Capping off the most international year for Latin music in recent memory, J Balvin, Shakira, Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, Maluma and Ozuna lead the list of finalists for the 2018 Billboard Latin Music Awards, which air live April 26 on Telemundo.
Colombian stars Balvin and Shakira lead with 12 nominations each, followed by Fonsi, Yankee, Maluma and Ozuna with 10 each. And in an unprecedented turn, three non-Latin acts follow with a number of nods: Justin Bieber with eight, Beyoncé with seven and Willy William with six. The numbers underscore just how far Latin music has reached in the past 12 months, garnering record streams at a global level and prompting major superstars to reach out and collaborate with Latin stars.
Balvin’s nods come largely from the success of “Mi Gente,” a triumph of global collaboration. The song, originally recorded by French artist Willy William, was redone by Balvin in Spanish, featuring William, and then was remixed yet again in a bilingual version featuring Beyoncé. It's up for Hot Latin Song of the year and airplay song of the year, among other nods, while Balvin is up for artist of the year and Hot Latin Songs artist of the year, male. Balvin’s album, Energía, is also up for Top Latin Album of the year.
Balvin’s country-mate and global superstar Shakira will compete head-to-head with him in the social artist of the year and Hot Latin Song vocal event category, where she’s up for “Chantaje,” featuring Maluma. “Chantaje” is also up for digital song of the year and streaming song of the year, while Shakira’s El Dorado is up for Top Latin Album of the year.
“Chantaje” is not the only song that propels fellow Colombian Maluma to 10 nominations: Aside from being up for social artist of the year, his hit “Felices Los 4” is a contender in five categories, including Hot Latin Song of the year, airplay song of the year, digital song of the year and streaming song of the year. In the last two categories, Maluma competes against himself with Shakira’s “Chantaje.”
Then there’s Ozuna. The Puerto Rican phenom is up for artist of the year, supported by his successful debut album, Odisea, up for Top Latin Album of the year and rhythm album of the year. In turn, his plethora of hits propelled him to a nod for Hot Latin Songs artist of the year, while his feature alongside Wisin in “Escapate Conmigo” is up for four awards, including Hot Latin Song of the year.
Which leads us to “Despacito.” Thanks largely to the hit collab, Fonsi and Daddy Yankee are up for 10 awards each, while Bieber is up for eight. “Despacito,” like “Mi Gente,” is up for six awards: Hot Latin Song of the year; Hot Latin Song of the year, vocal event; airplay song of the year; digital song of the year; streaming song of the year; and Latin pop song of the year. And in a twist, the songwriter of the year category is completely dominated by “Despacito,” with every single finalist -- Daddy Yankee, Erika Ender, Luis Fonsi, Justin Bieber, Marty James Garton and Poo Bear -- a co-writer on the song.
Fonsi and Yankee are also both up for artist of the year.
The Billboard Latin Music Awards will air live April 26 from Las Vegas on the Telemundo network. The awards honor the most popular albums, songs and performers in Latin music, as determined by the sales, radio airplay, streaming and social data that informs Billboard's weekly charts during a one-year period from the issue dated Feb. 4, 2017, through this year's Jan. 27, 2018, issue. The awards are the culmination of the Billboard Latin Music Conference, which takes place April 23-26 at The Venetian in Las Vegas. For more information and registration, head here.
ARTIST CATEGORIES
Artist of the Year:
J Balvin
Daddy Yankee
Luis Fonsi
Ozuna
Artist of the Year, New:
Alta Consigna
Bad Bunny
El Fantasma y Banda Populares del Llano
Christian Nodal
Tour of the Year:
Marc Anthony
Ricardo Arjona
Enrique Iglesias & Pitbull
Marco Antonio Solis
Social Artist of the Year:
J Balvin
Jennifer Lopez
Maluma
Shakira
Crossover Artist of the Year:
Beyonce
Justin Bieber
Little Mix
Ed Sheeran
SONG CATEGORIES
Hot Latin Song of the Year:
J Balvin & Willy William Featuring Beyonce, “Mi Gente”
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber, “Despacito”
Maluma, “Felices Los 4”
Wisin Featuring Ozuna, “Escapate Conmigo”
Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event:
J Balvin & Willy William Featuring Beyonce, “Mi Gente”
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber, “Despacito”
Shakira Featuring Maluma, “Chantaje”
Wisin Featuring Ozuna, “Escapate Conmigo”
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Male:
J Balvin
Daddy Yankee
Luis Fonsi
Ozuna
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Female:
Becky G
Jennifer Lopez
Natti Natasha
Shakira
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Banda Sinaloense MS De Sergio Lizarraga
Calibre 50
CNCO
Zion & Lennox
Hot Latin Songs Label of the Year:
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
VP Entertainment
Warner Latina
Hot Latin Songs Imprint of the Year
Def Jam
Raymond Braun
Schoolboy
Sony Music Latin
Airplay Song of the Year
J Balvin & Willy William Featuring Beyonce, “Mi Gente”
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber, “Despacito”
Maluma, “Felices Los 4”
Wisin Featuring Ozuna, “Escapate Conmigo”
Airplay Label of the Year:
DEL
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Warner Latina
Airplay Imprint of the Year:
Fonovisa
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latino
WK
Digital Song of the Year:
J Balvin & Willy William Featuring Beyonce, “Mi Gente”
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber, “Despacito”
Maluma, “Felices Los 4”
Shakira Featuring Maluma, “Chantaje”
Streaming Song of the Year:
J Balvin & Willy William Featuring Beyonce, “Mi Gente”
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber, “Despacito”
Maluma, “Felices Los 4”
Shakira Featuring Maluma, “Chantaje”
ALBUM CATEGORIES
Top Latin Album of the Year:
J Balvin, “Energia”
Nicky Jam, “Fenix”
Ozuna, “Odisea”
Shakira, “El Dorado”
Top Latin Compilation Album of the Year:
“Dance Latin #1 Hits 2.0: Los Exitos Del Momento”
“Mexillennials: Los Exitos De Una Nueva Generacion”
“Summer Latin Hits 2017”
“Trap Capos: Season 1”
Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Male:
J Balvin
Romeo Santos
Nicky Jam
Ozuna
Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Female:
Alejandra Guzman
Karol G
Shakira
Gloria Trevi
Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizarraga
Calibre 50
CNCO
Los Plebes Del Rancho de Ariel Camacho
Top Latin Albums Label of the Year:
Lizos
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Warner Latina
Top Latin Albums Imprint of the Year:
Capitol Latin
DEL
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latino
LATIN POP CATEGORIES
Latin Pop Artist of the Year, Solo
Luis Fonsi
Enrique Iglesias
Juanes
Shakira
Latin Pop Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
CNCO
Jesse & Joy
Mana
Reik
Latin Pop Song of the Year
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber, “Despacito”
Enrique Iglesias Featuring Descemer Bueno, Zion & Lennox, “Subeme La Radio”
Shakira Featuring Maluma, “Chantaje”
Shakira, “Me Enamore”
Latin Pop Airplay Label of the Year
Pina
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Warner Latina
Latin Pop Airplay Imprint of the Year
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latino
Warner Latina
WK
Latin Pop Album of the Year:
Ricardo Arjona “Circo Soledad”
CNCO “Primera Cita”
Juanes “Mis Planes Son Amarte”
Shakira “El Dorado”
Latin Pop Albums Label of the Year:
Sony Music Latin
Universal Latin Music Entertainment
Warner Bros.
Warner Latina
Latin Pop Albums Imprint of the Year:
Fonovisa
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latino
Warner Latina
TROPICAL CATEGORIES
Tropical Artist of the Year, Solo:
Marc Anthony
Nacho
Prince Royce
Romeo Santos
Tropical Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Chiquito Team Band
Gente de Zona
Pirulo y La Tribu
La Sonora Dinamita
Tropical Song of the Year:
Nacho “Bailame”
Prince Royce & Shakira “Déjà Vu”
Romeo Santos “Heroe Favorito”
Romeo Santos “Imitadora”
Tropical Songs Airplay Label of the Year
D.A.M.
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Warner Latina
Tropical Songs Airplay Imprint of the Year
Machete
Magnus
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latino
Tropical Album of the Year:
Prince Royce “Five”
La Sonora Dinamita “Juntos Por La Sonora”
Romeo Santos “Golden”
Carlos Vives “Vives”
Tropical Albums Label of the Year:
The Orchard
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
World Circuit
Tropical Albums Imprint of the Year:
Magnus
The Orchard
Sony Music Latin
Top Stop
REGIONAL MEXICAN CATEGORIES
Regional Mexican Artist of the Year, Solo:
Regulo Caro
Christian Nodal
Alfredo Olivas
Gerardo Ortiz
Regional Mexican Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizarraga
Calibre 50
Ulices Chaidez y Sus Plebes
Los Plebes Del Rancho de Ariel Camacho
Regional Mexican Song of the Year:
Calibre 50 “Corrido de Juanito”
Calibre 50 “Siempre Te Voy A Querer”
Christian Nodal “Adios Amor”
Christian Nodal Featuring David Bisbal “Probablemente”
Regional Mexican Airplay Label of the Year
DEL
Lizos
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Regional Mexican Airplay Imprint of the Year
Andaluz
Disa
DEL
Fonovisa
Regional Mexican Album of the Year:
Banda Sinaloense MD de Sergio Lizarraga, La Mejor Version De Mi
Ulices Chaidez y Sus Plebes “Andamos En El Ruedo”
Christian Nodal “Me Deje Llevar”
Gerardo Ortiz “Comere Callado, Vol. 1: Con Norteno, Tuba y Guitarras”
Regional Mexican Albums Label of the Year:
DEL
Lizos
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Regional Mexican Albums Imprint of the Year:
DEL
Disa
Fonovisa
Lizos
LATIN RHYTHM CATEGORIES
Latin Rhythm Artist of the Year, Solo:
J Balvin
Daddy Yankee
Nicky Jam
Ozuna
Latin Rhythm Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Jowell & Randy
Plan B
Play-N-Skillz
Zion & Lennox
Latin Rhythm Song of the Year:
J Balvin & Willy William Featuring Beyonce, “Mi Gente”
Maluma, “Felices Los 4”
Nicky Jam, “El Amante”
Wisin Featuring Ozuna “Escapate Conmigo”
Latin Rhythm Airplay Label of the Year
Pina
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Warner Latina
Latin Rhythm Airplay Imprint of the Year
La Industria
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latino
WK
Latin Rhythm Album of the Year:
Nicky Jam “Fenix”
Ozuna “Odisea”
Yandel “#Update”
Zion & Lennox “Motivan2”
Latin Rhythm Albums Label of the Year:
El Cartel
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Warner Latina
Latin Rhythm Albums Imprint of the Year:
Capitol Latin
La Industria
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latino
WRITER/PRODUCER/PUBLISHER CATEGORIES
Songwriter of the Year:
Justin Bieber
Daddy Yankee
Erika Ender
Luis Fonsi
Marty James Garton
Poo Bear
Publisher of the Year:
BMG Gold Songs,ASCAP
Sony/ATV Discos Music Publishing LLC,ASCAP
Sony/ATV Latin Music Publishing, LLC,BMI
Universal Musica, Inc.,ASCAP
Publishing Corporation of the Year:
BMG
Sony/ATV Music
Universal Music
Warner/Chappell Music
Producer of the Year:
Chris Jeday
Mauricio Rengifo & Andres Torres
Saga Whiteblack
Wisin
Watch the Billboard Latin Music Awards April 26 on Telemundo at 8PM ET.