Nominees to Look for at the Latin Grammys
The biggest night in Latin music, the Latin Grammy Awards, is just around the corner. This purpose of this night is to honor all of the biggest contributors to the Latin music industry. The award selection process is similar to the regular Grammy award selection process. Nominees and winners are decided upon by members of the Latin Recording Academy. The biggest overall winner is Calle 13, a Puerto Rican hip-hop band, who has won 21 Latin Grammy awards in total. The leader among female artists is Colombian pop star Shakira, who has 13 Latin Grammy awards to her name.
For many Latin artists, winning a Latin Grammy award is the hallmark of a successful career and evidence that one has “really made it.”
The 2019 Latin Grammy Awards will take place on November 14, 2019. What is most exciting about this year’s awards is that it is the ceremony’s 20th year. Keep reading to learn more about some nominees you should keep your eyes (and ears) out for.
Rosalía
Spanish singer and songwriter Rosalía, known for her flamenco-inspired tracks, has been nominated for 5 awards at this upcoming Latin Grammys, including a nomination for “Album of the Year” for her wildly popular 2018 album El Mal Querer. She previously has won awards for “Best Alternative Song” and “Best Urban Fusion Performance” for her smash hit “Malamente.” At just 26 years old, the singer is taking the music world by storm, collaborating with other huge artists like J Balvin, Pharell Williams, James Blake, and Billie Eilish. Stay tuned to see if “La Rosalía” takes home the goods this year.
Bad Bunny
Bad Bunny has earned himself two nominations this year: “Best Urban Music Album” for his album X 100pre and “Best Urban Fusion Performance” for his song “Tenemos Que Hablar” (“We Have to Talk”). Bad Bunny has absolutely exploded over the past year, even having the opportunity to collaborate with Cardi B on her song “I Like That” and Drake on “Mia.” In addition to his bangers, Bad Bunny is known for his amazing fashion sense and for defying gender norms with his style.
Juanes
The Colombian singer is just one Latin Grammy behind Calle 13, having won 20 Latin Grammys during his career. He achieved worldwide success with his song “La Camisa Negra” (“The Black Shirt”) and become one of the most beloved Latin musicians of all time. At the 2019 award ceremony, he will be honored as the “Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year.”
The Controversy
There is a bit of controversy surrounding the Latin Grammy Awards this year. Urban entries, specifically reggaeton, were excluded from the nominations for Album, Record, and Song of the year. This upset many artists inside and outside of the reggaeton genre. J. Balvin created the hashtag #SinReggaetonNoHayGrammyLatino (“There is no Latin Grammy without Reggaeton”), and several other artists endorsed — including Daddy Yankee, Becky G, Maite Perroni, Tini, Anuel AA, and more.