Awards
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Nicki Minaj‘s Pink Friday 2 topped the Billboard 200 and launched the highest-grossing female rap tour of all time — could it land the rap queen her first Grammy too?
Minaj has been nominated for best rap album twice in the past — in 2012 for Pink Friday and in 2016 for The Pinkprint — making her second-most nominated female rapper in this category behind Missy Elliott, who earned four nods between 1998 and 2006. Since the Recording Academy established best rap album in 1996, only two female rappers have won the honor; as a part of the Fugees, Lauryn Hill won in 1997 for The Score, and Cardi B triumphed with Invasion of Privacy in 2018.
A nod for Pink Friday 2 would mark Minaj’s first non-soundtrack nomination in nearly 10 years. Last year, she earned a pair of nods alongside Ice Spice and AQUA for their “Barbie World” collaboration from the Barbie soundtrack, but she hasn’t been recognized for her own work since The Pinkprint and its tracks earned three nominations at the 2016 ceremony. Notably, Minaj has yet to win a Grammy, but if Pink Friday 2 can repeat its victory at last week’s BET Hip-Hop Awards (Oct. 15), she may finally take home her very first gilded gramophone.
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In addition to Minaj, Elliott, Hill and Cardi, just two other female rappers have earned nominations for best rap album: Iggy Azalea (2015, The New Classic) and Rapsody (2018, Laila’s Wisdom).
This year, a number of female rappers could earn a nomination for best rap album. In fact, the 2025 ceremony could be the first time in Grammy history that multiple female rappers are simultaneously nominated for best rap album. Most of this year’s contending projects by female rappers also made inroads on the Billboard 200, including Doechii‘s Alligator Bites Never Heal (No. 117), Doja Cat‘s Scarlet 2 Claude (No. 4), Flo Milli‘s Fine Ho, Stay (No. 54), GloRilla‘s Ehhtang Ehhthang (No. 18), Ice Spice‘s Y2K! (No. 18), JT‘s City Cinderella (No. 27), Latto‘s Sugar Honey Iced Tea (No. 15), Megan Thee Stallion‘s Megan (No. 3) and Sexyy Red‘s In Sexyy We Trust (No. 17).
Out of those projects, Scarlet, Ehhthang Ehhtang, Megan and Sugar Honey Iced Tea have the strongest shot at a nod since Doja, GloRilla, Megan and Latto are all previous Grammy nominees. GloRilla, in particular, could pull off a nomination here thanks to her dominant year and the well-timed release of her debut studio LP, Glorious, which snagged the largest opening week total for a female rap album in 2024 during the last few days of first-round voting. Keep an eye on Doechii, as well; she has one of the most critically acclaimed hip-hop projects of the year and has been running a steady campaign, which included a recent co-sign from Grammy darling Kendrick Lamar. Of course, voters could opt for a project that didn’t hit the Billboard charts, but still stands on its own merit — Rapsody’s Please Don’t Cry. Already a three-time Grammy nominee, the North Carolina MC could pull off her second nod for best rap album, which would tie her with Minaj as the second-most nominated female rapper in the category.
Outside of the ladies, it was still a characteristically busy year for rap. With six wins to his name in this category, Eminem is the all-time winner here, and he could very well earn his eighth best rap album bid — and first in 10 years! — for his Billboard 200-topping The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce). Ye (the artist formerly known as Kanye West) could extend his record as the second-most nominated (eight) and second-most awarded (four) artist in this category if Vultures 1, his joint album with Ty Dolla $ign, earns a nod. This would be Ty’s first nod in this category. Both Em and Ye are vets, and it’s possible some of their peers join them as nominees this year. Common & Pete Rock are strong contenders with The Auditorium Vol. 1, and Killer Mike could bookend last year’s victory with a nod (and possible win) for Songs for Sinners and Saints. Also look out for Juicy J‘s Ravenite Social Club and Erick the Architect‘s I’ve Never Been Here Before.
Obviously, this year in rap was defined by Lamar — but he doesn’t have an album in contention this cycle. Nonetheless, We Don’t Trust You, the Billboard 200-topping Future–Metro Boomin joint album that served as Trojan horse for Lamar’s blistering “Like That” verse, is the clear frontrunner for a nomination here. This would mark the second nomination for both Future and Metro. Both artists have yet to win this category.
Both J. Cole, a recurring star in the Lamar-Drake showdown, and ScHoolboy Q, Lamar’s former TDE labelmate, could earn their third bids in this category with Might Delete Later and Blue Lips, respectively. Like Future and Metro, both Cole and Q are looking for their first victory here. Big Sean, another blog era big dog, could also earn his very first nod in the category with Better Me Than You. 21 Savage, who was nominated here last year alongside Drake for their Her Loss joint album, could earn his third nomination in this category with American Dream.
Also in contention: Don Toliver‘s Hardstone Psycho and Danny Brown‘s Quaranta.
Our Fearless Forecast
Which hip-hop albums will make the final five? Our predictions are: We Don’t Trust You (Future & Metro Boomin), Vultures 1 (Ye & Ty Dolla $ign), The Auditorium Vol. 1 (Common & Pete Rock), Blue Lips (ScHoolboy Q) and The Death of Slim Shady (Eminem).
If these predictions prove to be correct, this would be the sixth consecutive year that men have locked up all the nominations in this category.
Being a Grammy voter may sound glamorous, but it’s a lot of work if you do it right, or even close to right. That’s because, in the first round of voting, the Recording Academy presents voting members with really long lists of titles and asks them to select the five they think are most worthy of a nomination.
How long is “really long”? This year, voters had to wade through alphabetical lists of 780 entries for record of the year, 707 for album of the year, 978 for song of the year and 323 for best new artist. And that’s just the Big Four categories!
Can you imagine how much time and mental effort it would take to contentiously pick your five favorite anythings from a list of 978 contenders? If that task were less overwhelming, it seems likely that the quality of voting would go up – and that the percentage of voting members who completed it would go up. If the voters were presented with a list of, say, 100 contenders, it would turn a daunting task into a manageable, and maybe even pleasurable, one. (That number could go up a bit, to 125, 150 or 200, but of course the higher it goes up, the less benefit would be realized.)
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My idea is to have a group of knowledgeable, plugged-in and fair-minded people cull the massive entry lists and bring them down to a more reasonable length. Big hits would probably remain on the list, as would non-hits that people on the panel spoke up for.
You might say, “Didn’t the Recording Academy just get rid of Nomination Review Committees a few years ago — now you’re talking about bringing them back?” Good recall on the review committees, including the primary one, which determined the final nominees in the Big Four categories every year from the ceremony held in 1996 through the one held in 2021. Most Grammy-watchers (including me) were happy to see that committee disbanded, but there’s an important distinction to be made: The academy had the review committee at the tail-end of the process, after voting members had voted and just before the nominations were announced.
Here’s how it worked back then: The committee members selected their five favorites from the top 20 or 25 vote-getters from rank-and-file voters. They essentially second-guessed the voters, which always struck me as elitist, as if their taste and judgment was superior to that of the voters. I’m suggesting putting the committee at the front-end of the process. They wouldn’t be second-guessing anybody, but simply performing a reality check by eliminating the records, albums, songs and artists that have little to no chance of being nominated, but which clog up the list.
And why do I say you shouldn’t hold your breath for this actually happening? Many voting members like to see their entries on the list. If they didn’t see them anymore, they might not see any point in renewing their membership. Member dues are $150 per year. If, say, 2,000 of the current 13,000 voting members walked away because they missed seeing their names on the entry list, that’s $300,000 in lost revenue each year for the Recording Academy. But do the Grammys really want people voting who are that shallow and motivated only by narrow self-interest?
It’s not just the Big Four categories that have large numbers of entries. A total of 33 categories on this year’s Grammy ballot had 200 or more entries. Of those 33, 14 had 300 or more entries. In addition to the Big Four, the categories with 300+ entries are best music video (637), best global music performance (456), best engineered album, non-classical (456), best arrangement, instruments and vocals (444), best jazz performance (420), best instrumental composition (395), best American roots song (373), best alternative music performance (331), best pop solo performance (314) and best American roots performance (310). These categories could also stand a trim, either by this committee or by committees closer to these genres and fields of endeavor.
A small point, but just so there’s no confusion, voters are tasked with picking their five favorites in the Big Four categories, even though there are eight eventual nominees in those categories. That slight numerical difference doesn’t matter, but presenting the voting members with a reasonable task does.
Shawn Mendes, Benson Boone, RAYE, Teddy Swims and the Mexican-born sister trio The Warning are set to perform at the 2024 MTV EMAs. The show is set to be broadcast live on Nov. 10 from Co-op Live in Manchester, U.K.
Four of those artists – Boone, RAYE, Swims and The Warning – are also vying for Grammy nominations for best new artist. RAYE swept the Brit Awards on March 2. Boone won best alternative at the MTV VMAs on Sept. 11.
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In addition, Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale and screen stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Turner-Smith and Lucien Laviscount will take the stage as presenters. Ten of the 11 artists with the most nominations for the 2024 MTV EMAs are women. The only man who cracked the leaderboard is Kendrick Lamar, with four nods.
Taylor Swift leads with seven nods, including best artist, best video, best pop and biggest fans. Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Charli XCX and Sabrina Carpenter each scored five nominations. Closely following with four nods each are Ayra Starr, Beyoncé, Lamar, LISA, plus first-time nominees Chappell Roan and Tyla.
Fans can vote for their favorites on the EMAs website from now until 00:00 CET on Nov. 6.
The 2024 MTV EMAs will broadcast at 9 p.m. GMT Sunday, Nov. 10, on MTV UK, Channel 5 and Pluto TV, and will be available on demand on Paramount+ from Nov. 12. Tickets will be on sale at a later date.
Bruce Gillmer and Richard Godfrey are executive producers for the 2024 MTV EMAs. Debbie Phillips and Chloe Mason are producers.
This will be the eighth time the EMAs have been held in the U.K. Last year’s ceremony was set for Nov. 5 in Paris, but was canceled two weeks before the show due to the Israel–Hamas war, becoming the first EMAs to be canceled in its 30-year history.
The second round of 2024 MAMA Awards performers have been announced, including a major return from a powerhouse K-pop star.
Entertainment company CJ ENM announced on Monday (Oct. 21) that G-DRAGON is set to take the stage at the Japan ceremony on Nov. 23, marking nine years since his last performance in 2015 alongside his fellow BIGBANG members.
Additionally, BOYNEXTDOOR and PLAVE will perform on Nov. 22, while G)I-DLE and BIBI will hit the stage on Nov. 23.
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The three-day event, which celebrates the brightest stars in K-pop, will kick off on Nov. 21 at the Hollywood Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles for the first time, where KATSEYE, ILLIT, RIIZE, J.Y. Park and TWS were previously announced to perform. The awards ceremony will then take place at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan on November 22 and 23, with previously revealed performers ENHYPEN, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, IVE, ME:I and TREASURE performing on the first day and Aespa, INI, ZEROBASEONE, LEE Young Ji and MEOVV taking the stage on the second day.
This year’s MAMA Awards, presented by Visa, will feature the concept of “Big Blur: What Is Real?,” reflecting the growing trend of blurred boundaries between industries, culture, music genres and technology. In correspondence with the theme, the ceremony will “present surreal but real experiences and showcase visually captivating performances through the convergence of art and technology,” per a press release.
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See the full list of 2024 MAMA Awards nominees here. The eligibility period ranged from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024, and the nominees were decided on based on an evaluation of global music data as well as a panel of specialists.
The next ticket sales for the Japan event will be available from October 22 to October 26 via Qoo10.jp, while tickets for the U.S. event will also be available starting at 4 p.m. PST on October 22 via Ticketmaster.
John Mayer is set to perform at the annual Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisinefundraiser on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles. Comedian Jeff Ross will host the event. Mayer and Ross will both be honored with the Bob Saget Legacy Award, recognizing their commitment to continue Saget’s mission of raising […]
Since the Recording Academy established the Grammy award for best melodic rap performance — named best rap/sung collaboration until 2017, and best rap/sung performance from 2018 to 2020 — in 2002, Rihanna has emerged as the most-nominated (nine) and most-awarded (five) woman in the category. This year, Beyoncé could earn her ninth nod in the category and match Riri’s record.
Of Rihanna’s nine career Grammy wins, five come from this category. She first won alongside Jay-Z for “Umbrella” back in 2008, and followed that up with four more victories: 2010’s “Run This Town (with Jay-Z & Kanye West), 2012’s “All of the Lights” (with West, Kid Cudi and Fergie), 2015’s “The Monster” (with Emninem) and 2018’s “Loyalty” (with Kendrick Lamar).
Beyoncé won this category in 2004 for “Crazy in Love” (with Jay-Z). Her other nominated songs in this category include 2007’s “Deja Vu” (with Jay-Z), 2010’s “Ego” (with West), 2012’s “Party” (with André 3000), 2014’s “Part II” (with Jay-Z), 2017’s “Freedom” (with Lamar) and 2018’s “Family Feud” (with Jay-Z). In 2006, she also earned a nod as a part of Destiny’s Child with “Soldier,” alongside Lil Wayne and T.I.
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This year, Beyoncé is in contention with “Spaghettii,” a country-rap hybrid that features record-breaking newcomer Shaboozey and oft-overlooked country pioneer Linda Martell. Thanks to the combined star power of the names attached and the cultural pull of Cowboy Carter and “A Bar Song,” “Spaghettii” could be Beyoncé’s first victory in this category in more than 20 years. A nod for “Spaghettii” would enable her to tie Rihanna as the most-nominated woman in this category; Shaboozey and Martell would also both earn their first nods in this category.
But what other songs could give “Spaghetti,” which peaked at No. 31 on the Billboard Hot 100, a run for its money? Let’s break down the contenders.
Future and Metro Boomin‘s names will be all over the Grammy ballot thanks to their myriad submissions from We Don’t Trust You and We Still Don’t Trust You, both of which topped the Billboard 200 this year. In this category, they submitted the Weeknd-assisted title track from the latter album. The Weeknd won here in 2022 (“Hurricane”) and Future reigned victorious in 2023 (“Wait for U”), so two out of the three credited artists on “We Still Don’t Trust You” have a favorable history in this category. A nod for the synthy track would be the third for both Future and The Weeknd, and the first for Metro. Tommy Richman‘s No. 2-peaking “Million Dollar Baby” is probably the frontrunner here from a purely commercial standpoint, a nod here would be the first for the Virginia native.
Drake, who is currently tied with Beyoncé as the fourth-most nominated artist in this category, is in contention as a part of Sexyy Red‘s “U My Everything,” which peaked at No. 44 on the Hot 100. A nod here would be Sexyy’s first in any category; she is also in contention for best new artist this year. Justin Timberlake, a five-time nominee and two-time winner here, could score a nod for “Sanctified” (with Tobe Nwigwe).
At the most recent ceremony, Latto made history when “Big Energy” became the first live rendition to earn a nod in this category. This year she’s in contention with “Big Mama,” which could surprise with a nomination despite its No. 92 Hot 100 peak. Some other notable 2024 Hot 100 hits in contention include: Jordan Adetunji and Kehlani‘s “Kehlani” (No. 24), Flo Milli‘s “Never Lose Me” (No. 15), Offset and Don Toliver‘s “Worth It” (No. 90), Toliver, Charlie Wilson and Cash Cobain‘s “Attitude” (No. 58), Quavo and Lana Del Rey‘s “Tough” (No. 33), 21 Savage and Summer Walker‘s “Prove It” (No. 43) and Travis Scott, James Blake and Savage’s “Til Further Notice” (No. 38). A nod in this category would be the first for all aforementioned artists except for Wilson, Scott and 21 Savage. Scott and 21 Savage are both seeking their fourth nominations and first wins in this category, while Wilson is seeking his third nod here. Notably, if “Attitude” pulls off the win, Charlie Wilson would take home his very first Grammy — more than four decades after his first nomination.
Of course, there are some other songs to keep an eye on; their critical acclaim and name recognition can make up for what they lack in commercial success. Those songs include: Anycia and Latto’s “Back Outside”; Big Sean, Thundercat and Eryn Allen Kane‘s “Black Void”; Childish Gambino, Amaarae and Flo Milli’s “Talk My Shit”; Cordae and Anderson .Paak‘s “Summer Drop”; Doja Cat‘s “Acknowledge Me”; Erick the Architect and Lalah Hathaway‘s “Liberate”; Gunna‘s “Bittersweet”; Rapsody and Erykah Badu‘s “3:AM”; ScHoolboy Q and Jozzy‘s “Lost Times”; SiR & .Paak’s “Poetry In Motion”; Tems and J. Cole‘s “Free Fall” and Bryson Tiller‘s “Ciao!”
Keep an especially close eye on “Free Fall” — Tems (2023, “Wait For U”) and Cole (2024, “All My Life”) are the last two winners in this category — as well as “Black Void,” which features Eryn Allen Kane who won best rap song and performance last year for “Scientists and Engineers” alongside Killer Mike, Future and André 3000.
Our Fearless Forecast
So, which five songs could make up the next crop of best melodic rap performance nominees? Our picks are: “Spaghettii” (Beyoncé, Shaboozey & Linda Martell), “We Still Don’t Trust You” (Future, Metro Boomin & The Weeknd), “Free Fall” (Tems & J. Cole), “Attitude” (Don Toliver, Charlie Wilson & Cash Cobain) and “Million Dollar Baby” (Tommy Richman).
The Japan Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association (CEIPA) has announced the launch of a new music award called MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN, with the inaugural event set for May 22, 2025, at the Rohm Theatre Kyoto.
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This award will recognize more than 60 categories, led by the six major ones including Song of the Year and Artist of the Year, for works and artists that have been popular from January 29, 2024 to January 26, 2025. Candidates will be automatically selected using objective metrics linked to data from Billboard Japan and more. Five nominees will be selected from these candidates by domestic voting members, and the award winners will be decided from among the nominees through a rigorous selection process by domestic and overseas voting members.
The categories include genre-specific ones including J-pop, hip-hop and idol culture, special categories such as dance performances, music videos, Vocaloid culture and DJing, and global categories by regions such as Asian countries and Europe. The best work and artist will be revealed at the awards ceremony on May 22.
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The voting members consist of around 5,000 music industry professionals from various fields, including artists, creatives, managers, recording directors, engineers, promoters, music video directors, music distribution businesses, dealers, distributors, music critics, writers, media, music publishers, judges of overseas music awards, plus creatives, promoters, and music distribution businesses based overseas. There will also be a category inviting votes from general music listeners.
“Post-COVID, the way we enjoy entertainment as a whole has changed,” says CEIPA’s Chair of the Board Shunsuke Muramatsu, who believes that with the recent wave of digitalization, global success and possibilities are expanding within the music industry. “We have seen that the way hit songs and artists emerge has changed with the growth of the digital landscape and the increasing popularity of streaming services. Having witnessed a rapid, borderless connection to the rest of the world, we are now focused on supporting young, talented Japanese creators through an awards show with a global reach.”
The five major organizations in the Japanese music industry — Recording Industry Association of Japan, Japan Association of Music Enterprises, the Federation of Music Producers Japan, Music Publishers Association of Japan, and All Japan Concert & Live Entertainment Promoters Conference — have transcended boundaries to collaborate with the global music industry to establish this award, which is based on the concept of “connecting with the world and lighting the future of music.”
The awards show is said to be an “Asian version of the Grammy Awards,” as Commissioner Shunichi Tokura of the Agency of Cultural Affairs has said in the past. “We established the awards as a way to increase interest in Japanese music and to have Japanese music heard globally,” Tatsuya Nomura, board member of CEIPA, explains. He notes that CEIPA will also focus on promoting the awards outside of Japan. “Additionally, we will also promote the awards in other Asian countries and the world through terrestrial broadcasting stations, livestreaming on YouTube, news coverage, and more.”
Nomura says the awards will also provide an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of overseas artists and bring more attention to them. “The Japanese music market has traditionally been economically viable only within Japan. I believe it is necessary to change this and cultivate a global mindset among artists. Japanese artists are becoming increasingly active abroad, which we will continue to support. At the same time, we aim to establish categories that focus not only on K-POP (which is highly popular in Japan) but also on Western and other Asian music. As a result, there is a possibility that artists from around the world will be honored at MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN.”
The MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN ceremony on May 22 is also set to be broadcast live on terrestrial TV. The event will also be streamed worldwide via YouTube (excluding some regions). MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN week will take place Saturday, May 17 through Friday, May 23, and there will be seminars and showcases by people involved in the music industry from Japan and overseas during this period.
MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025 KYOTO
Date of Ceremony: Thursday, May 22, 2025
Venue: ROHM Theatre Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
Live broadcast on terrestrial TV and global livestream on YouTube scheduled (some regions excluded)
Eligible Works & Artists
Works and artists popular from January 29, 2024 through January 26, 2025 (regardless of release date, including older works)
Awards: More than 60 categories planned including the six major categories
Six major categories: Best Song, Best Album, Best Artist, Best New Artist, Best Global Song, Best Asian Song
Awards
Song of the Year: Domestic and international songs are eligible.
Album of the Year: Domestic and international albums are eligible.
Artist of the Year: Domestic and international artists are eligible.
New Artist of the Year: Domestic artists are eligible.
Top Global Hit from Japan: Honors domestic songs that have become hits around the world.
Best Song Asia: Honors Asian songs that have become hits around the world.
Voting Process
Candidates will be automatically selected using objective metrics linked to data from Billboard Japan and more. Five nominees will be selected from these candidates by domestic voting members, and the award winners will be decided from among the nominees through a rigorous selection process by domestic and overseas voting members.
Voting Members
Voting members will consist of around 5,000 artists, creatives, managers, recording directors, engineers, promoters, music video directors, music distribution businesses, dealers, distributors, music critics, writers, media, music publishers, judges of overseas music awards, plus creatives, promoters, and music distribution businesses based overseas. The nominees and award winners will be selected and honored through a rigorous voting process by these members. There will also be a category with a different selection process.
About CEIPA
Japan Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association (CEIPA)
President: Tatsumi Yoda
Chair of the Board: Shunsuke Muramatsu (President, The Recording Industry Association of Japan)
Deputy Chair of the Board: Takeo Nakanishi (President, All Japan Concert and Live Entertainment Promoters Conference)
Senior Board Member: Hideichi Kurita (Vice President, Music Publishers Association of Japan)
Board Members: Masatomo Takito (President, Japan Association of Music Enterprises), Tatsuya Nomura (President, The Federation of Music Producers Japan), Yutaka Inaba (President, Music Publishers Association of Japan)
CEIPA Members: Japan Association of Music Enterprises (JAME), Federation of Music Producers Japan (FMPJ), Music Publishers Association of Japan (MPA), All Japan Concert and Live Entertainment Promoters Conference (A.C.P.C.), Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ)
10/21/2024
It’s the old saying “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”
10/21/2024
Legendary Dominican trio Proyecto Uno closed the Billboard Latin Music Awards with a flourish, reaffirming their status as merengue-house pioneers with a performance of their iconic 1993 hit, “El Tiburón.” The performance was not only a nod to the group’s origins, but also a celebration of their influence on Latin dance music over the past three decades.
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With their signature party style, the trio, currently comprised of Nelson Zapata, Kid G, and Paolo Tondo, took over the stage wearing bright jackets in shades of red, blue, and yellow, while an entourage of colorful dancers accompanied them as they chanted their iconic “No pares, sigue, sigue” (“Don’t stop, keep going, keep going.”)
This year, Proyecto Uno celebrates 35 years of musical career in which they have given away hits such as “Brinca”, “Latinos” and “Otro Nivel”, fusing tropical genres with hip-hop, house and techno, creating a hybrid sound that has left an indelible mark on Latin music.
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The 2024 Billboard Latin Music Awards, hosted by actors Carmen Villalobos and Danilo Carrera, celebrate the most outstanding talents in Latin music. This year’s edition brings together a star-studded lineup that spans a wide variety of genres and generations. This year’s performances include J Balvin, Chencho Corleone, Fuerza Regida, Gloria Trevi and Maria Becerra, Xavi, Grupo Niche, Pepe Aguilar, Prince Royce, Yandel and Proyecto Uno.
For more on performances, special awards and behind-the-scenes action, visit Billboard Español.
Mexican superstar Pepe Aguilar, one of the very few artists who has managed to successfully straddle the traditions of Mexican music with the sound of contemporary pop, received the coveted Hall of Fame Award at the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Awards, held Oct. 20 in Miami.
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Aguilar, who has been performing since he was a toddler, when his legendary parents Antonio Aguilar and Flor Silvestre first took him on tour, has placed nine top 10 titles on Billboard‘s Top Latin Albums chart, and 14 top 10 sets on the Regional Mexican Albums chart. He has also performed around the world, most recently with his stunning Jaripeo Sin Fronteras tour, on which he sings and rides on horseback, highlighting a venerable Mexican music tradition.
“My career started 34 years ago,” he said in an emotional speech, elegantly dressed all in black. “During that time, I’ve seen changes in everything in the industry: Genres, technology. And the way to remain relevant has been through my passion for my music and by reinventing when it was necessary. And that’s been possible thanks to the people who’ve been by my side. An artist is as good as the team that surrounds him.”
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Aguilar specifically thanked his wife, and, especially, his fans: “Without the fans, we couldn’t do anything. An artists’ strongest argument is his fans,” he said, dedicating the award to them.
Aguilar later changed to his traditional ranchera outfit and performed a beautiful four-track medley that covered his vast career, beginning with his breakthrough hit “Por mujeres como tú,” and ending with his current single “Cuídamela bien,” inspired by the recent marriage of his daughter Angela Aguilar to Christian Nodal and featuring video footage of Angela Aguilar playing in the screens behind Aguilar.
Dressed all in black, the singer, known for his lush, velvety voice, performed accompanied by his full mariachi on one side and a pop band on the other, a nod to his many facets and styles.
Earlier in the week, Aguilar sat down for an Icon Q&A during Latin Music Week where he spoke about the importance of tradition and family.
The Billboard Latin Music Awards recognize the impact of Latin music on the global scene, being the only awards based directly on the performance of albums, songs and artists on Billboard’s weekly charts. This year, awards will be presented in 49 categories, spanning the genres of Latin pop, tropical, Latin rhythm and regional Mexican.
Finalists, and the eventual winners, reflect performance of new recordings on Billboard’s albums and songs charts for the period covering rankings dated August 19, 2023, through the September 7, 2024, charts. Determinations are based on key fan interactions with music, including album and digital song sales, streaming, radio airplay and touring, tracked by Billboard and its data partner, Luminate.
Produced by Telemundo in collaboration with American Country Broadcast Inc., the awards can be seen on Telemundo, the Telemundo app, streaming service Peacock and in Latin America and the Caribbean through Telemundo Internacional.
This year, the list of finalists is led by Karol G, who has 17 mentions in key categories such as Artist of the Year, Tour of the Year, and Global 200 Latin Artist of the Year. Bad Bunny and Peso Pluma follow closely behind with 15 mentions each. Other notable finalists include Feid, with 11 mentions, and regional Mexican stars Fuerza Regida and Junior H, both with 8 mentions, including Artist of the Year. See the full list of finalists here.