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15 Feb 2023

Vic Mensa Opens Up About Ghana, DJ Akademiks Beef & More

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Vic Mensa went deep in depth about solidifying his spirit, and the beef he had with DJ Akademiks in the past, via a new interview.

The Chicago native sat down for a lengthy profile with Paper, in which he spoke heavily about his creative and personal journey to this point. Going back to Ghana, where his father’s family still resides, has been vital. “I’ve been able to build some pretty phenomenal things using that privilege and treat it as an opportunity to play that role to be the bridge between Black America and Africa,” Mensa said.

While the There’s A Lot Going On artist has been striving towards bettering himself on all fronts, he did touch upon a recent moment where a clip where he publicly called out media personality DJ Akademiks for exploitation of the Chicago drill scene and violence re-emerged. Mensa said it came from a personal connection.

“Because a kid that I grew up with and went to karate with when we were five years old ended up being a street n***a, gang banging, et cetera. He was also a very talented rapper. When he got killed, there was music involved, there were big drill artists involved, and I heard about it on Akademiks’ parasitic platform. So that’s why I was upset,” he said.

Mensa prefaced that by speaking at length about the differences between the emerging drill scene in Ghana and what already exists in Chicago. “Their music largely reflects their realities, which are not the same as American drill realities. Ghana is a very peaceful place. People don’t get killed like that. There’s a lot of struggle though, so their music is rooted in struggle,” he remarked.

The former Ye collaborator also spoke about his commitment to sobriety, which helped him confront various moments in his past and recalibrate his relationships. He also talked about how he’s come to accept being labeled a conscious rapper: “I can never be mad at the idea of being a conscious rapper. The truth is just that I’m a multifaceted person.”

Vic Mensa also spoke about his foray into punk music, and how he and Chance The Rapper linked up along with Erykah Badu and other artists to organize and perform at the Black Star Line Festival that took place in January.

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Photo: Momodu Mansaray / Getty

15 Feb 2023

NIVA Reveals Details for Second Annual Conference 

The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) will host its latest conference this July in Washington, D.C.

The association — which successfully lobbied for the $16.25 billion Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) for indie venues struggling through the pandemic — will bring together its members from July 10-12. The inaugural NIVA Conference was held last year in Cleveland with more than 650 members in attendance.

The 2023 edition will focus on topics including industry diversity, mental health, safety, insurance, the economic impact of live entertainment, booking, artist development, ticketing and the role of live entertainment in policymaking. NIVA ‘23 will also give members the opportunity to engage with the organization’s federal and national partners on Capitol Hill, in the Biden administration and throughout the D.C. region.

“In welcoming the NIVA conference to the District, we look forward to showcasing the independent venues and creatives who keep D.C. the capital of creativity,” said Washington, D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser in a release. “And we have a lot to be proud of — from our vibrant Go Go scene, to the venues that have hosted and built generations of music fans, to the festivals that bring Washingtonians together year after year. D.C. residents love going to festivals and shows and supporting artists, and we know the important role our creative community will continue to play in D.C. ‘s comeback. We look forward to bringing NIVA members and industry experts together in D.C., and we’ll see you in July.”

In addition to a full slate of programming, organizers promise live performances, a pre-party on July 9 and an awards gala July 10 at independent venue The Anthem that will celebrate live entertainment’s contribution to the nation. Events will take place at multiple NIVA music and comedy venues across Washington, D.C. During the evenings, attendees can take advantage of concerts and performances happening every night of the conference as NIVA ‘23 coincides with National Independent Venue Week, making D.C. the epicenter of independent live music in the country the week of July 10.

“Thousands of music and comedy venues across the country spent 2020 and 2021 focused on making the case to Washington D.C. policymakers that small businesses in live entertainment needed help to prevent the permanent loss of stages in every community, and NIVA’s efforts led to the largest arts investment in U.S. history,” said NIVA’s recently appointed executive director Stephen Parker in a release. “This summer, the nation’s music and comedy community will return to D.C. to illustrate why the partnership between government and the independent live entertainment industry must continue beyond the pandemic, to forge the future for independent music and comedy venues, festivals and promoters and to demonstrate their place in America’s culture and economy.”

NIVA is partnering with the following member venues and festivals to bring the 2023 conference to Washington, D.C.: All Things Go, Black Cat, DC Improv, DC9 Nightclub, Down in the Reeds Festival, I.M.P. (The Anthem, 9:30 Club and Lincoln Theatre), Listen Local First D.C., National Cannabis Festival, Pearl Street Warehouse, Rhizome, Songbyrd Music House, The Hamilton, The Pie Shop, The Pocket, U Street Music Hall Presents and Union Stage.

Further details on the conference’s programming and speakers will be announced at a later date. Registration information can be found here.

15 Feb 2023

Phony Stark Elon Musk Plans For Someone Else To Run Twitter

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Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk publicly ventured that he may tab someone else to run Twitter before year’s end.

According to reports, Musk told an assembled group at the World Government Summit on Wednesday (Feb. 15th) that he is aiming to pick someone to replace him as CEO of Twitter. Musk officially acquired the social media company for $44 billion last October.

“I’m guessing probably towards the end of this year should be good timing to find someone else to run the company,” he said via video, as he was joining the conference from Dubai. Remarking that “it has been a rollercoaster” in terms of his management of Twitter since last fall, Musk expressed a general idea of how he’d go about the change.

“I need to stabilise the organisation and make sure it’s in a healthy place and that the product roadmap is clearly laid out… I think it should be in a stable position around the end of this year,” he stated.

The South African-born billionaire first mentioned his desire to hand off the position on December 21st, saying that he would focus on software and server engineering the moment “someone foolish enough” took over the role.

Musk has remained under constant criticism for his handling of Twitter since his acquisition. Right-wing trolls, neo-Nazis and other controversial figures who have had their accounts suspended for their actions reinstated by the Tesla founder.

Others have complained about layoffs of personnel that have been important in terms of platform safety and malfunctions in usage. Last week, a rollout of a feature where users who signed up to Twitter Blue (for $8 a month) could post tweets with 4,000 characters caused major glitches.

Another issue for Musk is related to his Tesla company. Since buying Twitter, critics have expressed that he has been neglecting the affairs of that company as well as others. The result has seen Tesla shares drop significantly since last October.

15 Feb 2023

Adrian Peterson Addresses Beef With Damar Hamlin Over “Disrespectful” Jesus Jacket?

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Damar Hamlin is still on the mend and looking good after suffering a severe injury during an NFL game early this year. Hamlin looked healthy when he attended the Super Bowl last Sunday, but not everyone appreciated everything about his appearance.

In fact, NFL running back Adrian Peterson took issue with a jacket Damar Hamlin was wearing, which he, apparently, considered to be “disrespectful” to his deity.

From TMZ Sports:

Adrian Peterson’s furious with the jacket Damar Hamlin wore at the Super Bowl, emblazoned with a crucifix with an altered Jesus head, unloading on the 24-year-old in a social media post, calling it “Blasphemy!!” 24-year-old Hamlin was at the game, sitting with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Donna Kelce. Before kickoff, first responders who saved Damar’s life were honored … and the 24-year-old defensive back was on the field to watch.

Damar was wearing a $3,150 Takashi Murakami “Travis Jesus” jacket with the crucifix … and it really ticked Peterson off. “You should be thanking God son! This is Blasphemy!! We all fall short but cmon man! I find this disrespectful!! #grateful #goddid”

Former running back Fred Taylor tried to reign Peterson in a bit by noting that this was a matter that would be better handled privately. “You should DM him bro…I’m sure (he’d) listen to your opinion,” Taylor replied to Peterson’s Instagram post. “Posting it doesn’t help anyone. He’s young, young ppl don’t always think before they wear things just like people who wear skulls and other things that doesn’t align with Christian beliefs. Try to reach him.”

“But this was different!” Peterson responded. “I know young people don’t think at times, older as well! But with everything surrounding his situation!! This isn’t one of those moments where it’s a young guy not thinking!”

Now, one could argue that, in 2023, it’s long past time folks get over to the fact that not everyone feels the same way about the Christian messiah (or any religious figure for that matter) or how he’s depicted. One could also argue that under no circumstances does Peterson get to tell Hamlin how to feel about his own morality after his own life-threatening experience.

Or, whatever, maybe Hamlin’s jacket was disrespectful.

Either way, it appears that Hamlin and Peterson took the issue to the table and are back to being cordial

“So I spoke with [Damar], and we were able to discuss our thoughts as men. I want to be clear, I’m the last person to judge anyone, and that was never my intention,” Peterson wrote in a follow-up post.

“However, I do feel as if the jacket was disrespectful and it was something that I needed to share. I do realize everyone makes mistakes and falls short at times, so again, my intention was never to judge, just to share my opinion.” (I mean, it’s still hella presumptuous for Peterson to call it a “mistake” based solely on how he felt about it, but, again, whatever.)

“Damar, I have respect and love for you and I wish you nothing but the best, but I just can’t rock with that jacket,” he continued. “I feel like there are a lot of people, young and old, looking up to you and with power and influence comes great responsibility. I apologize for offending you.”

This man is really out here paraphrasing Spider-Man while simultaneously lecturing and apologizing to Hamlin.

We’re glad Damar Hamlin Adrian Peterson worked things out though.

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Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty

15 Feb 2023

‘Eye of the Tiger’ Co-Writer Slams Nikki Haley For Playing Hit at Campaign Event: ‘Don’t Use My F–king Song!’

Former South Carolina governor and U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley launched an atypical bid for the White House in a pretty typical fashion on Wednesday (Feb. 15). The Republican taking on her former boss, one-term president Donald Trump, revved up the crowd at her Charleston, South Carolina announcement this morning by walking on to one of the most beloved underdog fight anthems of all-time: Survivor‘s 1982 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 “Eye of the Tiger.”

“Stop using my f—ing song!,” the hit’s co-writer, Survivor keyboardist Frankie Sullivan, tells Billboard about his reaction to finding out about the latest politician’s attempt to co-opt the track he wrote for Sylvester Stallone’s classic underdog film, Rocky III. “This morning I get up and I’m doing my thing, writing and i turn on my phone and it explodes and I’m like, ‘What happened is my mom okay?’ That song belongs with the Rocky franchise and they don’t ask because they’d get a no. Absolutely.”

Haley, 51, who has leaned into her story of being a woman and person of color — she is the child of Indian immigrants — and who rose to the highest office in the South is the first member of the GOP to officially announce a bid to take on twice-impeached Trump, whose third bid for the White House has so far failed to catch fire. At press time, a spokesperson for Haley had not returned Billboard‘s request for comment.

Back in 2016, Republican Mike Huckabee’s presidential campaign had to pay a $25,000 settlement over claims they used “Eye of the Tiger” at a rally with Kim Davis, the Kentucky clerk who made headlines for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses. Sullivan says he is really protective of the song, but unlike the suit he filed against the former Arkansas Governor, he’s not currently planning to launch a legal fight with Haley.

“I don’t care who it is, I don’t think it’s appropriate, especially with ‘Tiger,’ since it’s such a special song,” he says of the track that he notes hit No. 1 in 39 countries and has become shorthand for a hard workout or, to quote the indelible lyrics, “rising up to the challenge.”

“I have no idea why any politician would play that as a walk on,” he adds, laughing, “I would say you have to have balls… but in this situation that doesn’t apply.” Teetotaler Sullivan says he doesn’t know much about Haley — and tries not to mix politics and entertainment because that would be “the dirtiest martini anyone ever drank” — but thinks her use of “Tiger” is a “sick way to promote the song. I wish they would just stop this nonsense!”

He recalled that when Trump played “Tiger” at campaign rallies he had his lawyer call the Apprentice star’s team and the usage stopped without incident. But, to be honest, he’s tired of playing this game and though he isn’t on the phone with his lawyer, it’s enough already. “I’m amused, but is this s–t really still going on?” he wonders.

Though Haley is expected to distance herself from the disgraced president facing a raft of lawsuits for his attempts to overturn the 2020 election — as well as his alleged corrupt business practices and allegations of sexual assault — by choosing the beloved theme song from the Rocky threequel she definitely tore a page from Trump’s populist soundtrack playbook.

During his first White House run, Trump fell afoul of more than a dozen major rock and pop acts by using their music during his rallies to pump up the crowd. In November, the estate of Isaac Hayes threatened legal action against the former reality star within an hour of Trump’s third announcement to stop him from using “Hold On I’m Coming” at his events; Hayes, who died in 2008 at age 65, co-wrote the 1966 Sam & Dave hit with David Porter.

On his way out of office after being defeated by Pres. Joe Biden, the Village People also called out “bully” ex-president Trump for playing their gay anthem “Y.M.C.A.” one more time against their wishes at his sparsely attended farewell event on Jan. 20, 2021.

For years Trump ignored pleas from a long list of famous acts to cease and desist from using their music during his rallies and political events and in addition to the costumed disco act, the legacy manager for Laura Branigan took issue with Trump playing her hit “Gloria” at his final official appearance as well. Over the five years of his campaigns and presidency, artists ranging from Adele to Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, R.E.M., Aerosmith, Panic! at the Disco, Guns N’ Roses, The Rolling Stones, Rihanna and the estates of Leonard Cohen, Tom Petty and Prince have vociferously objected to Trump playing their music at his rallies.

Check out a tweet with footage of the Survivor walk-on below.

15 Feb 2023

Jin Gives ARMY a Special Valentine’s Day Message Spelled in Macarons: Watch

A sweet treat. Jin surprised ARMY with a Valentine’s Day message posted to the official BTS YouTube channel on Tuesday (Feb. 14).

“Hello everyone, it’s Jin. It’s February now and I came here to see you….In February, there’s Valentine’s Day. Right? I’m pretty sure. Which is why I prepared these desserts here,” the K-pop idol says in the clip, showing off the tray of colorful macarons in front of him.

Pointing out that he’s rounded up seven of the French confections because of the seven members in BTS, Jin proceeds to write a message in his native Korean on the macarons, spelled out entirely in chocolate sauce. “Since only ARMY are gonna be watching this video, I’m gonna write stuff related to ARMY,” he says before struggling to spell out the name of the BTS fandom in chocolate on the first two pastries.

From there, “The Astronaut” singer decides to add more to the message, writing, “I love you lots” with a heart on the last macaron. (“It’s harder than I thought, this requires a lot of skills,” he mentions before declaring, “This is perfect.”)

The video message comes at the perfect time for ARMY whom are missing Jin while he’s in basic training as part of his required enlistment in the South Korean military. But don’t worry, the vocalist finished up the clip by promising he’d “come back with something else next month” on the BTS YouTube channel before signing off with a cheery “Bye!”

In other BTS news, Suga unveiled the dates for his very first solo tour earlier this week, which will begin April 26 at UBS Arena in Belmont Park, New York.

Watch Jin’s thoughtful Valentine’s Day message to ARMY below.

15 Feb 2023

Billy Porter Receives 2023 Anthem Beacon Award at 2nd Annual Anthem Awards

Billy Porter received the 2023 Anthem Beacon Award at the second annual Anthem Awards. The virtual awards program was launched by The Webby Awards in 2021 to recognize social impact work across the globe.

Porter received the award “to recognize his career-long commitment to breaking barriers for LGBTQ folks, destigmatizing HIV and empowering marginalized people everywhere.” 

“This is precisely the time when artists go to work,” Porter said in accepting the award. “There’s no time for despair, no place for self-pity. No need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. This is how civilizations heal. Please remember this, and know, be hopeful, because the change has already happened. God bless.”

Porter has won two Tonys (for his starring role in Kinky Boots and as one of many producers of A Strange Loop), an Emmy (for his starring role in Pose) and a Grammy (for the Kinky Boots cast album).

Poet Amanda Gorman, who received her first Grammy nomination in November for best spoken word poetry album for Call Us What We Carry: Poems, received the Anthem New Icon award.

Gorman was honored “for the joy, elegance, intelligence and hope she brings to all her poems, from the Presidential Inauguration to the Super Bowl.”

“My call to action would be to vote,” Gorman said in accepting the award. “The future isn’t just something we hope for, it’s a future we must vote for.”

Other special honors went to: Gloria Steinem, Anthem Lifetime Achievement; Ben Cohen & Jerry Greenfield, founders of Ben & Jerry’s, Anthem Vision Award; Gabrielle Giffords, Anthem Advocate of the Year; Oleksandra Matviichuk on behalf of the Center for Civil Liberties and the People of Ukraine, Anthem Movement of the Year; Quannah Chasinghorse, Anthem Special Achievement; Abigail E. Disney, Anthem Special Achievement; and Hamdi Ulukaya, Anthem Special Achievement.

Winners in other categories included Lil Nas X, Ciara, Killer Mike, Tracee Ellis Ross, Stephen Colbert, Last Week Tonight, Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Selma Blair and the cast of This Is Us.

Anthem winners were selected from nearly 2,000 submissions from 43 countries around the world by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences.

“Since launching The Anthem Awards in June of 2021, we have seen that social change continues to emerge as a dominant force in mainstream culture,” Jessica Lauretti, Anthem Awards managing director, said in a statement.

The Anthem Awards were founded by The Webby Awards in partnership with the Ad Council, Born This Way Foundation, Feeding America, GLAAD, Mozilla, NAACP, NRDC, WWF and XQ.

Fans can experience Anthem Call-To-Action Speeches from every winner including special achievement honorees at anthemawards.com.

15 Feb 2023

Rihanna Wants to Release an Album ‘This Year,’ Talks Super Bowl Politics, Motherhood & Pregnancy

Will she ever release new music? What are her thoughts on her Super Bowl Halftime Show performance? Holy s–t, she has a nine-month-old baby and is already pregnant with her second? Rihanna‘s fans have questions, and finally, the mystical pop star finally has some answers, thanks to a candid new interview with British Vogue.

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First thing’s first: Will this year finally be the one Rihanna drops her first album since 2016’s Anti? She hopes so. “I want it to be this year,” Rih told the publication in the Wednesday (Feb. 15) profile. “Like, honestly, it’d be ridiculous if it’s not this year. But I just want to have fun. I just want to make music and make videos.”

“I realized that if I keep waiting until this feels right and perfect and better, maybe it’s going to keep taking forever and maybe it’ll never come out and no, I’m not down to that,” she added, revealing that she never actually stopped recording music, but is indecisive about which songs are good enough for release. “I have my ideas in my head, but I can’t say them out loud yet.”

The interview with British Vogue — in which she posed alongside boyfriend A$AP Rocky and their adorable baby son — took place back in January, right after Rih and A$AP attended the Golden Globes together. There was still a month left to go before the “Lift Me Up” singer (who lost the Globe for best original song but is nominated for an Oscar) would perform for the first time in years at the Super Bowl Halftime Show, which went down Sunday (Feb. 12).

Rih expressed feeling nervous for the 13-minute, aerodynamic medley of hits, during which she subtly revealed that she’s pregnant with her second baby. On Sunday, though, it all went off without a hitch.

The publication hinted that the Fenty Beauty founder has been approached by the NFL every year for ten years to perform at halftime, an offer she poignantly declined in 2018 to stand in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick. Asked about why she decided to accept this year, Rih said she was inspired by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s 2022 Halftime Show to continue the streak of “representing the urban community, globally.”

“There’s still a lot of mending to be done in my eyes,” she said of the NFL’s infrastructure. “But it’s powerful to break those doors, and have representation at such a high, high level and a consistent level.”

Even before she knew that she’d be pregnant with her second child with Rocky, Rih couldn’t believe she agreed to be this year’s headliner so soon after giving birth to her son, whose name they keep private. “I’m going to say yes to the Super Bowl in the middle of postpartum? What the heck am I thinking?” she recalled thinking.

One major struggle she’s faced since she and Rocky welcomed their baby boy in May last year is the invasiveness of paparazzi. “Throw me to the wolves. Do what you want with me. But he doesn’t have a say in any of this,” Rih said. “We’ve been protecting him thus far and you don’t have any consent to be posting photos or selling photos of my child, a minor. Get the hell out of here with that.”

When it comes to her relationship, though, becoming parents has only strengthened things between her and Rocky, whom she’s been dating since 2020. “We’re best friends with a baby,” Rih told the publication. “We have to be on the same page, but we’ve always kind of had that in our relationship. Everything changes when you have a baby but I wouldn’t say it’s done anything but made us closer.”

15 Feb 2023

WMG CEO Robert Kyncl and Wife Luz Avila Kyncl Extend Scholarship at Alma Mater

Newly minted Warner Music CEO Robert Kyncl and his wife, psychotherapist Luz Avila Kyncl, have signed on for another five years of scholarship support for select computer science and engineering students at their alma mater, SUNY New Paltz.

The five-year-old Robert Kyncl ’95 and Luz Avila Kyncl ’96 Computer Science & Engineering Scholarship Fund is designed to benefit underrepresented students, especially women and minorities, seeking careers in STEM. Each year, at least six new transfer students or current Hawks will be selected for the scholarship, which offsets tuition costs.

The success of the scholarship has led to the creation of a group of alumni called the Kyncl Scholars.

“State education provided us with great opportunities, both professionally and personally, and we want to help more students access those same benefits,” said the Kyncls in a joint statement. “In turn, this talented next generation will help drive change and contribute to a more representative workforce in dynamic industries.”

The Kyncls’ most recent gift also supports the Fund for New Paltz and the AMP/CSTEP (AC²) Program Fund, which provides economic support for a number of traditionally underrepresented students who earn degrees in STEM fields and certain other majors such as Psychology.

SUNY New Paltz is a short drive north of New York City in Ulster County. As the name of the scholarship suggests, Robert graduated in 1995 (International Relations) and Luz a year later (Psychology).

“The Kyncls’ generosity in this area sends an important message to prospective and current students that people in leadership positions believe in their ability to succeed,” said Erica Marks, vice president for development & alumni relations and executive director of the SUNY New Paltz Foundation. “The University is continually evolving to remain competitive in offering high-quality computer science and engineering education that prepares students for their future. Each year, a powerful new cohort of Kyncl Scholars will be equipped with the training to be effective and collaborative contributors in the community.”

Robert Kyncl joined WMG on Jan. 1 after a decade as chief business officer at YouTube and seven years as vp of content acquisitions at Netflix. Read his first interview as CEO here. Luz Kyncl is a longtime licensed psychotherapist, and a certified health coach and mindfulness teacher. She is also the author of Liberate Yourself.

15 Feb 2023

Ana Barbara to Receive Icon Award at the 2023 BMI Latin Awards

BMI announced on Wednesday (Feb. 15) that Mexican singer-songwriter Ana Bárbara will be honored with the Icon Award at the 30th Annual BMI Latin Awards.

Set to take place March 21 in Los Angeles, the grupero artist will become the the first regional Mexican women songwriter to receive this award, “recognizing her exceptional talent and outstanding contributions to the Latin music community since the beginning of her career nearly 30 years ago,” according to a press release. The private event will be hosted by BMI president & CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI Vice president, creative, Latin, Jesus Gonzalez. 

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“As an iconic female Regional Mexican artist, whose body of work continues to be an indomitable inspiration for the creative community, we’re thrilled to name Ana Bárbara a BMI Icon,” Gonzalez said in a statement. “Dubbed as La Reina Grupera, she has forged a career that spans decades. Her artistic achievements have paved the way for the next generation of female songwriters in the genre and earned the respect of the industry at large as one of the most groundbreaking songwriters of all time. For that, we salute Ana as a true icon and look forward to celebrating all our top music creators behind some of today’s most-performed Latin songs.”

The “Bandido” singer joins an elite group of artists who have received BMI’s highest honor including Carlos Santana, Gloria Estefan, Juan Luis Guerra, Los Tigres Del Norte and Los Lobos, among others. Throughout her 30-year career — which she kicked off in the early ’90s with her self-titled debut album in 1994 — Ana Bárbara has a total of 16 entries on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs, four of those are top 10 hits including “La Trampa” and “Me Asusta Pero Me Gusta.” On the Regional Mexican Airplay tally, she’s entered 21 songs, five of which hit the top 10.

During the event, BMI will also recognize the songwriters and publishers of the past year’s most-performed Latin songs in the U.S. The BMI regional Mexican song, songwriter, BMI contemporary Latin song, songwriter and BMI contemporary Latin and regional Mexican publisher of the year will also be named during the ceremony.