From Puerto Rico to the Great Wall: Why Bad Bunny’s No. 1 Spot in China Is Historic
If someone told you a few years ago that a Spanish-language track would be the most-played song on Apple Music in China, you might have raised an eyebrow, or laughed, even. But that’s exactly what happened. Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny makes history as Apple Music’s #1 in China with “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS,” a song sung entirely in Spanish, topping a market usually dominated by Mandarin pop, K-pop, Western pop and homegrown Chinese artists. This isn’t just another streaming trophy, it’s a tectonic shift in how music travels across cultures and languages, and it lands at a moment that’s nothing short of cinematic for the artist himself.
China’s music scene isn’t known for openness to foreign sounds, especially Spanish-language tracks. The fact that Bad Bunny’s song has climbed to the very top of Apple Music’s charts there signals not just popularity, but true cultural penetration. It means listeners who don’t speak Spanish are vibing with a song rooted in Puerto Rican rhythms and storytelling, in a country whose music charts are usually insular and tightly filtered by local tastes. For a Latino artist to reach this peak is more than a streaming milestone, it’s a diplomatic win for Latin culture in the digital age.
Why It Matters Beyond the Charts
Let’s unpack why this matters to everyday fans, especially in the U.S. Latino community. Bad Bunny didn’t just come from nowhere, he built his career by turning cultural specificity into global universality. His slang, his references to Puerto Rican life, the way he weaves social commentary into reggaetón beats, all of that has been fully intact as he crossed oceans, moved playlists, and now conquered China. That’s something any of us who grew up with music tied to shared memories and identity can feel, that finally being seen and heard on the biggest stages doesn’t mean watering down who you are.
This achievement also comes right as he prepares to headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show on February 8, 2026. That’s not a coincidence, the NFL’s partnership with Apple means this particular halftime show is branded under the Apple Music banner, an alignment that amplifies his streaming success into broadcast spectacle. For the first time ever, one of the world’s biggest live musical stages and one of the world’s most powerful tech companies are backing a Spanish-language artist with this level of visibility.
Latino Culture & Speaking Spanish is A Growing Trend in China
The Super Bowl has long been the moment when music and culture intersect in vivid, often unforgettable ways. And Bad Bunny’s place there already feels historic. He’s not just performing, he’s showcasing how Latin music, and specifically music that stays true to its language and roots, resonates globally. It’s an affirmation that the world is ready for more than lip service to diversity. It celebrates it. For U.S. Latinos who’ve watched artists struggle for mainstream recognition while carrying their culture proudly, this is validation. It’s proof that singing in your own voice can become a universal language.
A Moment to Celebrat, and to Reflect
Streaming charts and halftime shows might seem like two very different worlds, but for Bad Bunny they’re two sides of the same story: a relentless rise fueled by authenticity, community support, and a refusal to conform to industry expectations about what sells. From topping charts in markets as varied as China to headlining the most-watched musical slot on American TV, he’s rewritten the playbook for what global success looks like in the 21st century.
Meet the Four Latino Players Heading to Super Bowl 2026
And for Latinos everywhere, whether you’re a fan of reggaetón since day one, or you finally found yourself dancing to it at a quinceañera, this moment hits deep. It isn’t just about numbers. It’s about representation on the world stage, it’s about our language and stories being heard everywhere, and it’s about knowing that what comes from home has power beyond borders.
Soon, as millions tune in to watch the Super Bowl halftime show, they’ll be seeing the same artist who just conquered China’s Apple Music charts. That arc, from San Juan to Shanghai to the center of the American cultural moment, feels like more than success. It feels like history in motion.
