Distinctive sounds drive new Latin success stories

“As 2006 winds down, it’s the perfect time to take stock of new acts who broke through in the last year or so.

The top of the heap, by far, was dominated by reggaeton acts. Leading the pack was Rakim & Ken-Y, whose debut “Masterpiece: Nuestra Obra Maestra” (Universal Music Latino) has sold more than 200,000 copies to date in the United States since its March release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The duo’s romantic, pop-leaning reggaeton sound gained traction with a younger, female buyer — the kind who, presumably, also went for Tito “El Bambino.” The latter’s solo debut, “Top of the Line” (EMI Televisa), has scanned 90,000 copies.”

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