# 2003 in Latin music

This is a list of notable events in Latin music (i.e., Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking music from Latin America, Europe, and the United States) that took place in 2003.

## Bands formed

* Natalia Lafourcade
* Álex Ubago
* Maria Rita
* Akwid
* Ana Cristina
* Linda Bandry
* Contagious
* Daniel René
* Nadia López
* Roselyn Sánchez
* Yahir
* Andy & Lucas
* Ángel Garay
* Big Pepe
* Conjunto Pirámide
* Iván Díaz
* Víctor García
* Isabela
* Jimena
* K-Paz de la Sierra
* Punto y Aparte
* Sandra
* Santos Diablitos
* Úrsula Sol
* Temblor del Norte
* Universales del Norte
* Violento
* Juan Tavares
* Puerto Raíces
* Seaxappeal
* Son Callejero
* Luna Llena
* Jorge Correa
* La Zurda
* Las Niñas
* Jae P
* Abraskadabra

## Bands reformed

* Bronco

## Events

* September 3 — The 4th Annual Latin Grammy Awards are held at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida.
** Juanes is the biggest winner at the award ceremony receiving five awards including Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "Es Por Ti" and Album of the Year for Un Día Normal.
** David Bisbal wins Best New Artist.
** Brazilian singer Gilberto Gil is honored as the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year

## Number-ones albums and singles by country

* List of number-one singles of 2003 (Spain)
* List of number-one Billboard Top Latin Albums of 2003
* List of number-one Billboard Hot Latin Songs of 2003

## Awards

* 2003 Premio Lo Nuestro
* 2003 Billboard Latin Music Awards
* 2003 Latin Grammy Awards
* 2003 Tejano Music Awards

## Albums released
### First quarter
#### January

| Day | Title | Artist | Genre(s) | Label |
| 1 | Yo Me Llamo Juan | Lebrijano | Flamenco | Ediciones Senador, Flamenco & Duende |
| 1 | Infame | Babasónicos | Alternative rock | Discos Popart |
| 3 | Cuban Odyssey | Jane Bunnett | Latin jazz, Afro-Cuban jazz, Soundtrack | Blue Note |
| 3 | 50 Years of Mambo | The Mambo All Stars Orchestra | | |
| 5 | Chegou a Hora de Recomeçar | CPM 22 | Alternative rock, pop rock, punk | Arsenal Music, Abril Music |
| 7 | MTV Ao Vivo | Jota Quest | Pop rock | Chaos, Epic |
| 9 | Brincadeira Tem Hora | Leandro | | |
| 11 | La última noche del mundo | Austin TV | Space rock, post rock, indie rock | Grabaxiones Alicia |
| 12 | Villa-Lobos Bachianas Brasileiras Nº 4 e Cirandas João | Joao Carlos Assis Brasil | | |
| 12 | Mundo Verde | Esperança Hermeto Pascoal E Grupo | Contemporary jazz, MPB | Radio Mec |
| 14 | En Vivo Al Azul Vivo | Los Angeles Azules | | |
| 28 | Mambo Sinuendo | Manuel Galban and Ry Cooder | Cubano | Nonesuch, Perro Verde |
| 28 | Mi Ritmo | Plena Libre | Plena | G.N. Musica, Latin World Entertainment Group |
| 30 | Do Cóccix Até o Pescoço | Elza Soares | Samba, MPB | Maianga Discos |

#### February

| Day | Title | Artist | Genre(s) | Singles | Label |
| 4 | El Príncipe con Trío | José José | | | BMG Mexico |
| 4 | Frágil | Ana Torroja | | | Ariola, BMG Spain |
| 7 | Perseverancia | Tito Rojas | Salsa | "Cuidala" | Musical Productions |
| 11 | No Te lo Vas a Acabar! | Pesado | | | Warner Music Latina |
| 18 | Gracias… Homenaje A Javier Solis | Pablo Montero | Bolero, ranchera | | BMG U.S. Latin |
| 25 | 4 | A.B. Quintanilla III Presents Kumbia Kings | Cumbia | "No Tengo Dinero" | King Of Bling Entertainment, EMI Latin |
| 25 | Dance and Dense Denso | Molotov | Funk metal, pop rock | | Surco Records J.V. |
| 25 | En Vivo 30 Aniversario | Raphy Leavitt y la Selecta | | | |
| 25 | Infinito | Oscar D'León | Salsa | | Universal Music Latino, RMM Records |
| 25 | En El Malecón De La Habana | Juan Formell and Los Van Van | Rumba, salsa | | DiscMedi Blau |
| 25 | Solo Bolero | Gilberto Santa Rosa | Bolero | "Un Amor Para La Historia" | Sony |

#### March

| Day | Title | Artist | Genre(s) | Singles | Label |
| 4 | Songs 4 Worship: En Espanol | Various artists | | | |
| 11 | Niña Amada Mía | Alejandro Fernández | Mariachi | "Niña Amada Mía" | Columbia |
| 18 | Buenos Hermanos | Ibrahim Ferrer | Son cubano, salsa, Afro-Cuban | | World Circuit |
| 18 | Estrella Guía | Alexandre Pires | MPB | "Amame" "Quietemonos La Ropa" "En El Silencio Negro De La Noche" "Bum Bum Bum" | BMG, RCA |
| 25 | Y Tenerte Otra Vez | Pepe Aguilar | | | Universal Music Grp |
| 25 | Super Riddim Internacional Vol. 1 | El Gran Silencio | Folk, alternative rock, norteno, ska | | EMI Latin |
| 25 | Los Hombres Calientes Volume 4: Vodou Dance | Los Hombres Calientes | | | |
| 25 | Isla | Mark Levine and the Latin Tinge | Latin jazz | | Left Coast Clave |
| 25 | Historias | Ivan Díaz | | | EMI Latin |
| 25 | Inesperado | Frankie Negrón | Salsa | "Mi Mulata" | WeaCaribe, Warner Music Latina |
| 27 | Presente | Renato Russo | Pop rock | "Mais Uma Vez" | EMI |

### Second quarter
#### April

| Day | Title | Artist | Genre(s) | Singles | Label |
| 1 | Homenaje a Las Grandes | Jenni Rivera | Norteño, banda | | Univision Records |
| 1 | Bonito | Jarabe de Palo | Salsa, flamenco, pop rock, Latin | | DRO |
| 1 | En Vivo | Los Rieleros del Norte | | | |
| 8 | Milagro | Jaci Velasquez | Ballad, vocal | | Sony Discos |
| 8 | Pietá | Milton Nascimento | MPB | | Warner Music Brasil, WEA |
| 8 | Malabaristas do Sinal Vermelho | João Bosco | MPB, samba | | Epic |
| 15 | President Alien | Yerba Buena | Afro-Cuban | | Razor & Tie |
| 15 | Hierbabuena | Los Razos | | | BMG U.S. Latin |
| 22 | Las Canciones... Que Esperabas | Liberación | Cumbia, ballad | | Disa |
| 22 | Carta de Verano | Joe Veras | Bachata | "Intentalo Tú" | JVN Musical Inc., J&N Records |
| 25 | K | Kepa Junkera | | | EMI, Hispavox, Capitol Music |
| 28 | Carlinhos Brown Es Carlito Marrón | Carlinhos Brown | Samba, cumbia, ballad, bossa nova, easy listening | | BMG Spain, Ariola |
| 29 | Lo Que te Conté Mientras te Hacías la Dormida | La Oreja de Van Gogh | Vocal, ballad | | Sony Music, Sony Music |
| 29 | Un Poco De Cambio | Eddie Gonzalez | Tejano | | Sony Discos |
| 29 | Guitarra Mía | Polo Montañez | Son cubano | | Evolver |

#### May

| Day | Title | Artist | Genre(s) | Singles | Label |
| 6 | Soraya | Soraya | Latin Pop | "Casi" | EMI Latin |
| 6 | Trumpet Evolution | Arturo Sandoval | Afro-Cuban jazz | | Crescent Moon Records, Columbia |
| 6 | Caramelito | Rocío Dúrcal | Ballad | | Ariola, BMG U.S. Latin |
| 6 | Señor Bolero 2 | José Feliciano | Bolero | "Lo Que Yo Tuvé Contigo" | Universal Music Latino |
| 13 | Tu Amor o Tu Desprecio | Marco Antonio Solís | Regional Mexican | "Tu Amor o Tu Desprecio" "Más Que Tu Amigo" | Fonovisa Records |
| 13 | Para Siempre | Eddy Herrera | Merengue | "El Idiota" | J&N Records, Sony Discos |
| 20 | Almas del Silencio | Ricky Martin | Latin | "Tal Vez" "Jaleo" "Asignatura Pendiente" "Juramento" "Y Todo Queda en Nada" | Sony Discos |
| 20 | La Historia Live | Héctor & Tito | Reggaeton | | VI Music |
| 20 | Imperio | Los Tucanes de Tijuana | | | |
| 20 | Desde Hoy | Duelo | Norteño | | Univision Records |
| 20 | ¿Qué Sentiras? | Atrapado | | | |
| 20 | Pa' Toda Mi Raza...Eso! | Juan Acuña & El Terror del Norte | | | |
| 20 | Memorias | Grupo Bryndis | | | |
| 20 | Recuerdos | Los Ángeles de Charly | | | |
| 27 | Libertad | La Ley | Pop rock | | Warner Music Argentina |
| 27 | Si Me Faltas Tu | Jimmy Gonzalez y El Grupo Mazz | | | |
| 27 | La Tercera Es La Vencida... Eso! | Los Terribles del Norte | | | |

#### June

| Day | Title | Artist | Genre(s) | Singles | Label |
| 3 | Conjunto Atardecer | Conjunto Atardecer | | | |
| 3 | 9 | Eros Ramazzotti | Soft rock, pop rock, AOR, Europop | | Ariola, BMG Nederland BV |
| 3 | Prohibido Olvidar | Ricardo Montaner | Ballad | "Que Ganas" | Warner Music Latina |
| 5 | Historia Sinfonica del Pop Español | Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona I Nacional de Catalunya | Easy listening | | Factoria Autor |
| 6 | Piano y Voz | Cesar Camargo Mariano and Pedro Mariano | | | |
| 10 | Proyecto Akwid | Akwid | Afro-Cuban | | Univision Records |
| 10 | The Last Don | Don Omar | Reggaeton | "Dale Don Dale" "Dile" "Intocable" | Machete Music |
| 10 | Ritmo Caliente | Eddie Palmieri | Salsa, Latin jazz | | Concord Picante |
| 10 | Pina... the Company: Los Mas Duros | Various artists | | | |
| 10 | The Mix | Monchy & Alexandra | Bachata, dance-pop, reggaeton, ballad | "Polo Opuesto" | J&N Records |
| 17 | Contemporâneos | Dori Caymmi | MPB | | HoriPro Inc. |
| 24 | Dejenme Llorar | Yolanda Pérez | Norteño, corrido | | Fonovisa Records |
| 24 | En el Tiempo | Los Huracanes del Norte | Norteño, Tejano | | Univision Records |

### Third quarter
#### July

| Day | Title | Artist | Genre(s) | Singles | Label |
| 1 | Homenaje a un Amigo | Banda Centenario | | | |
| 1 | Cuatro Caminos | Café Tacuba | Alternative rock | | Universal, MCA Records |
| 1 | Alondra | Alondra | | | |
| 1 | Conjunto Power | Jaime & Los Chamacos | | | |
| 1 | Naturaleza Sangre | Fito Páez | Pop rock | | DBN |
| 5 | Ventura | Los Hermanos | Alternative rock, MPB, indie rock | | BMG Brasil, Ariola |
| 8 | Sin Desperdicio | Johnny Ventura | Merengue, salsa | | Musical Productions |
| 8 | La Motosierra | Los Originales de San Juan | | | |
| 14 | El Pequeño Reloj | Enrique Morente | Flamenco | | Virgin, EMI |
| 15 | Music for My Peoples | Huey Dunbar | Salsa | "Sin Poderte Hablar" | Sony Discos |
| 15 | Siempre Arriba | Bronco: El Gigante de America | | | |
| 15 | Kaya N'Gan Daya: Ao Vivo | Gilberto Gil | MPB | | Som Livre, Globo Warner |
| 15 | Puras de Rompe y Rasga | Los Horóscopos de Durango | Corrido, cumbia, ranchera | | Producciones Canales S.A. De C.V. |
| 22 | Confesiones | Obie Bermúdez | Ballad, soft rock | "Antes" "Me Cansé de Ti" | EMI Latin |
| 22 | Hola Chicuelos | Plastilina Mosh | Alternative rock | | Virgin, Tombola! Recordings |
| 28 | Pasado y Presente | Soneros de Verdad presents Rubalcaba | | | |
| 29 | Se Me Hizo Tarde la Vida | Vicente Fernández | Mariachi | | Sony Discos |
| 29 | Obrigado Brazil | Yo-Yo Ma | Neo-classical, bossa nova | | Sony Classical |

#### August

| Day | Title | Artist | Genre(s) | Singles | Label |
| 5 | ¡Tomala! | Los Tetas | Hip hop, funk | | Tocka Discos |
| 5 | Belinda | Belinda | | | |
| 5 | En Vivo En El Colón | Orquesta Del Tango De La Ciudad De Buenos Aires | | | Epsa Music |
| 5 | Corazón | Cuisillos de Arturo Macias | Ranchera | | Musart |
| 5 | El Rancho Grande | El Coyote y su Banda Tierra Santa | | | |
| 5 | Ciudadana | María Estela Monti | | | |
| 5 | El Sonador | Adán Sánchez | | | |
| 10 | Cantor de Cantores | Horacio Guarany | Zamba, Chacarera, Chamamé | | GLD Distribuidora S.A. |
| 12 | Con Poder | Salvador | Pop rock | | Word, Curb Records, Warner Bros. Records |
| 16 | Nuestro Destino Estaba Escrito | Intocable | Norteño | | EMI Latin |
| 19 | Decide Tú | Conjunto Primavera | | | |
| 19 | Diva | Ivy Queen | Reggaeton | "Tuya Soy" "Guillaera" "Subelo" | Real Music, Inc. |
| 19 | Ni de Aqui Ni de Alla | Jae-P | | | Univision Records |
| 19 | En Vivo, Vol. 1 | Los Acosta | | | |
| 19 | De Bohemia con Lupillo Rivera | Lupillo Rivera | | | |
| 26 | Sincero | Chayanne | Salsa, vocal, ballad | "Un Siglo Sin Ti" "Cuidarte el Alma" "Sentada Aqui en Mi Alma" | Columbia, Sony Music |
| 26 | A Puro Fuego | Olga Tañón | Merengue | "Cuando Tu No Estás" | Warner Music Latina |
| 26 | Mas Flow | Luny Tunes and Noriega | Reggaeton | | Flow Music, Universal Music & Video Distribution |
| 26 | Música Universal | Truco & Zaperoko | Jibaro, salsa | | Libertad Records |
| 26 | Frijoles Romanticos | Frijoles Romanticos | | | |
| 26 | Live at the Blue Note | Michel Camilo, Charles Flores, and Horacio Hernandez | Post bop, Latin jazz | | Telarc, Telarc Jazz |
| 26 | Birds of a Feather | Caribbean Jazz Project | Afro-Cuban jazz | | Concord Picante |
| 26 | Jíbaro Hasta el Hueso: Mountain Music of Puerto Rico | Ecos de Borinquen | Jibaro | | Smithsonian Folkways |
| 26 | Canto Do Rio Jovino | Santos Neto Quinteto | Latin jazz | | Liquid City |
| 28 | Regalo del Alma | Celia Cruz | Salsa, Afro-Cuban | "Rie y Llora" "Ella Tiene Fuego" | Sony Discos |

#### September

| Day | Title | Artist | Genre(s) | Singles | Label |
| 2 | No Es lo Mismo | Alejandro Sanz | Acoustic, soft rock, Latin, pop rock | "No Es lo Mismo" "Regálame la Silla Donde Te Esperé" "Eso" "He Sido Tan Feliz Contigo" "Try To Save Your S'ong" | WEA |
| 9 | Out of Sight! | Poncho Sanchez | Latin jazz, salsa, fusion, Afro-Cuban jazz | | Concord Picante |
| 9 | Barbarito Torres | Barbarito Torres | Afro-Cuban, son cubano | | Havana Caliente |
| 9 | Necesito un Amor | Andy Andy | Bachata | "Voy a Tener Que Olvidarte" "Necesito un Amor" | Sony Discos |
| 9 | Vuelve | Sólido | | | |
| 14 | We Could Make Such Beautiful Music Together | Bebo Valdés and Federico Britos | | | Calle 54 Records, Ariola, BMG Spain |
| 16 | Tequila y Ron... A Tribute to José Alfredo Jiménez | Ismael Miranda | | | |
| 16 | New Conceptions | Chucho Valdés | Latin jazz | | Blue Note |
| 16 | Ninel Conde | Ninel Conde | | | Universal |
| 16 | Noite Clara | Ricardo Silveira | MPB | | Adventure Music |
| 18 | Canto | El Pele and Vicente Amigo | Flamenco | | Ariola, BMG Spain |
| 23 | Coming Up | Ozomatli | Latin, Funk | | Concord Records |
| 23 | Te Atraparé...Bandido | Ana Bárbara | Ranchera | | Fonovisa |
| 30 | 33 | Luis Miguel | Vocal, ballad | "Te Necesito" "Un Te Amor" "Vuelve" | WEA, Warner Music Argentina |
| 30 | Amar Es | Cristian Castro | Ballad | "No Hace Falta" "Te Llamé" | RCA, BMG Chile |
| 30 | De Durango a Chicago | Grupo Montez de Durango | | | |
| 30 | Censurado | Ranking Stone | Reggaeton | | VI Music |
| 30 | Despues de Todo | Milagro | Ranchera, norteno, cumbia | | Fonosound |
| 30 | Montame | Bobby Pulido | Tejano | | Universal Music Latino |
| 30 | Van Van Live at Miami Arena | Los Van Van | Salsa, Timba, Cubano | | Havana Caliente, Pimienta Records |

### Fourth quarter
#### October

| Day | Title | Artist | Genre(s) | Singles | Label |
| 7 | Soundances | Diego Urcola | Post bop, Latin jazz | | Sunnyside |
| 7 | Furia Alacranera | Alacranes Musical | | | Univision Records |
| 14 | En Vivo: Juntos Por Ultima Vez | Vicente Fernández and Alejandro Fernández | | | |
| 14 | Abriendo Caminos | Los Rieleros del Norte | | | |
| 14 | Gargolas, Vol. 4: The Best Reggaeton | Gargolas | Reggaeton | | VI Music |
| 21 | De Viaje | Sin Bandera | Salsa, tango, vocal, ballad | "Que Lloro" | Sony Music, Sony Music |
| 21 | Canto a Mi Idolo... Frankie Ruiz | Jerry Rivera | Salsa | "Mi Libertad" "Puerto Rico" | BMG, Ariola |
| 21 | Inocente de Ti | Juan Gabriel | Ballad, Soundtrack | | Ariola |
| 21 | Por Ti | Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizarraga | | | Fonovisa Records |
| 21 | Titere en Tus Manos/El Invicto | Ramón Ayala y Sus Bravos del Norte | | | |
| 22 | Balacobaco | Rita Lee | Pop rock, MPB | | Som Livre |
| 27 | Isla Menor | Raimundo Amador | | | Universal |
| 28 | Live en el Valle | Jimmy González and El Grupo Mazz | | | |
| 28 | Abrazar la vida | Luis Fonsi | Salsa, ballad | "Quien Te Dijo Eso?" "Abrazar la Vida" "Por Ti Podria Morir" | Universal Music Latino |
| 28 | Elevado | Dante Spinetta | | | Polydor, Universal |
| 28 | Indetenible | Los Toros Band | Merengue | "Loca Conmigo" "Si Tu Estuvieras" | Universal Music Latino |

#### November

| Day | Title | Artist | Genre(s) | Singles | Label |
| 1 | Momento Especial | Ataíde & Alexandre | Sertanejo | | Atração Fonográfica |
| 4 | Con Orgullo Por Herencia | Pepe Aguilar | | | Univision Records |
| 4 | Sí | Julieta Venegas | Latin, pop rock, synth-pop | "Andar Conmigo" "Lento" "Algo Está Cambiando" "Oleada" | BMG Mexico, Ariola |
| 4 | Serrat Sinfónico | Joan Manuel Serrat | | | Ariola, BMG Argentina |
| 13 | O Silêncio Q Precede o Esporro | O Rappa | | | WEA Music |
| 14 | Dulce y salado | Ana Gabriel | Vocal | | Sony Music |
| 14 | Divorcio | Julio Iglesias | Vocal | | Sony Discos, Columbia, Columbia |
| 18 | Por Ti | Ednita Nazario | Ballad | | Sony Discos |
| 18 | En Honor a la Verdad | Vico C | | | EMI Latin |
| 18 | Sur O No Sur | Kevin Johansen + The Nada | Folk, pop rock | | Los Años Luz Discos |
| 18 | Canciones del Alma de Marco Antonio Solís | Los Tri-O | | | Prisma Records, Sony Discos |
| 18 | Atlas | Kinky | Alternative rock, bossa nova, Latin, disco | | Nettwerk America |
| 18 | Tito Nieves canta con el Conjunto Clásico: 25 Aniversario Recuerdos | Tito Nieves | Son cubano, salsa | | WeaCaribe |
| 18 | Clube Carnavalesco Inocentes em Progresso | Ivete Sangalo | Axe, MPB, Reggae | | Universal Music, Mercury |
| 18 | Love & Hate | Aventura | Bachata | "Hermanita" | Premium Latin Music |
| 20 | Schubert – Fauré | Trío Argentino | | | |
| 24 | El Vivo de León | León Gieco | Folk rock | | EMI |
| 25 | Seranata | Manny Manuel | | | |
| 25 | Un Nuevo Capítulo | La Tropa F | | | Freddie Records |
| 25 | Cosmotron | Skank | Psychedelic rock, pop rock | | Epic |
| 25 | El Regalo | Tatiana | | | Disa Niños |
| 26 | Acústico MTV | Zeca Pagodinho | Samba | | Universal Music, Mercury |
| 26 | Só Para Baixinhos 4 | Xuxa | Educational | | Som Livre, Xuxa Produções |
| Unknown | Como Estão Vocês? | Titãs | Pop rock | "Enquanto Houver Sol", "Provas de Amor" | BMG, Ariola |

#### December

| Day | Title | Artist | Genre(s) | Singles | Label |
| 1 | Inevitável | Bruno & Marrone | | | BMG, RCA |
| 2 | Todas as Coisas e Eu | Gal Costa | | | Indie Records, Som Livre |
| 2 | Noturno Copacabana | Guinga | MPB | | Velas |
| 9 | Hombres de Honor | Grupo Manía | Bomba, guaracha, salsa, plena | "Sube, Sube" "Telefono" | Universal Music Latino |
| 9 | Sigo Siendo Romántico | Mickey Taveras | Bachata, merengue, salsa | | Karen Records |
| 15 | Sobre Nós 2 e O Resto do Mundo | Roberto Frejat | Pop rock | | Wea Music |
| 15 | Admirável Chip Novo | Pitty | Alternative rock, Hard rock | | Deskdisc |
| 15 | Jeitão de Caboclo | Liu & Léu | | | |
| 22 | É Caco de Vidro Puro | Cascabulho | MPB | | Via Som Music |

### Unknown

| Title | Artist | Genre(s) | Label |
| Andy & Lucas | Andy & Lucas | Ballad | Ariola, BMG Spain |
| 31 Minutos | 31 Minutos | Story, Soundtrack | Aplaplac, La Oreja |
| Censurados | Los Aldeanos | Hip hop | |
| La culpa | Los Bunkers | Alternative rock, folk rock, psychedelic rock, power pop | Columbia |
| Lágrimas Negras | Bebo Valdés and Diego el Cigala | Flamenco, Bolero, Latin jazz | Calle 54 Records, Ariola, BMG Spain |
| Babylon | Walter Ferguson | Calypso | Papaya Music |

## Best-selling records
### Best-selling albums

The following is a list of the top 10 best-selling Latin albums in the United States in 2003, according to Billboard.
| Rank | Album | Artist |
| 1 | Un Día Normal | Juanes |
| 2 | Almas del Silencio | Ricky Martin |
| 3 | Grandes Éxitos | Shakira |
| 4 | Revolución de Amor | Maná |
| 5 | 4 | Kumbia Kings |
| 6 | Las Ketchup | Las Ketchup |
| 7 | Santo Pecado | Ricardo Arjona |
| 8 | Mambo Sinuendo | Manuel Galban and Ry Cooder |
| 9 | Hits Mix | Celia Cruz |
| 10 | Regalo del Alma | Celia Cruz |

### Best-performing songs

The following is a list of the top 10 best-performing Latin songs in the United States in 2003, according to Billboard.
| Rank | Single | Artist |
| 1 | "Tal Vez" | Ricky Martin |
| 2 | "Fotografía" | Juanes featuring Nelly Furtado |
| 3 | "Una Vez Más" | Conjunto Primavera |
| 4 | "El Problema" | Ricardo Arjona |
| 5 | "Amame" | Alexandre Pires |
| 6 | "Mariposa Traicionera" | Maná |
| 7 | "Así Es La Vida" | Olga Tañón |
| 8 | "Que Me Quedes Tú" | Shakira |
| 9 | "Sedúceme" | La India |
| 10 | "Sueña" | Intocable |

## Deaths

* January 17 – Jaime Vivanco [es], Chilean jazz pianist and composer
* January 24 – Sabotage, Brazilian rapper
* January 25 – Jorge "Lobito" Martínez, Paraguayan guitarist and composer of folk music, 50 (murdered)
* February 1 – Mongo Santamaría, Cuban Latin jazz percussionist, 85
* April 9 – Marcelo Berbel [es], Argentine folk composer
* April 13 – Raúl Shaw Moreno [es], Bolivian performer and composer of boleros
* May 15 – Abilio Bermúdez [es], Ecuadorian composer
* June 21 – Jorge Pinchevsky [es] Argentine classical, tango, and rock violinist
* June 30 – María Gabriela Epumer [es], Argentine rock singer-songwriter
* July 1 – Chicho Sánchez Ferlosio, Spanish singer-songwriter, 63
* July 5
** Bebu Silvetti, Argentine composer and arranger
** Fernando Arbex, Spanish rock drummer
* July 13 – Compay Segundo, Cuban musician and member of the Buena Vista Social Club
* July 16 – Celia Cruz, Cuban salsa singer, 77
* August 5 – Tite Curet Alonso, Puerto Rican salsa composer, 77
* September 1 – Eulalio "Piporro" González, Mexican actor and singer-songwriter
* November 15 – Antonio Tormo [es], Argentine folk singer
* November 30 – Eskroto [es], Spanish rock singer
* December 2 – Jacinto Pebe Pueyrredón [es], Peruvian folk singer