Venesti Secures First No. 1 on a Billboard Chart With ‘Umaye’: ‘This Brings Me Great Happiness!’

After a top 10 finish for his prior release, Colombian artist Venesti captures his first No. 1 on any Billboard chart as his latest single “Umaye” climbs 9-1 to lead the Latin Airplay ranking (dated Oct. 21). The new champ follows the No. 10-peaking “Pura Maldad” on Latin Rhythm Airplay, his highest rank on any chart until now.

“This recognition brings me great happiness!” Venesti tells Billboard. “I feel like I still haven’t assimilated it, perhaps because it’s not common to see these achievements in new artists, but I also know that it’s a great beginning for what’s coming.”

“Umaye” was released May 25 via SDS/AP Global. It lands at No. 1 on Latin Airplay in its 11th week with 9.5 million audience impressions, up 36% from the week prior, earned in the U.S. in the week ending Oct. 12, according to Luminate. The song unseats Maluma’s “Coco Loco” from the summit after one week in charge. The latter drops 4-1 with 8.6 million audience impressions, down 15%.

As mentioned, with “Umaye,” Venesti scores his first ruler on any Billboard list after a top 10 high through “Pura Maldad,” his last appearance on Latin Rhythm Airplay in June. There, the former also rises to No. 1, from No. 5, for a first leader.

Back on Latin Airplay, “Umaye” follows two top 30 entries, both less than a year old: “Necesidad” peaked at No. 22 in Dec. 2022, while “Pura Maldad” reached No. 28 on the June 3-dated survey.

“When I recorded [‘Umaye’], we knew it could generate something in people because of its lyric content and everything behind the word ‘Umaye’,” Venesti adds. “What no one knows is that the song was recorded in a living room of a house with a microphone in hand, and what a mic!”

This article first appeared on Billboard U.S.