Ten days ago, the NFL announced 31-year-old Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny would headline the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show. This news attracted significant backlash for the Spanish-language singer. Yet, despite the headlines, he benefited from the attention. Maria Sherman of The Associated Press reported that on-demand streams of Bad Bunny songs in the U.S. increased by 26%, according to industry data and analytics company Luminate. This suggests that curiosity and discussion about the news may have amplified interest in his music, resulting in measurable gains despite the initial backlash.
Bad Bunny’s streams jumped from 173 million to 218.5 million after the NFL announced he would headline the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show
Further emphasizing Bad Bunny’s impact, Sherman cited Luminate, noting that Latin music is primarily consumed via streaming. They found Bunny’s on-demand streams in the United States grew from 173 million nine days before the announcement to 218.5 million in the eight days following it. This growth reflects the anticipation among his fans, who see his Super Bowl appearance as a landmark moment for Latino culture.
Detailing his impact, the Puerto Rican superstar chose a 30-night residency, titled No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí (I Don’t Want to Leave Here), in San Juan, Puerto Rico, over a traditional U.S. Tour. The concerts in the summer of 2025 drew half a million people and generated $733 million for Puerto Rico, according to Gaither International. “The fact that he decided to do this in Puerto Rico, to have a residency in Puerto Rico, something which was never done before, shows the care and the love he feels for the island,” shared a fan Gabriel Acevedo with Reuters in an interview during the residency opener on July 11. The momentum hasn’t slowed for Bad Bunny…
Bad Bunny honored as Top Latin Artist of the 21st Century at the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Awards
On October 10, Shawn Grant of The Source reported that Bad Bunny was being honored as Top Latin Artist of the 21st Century at the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Awards. The ceremony will air live on October 23 from Miami on Telemundo. The Puerto Rican rapper had four consecutive No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 and a record-breaking residency in Puerto Rico—the Super Bowl LX halftime performer continues to redefine Latin music’s global presence. Bad Bunny topped the US Daily Top Music Videos chart after the NFL’s announcement. The rapper landed nine videos on the September 29 edition of the chart—including “Monaco” at No. 17, “Titi Me Pregunto” at No. 19, “NUEVAYoL” at No. 30, “Me Porto Bonito” at No. 34, and “BAILE INoLVIDABLE” at No. 48, further demonstrating his widespread appeal after the NFL news.Also Read: “So tired of this woke nonsense”: Bad Bunny’s journey from vocal LGBTQ+ ally to the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show headliner
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