Perennial Latin Grammy favorites Calle 13 once again topped the list of nominees for the 15th annual Latin Grammy Awards, notching nine nods. Eduardo Cabra, one half of the Puerto Rican rap duo, was the overall leader with 10 nods, thanks to his work with Calle 13 and as a producer on Jorge Drexler’s album Bailar en La Cueva.
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Following Calle 13 was songwriter/producer Andrés Castro with eight nods, most of the mcoming from his work with Carlos Vives; mastering engineer Tom Coyne with seven from multiple projects; producer/songwrier Julio Reyes Copello and Carlos Vives with six; and Descemer Bueno and Enrique Iglesias with five each, thanks to their mega hit “Bailando.”
This year, as last, there were 10 nominees in each of the main categories, including Best New Artist, where the field was populated with little-known acts from around the world, none of which has garnered any significant commercial success in the U.S.
But the most significant nominations are Calle 13’s. The irreverent group has long been a Latin Grammy favorite with their mix of sophisticated production and incisive — often divisive — lyrics, and in 2011, they garnered 10 nominations for their album Entren Los Que Quieran (Sony Music Latin).
This time, Calle 13 released Multiviral on their own label, with Sony distribution and marketing. But promotion of the album was decidedly unconventional, with a focus on digital efforts and live performance and virtually zero radio.
Calle 13’s nods include Album of the Year, Record of the Year (for “Respira el Momento”) and Song of the Year (for “Ojos color sol,” feat. Cuban singer/songwriter Silvio Rodriguez).
Calle 13 also got nods in the Best Urban Song and Best Alternative Song categories.
Carlos Vives, last year’s big winner, was again a major finalist thanks to his follow-up album, Más + Corazón Profundo (Sony Music). Vives is also up for Song of the Year with two compositions: “Cuando nos volvamos a encontrar,” featuring Marc Anthony and “El mar de sus ojos,” feat. ChocQuibTown.
In a major surprise, Enrique Iglesias received five (along with Descemer Bueno), including Record of the Year fand Best Urban Performance for his mega-hit “Bailando,” (Universal/Republic) feat. Bueno (who co-wrote the song) and Gente de Zona.
In a departure, and in celebration of the award’s 15th anniversary — a major milestone — the nominations were not announced at a press conference but on a video that was put up on the Latin Grammy site early this morning, with announcements made by a wide array of artsits and fans.
The Latin Grammys will air live Nov. 20 on Univision.