10 Key Issues Driving the Latin Music Industry Today: AI, Distribution, Touring & More at Latin Music Week
Billboard ·
From global touring to the rise of music podcasters, the Billboard event will put the Latin business’s biggest questions front and center.
Billboard Latin Music Week 2026 will bring the business of Latin music into focus through a series of conversations about the forces reshaping the industry — from artificial intelligence and independent distribution to global touring, cross-platform storytelling and the rise of creator-led media.
Taking place Oct. 19-22 at Faena Forum Miami Beach, the annual gathering will unite executives, artists, managers, distributors, venue operators, technology leaders and other key players from across the music ecosystem. While the event will include Superstar and Icon Q&As , showcases and performances, its daytime programming will also address the infrastructure behind Latin music’s continued expansion.
The conversations arrive at a pivotal moment for Spanish-language music. Latin music is reaching more listeners in more countries than ever before, but that growth raises important questions: How can the industry turn streaming momentum into long-term artist development? What does independence look like in an increasingly consolidated business? How will AI affect creativity and ownership? And, as artists build audiences across borders, what venues, partnerships and strategies will help them sustain international careers?
The week’s programming will also look beyond music’s traditional boundaries. Panels on Brazil’s growing global influence and the intersection of film and music will explore how local creativity travels, while conversations about podcasters and digital fan communities will consider who gets to shape the story around an artist.
From a keynote on Latin music’s global rise to discussions about viral discovery, the Spanish-speaking touring corridor and the future of Brazilian music, these sessions offer a map of where the business is headed — and the challenges it must navigate along the way.
Here are 10 panels to watch at Billboard Latin Music Week 2026.