Two Bad Bunny Catalog Songs Debut on Billboard’s Global Charts

Bad Bunny has become a global superstar, having ruled Billboard‘s Top Latin Artists year-end chart for three years running and conquered sold-out stadiums and streaming services alike. As such, two unpromoted catalog songs of his — from 2019-20 — hit this week’s global charts.

On the Feb. 12-dated rankings, he debuts one song each on the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts, at No. 163 on each list. He arrives on the former with “La Cancion,” from Oasis, his 2019 collaborative album with J Balvin. On the latter, he bows with “A Tu Merced,” from 2020’s YHLQMDLG.

“Cancion” leads “Merced” in worldwide sales and streams (11.9 million vs. 10 million in the week ending Feb. 3, respectively, according to MRC Data), which makes sense, since the former debuts on the Global 200 and the latter does not. But while the average song on this week’s global charts earned 23% of its streams from the U.S. and 77% beyond, “Cancion” splits 27/73%, while “Merced” splits 14/86%, further explaining the latter’s presence on the Excl. U.S. survey.

New footage of Bad Bunny performing each song at his hometown Puerto Rico stadium concerts in December has made the rounds on TikTok, racking up millions of views for each clip, their buzz helping push consumption for these tracks.

But unlike recent global surges, and chart debuts, for Yung Lean and Frank Ocean with relatively older songs, neither Bad Bunny track has exploded onto the worldwide rankings; rather, they have finally cracked each 200-position chart after bubbling under since the lists’ inceptions in September 2020. “Merced” and “Cancion” are up 19% and 12%, respectively, week-over-week in global streams, relatively modest gains compared to, as previously reported, Yung Lean’s 111% burst with “Ginseng Strip 2002,” also aided by new TikTok exposure.

Here is a rundown of Bad Bunny’s songs on the latest global charts:

• “Yonagui” – No. 40 Global 200; No. 30 Global Excl. U.S.
• “Lo Siento BB:/,” with Tainy & Julieta Venegas – No. 45; No. 38
• “Dakiti” with Jhay Cortez – No. 63; No. 69
• “Volvi,” with Aventura – No. 83; No. 73
• “AM,” with Nio Garcia & J Balvin – No. 130; No. 115
• “Volando,” with Mora & Sech – No. 150; No. 109
• “La Cancion,” with J Balvin – No. 163 (Global 200-only)
• “A Tu Merced” – No. 163 (Global Excl. U.S.-only)

Of the eight songs listed above, six perform better on the Global Excl. U.S. list, easily explained by Bad Bunny’s Spanish-language discography and pan-Latin collaborations. Only “Dakiti” and “La Cancion” are higher on the Global 200. “Dakiti” previously topped both charts, ruling Global Excl. U.S. for five weeks and the Global 200 for three.