Reprogramming pop: How Bad Bunny made Spanish the language of the mainstream
Description
Bad Bunny's 2026 Super Bowl halftime show isn't just a performance, it's a declaration that the rules of global pop culture have been permanently rewritten. In this episode, we explore how the Puerto Rican superstar transformed from regional sensation to cultural architect, driving Latin music from $886 million to $1.423 billion in US revenue in just four years. We examine the intersection of streaming platforms, demographic shifts, and authentic cultural expression that enabled Spanish-language artists to achieve dominance without linguistic compromise. From his $200 million economic impact on Puerto Rico to his revolutionary challenge of reggaeton's hypermasculine traditions, Bad Bunny represents more than commercial success, he embodies a fundamental recalibration of mainstream entertainment. We analyze the data, decode the cultural diplomacy, and explain why the conversation about Latin music crossing over has become obsolete. Because Latin music isn't entering the mainstream. It is the mainstream. Join us as we map the new geography of global pop culture, where the axis runs from San Juan to the world.
Read more: https://theurb.co/bad-bunny-impact
United States
