innovate and surprise in 2020.

La Doña: La Doña is a wildcard in 2020. The singer and multi-instrumentalist recently emerged out of San Francisco, but she has been performing music professionally since her childhood. Versed in traditional Mexican and Latin American music, Cecilia Peña Govea is incorporating those influences, along with a lot of Bay Area swagger into a hybrid that sounds part pop, part urban, part traditional and all Frisco. La Doña recently opened up for Cuco in the latter half of his 2019 tour, which helped to expose her further. When she hits her stride, lookout, she is seriously one of the most talented artists to come along in a while.

Lalo Ebratt: Lalo Ebratt continues in the tradition of successful Colombian reggaeton artists, with the distinction of not being from Medellín. Born and raised in Santa Marta before moving to Bogotá, you can hear elements of the Caribbean in his sound which sets him apart. His visibility has been elevated recently, having been featured on some of the biggest Latin hits of the year, such as “La Plata” with Juanes, Indeciso with J Balvin and Reik and “Amor a Primera Vista” with Belinda and Los Angeles Azules, the combination of which landed him on Pandora Trendsetters Chart for four weeks in October. He releases a new EP, Numerología, this week. Look for the rest of his crew Trapical Minds to bubble up in 2020, as well.

Luis Figueroa: Like so many artists in the last decade, Luis Figueroa initially found viral fame on YouTube. A cover of Marc Anthony’s “Flor Pálida” caught the salsero’s attention, and Luis was signed to a development deal with Magnus. The Miami-raised Puerto Rican singer leverages his performing and writing experience to make irresistible pop gems as seen on his collaboration with Sebastián Yatra on “Por Perro” and his first single with Sony, “La Especialista.” Luis’ audience on Pandora has increased by 110% in the last month.

Mariah: With her runaway hit “Perreito” on repeat this past summer, Mariah added some much-needed feminine energy into the male-dominated Latin urban world in 2019. The 19-year-old Miami native has a throwback aesthetic that pays reverence to the roots of reggaeton, as evidenced by her homage to el perreo. She comes across as confident and poised on the mic with an air of IDGAF. She also can flex on the softer romantic rhythmic production as seen on “Te Necesito,” a versatility that has helped her to steadily increase her audience on Pandora this year.

Natanael Cano: Everyone is already watching Natanael Cano. The 18-year-old Hermosillo native has been on our Pandora Trendsetters Chart for 23 weeks, the majority spent in the #1 position, a streak which was extended by his recent collaboration with Bad Bunny on “Soy El Diablo” Remix. But make no mistake, Nata was huge before Benito took notice, and with the backing of the Rancho Humilde label, look for a lot more smoke-laced urban corridos to be hitting the streets next year. This is an artist that has the potential the change the game.

Omar Apollo: You only have to go to one of his live shows to understand what the appeal is with Indiana-born singer Omar Apollo. With a keen melodic delivery, a repertoire that leans heavily on exploring the different shades of R&B, and an incredible stage presence, Omar mesmerizes audiences, keeping them hanging on his every move. Easily flowing between English and Spanish, he is another example of a young Latin artist taking advantage of the fluidity of being bi-cultural. His audience on Pandora has grown 40% in the last month.

Paloma Mami: Palomi Mami began buzzing at the end of 2018, and the interest continues to grow since debuting on the Pandora Predictions chart in March of this year. The 20-year-old Chilean-American singer is taking full advantage of her bi-cultural upbringing, with her signature brand of moody Latin urban/R&B, anchored by a convincing combo of voice and lyricism that is equally adept in both English and Spanish. Her latest single, “Mami,” drops this week.