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.
