Karol G and Feid have swept the 2024 Latin American Music Awards, taking six trophies each on Thursday night (April 25).
The former nabbed the coveted artist of the year, song of the year (“TQG” with Shakira), and album of the year (Mañana Será Bonito); whereas the latter took home collaboration of the year (“Yandel 150” with Yandel), global Latin song of the year, and streaming artist of the year, to name a few accolades.
Other top winners included Shakira and Young Miko with three awards each; and with two awards each, Marshmello, Peso Pluma, RBD, Romeo Santos, and Yandel, who also swept the special Latin AMA Pioneer Award for his contributions to the reggaetón movement. (See complete winners list here)
Under the theme “We Speak Música,” the awards ceremony broadcasted its first-ever bilingual edition co-hosted by Thalia, Becky G, Alejandra Espinoza, and Carlos Ponce.
“It’s my first time coming to one of these awards shows and not feeling ashamed of being a Pocha, speaking in Spanglish,” Becky exclusively told Billboard ahead of her co-hosting opportunity. “The fact that this is a historical moment that I get to be a part of, for me, brings me so much pride.”
The Latin AMAs aired live at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 25, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas via Univision, UNIMÁS, Galavisión and ViX.
Meanwhile, Billboard was backstage at the red carpet and media center catching all the things you missed on TV, such as Jay Wheeler celebrating his 30th birthday with press, and more. Check them out below:
-
Morat Talks Grupo Frontera
Colombian pop band, Morat, is about to kick off “probably our biggest tour yet” around Latin America, where they will visit countries such as Nicaragua for the first time. While they prepare for their extensive trek, the four-member group also shared an update on their highly-anticipated collaboration with Grupo Frontera that is currently being teased on social media. “It’s coming out soon but the idea was that people began to learn the song first. It’s creating a lot of expectations,” the group said.
-
Sheila E Gushes Over Morat
Speaking of Morat, the boys might have won over a new fan. While they were giving interviews to the press, Sheila E a.k.a The Queen of Percussion was next to them talking to another outlet. In the midst of her interview, she stopped to gush over the Colombian boy band who was singing one of their tunes. Sheila could not hold back from shaking her shoulders and hips to Morat’s a cappella.
-
Eslabon Armado Goes Reggaeton?
Over at the red carpet we saw Eslabon Armado and Yng Lvcas exchange hand shakes, group photos, and a few words. When asked about their interaction, lead vocalist Pedro Tovar said: “I’ve been trying to get into reggaetón, and his stuff is fire. I like his music a lot and hopefully in a future we can collaborate with Yng Lvcas.” Eslabon nabbed the award for best collaboration – Regional Mexican for their Peso Pluma-assisted “Ella Baila Sola.”
-
Carin & Marc’s Double Date
Carin León and Marc Anthony ran into each other at the Latin AMAs red carpet, where they took the opportunity to pose for the cameras, each with their significant other. In plain sight, it looked like a double date made in heaven. Carin was arm-in-arm with his girlfriend and Marc side-by-side with his wife, Paraguayan model Nadia Ferreira—both couples enjoying the top of their night.
-
Steve Aoki Networking
Steve Aoki stopped by to talk to the press about his latest music projects, but most importantly, to network with Latin artists. Blessed in the Hispanic community as “Esteban Aoki” for being one of the first mainstream DJs to collaborate with acts such as Daddy Yankee, TINI, and Natanael Cano, the artist did not hold back from making new connections at the Latin AMAs. On the carpet, we saw him take a couple of photos with breakthrough Mexican artist Gabito Ballesteros, and even exchange contact information with Colombian crooner Manuel Medrano.
-
Victoria Justice’s Latin Dream Collab
Victoria Justice was present at the 2024 Latin American Music Awards, where she presented Peso Pluma with the best album – Regional Mexican for Génesis. But ahead of presenting, the pop star and actress revealed to Billboard what her ultimate dream Latin collaboration would be. “Oh my gosh, there are so many but I mean, I love Becky G, I think she’s amazing. Or Karol G, too, that would be fun. Any of the G’s really!” she noted.
-
Silvestre Dangond’s Long-Overdue Collab
Just moments before walking the red carpet, Silvestre Dangond announced his upcoming collaboration with Carlos Vives, “Tú o Yo,” on social media. On the carpet, he revealed to Billboard that this precise collab took 20 years in the making and it’s finally happening. “I feel like it hasn’t been work, I feel like the universe conspired in favor of both of us,” he said. “If we would have wanted it in another time, we wouldn’t have achieved it. But everything conspired. The desire, wanting it […] a series of things begin to happen that ended up uniting us until we reached this song.”
-
Christian Chávez Gets a Surprise
Christian Chávez was present at the 2024 Latin American Music Awards to receive the award for tour of the year, but backstage, he was surprised with another win for RBD: best duo or group – pop. He was in complete disbelief. “This moment is beautiful,” he said. “To be representing my colleagues, RBD, an entire generation. For us it is something wonderful to receive these two awards.”
-
Kali Uchis Talks Motherhood
Kali Uchis made a surprise appearance at the 2024 Latin American Music Awards, where she received the award for best album – pop for her Spanish-language set, Orquídeas. After her win, the Colombian pop star headed backstage to speak to the press. There, she opened up a bit about motherhood, expressing that she’s been in the house way too long during her pregnancy and that being at the award show felt a bit overwhelming.
-
Jay Wheeler’s Backstage Birthday
After their hearfelt and powerful performance of “Extrañándote,” Jay Wheeler and Zhamira Zambrano headed backstage to the media center. There, they talked about sharing the stage together, Wheeler’s newly-released album Música Buena Para Días Malos, and doing everything literally together. “If he has to go on tour, I’ll go with him,” Zambrano said. Before the lovebirds left the room, the press sang “Happy Birthday” to Wheeler, who was also celebrating his 30th birthday at the Latin AMAs.
