Global InformationLeila Cobo information
Leila Cobo is a Colombian journalist, writer, novelist, pianist and television show host. She is noted for her coverage of Latin music for Billboard where she is currently the Chief Content Officer for Latin Music and Español, overseeing the brand's coverage and development of Latin music across all its platforms. These include billboard.com and billboardespanol.com, which Cobo launched, podcasts and video. Cobo also programs the annual Billboard Latin Music Week, widely regarded as the premiere gathering for the Latin industry, where she has hosted guests like Shakira, Romeo Santos, Peso Pluma and Carlos Santana.
Cobo was the first U.S. based journalist and writer to prominently cover Latin music daily and has been instrumental in transforming its coverage and perception in the U.S.
A Fulbright Scholar with degrees in music and communications, Cobo is often sourced by outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Guardian, and speaks frequently at conferences and universities around the world. She also an acclaimed author and novelist who has published five books, including two novels and most recently, a history of Latin music, "Decoding Despacito," which was selected as a New York Times Summer Read pick.
Prior to Billboard, she was the pop music critic for the Miami Herald and a reporter for the Los Angeles Times. Also known for her lifestyle writing, Cobo also served as director of content for Nexos, American Airlines' Spanish and Portuguese in-flight magazine. As an author, Cobo has published two novels ("Tell Me Something True" and "The Second Time We Met," both on Grand Central Books/Hatchette). Her most recent book, "Decoding Despacito: An Oral History of Latin Music" (Penguin), published in English and Spanish, has been widely acclaimed as an essential guide to the history of Latin music. She also published a musical biography on the late Jenni Rivera, also in English and Spanish ("La Increible Historia de Una Mariposa Guerrera" (n Penguin) and a book on the Latin music industry ("Apunta a las estrellas,") also on Penguin. She also collaborated with Puerto Rican star Ednita Nazario in her memoir "Una Vida," which was published in 2017 by Penguin.
On television, Cobo was the host of Estudio Billboard for five seasons. She currently hosts "In Tune with Leila Cobo," an in-depth interview show with leading Latin artists that is seen on Reach TV in all U.S. airports.