Colombian Music's Global Rise: An Interview with Billboard's Leila Cobo

Colombian Music Takes the Global Stage: A Conversation with Leila Cobo Colombia's vibrant music scene has produced numerous global superstars in the last decade. In a recent interview with Noticias Caracol, Leila Cobo, Billboard's Chief Content Officer for Latin content, shed light on this phenomenon. Cobo highlighted the success of artists like Maluma, Karol G, J Balvin, and Shakira, noting their significant contributions to the global music landscape. "In the last 10 years, great artists have emerged from Colombia," Cobo stated, emphasizing the country's rich musical heritage and its ability to produce globally recognized talent. However, Cobo also addressed the growing influence of TikTok on music creation. She acknowledged the trend of creating music specifically for the platform, stating, "It's like a necessary evil; music is being made, perhaps not what the artist wants, but what will work on TikTok." This observation points to the evolving dynamics of music production and distribution in the digital age. Despite the challenges, Cobo remains optimistic about the future of Colombian music. The country's continued production of global stars and its adaptation to new platforms demonstrate its resilience and innovative spirit in the music industry.