
No country has seen a bigger impact on Billboard’s Latin charts in the past two years than Colombia.
Once recognized for a few power acts, including Shakira, Carlos Vives and Juanes, Colombia has morphed into a pop music powerhouse, whose recent superstars include Maluma and J Balvin. But the South American nation is extraordinarily rich in musical genres and traditions that go beyond the pop and reggaeton you may have heard on the radio.
In honor of Colombian Independence (July 20), here is a list of the Colombian acts you need to hear (in no particular order):
Carlos Vives
Fruko y Sus Tesos
Toto la Momposina
Joe Arroyo
Shakira
Grupo Niche
J Balvin
La Sonora Dinamita
Juanes
Silvestre Dangond
Maluma
Bomba Estereo
Manuel Medrano
Jorge Celedón
Fonseca
Herencia de Timbiquí
Martina La Peligrosa
Chocquibtown
Peter Manjarres
Cabas