Romeo Santos
Erniel Rodriguez
Back in February, Billboard announced the finalists for the Billboard Latin Music Awards, originally scheduled for April. The pandemic led to the rescheduling of the awards, which are now taking place Oct. 21 in Miami.
The list of finalists, however, remains unchanged.
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Billboard and Telemundo have officially unveiled the 2020 Billboard Latin Music Awards finalists; Bad Bunny and Ozuna lead with 14 mentions each. They are followed by other top finalists including Daddy Yankee (12), J Balvin (12), and Anuel AA (11).
One of the highly-anticipated titles of the coveted awards is artist of the year, which this year includes finalists Bad Bunny, Ozuna, J Balvin and Romeo Santos. Ozuna nabbed the award in 2018 and 2019 and in 2016, Santos took the title home.
The only awards show to honor the most popular albums, songs and performers in Latin music, the awards are determined by the actual sales, streaming, radio airplay and social data that informs Billboard‘s weekly charts during a one-year period from the rankings dated February 2, 2019, through this year’s January 25 charts.
The Billboard Latin Music Awards 2020 will broadcast live on Oct. 21 via Telemundo.
Learn more about the 2020 artist of the year finalists below.
BAD BUNNY
Bad Bunny has brought Latin trap music to the masses in his own terms, always making a fashion statement and penning lyrics about social issues he cares about. The Puerto Rican artist first got on the radar in 2017 when he joined J Balvin for “Si Tu Novio Te Deja Sola.” Since, he’s collaborated with top-notch artists such as Drake, Cardi B, and Jennifer Lopez. His debut studio album X 100Pre scored Bunny his first No. 1 on the Top Latin Albums chart dated Jan. 5, 2019. Bad Bunny is a 14-time finalist at the 2020 Billboard Latin Music Awards.
OZUNA
Also a 14-time finalist at this year’s award, Ozuna holds the record as the artist with most nods to the Billboard Latin Music Awards in a single year (23) on Feb. 12, 2019, and most Billboard Latin Music Award wins for a single artist in a single year (11) on April 25, 2019. His debut album Odisea, topped Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart for 46 weeks from Sept. 16, 2017, through Sept. 1, 2018, making him the male singer with the most weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart. Ozuna is also confirmed to speak at this year’s Billboard and Telemundo’s LatinFest+, taking place from Las Vegas on Apr 20-23.
J BALVIN
J Balvin is also confirmed to speak at this year’s LatinFest+, taking place from Las Vegas on Apr 20-23. The Colombian artist, who took the stage at the Super Bowl 54 Halftime Show as J.Lo’s guest, is an artist of the year finalist for four years in a row. Balvin scored his first No. 1 on the Hot 100 with Cardi B’s “I Like It.” He recently claimed his 55th entry on the Hot Latin Songs chart with “Ritmo,” his latest collaboration with Black Eyed Peas. The song also became his eighth No. 1.
ROMEO SANTOS
Romeo Santos became artist of the year at the 2016 Billboard Latin Music Awards. Now, he’s up for the title against three of reggaeton’s biggest names. As part of the bachata-urbano movement, Santos, former lead of Aventura, helped push the Dominican genre on the map with hits such as “Obsesion,” “Por Un Beso,” “Eres Mia,” and “Propuesta Indecente.” With his fourth studio album Utopia, Santos claimed his fifth consecutive No. 1 on the Top Latin Albums chart.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary as the longest-running and biggest Latin music industry, Latin Music Week 2020 is set to take place October 20-23. This year’s festivities will be virtual, and will feature intimate artist conversations, industry panels, workshops and performances. Superstars J Balvin, Black Eyed Peas, Ozuna, Maluma, Rosalía and Carlos Vives will participate in this year’s Latin Music Week, a three-day immersive experience dedicated to Latin Music, culture and entertainment.