Latin Grammys
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Now in its third year, the Latin Grammy’s Best New Artist Showcase raised the bar for emerging talent, delivering a spectacular evening on Tuesday (Nov. 12) at Miami Beach’s Faena Forum. Hosted by Catalina García of Monsieur Periné, the event spotlighted this year’s contenders for the 25th Annual Latin Grammy Awards best new artist category, each proving why they deserved their place on this prestigious platform.
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The event featured a star-studded lineup of nominees, each bringing their own flavor to the stage: Agris, Kevin Aguilar, Darumas, Nicolle Horbath, Cacá Magalhães, Os Garotin, Íñigo Quintero, Sofi Saar, and Ela Taubert.
The performances spanned a gamut of genres and styles. Many artists — who each had the opportunity to sing two songs — chose to cover iconic renditions, a move that, while risky, paid off in some cases by highlighting their vocal prowess and interpretive skills.
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Kany García, who won the best new artist title in 2008, introduced Monterrey’s Sofi Saar, who captivated the audience with her “popteño” swagger, reflecting a much-needed female perspective in the genre. Her performance included her exciting original work followed by a cover of Selena’s “Si Una Vez,” a personal favorite of mine by the late Tejana legend.
Spanish sensation Íñigo Quintero, who previously topped the Billboard Global Excl. US chart, delivered a poignant performance with his trademark soft piano balladry. Brazil’s Cacá Magalhães and Mexico’s Agris both left strong impressions with their potent singing abilities — the latter artist sang the timeless hit “Paloma Negra” with a haunting but thrilling vocal quality.
US-based trio Darumas — comprising Aldana Aguirre, Ceci León and Vedala Vilmond who hail from Argentina, Cuba, and Haiti, respecively — kicked off with their mix of old-school funk, rock-infused R&B, and a dash of riot grrrl attitude. However, one of the standout moments of the show was when they impeccably sang one of the hardest songs to sing by the legendary Whitney Houston, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.”
Ceci Leon, Vedala Vilmond and Aldana Aguirre from the band DARUMAS performs during the 25th Latin GRAMMY Awards – 2024 Best New Artist Showcase and CPI on November 12, 2024 in Miami, Florida.
Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images for The Latin Recording Academy
Hands down, a highlight of the night was Os Garotin’s performance. Composed of Anchietx, Cupertino and Leo Guima, the trio from Rio de Janeiro’s São Gonçalo amped up the vibe with their infectuous mix of funk, soul, and rap, which got the crowd to their feet and received a standing ovation. Their dance moves were also contagious which kept all eyes glued to them.
Though Barranquilla’s Nicolle Horbath delivered a competent rendition of 2024’s Person of the Year Carlos Vives’ “Fruta Fresca,” it was a relatively safe choice that nonetheless succeeded in engaging the audience. Missing in action was Mexico’s experimental rock troupe Latin Mafia — a personal disappointment, as they are one of my favorite emerging stars of the year — although an introductory video managed to cover their absence somewhat.
The showcase closed on a high note with the youngest nominee, 13-year-old Kevin Aguilar, whose old-soul voice and invigorating performance belied his young age. Accompanied by an accordion, he delivered an impassioned performance of the corrido “Cuando Te Cambian Por Alguien,” evoking comparisons to a young Christian Nodal at the onset of his career.
In an exhilarating turn, Aguilar then shifted gears to perform Luis Miguel’s “La Incondicional,” infused with a polka-styled norteña beat. His execution was flawless, hitting each note with precision and intensity that captivated and left the audience in awe, confirming his status as a standout performer of the night.
Kevin Aguilar performs during the 25th Latin GRAMMY Awards – 2024 Best New Artist Showcase and CPI on November 12, 2024 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by John Parra/Getty Images for The Latin Recording Academy)
Esteemed past winners and nominees such as Tiago Iorc, Joaquina, Juliana, Manuel Medrano, Nella, Mau y Ricky, and Nicole Zignago also graced the event as presenters of this year’s nominees.
In the words of the Latin Recording Academy’s CEO, Manuel Abud: “The best new artist category is very special for us, because it is a reflection of the mission of The Latin Recording Academy, to support and promote new talent and open doors for them,” he said from the stage. “The guys are surely going to have several nominations and surely many awards, but nominated for best new artist, just this once. That makes it a very special moment and it’s also one in which we can influence and positively affect the artist’s life in a unique way. It is a turning point in their careers.”
Each performance echoed Abud’s sentiments during an evening that not only celebrated the current crop of new talent but also set a high standard for Latin music’s blooming future.
When Luis Jiménez arrives at the 2024 Latin Grammy Awards ceremony on Thursday (Nov. 14), he will have to play a doubleheader: He will walk the red carpet twice, speak to the same media outlets twice, and perhaps have to split up for the celebrations. The reason? The Venezuelan singer and musician’s two bands, LAGOS and Los Mesoneros, are both nominated this year — and in the same category!
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Both are up for best pop/rock song: LAGOS for “Blanco y Negro” with Elena Rose, and Los Mesoneros for “Diciembre.”
LAGOS is also nominated for best pop song for “Dime Quién.” The pop duo, formed in 2019 by Jiménez and Agustín Zubillaga, already won best pop/rock song last year with Lasso’s “Ojos Marrones,” which they co-wrote. But this time they compete as performers for two songs from their sophomore album Alta Fidelidad, released in May under Warner Music México.
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As for Los Mesoneros, the rock band, active since 2006, had already received a handful of nominations in the past, including for best new artist (2012), best rock album (in 2012 for Indeleble, 2020 for Pangea, and 2021 for Los Mesoneros Live Desde Pangea), as well as best pop/rock song (in 2020 for “Últimas Palabras”). Now they compete with a song from their album Nuestro Año, released in April independently.
“It’s the first time that the bands’ times were synchronized,” Jiménez tells Billboard Español. “When Pangea, Mesoneros’ third album, and Clásico, LAGOS’s debut album, came out, it’s not that it wasn’t challenging — but compared to the size of the projects today, it was too easy.”
He adds: “Now, without a doubt, the challenge is to find the time and the mental state to be able to work creatively and also be able to have those editorial lines separated. It is becoming more and more complicated. But I like a challenge.”
In its 25th anniversary, the Latin Grammys will be broadcast live from the Kaseya Center in Miami on Univision, Galavisión and ViX starting at 8 p.m. (Eastern Time). A few days later, on Nov. 21, Jiménez will perform with Los Mesoneros for the first time at the iconic National Auditorium in Mexico City, where he lives.
Luis, how did you feel when you found out that you were nominated with your two bands in the same category?
A very strange, very particular sensation. Obviously, first and foremost it’s double the joy — “Oh, how crazy, they nominated us!” Then, this was a possible scenario and I didn’t really think much about what I would do if it happened; it was simply: “Well, let’s send all these songs, these albums, and whatever has to happen happens.” Receiving that news was really very nice, it is certainly special for me because for the first time they nominated Los Mesoneros and LAGOS simultaneously, and having that honor of being with all of them in that category is something wonderful.
The two albums came out only a month apart. How has this year been for you?
It’s been a titanic challenge. It really is difficult. I understand why no one does it, because it is very complicated to manage the time, and also to do things with excellence like this, in this format. But I think I’m very lucky and fortunate to have colleagues in each of the projects who support me in everything and who are incredible partners and who have also known how to handle this and help me make everything work out and turn out well, and do it with the standard that we have, and help me survive in the attempt.
Did you record with both bands in parallel? What was this process like?
Actually, thank God it wasn’t parallel, because that would have been very rough. Yes, there was a lot at times in the composition process, like sometimes I was writing with LAGOS and suddenly I went into a lock-out with Mesoneros, but it wasn’t so much that I was one day here and one day there, but rather taking a couple of weeks or a month with LAGOS, and then doing the same with Mesoneros. But the recording was appart. LAGOS recorded Alta Fidelidad about seven months before the Mesoneros album, or at least the second half. Although there were singles there that were sneaking in.
Any particular anecdotes trying to balance things with both groups?
Man, all the time, all the multitasking is crazy. I remember, for example, two or three years ago at the Latin Grammys, I also had to be there both with Mesoneros and LAGOS. LAGOS was there because we were going to play at a Warner party, and Mesoneros was nominated, and I had to go around all over Las Vegas even repeating some interviews — “Ah, is you again!?” And I was like, “Yes, but no.” And well, what’s going to happen now in Miami is going to be quite funny too, because even in the dressing room it’s a challenge. It’s a game of trying to be in two places at the same time. It’s challenging, it’s fun, and well, we’re now talking about that — doing the red carpet twice. It is quite particular.
You started doing rock with Los Mesoneros and then pop with LAGOS. Which genre do you identify with most today?
It’s very difficult to answer that — because it’s as if they’d ask you, “Who do you love more, your mom or your dad?” or “Which child do you love more?” Each one has its own thing and they fulfill me in different ways. Obviously I have always had a rock soul, but even since I was little I have also always been a pop lover. People who know me starting with Los Mesoneros never knew that I had that pop side, but it has always been there, actually. And now with LAGOS, I managed to [get to] that output and place where I can also show that side — but both satisfy me and make me happy in different ways.
As a performer, when you started with LAGOS, how difficult was it to find your own pop sound after years doing rock with Los Mesoneros?
It’s always a challenge and I think that’s the challenge, finding yourself within those scenarios. But I think that LAGOS is very interesting because when it came to light, in 2019, Agustín and I had actually been writing songs for other artists for a while, and making more pop music. And I enjoyed it a lot, it’s just that people didn’t picture it. For me, it was also an adventure to get involved in something that had nothing to do with what I had been doing, but also to discover other facets of myself.
Then, when we launched our LAGOS project, it was time to [ask ourselves], “What is our voice, what is our sound, how do we do it?” And that entailed some research, and a bit of trial and error — but luckily Agustín and I already had that very advanced work chemistry. And in some very crazy way — from Agustín with his set of influences, and me with my more alternative, more rock side — on paper it didn’t have to work, but it worked amazingly. I think that’s what gave LAGOS its identity.
What do your colleagues from both bands say? You’ve said they support you, but now with the nominations, is there any rivalry? Pride? Both?
I truly believe it’s been a miracle. I think that many project colleagues perhaps wouldn’t be able to tolerate such a dynamic — because it’s one thing to do it perhaps alternatingly, but doing it in parallel is a level further. That simultaneity has been the interesting thing, and I think I am seriously too lucky — because they have truly been a great source of support for me. I think they also see the level of dedication and effort and sacrifice that I make to give my 100% to both projects, and in reality they have been allies and are a crucial part of making it work. They are even accomplices.
Now that you have experienced this in parallel this year, is it feasible for you to maintain both bands in the future?
I think we have had to change a lot over time. Like, I have also had to learn to give up many things. I am so neurotic producing, writing, arranging, editing… I have also learned to adapt to growth, and increasingly see where I add more value [by giving] up roles. Yes, I want to continue doing this in parallel. Perhaps obviously now, after this year that has been so intense, we must adapt to delegating more… I think that now the challenge is going to be to get a schedule that’s a little less synchronized, but I do see it as a project that can continue and last longer.
If you win, who do you want to go on stage with to receive the award?
Look, I can leave happy with a scenario in which LAGOS wins in the category that is alone, and Mesoneros wins in the one that includes both. I think everyone ends up happy there. But in reality, whatever has to happen happens. I feel that with so many albums and so much music that comes out every week these days, it’s crazy to be on a list so short, that the Academy considers it one of the five best songs of the genre — and that those five include both bands — for me it’s quite an incredible achievement.

The Latin Grammys festivities officially kicked off with The Latin Recording Academy’s Special Awards gala held Sunday (Nov. 10) at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami, Fla.
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Hosted by Gloria Estefan, the intimate ceremony gathered industry leaders and artists celebrating this year’s Trustees and Lifetime Achievement honorees. The former award is voted on by The Latin Recording Academy’s Board of Trustees and merited to individuals who have made significant contributions, other than in performance, to music during their careers. The latter is presented to performers who have made unprecedented contributions of outstanding artistic significance to Latin music.
Trustees honorees were prolific hitmakers Ángel “Cucco” Peña and Chucho Rincón; while Albita, Alejandro Lerner, Draco Rosa, Lolita Flores, Los Ángeles Azules and Lulu Santos were honored with this year’s Lifetime Achievement titles. Other artists present at the coveted Special Awards gala included Carlos Vives, Maria Becerra, and Edgar Barrera.
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See some of the evening’s memorable highlights below:
Gloria Estefan speaks onstage during the Special Awards Presentation during the 25th Latin GRAMMY Awards on November 10, 2024 in Miami, Florida.
John Parra/Getty Images for The Latin Recording Academy
Ángel “Cucco” Peña
Reflecting on his more than 60-year career, the Puerto Rican composer and artist talked about the impact of music in his life and the desire to continue in the industry. “Music has been universal, connecting me with different generations and cultures,” he said during his speech. “This award is a reflection of the collective efforts of those who have believed in me. It motivates me to continue creating music. My passion for art never fades. I hope to continue contributing to Latin music and inspiring the new generation.”
Chucho Rincón
Credited for discovering Joan Sebastian and helming some of Vicente Fernandez’s biggest hits, Rincón, 87, highlighted how a career in music “changes lives, creates magic, and has made me feel loved and special,” he stated. Notably, he shared an anecdote about working with the late Mexican icon José Alfredo Jiménez. “You were the start of my career when I was 20. You gave me access to the industry. Being able to sing with you was my first path. With you, I met our country and the roots of our music. You showed me the concept of loyalty and bohemianism. I am your only living musician… a witness of your greatness,” he said.
Albita
Cuban singer-songwriter Albita dedicated her award to Emilio Estefan Jr. for opening her the doors in the music industry; her loved ones in heaven and on earth; her entire work team; as well as her fans for “dancing, getting married, and getting drunk with my music.” During her speech, she honored her native Cuba, saying: “My beautiful island, my sad island — and with all the faith that one day I can say, it’s my free island.” She also thanked herself for never quitting, for falling and always getting up.
Alejandro Lerner
Carlos Vives had the honor to present the award to Argentinean singer-songwriter, Alejandro Lerner, who has worked with music giants such as Celine Dion, Luis Miguel, and Santana. Deeply moved by the presentation, Lerner thanked those who forged his path in music, including the late Armando Manzanero as well as Claudia Brant and Luis Enrique, who were in the audience. Topping off his speech, Lerner crooned the room with a powerful a cappella performance of 1983’s “Todo A Pulmón.” “I composed this song when I couldn’t even buy my own place,” he said. “It represents effort and being honest with our heart and language.”
Draco Rosa accepts an award onstage during the Special Awards Presentation during the 25th Latin GRAMMY Awards on November 10, 2024 in Miami, Florida.
Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images for The Latin Recording Academy
Draco Rosa
Ahead of Draco Rosa receiving his award, his longtime colleague and friend Desmond Child got on stage to share a nostalgic audio of the day they created Ricky Martin’s “Living La Vida Loca.” A cancer survivor, Draco’s heartfelt speech included anecdotes of his beginnings in Menudo but mainly about having another chance at life. “I’m grateful for waking up today. I’m on the winning side of life,” he expressed. “This award is beautiful, being alive… so many times I asked God for one more album. Music has been my travel companion, a friend, and I owe a lot to my colleagues, to my fans, and my father’s passion for good salsa and classical music. Everything has shaped my musical career. Music is felt in the soul beyond. Thank you for making my music part of your journey. Here is a man with a joy for living.”
Los Ángeles Azules
With their cumbia sonidera revolutionizing the music industry since the ‘80s, Los Ángeles Azules reminisced about the days we would travel up to 48 hours by car to do shows in various towns in Mexico. “It was important for us to be with our people,” they said during their speech. The Mexican group has had 32 different vocalists and collaborated with artists such as Natalia Lafourcade, Maria Becerra, and Belinda. “We are renovating songs, making music, and we’re thankful to the academy for recognizing the 44 years of Los Ángeles Azules,” they added.
Lolita Flores
Spanish singer and actress Lolita Flores — sister of Rosario Flores — admitted that altough she captivated with her music, worked with big artists, and filled stadiums, she felt really small. She explained that she made the decision to retire from music because many doors were closed for her, and instead, she created a fruitful career in theater, where she was able to grow. “Even if I stopped singing, I still have music inside me,” she elaborated. “This Grammy gave me back the desire to keep singing. Get ready, I don’t need a record label, I’m going to produce it myself, and I want to record with all of you here. Rosario, I have a Grammy!”
Lulu Santos
“It’s a huge honor to be part of the community and one of the honorees,” Santos, a Brazilian LGBTQ singer, said during his speech. The artist and guitarist born Luiz Maurício Pragana dos Santos is the founder of progressive rock band Vímana, and has carved a path in Brazilian music for the past five decades. To wrap the night, Santos made a clever joke after the fire alarm went off at the venue earlier in the event. “The alarm went off because when all of these great honorees come together in one room, fire comes out,” he said.
The Special Awards Presentation during the 25th Latin GRAMMY Awards on November 10, 2024 in Miami, Florida.
John Parra/Getty Images for The Latin Recording Academy
The Latin Recording Academy revealed the final batch of performers for the 25th Annual Latin Grammy Awards on Monday morning (Nov. 11), Billboard Español can exclusively announce. The concluding acts set to perform on Thursday (Nov. 14), include a stellar lineup of salsa icons and budding acts, including Christian Alicea, Grupo Niche, Luis Figueroa, Oscar […]
It’s a tight race for album of the year at the Latin Grammys, where both commercially and critically acclaimed albums are vying for the award. This year, the 10 nominated LPs are Bolero by Angela Aguilar; Camilo’s Cuatro; Xande Canta Caetano by Xande De Pilares; Karol G’s Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season); García by Kany […]
The 2024 Latin Grammys are a week away, and in celebration of its 25th annual ceremony this year, Billboard has curated a timeline of notable winners at the ceremonies throughout the years.
The first annual awards, which took place on Sept. 13, 2000 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, was co-hosted by Gloria Estefan, Jennifer Lopez, Antonio Banderas, Andy Garcia, and Jimmy Smits. Luis Miguel, Santana, and Maná were the top winners of the night, taking home three gramophone’s each. The former of the three nabbed album of the year for Amarte es un Placer, and the latter two won record of the year for their collaboration “Corazón Espinado.”
Emilio Estefan Jr. was named The Latin Recording Academy’s first-ever person of the year. He has since been joined by prestigious titleholders Julio Iglesias, Shakira, Alejandro Sanz, Rubén Blades, and Laura Pausini, to name a few. Carlos Vives has been named the 2024 person of the year.
Over the years, the Latin Grammys has hosted its gala in different locations — including Miami, Houston, Las Vegas, and most recently abroad in Seville, Spain for its 2023 edition.
As the 2024 awards approach, take a look back at the top winners including record of the year, album of the year, song of the year, and best new artist, as well as person of the year of the last 25 years in the timeline below.
The 25th annual Latin Grammy Awards will air at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Nov. 14 via Univision, Galavisión and ViX. Preceding the telecast will be the Latin Grammy Premiere, where the winners in most categories will be announced. To see the complete list of nominees, click here.
2000
Ten tracks are contenders for the coveted Song of the Year category at the 25th annual Latin Grammy Awards. The nominees include Daymé Arocena and Vicente García’s “A Fuego Lento”; Maura Nava’s “A La Mitad”; Elena Rose, Danny Ocean, and Jerry Di’s “Caracas En El 2000”; Jorge Drexler‘s “Derrumbe”; Shakira and Grupo Frontera‘s “(Entre Paréntesis)”; Gian Marco […]
Grammy-winning artists Jon Bon Jovi and DJ Khaled, as well as Grammy-nominated artist Joe Jonas, will help celebrate Latin music this month, when they perform at the 25th anniversary of the Latin Grammys.
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The Latin Recording Academy announced on Monday (Nov. 4) additional performers for the Nov. 14 ceremony, including current nominees Ángela Aguilar, Álvaro Díaz, Tiago Iorc, Quevedo, Residente, Myke Towers, Trueno and The Warning, along with previous nominee Leonardo Aguilar.
Ángela Aguilar is nominated for album of the year and Álvaro Díaz earned two nominations for best reggaeton performance and best urban music album. Tiago Iorc scored a nomination for best singer-songwriter song, while Quevedo is nominated for best urban song. Residente has three nominations, including album of the year and song of the year. Myke Towers has two nods in the best urban song category. Trueno is nominated for best urban fusion/performance and best urban music album, and The Warning are nominated for best rock song.
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Previously announced performers include current nominees Anitta, Edgar Barrera, Becky G, David Bisbal, Eladio Carrión, DARUMAS, Emilia, Alejandro Fernández, Luis Fonsi, Leonel García, Grupo Frontera, Juan Luis Guerra, Carin León, Danny Ocean, Silvia Pérez Cruz, Carlos Rivera, Elena Rose, Ela Taubert and Kali Uchis, as well as the 2024 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year, Carlos Vives, and previous nominees Pitbull and Reik.
For the second consecutive year, Mexican hitmaker Edgar Barrera leads the list of nominees with nine nods, including songwriter of the year and producer of the year. He is followed by superstars Karol G and Bad Bunny, who got eight mentions each. For a full list of nominations, click here.
The three-hour telecast will be produced by TelevisaUnivision, and will air live on Univision, UniMás, Galavisión and ViX from the Kaseya Center in Miami beginning at 8 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. Central), preceded by a one-hour pre-show starting at 7 p.m. ET/PT.
The Latin Grammy Premiere, where the majority of the categories are awarded, will be hosted by Latin Grammy nominees Maria Becerra, Juliana and Luísa Sonza, and will feature performances by Ale Acosta, Alok, Valeria Castro, Deorro, Fonseca, Leonel García, Grupo Niche, Draco Rosa, Rozalén and Vikina. It will be live streamed across the Latin Recording Academy platforms from the Miami Beach Convention Center beginning at 1 p.m. ET.
Anitta, Edgar Barrera, Becky G, Eladio Carrión, Darumas, Emilia, Leonel García, Grupo Frontera, Danny Ocean, Silvia Pérez Cruz, Carlos Rivera, Pitbull, Reik, and Kali Uchis are expected to perform at the 25th annual Latin Grammy Awards. The Latin Recording Academy announced the new round of performers on Tuesday (Oct. 28) for the upcoming ceremony, which will broadcast from the Kaseya Center in Miami on Thursday, Nov. 14.
The newly announced artists join previously unveiled performers, including David Bisbal, Alejandro Fernández, Luis Fonsi, Juan Luis Guerra, Carín León, Elena Rose, and Ela Taubert, in addition to the 2024 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year, Carlos Vives.
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For the second consecutive year, Mexican hitmaker Edgar Barrera leads the list of nominees for the Latin Grammy Awards, with nine nominations, including songwriter of the year and producer of the year. Brazilian superstar Anitta is nominated for record of the year for “Mil Veces,” and best Portuguese language urban performance for “Joga Pra Lua,” featuring Dennis & Pedro Sampaio. Becky G received a nod for best regional song for “Por El Contrario,” with songwriters Barrera, Kevyn Mauricio Cruz & Elena Rose, performed by her with Ángela Aguilar and Leonardo Aguilar.
Other mentions include Kali Uchis, who garnered four nominations, including record of the year for “Igual Que Un Ángel” with Peso Pluma; and Danny Ocean earned two for song of the year (“Caracas En El 2000,” written by Marvin Hawkins Rodriguez, Jerry Di, La Pichu, Danny Ocean and Elena Rose) and best pop song (“Amor” penned by José Andrés Benitez, Christian Bermudez, Richard Bermudez, Rodney Kumbirayi Hwingwiri, Juan Diego Linares, Luis Alejandro Márquez, Anibal Morin Diaz, Danny Ocean and Rafael Salcedo.
For the complete list of Latin Grammy nominations, click here.
The three-hour telecast will be produced by TelevisaUnivision, and will air live on Univision, UniMás, Galavisión and ViX beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
Nominations for the 2024 Latin Grammy Awards were announced Tuesday (Sept. 17) with Mexican hitmaker Edgar Barrera leading the pack for a second consecutive year. Barrera, who has nine nominations (including songwriter of the year and producer of the year), is followed by eight-time nominees Karol G and Bad Bunny. The former is up for […]