Following groundbreaking years that saw them set records in multiple arenas, Romeo Santos and Enrique Iglesias lead the list of finalists for the 2015 Billboard Latin Music Awards, presented by State Farm.
Santos, who made history last year when he played back to back shows at Yankee Stadium, leads with 21 entries in 16 categories, a record in the history of the awards. Iglesias follows closely with 19 entries in 15 categories. Both acts broke the previous record of most finalist nods for a single year, held by Tito El Bambino and Don Omar, who both garnered 18 nods in 2010 and 2013, respectively.
Finalists were announced during a press conference early Feb. 9 that was broadcast live on the network’s morning show Un Nuevo Dia. The awards will air live from Miami on the Telemundo network April 30.
Following in sheer number of finalist slots is Colombian chart newcomer J Balvin, who’s had a break-out year and is a 12-time finalist in 11 categories, largely on the strength of his hit “6 a.m.” Marc Anthony and Drake — yes, Drake, a finalist thanks to his collaboration with Santos on the single “Odio” — are both seven-time finalists. They’re followed by Descemer Bueno and Gente de Zona, up for six awards each thanks to Iglesias’ hit single “Bailando,” where they are both featured.
In turn, Farruko, featured in Balvin’s “6 a.m.,” is also a six-time finalist, and although five of those nods came from the hit single, he’s a contender in the Latin Rhythm Albums artist of the year, solo category. Also claiming six nods each are regional Mexican powerhouses Julion Alvarez y Su Norteño Banda and Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizarraga, who are up against each other in the Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group category, which is completely dominated by regional Mexican music (Banda Los Recoditos and Calibre 50 are the other two finalists).
Indeed, regional Mexican continues to be the most dynamic genre in terms of breaking new acts. Three out of the four finalists in the Artist of the year, new are regional Mexican–Kevin Ortiz, Banda Tierra Sagrada and Remmy Valenzuela–with J Balvin rounding up the quartet.
Other multiple finalists include Marco Antonio Solis, Santana and Prince Royce, up for five awards; the late Jenni Rivera, Calibre 50, Plan B and Wisin, up for four; Ricardo Arjona, Camila, Chayanne, Alexis & Fido and Juan Gabriel competing for three each; and Yandel, Shakira, Banda Los Recoditos, Ricky Martin, El Komander, Calle 13, Remmy Valenzuela, Juan Luis Guerra, Baby Rasta & Gringo up for two awards.
The Billboard Latin Music Awards honor the most popular albums, songs, and performers in Latin music, as determined by the actual sales, radio airplay, streaming and social data that informs Billboard’s weekly charts during a one-year period from the issue dated Feb. 1, 2014 through this year’s Jan. 31, 2015 issue.
The awards are the culmination of the Billboard Latin Music Conference, now in its 26th year and under the slogan “The Top Artists, The Top Trends, The Top Names in Music”. The conference is the biggest and longest-running event dedicated to Latin music in the world. It takes place on April 27-30 at The Ritz-Carlton in Miami Beach, Fla. For more information, visit BillboardLatinConference.com or email conferences@billboard.com
COMPLETE LIST OF FINALISTS
2015 BILLBOARD LATIN MUSIC AWARDS
Artist of the Year:
Prince Royce
Artist of the Year, New:
J. Balvin
Banda Tierra Sagrada
Kevin Ortiz
Remmy Valenzuela
Tour of the Year:
Marc Anthony
Enrique & Pitbull
Alejandro Fernandez
Juan Gabriel
Social Artist of the Year:
Enrique Iglesias
La Arrolladora Banda el Limon de Rene Camacho
Romeo Santos
Shakira
Crossover Artist of the Year:
Becky G
Jason Derulo
Drake
Pharrell Williams
SONGS CATEGORIES
Hot Latin Song of the Year:
J Balvin featuring Farruko “6 AM”
Enrique Iglesias featuring Descemer Bueno & Gente de Zona “Bailando”
Romeo Santos “Eres Mia”
Romeo Santos featuring Drake “Odio”
Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event:
J. Balvin featuring Farruko “6 AM”
Enrique Iglesias featuring Descemer Bueno & Gente de Zona “Bailando”
Enrique Iglesias featuring Marco Antonio Solis “El Perdedor”
Romeo Santos featuring Drake “Odio”
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Male:
J. Balvin
Enrique Iglesias
Prince Royce
Romeo Santos
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Female:
Chiquis
Natalia Jimenez
Jenni Rivera
Shakira
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Julion Alvarez Y Su Norteno Banda
Banda Los Recoditos
Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizarraga
Calibre 50
Hot Latin Songs Label of the Year:
Discos Sabinas
Remex
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Hot Latin Songs Imprint of the Year
Disa
Fonovisa
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latino
Airplay Song of the Year
J. Balvin featuring Farruko “6 AM”
Enrique Iglesias featuring Descemer Bueno & Gente de Zona “Bailando”
Romeo Santos “Eres Mia”
Romeo Santos featuring Drake “Odio”
Airplay Label of the Year:
RCA
Remex
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Airplay Imprint of the Year:
Disa
Fonovisa
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latino
Digital Song of the Year:
J. Balvin featuring Farruko “6 AM”
Enrique Iglesias featuring Descemer Bueno & Gente de Zona “Bailando”
Enrique Iglesias Featuring Marco Antonio Solis “El Perdedor”
Romeo Santos featuring Drake “Odio”
Streaming Song of the Year:
Enrique Iglesias featuring Descemer Bueno & Gente de Zona “Bailando”
Enrique Iglesias featuring Marco Antonio Solis “El Perdedor”
Romeo Santos “Eres Mia”
Romeo Santos featuring Drake “Odio”
Albums Categories
Top Latin Album of the Year:
Enrique Iglesias “Sex & Love”
Santana “Corazon
Romeo Santos “Formula, Vol. 2”
Various Artists “Las Bandas Romanticas De America 2014”
Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Male:
Marc Anthony
Enrique Iglesias
Juan Gabriel
Romeo Santos
Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Female:
Ana Gabriel
Lucero
Jenni Rivera
Thalia
Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizarraga
Calibre 50
Julion Alvarez & Su Norteno Banda
Santana
Top Latin Albums Label of the Year:
Remex
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Warner Latina
Top Latin Albums Imprint of the Year:
Fonovisa
Republic
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latino
Latin Pop Categories
Latin Pop Song of the Year
Camila “Decidiste Dejarme”
Chayanne “Humanos A Marte”
Enrique Iglesias featuring Descemer Bueno & Gente de Zona “Bailando”
Enrique Iglesias featuring Marco Antonio Solis “El Perdedor”
Latin Pop Songs Artist of the Year, Solo
Ricardo Arjona
Enrique Iglesias
Juanes
Ricky Martin
Latin Pop Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Camila
Jesse & Joy
La Ley
Santana
Latin Pop Airplay Label of the Year
RCA
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Warner Latina
Latin Pop Airplay Imprint of the Year
Capitol Latin
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latino
Warner Latina
Latin Pop Album of the Year:
Enrique Iglesias “Sex & Love”
Santana “Corazon”
Ricardo Arjona “Viaje”
Chayanne “En Todo Estare”
Latin Pop Albums Artist of the Year, Solo:
Ricardo Arjona
Chayanne
Enrique Iglesias
Marco Antonio Solis
Latin Pop Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Camila
Grupo Nueva Vida
Santana
Tercer Cielo
Latin Pop Albums Label of the Year:
Multimusic
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Warner Latina
Latin Pop Albums Imprint of the Year:
RCA
Republic
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latino
Tropical Categories
Tropical Song of the Year:
Marc Anthony “Flor Palida”
Romeo Santos featuring Drake “Odio”
Romeo Santos “Eres Mia”
Romeo Santos featuring Marc Anthony “Yo Tambien”
Tropical Songs Artist of the Year, Solo:
Marc Anthony
Prince Royce
Romeo Santos
Victor Manuelle
Tropical Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Alexis & Fido
Baby Rasta & Gringo
Chino & Nacho
Plan B
Tropical Songs Airplay Label of the Year
Siente
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Venemusic
Tropical Songs Airplay Imprint of the Year
Capitol Latin
Machete
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latino
Tropical Album of the Year:
Juan Luis Guerra “Todo Tiene Su Hora”
Romeo Santos “Formula, Vol. 2”
Various Artists “Que Lindo Es Puerto Rico”
Various Artists “Sergio George Presents: Salsa Giants + Plus EP”
Tropical Albums Artist of the Year, Solo:
Marc Anthony
Juan Luis Guerra
Romeo Santos
Prince Royce
Tropical Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico
Grupo Niche
Pirulo Y La Tribu
Don Perignon Y La Orquesta Puertoriquena
Tropical Albums Label of the Year:
Planet Records
Popular
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Tropical Albums Imprint of the Year:
Capitol Latin
Sony Music Latin
Top Stop
Universal Music Latino
Regional Mexican Categories
Regional Mexican Song of the Year:
Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizarraga “Hermosa Experencia”
Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizarraga “No Me Pidas Perdon”
El Komander “Soy De Rancho”
Julion Alvarez Y Su Norteno Banda “Y Asi Fue”
Regional Mexican Songs Artist of the Year, Solo:
El Komander
Gerardo Ortiz
Noel Torres
Remmy Valenzuela
Regional Mexican Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizarraga
Calibre 50
Julion Alvarez Y Su Norteno Banda
Banda Los Recoditos
Regional Mexican Airplay Label of the Year
Discos Sabinas
Remex
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Regional Mexican Airplay Imprint of the Year
DEL
Disa
Fonovisa
Remex
Regional Mexican Album of the Year:
Julion Alvarez y Su Norteno Banda “Soy Lo Que Quiero: Indispensable”
Juan Gabriel “Mis 40 En Bellas Artes”
Jenni Rivera “1969-Siempre: En Vivo Desde Monterrey: Parte 2”
Various Artists “Las Bandas Romanticas de America 2014”
Regional Mexican Albums Artist of the Year, Solo:
Luis Coronel
Juan Gabriel
Jenni Rivera
Roberto Tapia
Regional Mexican Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Calibre 50
Julion Alvarez Y Su Norteno Banda
Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizarraga
Los Tigres Del Norte
Regional Mexican Albums Label of the Year:
Freddie
Remex
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Regional Mexican Albums Imprint of the Year:
DEL
Disa
Fonovisa
Remex
Latin Rhythm Categories
Latin Rhythm Song of the Year:
J. Balvin featuring Farruko “6 AM”
J. Balvin “Ay Vamos”
Nicky Jam “Travesuras”
Wisin featuring Jennifer Lopez & Ricky Martin “Adrenalina”
Latin Rhythm Songs Artist of the Year, Solo:
J. Balvin
Don Omar
Wisin
Yandel
Latin Rhythm Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Alexis & Fido
Baby Rasta & Gringo
Plan B
Zion & Lennox
Latin Rhythm Airplay Label of the Year
Pina
Siente
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Latin Rhythm Airplay Imprint of the Year
Capitol Latin
Machete
Pina
Sony Music Latin
Latin Rhythm Album of the Year:
J. Balvin “La Familia”
Calle 13 “Multiviral”
Plan B “Love & Sex”
Wisin “El Regreso Del Sobreviviente”
Latin Rhythm Albums Artist of the Year, Solo:
J. Balvin
Farruko
Wisin
Yandel
Latin Rhythm Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Alexis & Fido
Calle 13
Cartel De Santa
Plan B
Latin Rhythm Albums Label of the Year:
Nacional
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Warner Latina
Latin Rhythm Albums Imprint of the Year:
Capitol Latin
El Abismo
Pina
Sony Music Latin
Writers/Producers/Publishers Categories
Songwriter of the Year:
Jose Alvaro Osorio Balvin
Horacio Palencia Cisneros
Luciano Luna Diaz
Anthony “Romeo” Santos
Publisher of the Year:
Mayimba Music, Inc., ASCAP
Palabras De Romeo, ASCAP
Sony/ATV Discos Music Publishing LLC, ASCAP
Universal Music Latina, SESAC
Publishing Corporation of the Year:
Peermusic
Sony/ATV Music
Universal Music
Warner/Chappell Music
Producer of the Year:
Jesus Tirado Castaneda
Carlos Paucar
Alejandro “Sky” Ramirez
Anthony “Romeo” Santos