Daddy Yankee’s Advice to New Artists: ‘Get Married With a Prenup. Music Is Unpredictable’
Daddy Yankee has long given advice to up-and-coming artists. At Billboard’s Latin Music Week in 2021, he spoke at length about the importance of entrepreneurship and knowing your business. Today, his advice has slightly evolved. After his conversion to Christianity, and later, his divorce and ongoing litigation, he is advocating for artists to be even more involved in the business.
“Be on top of everything, even if you have lawyers and accountants,” DY tells Leila Cobo in his Billboard cover story. “Now I’m alone, so I have to be 100% [involved]. Things I used to delegate, I don’t delegate anymore. It’s my responsibility, and I feel good and I feel I’ve learned so much more. You think you know everything about the music business and the rules keep changing. The smallest things can make a great difference.”
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Following news of DY’s divorce from his wife of nearly 30 years, legal disputes initiated over his businesses, including his past catalog negotiations. “Even if you’re not famous or successful and your career is only beginning, get married with a prenup,” he says cautiously. “Music is unpredictable.”
Offering more words of advice, he says, “It’s very important to be clear on what self-love is and establish limits — all kinds of healthy limits. Learn how to say no. I learned that we sacrifice ourselves for many people, and you do it so much that you normalize it. And that’s not the way it should be.”
The Puerto Rican hitmaker graces Billboard‘s latest cover story, unveiled on Tuesday (Oct. 14). The candid interview serves as a preview of his upcoming Superstar Q&A at Billboard Latin Music Week 2025, set to kick off Oct. 20 at The Fillmore Miami Beach. DY’s one-on-one conversation with Billboard‘s Leila Cobo is set for Wednesday, Oct. 22.
DY is also set to perform at the Billboard Latin Music Awards 2025, which will mark his first televised performance in three years. And he will release Lamento En Baile (Mourning Into Dancing), his first album since 2022, on Thursday, Oct. 16.
The full programming schedule and ticket sales are available at BillboardLatinMusicWeek.com.
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