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Mexican newcomer soars with 'Angel'

The best-selling release in Mexico for 2005 belongs to a newcomer.

"La Voz De Un Angel" by Yuridia, a runner-up in TV reality show "La Academia," has just been certified diamond for sales of more than 500,000 units since its August 2005 release.

The success has, admittedly, taken even Yuridia's label by surprise.

Yuridia's sales have benefited from two key factors: exposure via "La Academia," which earned strong ratings on Mexico's TV Azteca, and radio success with the single "Angel," a Spanish-language version of Robbie Williams' hit "Angels." (Not coincidentally, Williams consistently appears on Mexico's top-selling albums chart.)

Making "Angel" her TV song helped Yuridia gain traction with younger fans, who requested the single at radio. Older fans jumped on the bandwagon with the rest of her repertoire -- covers of Latin hits from the 1970s and 1980s.

In addition, "La Voz De Un Angel" was sold as an inexpensive CD/DVD combo that featured songs as performed on the show.

Of course, plenty of artists get TV exposure and radio hits. Yuridia's appeal is more intangible. Unlike the plastic appearance of some reality TV contestants, she is from a Mexican province and had limited performing experience. She is a girl-next-door type who happens to have a prodigious voice.

Because Yuridia is managed through TV Azteca, she has received exposure on the network's U.S. channel, Azteca America. A limited U.S. tour with fellow "La Academia" contestants last year also raised her exposure.

Although there are no plans to release Yuridia in territories beyond Mexico and the States, conversations are already under way for her next album, set for release this year with producer Rafael Perez Botija.