Awards
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Eight months after unleashing their first-ever collaboration, Sebastian Yatra and John Legend debuted the track live for the first time at the 2022 Latin Grammys on Thursday night (Nov. 17).
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Accompanied by 10 female dancers dressed in long blazers and top hats, and with a full-on cabaret stage setting, Yatra and Legend’s bromance oozed as they sang the feel-good Spanglish bop live. Both artists not only flaunted their vocal chemistry on stage but also rocked matching bow ties.
Yatra and Legend performed the track shortly after Yatra won best vocal pop album for Dharma.
“John is miraculously talented and musically he can go anywhere. He’s someone I admire, and vocal-wise, it’s very intriguing to see how he’s going to sound in a song like this because of his vocal capacity,” Yatra previously told Billboard.
Legend wrote the English lyrics to the song, which Yatra originally co-wrote with Juan Jo, Lofty, Manuel Lara, and Pablo.
“When you have a song you love so much, you want to give it to someone who has a stroke of genius like John has, and who will keep the essence instead of just a translation,” adds Yatra.
The Latin Grammy Awards — which “promise to honor the legacy, celebrate the present and embrace the future of Latin music, with deliberate consciousness, paying-it-forward to the next generations of music creators,” according to a press statement — were held Thursday (Nov. 17) in the Michelob Ultra Arena at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, and aired live on Univision.
Karol G brought her star power to the 2022 Latin Grammys. The Colombian star delivered a standout performance, which had the entire crowd on their toes for nearly the entirety of her set.
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Karol kicked off her five-minute-plus set singing the reggaeton anthem “Gatubela” surrounded by her fierce dancers who adored her equally fierce leader. She then lit-up the crowd with her Afrobeat-powered “Provenza,” which is up for both record and song of the year. With this track, she became the first woman to replace herself at No. 1 on the Hot Latin Songs chart in May when it traded places with “Mamiii,” with Becky G.
Karol, who won best new artist at the Latin Grammys in 2018, ended her performance with a high-energy rendition of her latest single “Cairo” with her go-to producer Ovy on the Drums taking the stage with her for the song, released Nov. 13.
Bad Bunny leads this year’s list of nominees with 10 nods. Mexican songwriter and producer Edgar Barrera followed closely with nine nominations. Other top nominees include Rosalía and Rauw Alejandro with eight; and Christina Aguilera, Jorge Drexler and Tainy with seven.
The Latin Grammy Awards — which “promise to honor the legacy, celebrate the present and embrace the future of Latin music, with deliberate consciousness, paying-it-forward to the next generations of music creators,” according to a press statement — were held Thursday (Nov. 17) at the Michelob Ultra Arena at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, and aired live on Univision.
It’s fitting that Jesse Collins is showrunner of the 50th iteration of the American Music Awards – which is set to air live from the Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles this Sunday, because he just may be the most in-demand producer of music awards shows, and music on television in general, since Dick Clark, who created the AMAs in 1973.
His 2022 credits as executive producer include the Super Bowl halftime show starring a bevy of hip-hop stars (for which he won his first Emmy Award), the Grammys (for which he was Emmy-nominated), the BET Awards and the BET Hip-Hop Awards. And right after the AMAs is the Soul Train Awards, followed in early 2023 by the Golden Globes, the Grammys and the Super Bowl halftime show starring Rihanna.
Just days before the AMAs, Collins was feeling pretty confident. He has a strong host in Wayne Brady, a broadly popular Icon Award recipient in Lionel Richie, and a show that has a little something for everybody. The show will have tributes to Richie and Olivia Newton-John — both past AMAs hosts and artists whose AMAs totals are in double digits — as well as performances by new stars Dove Cameron and GloRilla. The Richie tribute is centered on a medley of his songs performed by Stevie Wonder, 72, and Charlie Puth, 30. That’s the kind of range the AMAs look for.
Looking at your bookings, you seem to have something for everybody.
Listen, it’s the American Music Awards. Like the nation, this is supposed to be the melting pot of music where everybody comes together under one tent and celebrates excellence in all genres. We just try to do our best to give you the full tapestry of music. You want to get your new stars. You want to get your up-and-comers. You want to get your big stars like P!nk and Carrie Underwood. You just want to make sure that everybody’s getting a little piece of everything, and that to me is what the AMAs are all about.
That was always Dick Clark’s philosophy.
Let’s say you’re not that familiar with what the new pop or R&B or hip-hop or country acts are. You can watch the AMAs and you can learn about them. You can find out who is going to be your next big star. So maybe you walk in saying, “I’m not really a fan of a certain genre,” but then you see an artist in that genre and suddenly you’re a fan.
Since this is the 50th AMAs, you’re going to have a recurring element where artists speak to their musical inspirations. What form will that take?
We’re trying to spread it out throughout the show and make it organic. So it could be in presenter copy or our host Wayne [Brady]. Perhaps winners will do it. There are some ways that we’re doing it musically. We’re just trying to spread it out throughout the show so you get that story in different incarnations.
How did you decide on Wayne Brady as a host?
I [have] worked with Wayne a lot over the years. He’s just one of the most versatile people I know. First of all, he’s an amazing host, but then he also is an incredible singer, rapper, dancer, improv performer. He’s incredibly funny, so when you’re doing a show like this you want to get a host that has so many skill sets that no matter what you throw at him, he can succeed.
How did you decide on Lionel as your Icon Award recipient?
Lionel has a long history with the AMAs. He has hosted, he’s performed, he’s won [18] awards [counting this one]. That’s been in the works for a long time. I have to credit Mark Shimmel, one of our producers, who has a long relationship with Lionel. [Mark has] been on the AMAs with Larry [Klein] for many years. Last year we knew that we wanted for the 50th show to honor Lionel Richie.
Dick Clark died in 2012, which was the same year you founded your company [Jesse Collins Entertainment]. Did you ever meet him?
No, I never met him. I just grew up watching him on TV. Obviously, I was a big fan of everything that he created. Unfortunately, I never got to meet him.
Was he a particular role model or inspiration?
Listen, I grew up watching American Bandstand and Soul Train – so both him and [Soul Train creator] Don Cornelius were heroes of mine. So, to find myself in this awards show business is incredible. I never thought I’d be producing this show.
Has [longtime dick clark productions executive] Larry [Klein] filled you in on Dick Clark stories?
Larry has been a great mentor throughout this whole process, even before I got on this show. Larry is the gold standard of variety producers. He has great stories. All the things he’s been through with this show, it’s pretty incredible.
Do you ever say “What would Dick do?” or “What would he think of what we’re doing to his baby?”
Larry sometimes will say, “If Dick was here, this is what he would want this show to be. This is what he would do in this moment.” And Barry Adelman as well. He’s one of our producers. He was with Dick for many years and knew Dick from the AMAs, the Globes and all the shows. Those guys definitely make sure that the spirit of Dick Clark lives on.
This is the second AMAs you’ve worked on. You’ve also been on the Grammy team for a number of years. Back in the day, it wouldn’t have been possible to work on both shows. They were highly competitive with each other.
Fortunately, the shows are not on the same day, so people don’t have to choose. The AMAs and the Grammys are both awards shows, but their histories are different, their legacies are different and today the shows are different – and I think that helps each one. They have different points-of-view, definitely different personalities. It’s like picking between your kids.
One reason the shows were so competitive back then is they often aired just a month apart – sometimes just two weeks apart. Now, they’re a few months apart.
When Pierre [Cossette, longtime executive producer of the Grammys] and Dick were going back-and-forth about these shows, music had a longer run. You had the one song that was the song that an artist sang on TV and that performance was coveted. Now, music cycles are much faster. Music comes out at a higher frequency. So, someone can come on the AMAs and have an unbelievable performance and then go on the Grammys and do something completely different and shock the world again. I think that’s part of the reason that the attitudes have changed between the shows.
Last year’s AMAs was the most social telecast of 2021 with 46.5 million interactions. What do you attribute that to?
First of all, our host [last year], Cardi B, is one of the most electrifying people on social media. She really knows how to ignite that base. Between that and BTS and all of the other performances, and the way we designed the show, we were really able to take advantage of what social media can do for you in an awards show environment.
With all the shows you work on, you must have an amazing team supporting you in your company.
Dionne Harmon is not only president of the company, she’s right here leading the charge on the AMAs. The show would definitely not come together without her. Jeannae Rouzan-Clay is a great producer as well. Between the three of us, it allows us to really try to make the best show possible. [All three are credited as executive producers on the AMAs, as is Larry Klein. In addition, Collins is showrunner.]
Have you announced all of the performers?
We have not announced them all. We still have a couple of surprises.
Most of the acts that you have announced fall into the broad genres that were always the backbone of the show – pop/rock, soul/R&B and country. Now, in addition, you also have hip-hop (GloRilla and Lil Baby) and Latin (Anitta). So, I think Dick is up there looking down and saying ‘you’re keeping it going.’
I hope so. With all of those genres that you mentioned, that music can be heard anywhere in America today. So, the show is living up to the title that he gave it.
This conversation has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.
Rosalía meant business at the Latin Grammys blessing fans with a medley that included “Hentai,” “La Fama” and “Despechá.” “Hentai” is up for song of the year, and “La Fama” with The Weeknd is up for record of the year.
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The Spaniard, who initially wore an oversized red coat and statement glasses, kicked off her set playing the piano and performing the powerful “Hentai.” She then took off her coat to unveil an all black latex bodysuit to perform her bachata “La Fama” in front of a malleable white canvas. Then, she got everyone on their feet — including Marco Antonio Solís, Christian Nodal and Rauw Alejandro who were all front row — with her infectious mambo “Despechá.” She even shared a special dance with her boyfriend Alejandro who, as her number one fan, cheered her on.
Rosalía is this year’s most-nominated female artist. Besides song and record of the year, she’s also up for album of the year with Motomami.
Bad Bunny leads this year’s list of nominees with 10 nods. Mexican songwriter and producer Edgar Barrera followed closely with nine nominations. Other top nominees include Rosalía and Rauw Alejandro with eight; and Christina Aguilera, Jorge Drexler and Tainy with seven.
The Latin Grammy Awards — which “promise to honor the legacy, celebrate the present and embrace the future of Latin music, with deliberate consciousness, paying-it-forward to the next generations of music creators,” according to a press statement — were held Nov. 17 at the Michelob Ultra Arena at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, and aired live on Univision.
Angela Alvarez is 95 years old. Silvana Estrada is 25 years old.
Both do acoustic-leaning music that’s bound to the traditions of their respective home countries: Cuba for Alvarez, Mexico for Estrada. On Thursday night (Nov. 18), the two met on the stage of the 2022 Latin Grammys, tying to win for best new artist.
Estrada, who has been lauded as one of the bright new voices of Latin music, was a big favorite to win the award. As for Alvarez, the evening was an emotional conclusion in her very unlikely quest for not only a Latin Grammy, but one in the best new artist category at age 95.
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Voters’ vacillation between a long career ahead and the thrill of honoring a career found late in life was evident in the voting results.
“I didn’t prepare a speech,” said a tearful Estrada, who grew up with luthier parents and writes exquisite songs. “But as a woman, this award was already ours, especially with this woman by my side. It’s important to represent for the new generations, that they know it’s worthwhile to fight.”
Estrada, the first Latin artist signed to indie Glassnote Records, ended her speech with a thank you to her parents, “For teaching me that music is worthwhile and that one has to live life with happiness.”
Alvarez was not tearful when she gave her prepared speech. With eyes and voice clear, she methodically thanked a long list of people, including actor and director Andy García, for taking her to this moment.
She ended by specifically thanking her grandson, standing beside her.
“He was the one who helped me get here,” she said (her grandson was the person who encouraged Alvarez, at 95, to record her music). “And I want to dedicate this award to God, and to my beloved Cuba, which I will never forget. And to those who have yet to make their dreams come true, know that although life is hard, there’s always a way out and with faith and love everything can be achieved. I promise you, it’s never too late.”
The audience gave both a standing ovation.
Nicky Jam is lending a hand to the new generation of musicians.
The superstar sang his hit “El Perdón” alongside Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation scholarship recipients Xavier Cintrón, Valentina García, Nicolle Horbath and Sergio de Miguel Jorgequera — who are all performing for the first time at a Latin Grammys ceremony.
“Those that know my story know that music saved my life and from many things. And if it wasn’t for music, I probably wouldn’t be here tonight sharing with you all,” the chart-topping artist said before announcing the creation of a new scholarship and thanking the Latin Recording Academy for letting him be part of this special moment. “I want to thank Latin Grammys for letting me be part of this project and donate this scholarship for young people. I’m so excited, the scholarship is called Nicky Jam and I’m helping these new artists to do great things and be great global artists. God bless you all.”
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Bad Bunny leads this year’s list of nominees with 10 nods. Mexican songwriter and producer Edgar Barrera followed closely with nine nominations. Other top nominees include Rosalía and Rauw Alejandro with eight; and Christina Aguilera, Jorge Drexler and Tainy with seven.
The Latin Grammy Awards — which “promise to honor the legacy, celebrate the present and embrace the future of Latin music, with deliberate consciousness, paying-it-forward to the next generations of music creators,” according to a press statement — were held Nov. 17 at the Michelob Ultra Arena at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, and aired live on Univision.
It was a battle of icons and superstars, with Bad Bunny and veteran singer/songwriter Jorge Drexler leading the list of winners in the pre-Latin Grammys telecast Thursday (Nov. 17) in Las Vegas.
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Drexler, the beloved Uruguayan singer/songwriter known for his complex, often cerebral fare, led the fray with four wins, for best pop song (“La Guerrilla de la Concordia”), best alternative song (“El día que Estrenaste el Mundo”), best singer/songwriter album (for Tinta y Tiempo) and best Portuguese language song (alongside Marisa Monte in “Vento Sardo”). A fifth Latin Grammy went to arranger Fernando Velazquez for best arrangement in Drexler’s “El plan maestro.”
Bad Bunny also took home four awards, for Best urban fusion performance and Best urban song with “Titi Me Preguntó”; best reggaetón performance with “Lo siento BB:/” alongside Tainy and Julieta Venegas; and best rap/hip-hop song with “De Museo.”
Another iconic Latin star, Argentina’s Fito Páez, won three awards, while Rosalía took home Best alternative album and Best engineered album for her Motomami.
“If I’m getting this award, certainly it’s because of Fito, but also, because of my love for Argentine rock,” said Carlos Vives, who won best pop/rock song for “Babel,” alongside Páez. “I was never a fan of The Beatles. I didn’t even learn English at home. But I always listened to Argentine rock.”
Icons Juan Luis Guerra and Residente also won awards: Guerra in best merengue/bachata album for Entre Mar y Palmeras and Residente in best short-form video for his incendiary “This Is Not America.” Latin Grammy fave Natalia LaFourcade won best long-form video for her Hasta La Raíz: El Documental.
When a visibly emotional Tainy picked up the award for “Lo Siento BB:/,” he said: “Working with Julieta, it wasn’t my genre. I feel blessed.” It was one of many emotional speeches, but perhaps the most rousing was by Brazil’s Liniker, who won the Latin Grammy for best MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira) album with Indigo Borboleta Anil. “There is history being made in my country, Brazil, tonight. This is the first time a transgender artist wins a Grammy,” said Liniker, putting the audience on their feet.
The winner of the coveted producer of the year award went to acclaimed Colombian producer Julio Reyes-Copello, winning that prize for the first time after multiple nominations through the years. “I’m not Julio Reyes-Copello; I’m his manager Andrés Recio,” said Recio, picking up the award for Reyes-Copello. “I’ve been his manager for 22 years, and we’ve dreamt about this award for 22 years.”
The pre-telecast was the precursor to the Latin Grammy Awards, which will air at 8 p.m. ET Thursday night on the Univision network from the Michelob Ultra Arena at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
The full list of winners below, with winners in bold, will be updated during the evening.
GENERAL CATEGORIES
Record of the Year
“Pa mis muchachas” – Christina Aguilera, Becky G, Nicki Nicole feat. Nathy Peluso
“Castillos de arena” – Pablo Alborán
“Envolver” – Anitta
“Pa’lla voy” – Marc Anthony
“Ojitos lindos” – Bad Bunny & Bomba Estéreo
“Pegao” – Camilo
“Tocarte” – Jorge Drexler & C. Tangana
“Provenza” – Karol G
“Vale la pena” – Juan Luis Guerra
“La fama” – Rosalía con The Weeknd
“Te felicito” – Shakira & Rauw Alejandro
“Baloncito Viejo” – Carlos Vives & Camilo
Album of the Year
Aguilera – Christina Aguilera
Pa’lla Voy – Marc Anthony
Un Verano Sin Ti – Bad Bunny
Deja – Bomba Estéreo
Tinta y Tiempo – Jorge Drexler
Ya No Somos Los Mismos – Elsa y Elmar
Viajante – Fonseca
Motomami (Álbum digital) – Rosalía
Sanz – Alejandro Sanz
Dharma – Sebastián Yatra
Song of the Year
“A veces bien y a veces mal” – Pedro Capo, Ignacio Cibrián, Ricky Martín, Pablo Preciado, Julio Ramírez, Mauricio Rengifo & Andrés Torres, compositores (Ricky Martin con Reik)
“Agua” – Rauw Alejandro, Emmanuel Anene, David Alberto Macias, Nile Rodgers, Juan Salinas, Oscar Salinas & Daddy Yankee, compositores (Daddy Yankee, Rauw Alejandro & Nile Rodgers)
“Algo es mejor” – Mon Laferte, compositora (Mon Laferte)
“Baloncito viejo” – Camilo, Jorge Luis Chacín, Andrés Leal, Martín Velilla & Carlos Vives, compositores (Carlos Vives & Camilo)
“Besos en la frente” – Fonseca & Julio Reyes Copello, compositores (Fonseca)
“Encontrarme” – Carla Morrison, Juan Alejandro Jiménez Pérez & Mario Demian Jiménez Pérez, compositores (Carla Morrison)
“Hentai” – Larry Gold, Noah Goldstein, Chad Hugo, David Rodríguez, Rosalía, Jacob Sherman, Michael Uzowuru, Pilar Vila Tobella, Dylan Wiggins & Pharrell Williams, compositores (Rosalía)
“Índigo” – Édgar Barrera & Camilo, compositores (Camilo & Evaluna Montaner)
“Pa mis muchachas” – Christina Aguilera, Jorge Luis Chacín, Kat Dahlia, Becky G, Yoel Henríquez, Yasmil Marrufo, Nicki Nicole & Nathy Peluso, compositores (Christina Aguilera, Nicki Nicole, Becky G con Nathy Peluso)
“Provenza” – Kevyn Mauricio Cruz Moreno, Carolina Giraldo Navarro & Ovy On The Drums, compositores (Karol G)
“Tacones rojos” – Juan Jo, Manuel Lara, Manuel Lorente, Pablo & Sebastián Yatra, compositores (Sebastián Yatra)
“Tocarte” – Jorge Drexler, Pablo Drexler, Víctor Martínez & C. Tangana, compositores (Jorge Drexler & C. Tangana)
Best New Artist
Angela Álvarez
Sofía Campos
Cande y Paulo
Clarissa
Silvana Estrada
Pol Granch
Nabález
Tiare
Vale
Yahritza y Su Esencia
Nicole Zignago
FIELD 1 – POP
Best Pop Vocal Album
Ya No Somos Los MismosElsa y Elmar[Sony Music Entertainment México, S.A. de C.V.]
Amor Que MerecemosKany García[Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC]
ClichésJesse & Joy[Warner Music Latina]
El RenacimientoCarla Morrison[Cosmica Artists]
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
AguileraChristina Aguilera[Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC]
ViajanteFonseca[Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC]
Filarmónico 20 AñosMarta Gómez[Aluna Music]
La VidaKurt[Universal Music México]
FrecuenciaSin Bandera[Sony Music Entertainment México, S.A. de C.V.]
Best Pop Song
“Baloncito viejo”Camilo, Jorge Luis Chacín, Andrés Leal, Martín Velilla & Carlos Vives, compositores (Carlos Vives & Camilo)[Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC]
“Besos en la frente”Julio Reyes Copello & Fonseca, compositores (Fonseca)Track from: Viajante[Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC]
“Índigo”Édgar Barrera & Camilo, compositores (Camilo & Evaluna Montaner)[Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC/Hecho A ManoMusic]
“La guerrilla de la concordia”Jorge Drexler, songwriter (Jorge Drexler)[Sony Music Entertainment España, S.L.]
“Tacones rojos”Pablo María Rousselon De Croisoeuil, Manuel Lara, Manuel Lorente, Juan Josep Monserrat Riutort &Sebastián Yatra, compositores (Sebastián Yatra)[Universal Music Latino]
FIELD 2 – URBAN
Best Urban Fusion/Performance
“Pa mis muchachas”Christina Aguilera, Nicki Nicole, Becky G con Nathy Peluso[Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC]
“Santo”Christina Aguilera & Ozuna[Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC]
“Volví”Aventura, Bad Bunny[Rimas Entertainment LLC]
“Tití me preguntó”Bad Bunny[Rimas Entertainment LLC]
“This Is Not America”Residente con Ibey[Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC]
Best Reggaeton Performance
“Desesperados”Rauw Alejandro & Chencho Corleone[Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC/Duars Entertainment, Inc.]
“Envolver”Anitta[Warner Music Latina]
“Yonaguni”Bad Bunny[Rimas Entertainment LLC]
“Nicky Jam: BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 41”Bizarrap & Nicky Jam[Dale Play Records]
“Lo siento BB:/”Tainy, Bad Bunny & Julieta Venegas[Neon16]
Best Urban Music Album
RespiraAkapellah[EMI/Universal Music Group México, S.A. de C.V.]
Trap Cake Vol. 2Rauw Alejandro[Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC/Duars Entertainment Corp.]
Los Favoritos 2.5Arcángel[Rimas Entertainment LLC]
Un Verano Sin TiBad Bunny[Rimas Entertainment LLC]
AnimalMaria Becerra[300 Entertainment]
Best Rap/Hip Hop Song
“Amor”Akapellah, compositor (Akapellah)[EMI/Universal Music Group Mexico]
“Dance Crip”Santiago Ruiz, Brian Taylor & Trueno, compositores(Trueno)[Sur Capital Records (por Tierra Agencia SRL )]
“De museo”Bad Bunny, compositor (Bad Bunny)[Rimas Entertainment LLC]
“El Gran Robo, PT. 2”Phanlon Anton Alexander, Geovanny Andrades Andino, Daddy Yankee & Lito Mc Cassidy, compositores (Lito Mc Cassidy, Daddy Yankee)[BMG Rights Management (US) LLC]
“Freestyle 15”Farina, compositora (Farina)[La Commission]
Best Urban Song
“Desesperados”Rauw Alejandro, José M. Collazo, Chencho Corleone, Jorge Cedeño Echevarria, Luis Jonuel González, Eric Pérez Rovira, Jorge E. Pizarro Ruiz & Nino Karlo Segarra, compositores (Rauw Alejandro & Chencho Corleone)[Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC/Duars Entertainment, Inc.]
“Lo siento BB:/”Bad Bunny, Tainy & Julieta Venegas, compositores (Tainy, Bad Bunny & Julieta Venegas)[Neon16/Interscope Records]
“MAMIII”Luis Miguel Gómez Castaño, Becky G, Karol G, Ovy on the Drums, Justin Quiles, Elena Rose & Daniel Uribe, compositores (Becky G & Karol G)[Kemosabe Records/RCA Records]
“Ojos rojos”Samantha M. Cámara, Nicky Jam, Vicente Jiménez, Dallas James Koehlke, Manuel Larrad & Juan Diego Medina Vélez, songwriters (Nicky Jam)[Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC]
“Tití me preguntó”Bad Bunny, compositor (Bad Bunny)[Rimas Entertainment LLC]
FIELD 3 – ROCK
Best Rock Album
MojigataMarilina Bertoldi[Pelo Music S.A.]
Unas Vacaciones RarasÉl Mató A Un Policía Motorizado[Nacional Records]
Cada Vez CadáverFito y Fitipaldis[Warner Music Spain]
1021La Gusana Ciega[Naranjada Records – ONErpm]
RPDFWiplash[Virgin Music Mexico/Rebeleon/Nakama]
Best Rock Song
“Día mil”Eruca Sativa, compositores (Eruca Sativa)[RCA Victor/Sony Music Entertainment Argentina S.A.]
“Esperando una señal”Bunbury, compositor (Bunbury)[Servidor De Nadie/Warner Music Spain]
“Finisterre”Juan Manuel Latorre, compositor (Vetusta Morla)[Pequeño Salto Mortal /Sony Music Entertainment España, S.L.]
“Lo mejor de nuestras vidas”Fito Páez, compositor (Fito Páez)[RCA Victor/Sony Music Entertainment Argentina S.A.]
“No olvidamos”Molotov, compositores (Molotov)[Warner Music Mexico, S.A. de C.V.]
“Que se mejores”WOS & Facundo Yalve, compositores (WOS)[Doguito Records]
Best Pop/Rock Album
TrincheraBabasónicos[Popart Discos]
MonstruosBruses[Worldwide Records]
La DirecciónConociendo Rusia[Geiser Discos]
Los Años SalvajesFito Páez[RCA Victor/Sony Music Entertainment Argentina S.A.]
Cable a TierraVetusta Morla[Pequeño Salto Mortal/Sony Music Entertainment España, S.L.]
Best Pop/Rock Song
“Arrancármelo”WOS & Facundo Yalve, compositores (WOS)[Doguito Records]
“Babel”Fito Páez & Carlos Vives, compositores (Carlos Vives & Fito Páez)Track from: Cumbiana Ii[Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC]
“Bye Bye”Diego Castellano, Adrian Dargelos & Gustavo Torres, compositores (Babasónicos)[Popart Discos]
“Disfraz”Felicitas Colina & Conociendo Rusia, compositores (Conociendo Rusia)[Geiser Discos]
“Que voy a hacer conmigo???”Bruses, Elsa y Elmar & Alan Saucedo, compositores (Elsa y Elmar y Bruses)[Sony Music Entertainment México, S.A. de C.V.]
FIELD 4 – Alternative
Best Alternative Music Album
The Sacred LeafAfro-Andean Funk[Just Play]
Kick IIArca[XL Recordings]
DejaBomba Estéreo[Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC]
El DiskoCA7RIEL[Clix]
Motomami (Álbum digital)Rosalía[Columbia Records]
Best Alternative Song
“Bad Bitch”Ca7riel & Tomas Sainz, compositores (CA7RIEL)[Clix]
“00:00”Alejandro Pérez, Siddhartha & Rul Velázquez, compositores (Siddhartha)[Sony Music Entertainment México, S.A. de C.V.]
“Conexión total”Yemi Alade, Carles Campi Campón, José Castillo, Jeff Peñalva, Liliana Saumet & Magdelys Savigne, compositores (Bomba Estéreo & Yemi Alade)[Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC]
“Culpa”Ricardo Mollo, Omar Varela, WOS & Facundo Yalve, compositores (WOS con Ricardo Mollo)Track From: Oscuro Extasis[Doguito Records]
“El día que estrenaste el mundo”Jorge Drexler, compositor (Jorge Drexler)[Sony Music Entertainment España, S.L.]
“Hentai”Larry Gold, Noah Goldstein, Chad Hugo, Rosalía, David Rodríguez, Jacob Sherman, Michael Uzowuru, Pilar Vila Tobella, Dylan Wiggins & Pharrell Williams, compositores (Rosalía)[Columbia Records/Sony Music Entertainment]
FIELD 5 – Tropical
Best Salsa Album
Será Que Se AcabóAlexander Abreu y Havana D’Primera[Páfata & Unicornio]
Pa’lla VoyMarc Anthony[Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC]
Luis FigueroaLuis Figueroa[Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC/Magnus Media]
Y Te Lo Dice…Luisito Ayala y La Puerto Rican Power[Musical Productions]
Lado A Lado BVíctor Manuelle[Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC]
Best Cumbia/Vallenato Album
Clásicos De Mi CumbiaCheco Acosta[Checumbia Producciones/ Believe Music]
Feliz AniversarioJean Carlos Centeno y Ronal Urbina[Onerpm]
Quiero Verte FelizLa Santa Cecilia[Rebeleon Ent / Virgin Music US Latin]
El De SiempreFelipe Peláez[Arte Producciones]
Yo Soy ColombiaZona 8 R & Rolando Ochoa[Independiente]
Best Merengue/Bachata Album
Este Soy YoHéctor Acosta El Torito[La Oreja Media Group, Inc.]
MultitudesElvis Crespo[Flash Music]
Entre Mar y PalmerasJuan Luis Guerra[Rimas Entertainment LLC]
ResistiráMilly Quezada[La Oreja Media Group, Inc.]
Tañón Pal’ Combo Es Lo Que HayOlga Tañón[Opcion 1 Entertainment, LLC]
Best Traditional Tropical Album
Café Con CariñoRenesito Avich[My Cuban Music LLC]
Chabuco Desde El Teatro Colón de BogotáChabuco[Marmaz Records]
Gonzalo Rubalcaba y Aymée Nuviola LiveIN MARCIACGonzalo Rubalcaba y Aymée Nuviola[5 Passion Records]
Gran Combo Pa’ RatoSepteto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro[Bis Music]
CantenLeoni Torres[Puntilla Music]
Best Contemporary Tropical Album
El Mundo Está LocoJorge Luis Chacín[Dnr Music]
De Menor a MayorGente de Zona[Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC/Magnus MediaLLC]
All InclusiveMarissa Mur[Independiente]
TrópicoPavel Núñez[La Oreja Media Group, Inc.]
Cumbiana IICarlos Vives[Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC]
Best Tropical Song
“Agüita e Coco”Mario Cáceres, Jorge Luis Chacín, Kany García, Richi López & Yasmil Marrufo, compositores (Kany García)[Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC]
“El malecón vio el final”Jorge Luis Piloto, compositor (Amaury Gutiérrez)[Sinfonic LLC]
“El parrandero (masters en parranda)”Juan Botero, Miguel Henao, Alvaro Negret, Santiago Restrepo, Joaquin Rodríguez, Juan José Roesel, Sin Ánimo De Lucro, José Nicolás Urdinola, Juan “One” Sebastián Valencia & Carlos Vives, compositores (Carlos Vives, Sin Ánimo De Lucro, JBot & Tuti)[Gaira Musica Local/Wk Records/Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC]
“Fiesta contigo”Luis Figueroa & Yoel Henríquez, compositores (Luis Figueroa)Track from: Luis Figueroa[Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC/Magnus Media]
“Mala”Marc Anthony & Álvaro Lenier Mesa, compositores (Marc Anthony)[Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC]
FIELD 6 – SINGER-SONGWRITER
Best Singer-Songwriter Album
MalvadiscoCaloncho[Universal Music México]
Tinta y TiempoJorge Drexler[Sony Music Entertainment España, S.L.]
Agendas VencidasEl David Aguilar[EMI/Universal Music México S.A. de C.V]
MarchitaSilvana Estrada[Glassnote / Altafonte / Mediaisla]
En Lo Que Llega La PrimaveraAlex Ferreira[Mediaisla]
El ViajePedro Guerra[Altafonte]
FIELD 7 – REGIONAL-MEXICAN
Best Ranchero/Mariachi Album
Mexicana EnamoradaÁngela Aguilar[Machin Records]
Mi Herencia, Mi SangreMajo Aguilar[Fonovisa/Universal Music Group México, S.A. de C.V.]
40 Aniversario Embajadores del MariachiMariachi Sol de México de José Hernández[Serenata Records]
EP #1 ForajidoChristian Nodal[Producciones Ladon, S.A. de C.V./Sony Music Entertainment México S.A. de C.V.]
Qué Ganas De Verte (Deluxe)Marco Antonio Solís[Marbella Music, Inc]
Best Banda Album
Esta Vida Es Muy BonitaBanda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga[Fonovisa/UMG Recordings, Inc.]
Va De NuevoBanda Fortuna[Fonovisa/Brava Entertainment]
Me Siento a Todo DarBanda Los Recoditos[Fonovisa/Universal Music Latin Entertainment]
Sin Miedo al Éxito (Deluxe)Banda Los Sebastianes[Fonovisa/Universal Music Group México, S.A. de C.V.]
Abeja ReinaChiquis[Fonovisa/Universal Music Latin Entertainment]
Best Tejano Album
DespreciadoEl Plan[Segura Music]
Camino al ProgresoGrupo Alamo[Ro’ Records]
Una IlusiónIsabel Marie[Isabel Marie/Penfo Music, LLC]
Dime Cómo Se SienteDestiny Navaira[UNIMUSIK]
Para Que Baile Mi PuebloBobby Pulido[Bobby Pulido Inc.]
Best Norteño Album
Bienvenida La VidaBronco[Quetono Music]
La Reunión (Deluxe)Los Tigres del Norte[Fonovisa/RMS Music Group, Inc./UMG Recordings, Inc.]
Corridos Felones (Serie 35)Los Tucanes de Tijuana[Master Q Music, Inc.]
Estas Se Acompañan Con CervezaPesado[Pesado]
ObsessedYahritza y Su Esencia[Lumbre Music, Inc.]
Best Regional Song
“Ahí donde me ven”Gussy Lau, compositor (Ángela Aguilar)[ONErpm – Machin Records]
“Cada quien”Edgar Barrera, Eduin Caz, Nathan Galante, Maluma & Horacio Palencia, compositores (Grupo Firme y Maluma)[Music VIP Entertainment Inc]
“Chale”Eden Muñoz, compositor (Eden Muñoz)[Lizos Music]
“Como lo hice yo”Edgar Barrera, Carin León & Matisse, compositores (Matisse, Carin León)[Sony Music Entertainment México, S.A. de C.V.]
“Cuando me dé la gana”Christina Aguilera, Rafael Arcaute, Jorge Luis Chacín, Kat Dahlia, Yoel Henríquez, Yasmil Marrufo & Federico Vindver, compositores (Christina Aguilera & Christian Nodal)Track from: Aguilera[Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC]
“Nunca te voy a olvidar”Mireya & Román Rojas, compositores (Mireya con Flor de Toloache, Román Rojas & Jorge Glem)[Mireya Ramos]
“Vivo en el 6”Edgar Barrera, Edén Muñoz & Christian Nodal, compositores (Christian Nodal)[Producciones Ladon, S.A de C.V./Christian Nodal Bajo Distribución en Exclusiva por Sony Music Entertainment México, S.A. de C.V.]
FIELD 8 – INSTRUMENTAL
Best Instrumental Album
Back To 4C4 Trío[GroundUP Music]
Gerry Weil SinfónicoGerry Weil & Orquesta Sinfónica Simón Bolívar[Go & Flow Project]
OfrendaGrupo Raíces de Venezuela[Independiente]
Maxixe Samba GrooveHamilton De Holanda[Brasilianos]
EllaDaniela Padrón & Glenda Del E[Oleta Music]
FIELD 9 – TRADITIONAL
Best Folk Album
La Tierra LloraPaulina Aguirre[Mucho Fruto Music]
Quédate En CasaEva Ayllón[Sway Music]
Flor y RaízPedro Aznar[Distribuidora Belgrano Norte S.R.L.]
Palabras UrgentesSusana Baca[Pregón Producciones | Real World Records Ltd]
Un Canto Por Méxito – El MusicalNatalia Lafourcade[Sony Music Entertainment México, S.A. de C.V.]
BendicionesSandra Mihanovich[Sandra Mihanovich]
Ancestros SinfónicoSíntesis, X Alfonso y Eme Alfonso[Facmusic Y El Cerrito Records]
Best Tango Album
Horacio Salgán Piano TranscriptionsPablo Estigarribia[Independiente]
Alma ViejaLos Tangueros del Oeste[Avantango Records]
TangoRicardo Montaner[Hecho A Mano Music]
MilongueroPablo Motta Ensamble con Franco Luciani[MAMP Songs]
Tango de Nuevos AyresMariana Quinteros[Acqua Records]
SpinettangoSpinettango[Nacional Records]
Best Flamenco Album
OrgánicaCarmen Doorá[Borderline Music]
LibresLas Migas[Las Migas Music]
LeoEstrella Morente[Concert Music Entertainment SLU]
El CanteKiki Morente[Universal Music Spain, S.L.U./Universal Classics & Jazz]
Ranchera FlamencaMaría Toledo[María Toledo]
FIELD 10 – Jazz
Best Latin Jazz/Jazz Album
Jobim ForeverAntonio Adolfo[AAM Music]
#CUBANAMERICANMartin Bejerano[Figgland Records]
ChabemChano Domínguez, Rubem Dantas & Hamilton De Holanda[Altafonte]
Mirror MirrorEliane Elias, Chick Corea, Chucho Valdés[Candid Records]
FIELD 11 – CHRISTIAN
Best Christian Album (Spanish Language)
Ya Llegó La PrimaveraAroddy[Expo Compositores Music]
Alfa y OmegaAthenas[Athenas]
¿Quién Dijo Miedo? (Live)Gilberto Daza[Creation Music Group]
¿Cómo Me Ves?Jesús Adrián Romero[Vástago Producciones]
ViviréMarcos Witt[CanZion]
Best Portuguese Language Christian Album
O Samba E O AmorAntonio Cirilo[Sonora Digital]
Antes Da TerapiaAsaph[Sony Music Entertainment Brasil]
EpifaniaClovis[Som Livre]
És TudoBruna Karla[MK Music]
Laboratório Do GrooveEli Soares[Universal Music]
FIELD 12 – Portuguese Language
Best Portuguese Language Contemporary Pop Album
Sim Sim SimBala Desejo[Coala Records]
Pra Gente AcordarGilsons[Xirê Produções e Eventos Ltda.]
PirataJão[Universal Music]
De PrimeiraMarina Sena[Marina Sena]
Doce 22Luísa Sonza[Universal Music]
Best Portuguese Language Rock or Alternative Album
QVVJFA?Baco Exu Do Blues[999]
O Futuro Pertenece À … Jovem GuardaErasmo Carlos[Som Livre]
Sobre ViverCriolo[Oloko Records / Altafonte]
Memórias (De Onde Eu Nunca Fui)Lagum[Sony Music]
Delta Estácio BluesJuçara Marçal[QTV]
Best samba/pagode Album
Bons VentosNego Alvaro[Sony Music Brasil]
Mistura HomogêneaMartinho Da Vila[Sony Music Brasil]
DesengaiolaAlfredo Del-Penho, João Cavalcanti, Moyseis Marques e Pedro Miranda[Som Livre/MPB]
Nimanice #2LUDMILLA[Warner Music Brasil Ltda.]
Céu LilásPéricles[ONErpm]
Best MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira) Album
PomaresChico Chico[Selim De Música]
Síntese Do LanceJoão Donato e Jards Macalé[Rocinante]
Indigo Borboleta AnilLiniker[Altafonte]
Nu Com a Minha MúsicaNey Matogrosso[Sony Music Entertainment Brasil Ltda.]
PortasMarisa Monte[Sony Music Brasil]
Meu CocoCaetano Veloso[Sony Music Brasil]
Best Sertaneja Music Album
Chitãozinho & Xororó LegadoChitãozinho & Xororó[Onerpm]
AgropocGabeu[Independente]
Expectativa X RealidadeMatheus & Kauan[Universal Music]
Patroas 35%Marília Mendonça, Maiara & Maraísa[Som Livre]
NaturalLauana Prado[Universal Music]
Best Portuguese Language Roots Album
Afrocanto das NaçõesMateus Aleluia[Sanzala Cultural / Altafonte]
Na Estrada – Ao VivoBanda Pau E Corda feat. Quinteto Violado[Biscoito Fino]
Remelexo BomLuiz Caldas[ONErpm]
Belo ChicoTargino Gondim, Nilton Freittas, Roberto Malvezzi[ONErpm]
Senhora Das FolhasÁurea Martins[Sarapuí Produções]
OríkiIara Rennó[Dobra Discos / Altafonte]
Senhora EstradaAlceu Valença[Deck]
Best Portuguese Language Song
“Baby 95”Liniker, Mahmundi, Tássia Reis & Tulipa Ruiz, compositores (Liniker)[Altafonte]
“Idiota”Jão, Pedro Tófani & Zebu, compositores (Jão)Track from: Pirata[Universal Music]
“Me Corte Na Boca Do Céu A Morte Não Pede Perdão”Criolo & Tropkillaz, compositores (Criolo con Milton Nascimento)Track from: Sobre Viver[Oloko Records/Altafonte]
“Meu Coco”Caetano Veloso, compositor (Caetano Veloso)Track from: Meu Coco[Sony Music Brasil]
“Por Supuesto”Iuri Rio Branco & Marina Sena, compositores (Marina Sena)[Marina Sena]
“Vento Sardo”Jorge Drexler & Marisa Monte, compositores (Marisa Monte Featuring Jorge Drexler)Track from: Portas[Sony Music Brasil]
Field 13 – Children’s
Best Latin Children’s Album
MarakeiClaraluna[Claraluna Taller Artístico Ltda.]
DANILO & CHAPIS, VOL. 2Danilo & Chapis[Moon Moosic Records]
TARDE DE JUEGOSMi Casa Es Tu Casa[Mi Casa Es Tu Casa]
LA SINFONÍA DE LOS BICHOS RAROSPuerto Candelaria[Merlín Producciones]
A LA FIESTA DE LA MÚSICA VAMOS TODOSSophia[NB Music]
Field 14 – Classical
Best Classical Album
BRUJOSOrquesta Sinfónica De Heredia; Eddie Mora, conductor; Eddie Mora, album producer[Independiente]
EL RUIDO DEL AGUAEddie Mora; Carlos Chaves & Eddie Mora, album producers[Independiente]
ERIKA RIBEIRO – ÍGOR STRAVINSKY, SOFIAGUBAIDÚLINA E HERMETO PASCOALErika Ribeiro; Sylvio Fraga & Bernardo Ramos, album producers[Rocinante]
LEGADOBerta Rojas; Sebastián Henríquez, album producer[OnMusic Recordings]
VILLA-LOBOS: COMPLETE VIOLIN SONATASEmmanuele Baldini, Pablo Rossi & Heitor Villa-Lobos[Naxos]
Best Classical Contemporary Composition
“ADAGIO FOR STRINGS, A MOTHER’S LOVE”Juan Arboleda, composer (Juan Arboleda)[South Mountain Music]
“ANIDO’S PORTRAIT: I. CHACARERA”Sergio Assad, composer (Berta Rojas)Track from: Legado[OnMusic Recordings]
“AURORA”Jimmy López Bellido, composer (Houston Symphony Orchestra Featuring Andrés Orozco-Estrada (Conductor) & Leticia Moreno (Soloist))Track from: Jimmy López Bellido: Aurora & Ad Astra[Pentatone]
“CANAUÊ, FOR ORCHESTRA”Dimitri Cervo, composer (Dimitri Cervo)Track from: Ospa E Convidados[Orquestra Sinfônica De Porto Alegre]
“CUATRO HAIKUS”Eddie Mora, composer (Orquesta Sinfónica De Heredia feat. José Arturo Chacón)Track from: Brujos[Independiente]
Best Arrangement
“LLÉVATELA”Rosino Serrano, arranger (Armando Manzanero – Eje Ejecutantes de México)Track from: Los Músicos Rinden Homenaje A Armando Manzanero[EJE Ejecutantes De México]
“SON DE LA LOMA”Daniel Barón & Henry Villalobos, arrangers (Dani Barón)[Dani Barón]
“ADORO”Marco Godoy, arranger (Alondra De La Parra & Buika)Track from: Olé México Gnp[Elekin Records]
“CUCURRUCUCÚ PALOMA”Paul Rubinstein, arranger (Alondra De La Parra & Pitingo)[Elekin Records]
“EL PLAN MAESTRO”Fernando Velázquez, arranger (Jorge Drexler)Track from: Tinta Y Tiempo[Sony Music Entertainment España, S.L.]
Field 16 – Recording Package
Best Recording Package
ANCESTRASIsaura Angulo, Carlos Dussán, Karen Flores, Manuel Garcia-Orozco, Juliana Jaramillo, Ledania & Lido Pimienta, art directors (Petrona Martinez)[Chaco World Music]
BAILAORA – MIS PIES SON MI VOZPedro Fajardo & Siudy Garrido, art directors (Siudy Garrido feat. Ismael Fernandez, Manuel Gago, Jose Luis Rodriguez & Adolfo Herrera)[Siudy Flamenco Dance Theater, Inc.]
CUANDO TE MUERDES EL LABIO (EDICIÓN CERÁMICA)Boa Mistura, art director (Leiva)[Sony Music Entertainment España, S.L.]
FEIRA LIVRECarlos Bauer, art director (Bananeira Brass Band)[Dorsal Musik]
MOTOMAMI (DIGITAL ALBUM)Ferran Echegaray, Viktor Hammarberg, Rosalía, Daniel Sannwald & Pili Vila, art directors (Rosalía)[Columbia Records/Sony Music Entertainment]
Field 17 – Production
Best Engineered Album
DENTRO DA MATRIXCesar J. De Cisneros & Érico Moreira, engineers; Érico Moreira, mixer; Felipe Tichauer, mastering engineer (Érico Moreira)[Érico Moreira]
INDIGO BORBOLETA ANILZé Nigro & Gustavo Ruiz, engineers; João Milliet & Rodrigo Sanches, mixers; Felipe Tichauer, mastering engineer (Liniker)[Altafonte]
JOBIM FOREVERMarcelo Saboia, engineer; Marcelo Saboia, mixer; Andre Dias, mastering engineer (Antonio Adolfo)[Aam Music]
MOTOMAMI (DIGITAL ALBUM)Chris Gehringer, engineer; Jeremie Inhaber, Manny Marroquin, Zach Peraya & Anthony Vilchis, mixers; Chris Gehringer, mastering engineer (Rosalía)[Columbia Records]
YA NO SOMOS LOS MISMOSJulián Bernal, Nico Cotton, Carlitos González, Alberto Hernández, Michel Kuri, Malay, Felipe Mejía, Jv Olivier, Juan Sebastián Parra, Alejandro García Partida & Alan Saucedo, engineers; Julián Bernal, Mikaelin Bluespruce, Raúl López, Lewis Pickett & Harold Sanders, mixers; Julián Bernal & Dave Kutch, mastering engineers (Elsa y Elmar)[Sony Music Entertainment México, S.A. de C.V]
Producer of the Year
Edgar Barrera
Eduardo Cabra
Nico Cotton
Julio Reyes Copello
Tainy
Field 18 – Music Video
Best Short Form Music Video
“MIA”CamiNuno Gomes, video director; Mona Moreno Fernández & Ada Odreman, video producers[Rabbit House]
“THIS IS NOT AMERICA”Residente Feat. Ibeyi Featuring Lisa-Kaindé Diaz & Naomi DiazGreg Ohrel, video director; Jason Cole, video producer[Doomsday Entertainment]
“A CARTA CABAL”GuitarricadelafuentePau Carrete, video director; Vivir Rodando, video producer[Sony Music Entertainment España, S.L.]
“HENTAI (OFFICIAL VIDEO)”RosalíaMitch Ryan, video director; Harrison Corwin & PatrickDonovan, video producers[Shotclock]
“NADIE”Sin BanderaHernán Corera & Juan Piczman, video directors; Sonti Charnas, Luca Macome, Balisario Saravia & Juan Saravia, video producers[Mama Hungara]
“TOCARTE”Jorge Drexler feat. C. TanganaJoana Colomar, video director; Zissou, video producer[Sony Music Entertainment España, S.L.]
Best Long Form Music Video
BAILAORA – MIS PIES SON MI VOZSiudy GarridoPablo Croce, video director; Pablo Croce, Siudy Garrido, Adrienne Arhst Center, video producer[Pablo Croce Productions]
HASTA LA RAÍZ: EL DOCUMENTALNatalia LafourcadeBruno Bancalari & Juan Pablo López-Fonseca, video directors; Juan Pablo López-Fonseca, video producer[Casa Elefante]
MOTOMAMI (ROSALÍA TIKTOK LIVE PERFORMANCE)RosalíaFerrán Echegaray, Rosalía & Stillz, video directors[Columbia Records]
ROMEO SANTOS: KING OF BACHATA (DOCUMENTARY)Romeo SantosDevin Amar & Charles Todd, video directors; Katherine Aquino, Ned Doyle, Raphael Estrella, Sheira Rees-Davies, Amaury Rodríguez & James Rothman, video producers[Scheme Engine]
MATRIAVetusta MorlaPatrick Nnot, video director; Vetusta Morla, video producer[Pequeño Salto Mortal.]
UPDATE (Nov. 17): The 45th annual Kennedy Center Honors have an air date: Wednesday, Dec. 28 (8-10 p.m ET/PT) on CBS. Paramount+ Premium subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service as well as on demand. Essential-tier subscribers will have access to on-demand the day after the special airs. As previously announced, the show will tape on Sunday, Dec. 4 in Washington, D.C.
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PREVIOUSLY (July 21): U2, Gladys Knight, Amy Grant, actor-director George Clooney and Cuban-born composer, conductor and educator Tania León are the 2022 Kennedy Center Honors recipients.
The 45th edition of the prestigious awards, presented for lifetime artistic achievements, will be held on Sunday, Dec. 4, on the Opera House stage at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The Honors Gala will be recorded for broadcast on CBS at a later date as a two-hour prime-time special and will be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.
U2 is the fifth band to receive the honor, following The Who (2008), Led Zeppelin (2012), Eagles (2016) and Earth, Wind & Fire (2019). Before 2008, the Kennedy Center Honors focused entirely on individuals. Brian Wilson was honored rather The Beach Boys, for example. U2 consists of Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr.
Knight is the fifth Motown Records alumnus to receive the honor, following Stevie Wonder (1999), Smokey Robinson (2006), Diana Ross (2007) and Lionel Richie (2017). Last year, Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr. was saluted. Gladys Knight & the Pips had a long string of hits on Motown, including “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and “Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye).”
Knight has won seven Grammys; impressively, in three different musical fields – pop, R&B and gospel. At the 1973 Grammys, Knight & the Pips became the first group to win in both pop (for “Neither One of Us”) and R&B (for the immortal “Midnight Train to Georgia,” one of the most classic recordings of the past half-century).
U2 has won 22 Grammy Awards, more than any other group in history. Their Grammy haul includes two wins each for album of the year (The Joshua Tree and How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb), record of the year (“Beautiful Day” and “Walk On”) and song of the year (“Beautiful Day” and “Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own”).
Grant has won six Grammys – all in the gospel field. Her most recent Grammy was best Southern, country or bluegrass gospel album for Rock of Ages…Hymns & Faith in 2005. Grant was nominated for album, record and song of the year at the 1991 Grammys for her smash “Baby Baby,” a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, and her album Heart in Motion, which made the top 10 on the Billboard 200.
Grant is among the very few gospel honorees in Kennedy Center Honors history. Marion Williams was a 1993 honoree.
León received a 2012 Grammy nomination for best contemporary classical composition for Inura for Voices, Strings and Percussion.
Knight & the Pips were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. U2 were inducted in 2005.
Clooney is a two-time Oscar winner – best supporting actor for Syriana (2005) and best picture for co-producing Argo (2012). He has also been nominated for directing and writing Oscars. He received the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the 2010 Emmy Awards. Clooney’s dozens of films include O Brother, Where Art Thou?. The soundtrack to that film topped the Billboard 200 in March 2002, after winning the Grammy for album of the year.
Grant’s husband, Vince Gill, has yet to receive a Kennedy Center Honor, but very well may someday. Such peers as Garth Brooks and Reba McEntire have been honored. Clooney’s aunt, the great pop and jazz singer Rosemary Clooney, was not chosen as an honoree. These awards are not presented posthumously, so there is no chance that she will be.
The 45th Kennedy Center Honors Gala concludes with a dinner in the Grand Foyer.
The Honors recipients are recognized for their contributions to American culture through the performing arts—whether in music, dance, theater, opera, motion pictures, or television—and are confirmed by the executive committee of the Center’s board of trustees.
Deborah F. Rutter, Kennedy Center president, noted: “For nearly a half-century, the Kennedy Center Honors has represented the very best of America’s creative culture. The Honors is often referred to by past recipients as the pinnacle of awards because it recognizes not just one performance, album, or film, but esteems an artist’s cumulative body of work and influence over many decades…”
Done+Dusted, producers of the Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize since 2018, have been selected as executive producers of the 45th annual Kennedy Center Honors. Done+Dusted will produce the show in association with ROK Productions, represented by Elizabeth Kelly, who will executive produce alongside David Jammy and Ian Stewart. The show will be directed by Alex Rudzinski.
Here are complete and unabridged statements from each of the 45th Kennedy Center Honorees:
“Growing up in a small town in Kentucky I could never have imagined that someday I’d be the one sitting in the balcony at the Kennedy Center Honors. To be mentioned in the same breath with the rest of these incredible artists is an honor. This is a genuinely exciting surprise for the whole Clooney family.” –George Clooney
“Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine ever receiving this prestigious Kennedy Center Honors. Through the years, I’ve watched so many of my heroes serenaded by colleagues and fellow artists, always moved by the ability of music and film to bring us together and to see the best in each other. I cannot wait to celebrate with my fellow honorees, friends, and family. Thank you for widening the circle to include all of us.” –Amy Grant
“I’m humbled beyond words to be included amongst this prestigious group of individuals, both past and present. You could never have told me as a young girl starting my career that I would be honored on a stage such as this, with artists and humanitarians such as these—it just wouldn’t have seemed possible. It would have been the dream of all dreams. I have been blessed with so much in my life and this certainly stands with those achievements at the top of that list. To be honored as a Kennedy Center Honoree is among the highlights of my career. I stand here with my fans, my family, my friends, my team, and my faith in accepting such an amazing distinction. It is dedicated to all those who paved the path for me to be able to accomplish the wonderful blessings I’ve been able to receive. The Kennedy Center’s commitment to the arts is unparalleled and I am so very grateful for this moment.” –Gladys Knight
“Little did I imagine when studying in La Habana that life was going to grace me with such a distinction! My first thoughts went to my ancestors: they believed in my dreams, and what we lacked in material wealth, they made up for in spirit, encouragement, and support. My heartfelt thanks go to the many people who have blessed my path by helping my talent to blossom and by giving me the chance to be heard. I am incredibly humbled to join such a prestigious family of artists, and deeply grateful to the Kennedy Center for bestowing me with this incredible honor.” –Tania León
“In December 1980, we made our first trip across the Atlantic to America. Our first show was at The Ritz in New York City, the second, The Bayou in D.C. We had big dreams then, fueled in part by the commonly held belief at home that America smiles on Ireland. And it turned out to be true, yet again. But even in the wilder thoughts, we never imagined that 40 years on, we would be invited back to receive one of the nation’s greatest honours…It has been a four-decade love affair with the country and its people, its artists, and culture. We consider America to be a home away from home and we are very grateful to the Kennedy Center Honors for welcoming us into this great clan of extraordinary artists.” –U2 (Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr.)
For ticket inquiries, visit kennedy-center.org/honorsinfo or email Honors@kennedy-center.org.
Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up” won song – feature film at the 13th annual Hollywood Music in Media Awards ceremony, which was held at the Avalon in Hollywood on Wednesday, Nov. 16. Rihanna co-wrote the song from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever with Tems, Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Göransson.
Terence Blanchard’s The Woman King won score – feature film.
Unlike the Oscars, which present just best original song and best original score, the HMMAs have five categories for songs and eight for scores. As a result, trophies here are much easier to come by. Even so, the HHMAs are seen as early indicators of the Oscars. Nominations-round voting for the Oscars extends from Jan. 12-17, 2023. Oscar nominations will be announced on Jan. 24.
The HMMAs also have a broader scope than the Oscars. They honor composers, songwriters and music supervisors for their work in film, television and video games.
Alexandre Desplat was the only double winner on the night. He won score – animated film for Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio and song – animated film for “Ciao Papa” from that film. He composed the song, which has lyrics by Roeben Katz and del Toro.
Two of the most intriguing categories are ones where the Oscars don’t have an equivalent. The HMMAs have a separate category for song – onscreen performance. (Nominations go to the performers, not the songwriters.) The winner was Billy Eichner’s “Love Is Not Love” from Bros. Eichner co-wrote the song with film music veteran Marc Shaiman.
Billy Eichner at the 13th Annual Hollywood Music In Media Awards.
Robert Smith
The Oscars also don’t have an equivalent category for music-themed film, biopic or musical. At the Oscars, these films compete with all other films for best picture. The winner was Tár.
Nor do the Oscars have a category for music documentary/special program. At the Oscars, these films compete with all other docs for best documentary feature. The winner was Killing Me Softly With His Songs.
Musical highlights included Charles Fox performing a medley of his TV theme songs; Diane Warren performing “Applause,” her winning song from Tell It Like a Woman; Rita Wilson performing “Til You’re Home,” her original song from A Man Called Otto; and Iranian singer Mojgan Shajarian, daughter of Maestro Mohammad-Reza Shajarian, performing “Morghe Sahar.”
Kurt Farquhar, prolific television composer and the recipient of the HMMA Career Achievement Award, gave an inspiring acceptance speech about growing up in Chicago and experiencing homelessness before beginning his career as a composer. He extended thanks to his brother, Ralph Farquhar, who helped him get his first jobs in television. He urged Hollywood to consider working with composers and creatives that aren’t the obvious choice.
Presenters included composers Justin Hurwitz, Nami Melumad and Amie Doherty and Ralph Johnson of Earth, Wind & Fire.
Here’s the complete list of nominees, with winners checked:
SONG AWARDS
Song – feature film
WINNER: “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Written by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler, and Ludwig Göransson. Performed by Rihanna.
“(You Made it Feel Like) Home” from Bones and All. Written by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross. Performed by Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Mariqueen Maandig Reznor.
“Love Is Not Love” from Bros. Written by Billy Eichner & Marc Shaiman. Performed by Billy Eichner.
“Do a Little Good” from Spirited. Written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Performed by Ryan Reynolds, Will Ferrell, Sunita Mani, Patrick Page and Tracy Morgan.
“Stand Up” from Till. Written by Jazmine Sullivan and D’Mile. Performed by Jazmine Sullivan.
“Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick. Written by Lady Gaga & BloodPop. Performed by Lady Gaga.
“Carolina” from Where the Crawdads Sing. Written and performed by Taylor Swift.
“new body rhumba” from White Noise. Written by James Murphy, Nancy Whang, Patrick Mahoney. Performed by LCD Soundsystem.
“The Songcord” from Avatar: The Way of Water. Written by Simon Franglen. Performed by Zoe Saldana
“Time” from Amsterdam. Written by Jahaan Sweet, Aubrey Drake Graham, Daniel Pemberton, Giveon Evans. Performed by Giveon.
Song – animated film
“Sunny Side Up Summer” from The Bob’s Burgers Movie. Written by Loren Bouchard, and Nora Smith. Performed by Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, H. Jon Benjamin, John Roberts, and Kristen Schaal.
“Nobody Like U” from Turning Red. Written by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell. Performed by 4*TOWN (Finneas O’Connell, Grayson Villanueva, Jordan Fisher, Josh Levi, and Topher Ngo)
“Lift Your Wings” from My Father’s Dragon. Written by Mychael Danna, Jeff Danna, Frank Danna, Nora Twomey, Meg LeFauve. Performed by Anohni.
“Turn Up the Sunshine” from Minions: The Rise of Gru. Written by Jack Antonoff, Kevin Parker, Sam Dew, Patrik Berger. Performed by Diana Ross and Tame Impala
WINNER: “Ciao Papa” from Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio. Written by Alexandre Desplat, Lyrics by Roeben Katz and Guillermo del Toro. Performed by Gregory Mann
Song – documentary film
“My Mind and Me” from Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me. Written by Selena Gomez, Amy Allen, Jonathan Bellion, Michael Pollack, Stefan Johnson, Jordan K Johnson. Performed by Selena Gomez.
“At the Automat” from The Automat. Written and performed by Mel Brooks
WINNER: “Ready As I’ll Never Be” from The Return of Tanya Tucker – Featuring Brandi Carlile. Written by Brandi Carlile and Tanya Tucker. Performed by Tanya Tucker.
“Sing a Brand New Song” from Killing Me Softly With His Songs. Written by Charles Fox and Lonnie “Common” Rashid Lynn. Performed by Donald Webber, Jr.
“Dust & Ash” from The Voice of Dust and Ash. Written by J. Ralph. Performed by J. Ralph & Norah Jones
“We Are Art” from We Are Art Through the Eyes of Annalaura. Written by Annalaura di Luggo and Paky Di Maio. Performed by Annalaura di Luggo.
“A Sky Like I’ve Never Seen” from Wildcat. Written by Robin Pecknold. Performed by Fleet Foxes.
Song – independent film
WINNER: “Applause” from Tell It Like a Woman. Written by Diane Warren. Performed by Sofia Carson.
“Til You’re Home” from A Man Called Otto. Written by David Hodges and Rita Wilson. Performed by Rita Wilson and Sebastián Yatra
“This Is a Life” from Everything Everywhere All at Once. Written By Ryan Lott, David Byrne and Mitski. Performed By Son Lux with Mitski and David Byrne.
“We Two Made One” from The Silent Twins. Written by Marcin Macuk, Zuzanna Wrońska, June Gibbons, Jennifer Gibbons. Performed by Tamara Lawrance.
“Stand the Test of Time” from Tomorrow’s Game. Written and performed by Lionel Cohen and Stefni Valencia.
Song – onscreen performance
“Naatu Naatu” from RRR – Rahul Sipligunj, Kaala Bhairava
“Baby Let’s Play House” from Elvis – Austin Butler
“Cucamonga” from Knights of Swing – Knights of Swing
WINNER: “Love Is Not Love” from Bros – Billy Eichner
“On My Way (Marry Me)” from Marry Me – Jennifer Lopez
SCORE AWARDS
Score – feature film
Marcelo Zarvos – Emancipation
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross – Empire of Light
Nicholas Britell – She Said
Carter Burwell – The Banshees of Inisherin
WINNER: Terence Blanchard – The Woman King
Abel Korzeniowski – Till
Mychael Danna – Where the Crawdads Sing
Danny Elfman – White Noise
Hildur Guðnadóttir – Women Talking
Score – animated film
Steve Jablonsky – DC League of Super-Pets
WINNER: Alexandre Desplat – Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio
John Debney – Luck
Heitor Pereira – Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Daniel Pemberton – The Bad Guys
Finneas, Ludwig Göransson – Turning Red
Score – sci-fi film
Lorne Balfe – Black Adam
Ludwig Göransson – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
WINNER: Danny Elfman – Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Michael Giacchino – Spider-Man: No Way Home
Michael Giacchino – The Batman
Michael Giacchino and Nami Melumad – Thor: Love and Thunder
Score – fantasy film
Tom Holkenborg –Three Thousand Years of Longing
WINNER: Simon Franglen – Avatar: The Way of Water
James Newton Howard – Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
Bruno Coulais – Wendell & Wild
Joseph Metcalfe, John Coda, Grant Kirkhope – The King’s Daughter
Score – horror film
Anna Drubich – Barbarian
John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter & Daniel Davies – Halloween Ends
WINNER: Michael Abels – Nope
Lance Treviño – Scream Legacy
Mark Korven – The Black Phone
Colin Stetson – The Menu
Score – documentary
Simon Poole – Black Ice
Ray Angry, Rhiannon Giddens, Dirk Powell – Descendant
Lisbeth Scott – Gratitude Revealed
Emilie and Peter Bernstein – Landis: Just Watch Me
WINNER: Jessica Jones – The Tinder Swindler
Clare Manchon, Olivier Manchon – Turn Every Page – The Adventures of Robert Caro and Robert Gottlieb
Score – independent film
Xander Rodzinski – Dead for a Dollar
Jessica Weiss – Don’t Make Me Go
Son Lux – Everything Everywhere All at Once
WINNER: Emilie Levienaise – Farrouch – Living
Alexandre Desplat – The Outfit
Rob Simonsen – The Whale
Score – independent film (foreign language)
WINNER: Carlo Siliotto – Cuando Sea Joven (Spanish)
Paweł Mykietyn – EO (Polish)
Min He – Railway Heroes (Mandarin)
M. M. Keeravaani – RRR (Telugu)
Volker Bertelmann – War Sailor (Norwegian)
Music themed film, biopic or musical
Elvis – Produced by Gail Berman, Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Martin, Patrick McCormick, Schuyler Weiss. Directed by Baz Luhrmann
Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio – Produced by Alexander Bulkley, Corey Campodonico, Guillermo del Toro, Lisa Henson, Gary Ungar. Directed by Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson
Spirited – Produced by Diana Pokorny, Daniel Silverberg, David Koplan, Sean Anders, John Morris, George Dewey, Jessica Elbaum, Ryan Reynolds, Will Ferrell. Directed by Sean Anders and John Morris.
WINNER: Tár – Produced by Todd Field, Scott Lambert, Alexandra Milchan. Directed by Todd Field.
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story – Produced by Eric Appel, Lia Buman, Mike Farah, Joe Farrell, Zachary Halley, Tim Headington, Whitney Hodack, Henry R. Munoz III, Neil Shah, Max Silva, ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic. Directed by Eric Appel.
Music documentary/special program
Halftime – Produced by Courtney Baxter, Jason B. Bergh, Bernardo Loyola, Christopher Rouse, Yong Yam. Directed by Amanda Micheli and Sam Wrench
Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song – Produced and Directed by Daniel Geller and Dayna Goldfine
WINNER: Killing Me Softly With His Songs – Produced by Danny Gold, Robert Bader, Lisa Lautenberg Birer, Mark Brown, Jay Firestone, Phil Ittner, Bruce Levine and Taryn Grimes. Directed by Danny Gold
Louis Armstrong’s Black and Blues – Produced by Sara Bernstein, Justin Wilkes, Sacha Jenkins and Julie Anderson. Directed by Sacha Jenkins.
Selena Gomez My Mind & Me – Produced by Alek Keshishian p.g.a., Michelle An p.g.a., Katherine LeBlond. Directed by Alek Keshishian
Still Working 9 to 5 – Produced and Directed by Camille Hardman and Gary Lane
The Voice of Dust and Ash – Produced by Mandana Biscotti, Ben Biscotti, and Sam Changizi. Directed by Mandana Biscotti
When the slate of Grammy nominees was announced on Tuesday (Nov. 15), Big Machine Music-signed songwriter Laura Veltz was among the inaugural class of nominees in the newly minted songwriter of the year (non-classical) category, nominated alongside Amy Allen, Nija Charles, Tobias Jesso Jr. and The-Dream.
Veltz’s multifarious songwriting talents cinched the nomination following her contributions to a lengthy list of songs in country and pop circles, including songs with Maren Morris (“Background Music,” “Humble Quest”), Demi Lovato (“29,” “Feed”) and Ingrid Andress (“Pain”). Veltz has previously been nominated a Grammy three times, all of them in the best country song category, for her work on Morris’ “The Bones” and “Better Than We Found It,” as well as Dan + Shay’s “Speechless.”
But to be nominated in the inaugural year of an all-genre category dedicated to songwriters is another thing entirely, Veltz says. “I’m still sort of in shock about the whole thing, just because of its historical nature,” she explains. “And I’m friends with a lot of the people who made this category happen, and I know a lot of people work so hard to make sure songwriters are recognized this way — so it’s so much beyond an honor.”
Fittingly, Veltz says she was entering a writing session in Nashville with co-writer Alyssa Vanderheym when she learned of her nomination.
“I started getting so many text messages that just said, ‘Congratulations!’ and it took me a full three minutes to get the tea of what I actually got. Then I just fell to the ground. I was so shocked. [Alyssa] was getting like 50,000 phone calls, just like I was, so our co-writer was like, ‘You guys should just go celebrate.’ So we did, we bailed on the session and celebrated and I went home and hugged my husband and all that stuff. It was so special.”
Below, Veltz talks with Billboard not only about the meaning the nomination holds for her, but how she hopes the songwriter of the year (non-classical) Grammy category serves as a harbinger for the songwriter advocacy being done on Capitol Hill.
What does this nomination mean to you, personally — as it is recognizing an overall body of work from a songwriter, instead of a specific song or songs on a specific album?
It is so centralized to my life experience — but it’s weird having my name in the list. I’ve been nominated for Grammys before, but it’s so tough within the wordage that it’s not as recognizable. It’s just absolutely bizarre to know that I moved around a lot as a kid, just thinking about all the high schools I’ve ever been to and all the churches I went to and everyone I’ve ever known. It’s just a weird thing to have my name associated with something like this.
You don’t sign up for that as a songwriter, typically, because we purposefully put ourselves behind the scenes. The fact that my name is associated with a body of work… it really is humbling, because it’s so different.
What does it mean for the songwriter community as a whole to be recognized with their own category at the Grammys?
It’s just such a change for my community, and such a change for the industry at large to have this on the ballot. It’s wild, too, because it’s such a community-driven thing. I’m watching my friends nominated in song categories. The song [of the year] nominations were really all we had for a really long time. Then people like Ross Golan and so many others expanded it to having a larger body of work on an album, that we suddenly are credited in that way [for the album of the year category].
So seeing all these people getting these nominations and now the crown jewel of it — having its own very own category — it’s very humbling and beautiful. Then, when it comes to things in on Capitol Hill and such, the fact that this might begin a new era where the recognition of the beginning of music — which is in fact the writing of a song — the fact that that might be a little bit more seen might lead to it being a little bit more valued.
“Background Music” is one of the songs you are being recognized for, which you wrote with Maren Morris and Jimmy Robbins.
As with me, Maren is continually willing to gut punch a song — and [get into] talking about the passing of time, talking about mortality and what we leave behind, and the truth that in a hundred years our names will be virtually forgotten no matter how dominant we are as creators. Just to write to that directly was so f–king fun. It sounds dark, but it really kinda helped me to live in the moment. And the fact that this was her idea, of “Background Music.”
My favorite lyric in the song is “Not everybody gets to leave a souvenir.” That is just the most true statement, and it makes being a songwriter, or any kind of creator… you just feel so lucky that you get to live a little longer, so to speak, than the average person, through such a gift. I’ve written so many songs with Maren, but I think that was the first time that we collectively made ourselves cry. All three of us were like, “Wow.”
Your work with Demi Lovato, especially on songs like “29,” is also being recognized.
The 13 songs that Demi and I wrote together [for Lovato’s album Holy Fvck] are some of my absolute most proud moments as a creator. Her willingness to say the uncomfortable thing and heal out loud. I am so proud of Holy Fvck. Every single song has a sting and a sweetness of just truth.
And “29” in particular — because the value of what you do as a songwriter, it ebbs and flows. Sometimes you earn a No. 1, sometimes you just reach the right person that needed to hear what you wrote. And this song falls under that feeling of “there are a group of people that needed to hear this song.” Most of them are young women. And just the idea that you can unplug the power of feeling of “Oh, he thinks I’m mature for my age.” I used to say that s–t. I used to feel that s–t, and I used to take it as a compliment. And I feel like we wrote a song that unplugged the power of those words. You are not mature for your age, they’re predators, and you need space to be a kid.
I love TikTok, and watching all of the thousands of women who use “29” as a reality check for their own dating history. Then the idea that those women will have daughters, then those daughters will have daughters. I can’t even wrap my head around the power of that song, by way of butterfly effect. We just decided to address something difficult. We said something difficult, we said it in the most eloquent way, and in a commercial way that it wasn’t in innuendo, it was clear as crystal. I feel like that is such a win as a songwriter.
Is there anything else you want to add about the songwriter of the year nomination?
I truly feel that the value of what a songwriter is could very well go extinct if we don’t put some actual value on what it is to write a song. I feel like it’s something that can just go unnoticed so many jobs that just go unnoticed. Then, when somebody goes on strike, you realize, ‘Oh, we do need those people.’ I feel like music would change entirely if it wasn’t appreciating the poets in the back of the classroom who just want to tell stories. We were meant to tell stories. Many of us are just born to tell stories and to not have the music medium for that — we’ll find our way because we’re resilient and because honestly, nothing in this world could stop us from telling these stories.
But [also], I just feel the gratitude that this category is now in play. I imagine the future, and it’s realizing that things need to change. I’m gonna be fine. I caught the right era. But the next generation of songwriters will literally go away. There’s no way it’s sustainable. Kids that are writing songs that are getting streamed millions of times, but they can’t keep their lights on at home — that’s not okay. I’m just really grateful that this category is in play and I’m really hoping that it traces itself backwards to how songwriters are paid. It needs to be addressed.