Latin stars headline Billboard Week 2026

The halftime performance of the World Cup final, with Madonna, Justin Bieber, BTS and Shakira, not only captivated the global audience. It also generated an immediate rebound in the reproductions of his songs on digital platforms.

Luminate, a firm specializing in music industry data, analyzed listening behavior two days before the event and compared it to the day of the final and the day after. The results show significant increases in each interpreted theme.

• Justin Bieber — Everything Hallelujah rose 110% globally: from 592 thousand views to 1.25 million.
• Madonna — Music grew 66%, going from 193 thousand to 321 thousand.
• BTS — Dynamite increased 43%, from 2.14 million to 3.05 million.
• Shakira and Burna Boy — Dai Dai, official anthem of the 2026 World Cup, rose 24% globally (from 14.78 to 18.27 million) and 52% in the US (from 1.68 to 2.55 million).

Luminate’s study also revealed that the increase was limited to songs performed in the field, not artists’ entire catalogs. A phenomenon similar to that which occurs with the Super Bowl halftime show.

The singer Rei Ami, known for her participation in the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack, lived a unique experience off the coast of Korea. He dived with 16 reef sharks during a feeding frenzy.

Far from being terrified, he cried in amazement. “I thought I would be more scared, but I was fascinated. It was witnessing nature,” she said. “You can’t describe the emotions you feel.”

Two ways to face fear

Rei Ami did two cage dives and two freediving dives with hammerhead, reef and bull sharks. His partner on the K-Pop Shark Heroes show, comedian Ken Jeong, preferred to stay grounded. “I’m like Christopher Nolan in Shark Odyssey: I just supervise,” he joked.

The new season of Shark Week starts on Sunday on Discovery Channel, with 20 one-hour episodes. Among them, the participation of diver Molly Carlson stands out, who jumped 15 meters from a helicopter into a plexiglass cage surrounded by reef sharks.

Carlson, who suffers from anxiety, accepted the challenge to inspire others. “If I can help that 16-year-old girl who just wants to hide, I’ll find a way,” he said. “It’s okay to be afraid and do it anyway. That was the purpose of this project.”

The program concludes on August 1 with an analysis of the movement of white sharks northward and the technique used by thresher sharks to stun their prey.

Roberto Carlos hospitalized for scheduled surgery

Brazilian singer Roberto Carlos underwent videolaparoscopy gallbladder surgery, according to his communication team. The procedure, scheduled in advance, was carried out without complications.

Through a statement on Instagram, the team detailed that the artist is in good condition.

“Roberto Carlos feels well and is following all medical instructions. His recovery is progressing rapidly.”

The surgery does not alter the performer’s plans. The planned concerts are still on, their representatives confirmed. They also appreciated the messages of support from followers.

The singer of “Amigo” and “Detalles” will resume his tour without changes. He is expected to resume activities shortly, once recovery is complete.