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Billboard Latin Music Awards: Don Omar, Romeo Santos & Jenni Rivera Among Top Finalists

After leading the 2012 list of finalists for the Billboard Latin Music Awards with 16 finalist nods, Don Omar returns in 2013 with 18 nods, including Artist of the Year.

Don Omar has done it again. After leading the 2012 list of finalists for the Billboard Latin Music Awards with 16 finalist nods, he returns in 2013 with 18 nods, including Artist of the Year; Social Artist of the Year and Streaming Artist of the Year.

Full List of Finalists

Following with 12 nods is bachata star Romeo Santos, while urban duo Wisin & Yandel and the late Jenni Rivera are tied with 11 nods each. Prince Royce and Pitbull, major finalists last year, also returned with 10 and nine nods respectively, while newcomers 3BallMTY notched eight.

With the exception of Rivera, what all leading finalists have in common are the up-tempo, dance tracks that continue to dominate U.S. Latin radio today. Deeper mining of the finalists also finds regional Mexican acts La Arrolladora Banda el Limón de René Camacho and Gerardo Ortiz with seven and six nods, respectively, rockers Maná with five and pop act Ricardo Arjona with three.

The 2013 Billboard Latin Awards presented by State Farm mark the 15th-year anniversary of the awards on the Telemundo network, which will produce and broadcast the show live on April 25 from the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami in Florida. The awards are the culmination of the Billboard Latin Music Conference, which takes place April 22-24 at the JW Marriot Marquis in Miami. Billboard and Telemundo announced finalists during a press conference at the Gibson Showroom in Miami that also featured finalists América Sierra, Gerardo Ortiz and Chino y Nacho, and Telemundo actor and singer Jencarlos Canela.

Related

In a reflection of the increasing importance of social and digital media for the Latin business, the 2013 Billboard Latin Music Awards featured two new categories: Streaming Artist of the Year and Streaming Song of the Year. Last year, the awards added a Social Artist of the Year category, determined by the new Billboard Social 50 chart.

Indeed, Don Omar returns as a leading finalist thanks in no small measure to his social clout. The Puerto Rican singer/composer/producer’s nods include the above mentioned awards as well as Songs Artist of the Year, Male; Albums Artist of the Year, Male and Songwriter of the Year. His album “Don Omar Presents MT02: New Generation” (Orfanato/Machete/UMLE) competes for Latin Rhythm Album of the Year and Digital Album of the Year. Three of Don Omar’s hit songs — “Dutty Love,” featuring Natty Natasha, “Hasta Que Salga El Sol” and the ever-lasting “Danza Kuduro” — are finalists in various song categories.

Bachata superstar singer and songwriter Romeo Santos’ nods include Artist of the Year and Albums Artist of the Year, Male. His album “Formula: Vol. 1” (Sony Music Latin) vies for Album of the Year, Digital Album of the Year and competes against “The King Stays King: Sold Out at Madison Square Garden” (Sony Music Latin) for Tropical Album of the Year. Santos’ song “Promise,” featuring Usher, contends for Digital Song of the Year, Streaming Song of the Year, and Tropical Song of the Year where it’s up against his song “La Diabla.”

Puerto Rican Reggaeton duo Wisin & Yandel are up for 11 awards including: Streaming Artist of the Year and Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group. The album “Lideres” (Machete/UMLE) is up for Latin Rhythm Album of the Year and Digital Album of the Year. Their song “Algo Me Gusta de Ti,” featuring Chris Brown and T-Pain, is up for Song of the Year, Vocal Event and Latin Pop Song of the Year; while their collaboration with Jennifer Lopez “Follow the Leader” vies for Streaming Song of the Year.

The late Jenni Rivera, whose already strong sales exploded further after her death, is this year’s leading female finalist, also up for 11 awards. Her album “Joyas Prestadas: Pop” (Fonovisa/UMLE) is up for Album of the Year and Latin Pop Album of the Year; “La Misma Gran Señora” (Fonovisa/UMLE) also vies for Album of the Year and Regional Mexican Album of the Year; in the latter category she competes against herself with “Joyas Prestadas: Banda” (Fonovisa/UMLE). 

Prince Royce competes for 10 awards in nine categories including Artist of the Year and Songs Artist of the Year, Male while his album “Phase II” (Top Stop) is up for Album of the Year; Digital Album of the Year; and Tropical Album of the Year.  The songs “Incondicional” and “Las Cosas Pequeñas” vie for Tropical Song of the Year.

Pitbull’s nine finalist nods include Social Artist of the Year and Streaming Artist of the Year, while his collaboration on Juan Magán’s “Bailando Por El Mundo” also featuring El Cata is up for Song of the Year, among other categories.

Mexican newcomers 3BallMTY cap off a sensational year with eight nods, including Artist of the Year, New and Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group. Their debut album  “Intentalo” (Fonovisa/UMLE) competes for Regional Mexican Album of the Year, while the song by the same name, a collaboration with El Bebeto and America Sierra, vies for Song of the Year, among other awards.

The Billboard Latin Music Awards honors 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 February 4, 2012, through this year’s January 26, 2013, issue. Finalists, and the eventual winners, reflect performance of new recordings on Billboard’s album and track sales charts, including Top Latin Albums and Latin Digital Songs, radio charts, including Latin Airplay, and streaming and social charts such as On-Demand Songs, Streaming Songs and Social 50.

 

NEXT PAGE: See a Full List of Finalists

 

Full List of Finalists:

Artist of the Year:
Don Omar
Prince Royce
Jenni Rivera
Romeo Santos

Artist of the Year, New:
New Artist could not have a charting album on Latin Albums charts prior to Nov 12, 2011.
3BallMTY
Juan Magan
Jesus Ojeda y Sus Parientes
Michel Telo

Tour of the Year:
Vicente Fernandez
GIGANT3S: Marc Anthony, Chayanne & Marco Antonio Solis
Enrique Iglesias & Jennifer Lopez
Mana

Social Artist of the Year:
Don Omar
Pitbull
Shakira
Michel Telo

Streaming Artist of the Year:
Don Omar
Pitbull
Shakira
Wisin & Yandel

Crossover Artist of the Year:
Chris Brown
Flo Rida
PSY
Rihanna

Song of the Year:
3BallMTY Featuring El Bebeto & America Sierra “Intentalo”
Juan Magan Featuring Pitbull & El Cata “Bailando Por El Mundo”
Don Omar Featuring Natty Natasha “Dutty Love”
Michel Telo “Ai Se Eu Te Pego”

Song of the Year, Vocal Event:
3BallMTY Featuring El Bebeto & America Sierra “Intentalo”
Juan Magan Featuring Pitbull & El Cata “Bailando Por El Mundo”
Don Omar Featuring Natty Natasha “Dutty Love”
Wisin & Yandel Featuring Chris Brown & T-Pain “Algo Me Gusta De Ti”

Songs Artist of the Year, Male:
Daddy Yankee
Don Omar
Pitbull
Prince Royce

Songs Artist of the Year, Female:
Leslie Grace
Jennifer Lopez
Jenni Rivera
Shakira

Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizarraga
Calibre 50
La Arrolladora Banda el Limon de Rene Camacho
Wisin & Yandel

Airplay Song of the Year:
La Arrolladora Banda el Limon de Rene Camacho “Llamada De Mi Ex”
Juan Magan Featuring Pitbull & El Cata “Bailando Por El Mundo”
Don Omar Featuring Natty Natasha “Dutty Love”
Michel Telo “Ai Se Eu Te Pego”

Digital Song of the Year:
Don Omar & Lucenzo “Danza Kuduro”
Don Omar Featuring Natty Natasha “Dutty Love”
Romeo Santos Featuring Usher “Promise”
Michel Telo “Ai Se Eu Te Pego”

Streaming Song of the Year:
3BallMTY Featuring El Bebeto & America Sierra “Intentalo”
Don Omar & Lucenzo “Danza Kuduro”
Romeo Santos Featuring Usher “Promise”
Wisin & Yandel + Jennifer Lopez “Follow the Leader”

Latin Airplay Label of the Year:
Sony Music Latin
Top Stop
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Warner Latina

Latin Airplay Imprint of the Year:
Disa
Fonovisa
Machete
Sony Music Latin

Album of the Year:
Jenni Rivera “Joyas Prestadas: Pop”
Jenni Rivera “La Misma Gran Señora”
Prince Royce “Phase II”
Romeo Santos “Formula: Vol. 1”

Albums Artist of the Year, Male:
Don Omar
Gerardo Ortiz
Prince Royce
Romeo Santos

Albums Artist of the Year, Female:
Ednita Nazario
Jenni Rivera
Shakira
Yuridia

Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
3BallMTY (Fonovisa/UMLE)
La Arrolladora Banda el Limon de Rene Camacho (Disa/UMLE)
Mana (Warner Latina)
Wisin & Yandel (Machete/UMLE)

Digital Album of the Year:
Don Omar “Don Omar Presents MT02: New Generation”
Prince Royce “Phase II”
Romeo Santos “Formula: Vol. 1”
Wisin & Yandel “Lideres”

Top Latin Albums Label of the Year:
Atlantic Group
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Warner Latina

Top Latin Albums Imprint of the Year:
Disa
Fonovisa
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latino

Latin Pop Song of the Year:
Jesse & Joy “Corre!”
Shakira “Addicted To You”
Michel Telo “Ai Se Eu Te Pego”
Wisin & Yandel Featuring Chris Brown & T-Pain “Algo Me Gusta De Ti”

Latin Pop Songs Artist of the Year, Solo:
Ricardo Arjona
Enrique Iglesias
Michel Telo
Shakira

Latin Pop Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Jesse & Joy
Mana
Reik
Wisin & Yandel

Latin Pop Airplay Label of the Year:
Sony Music Latin
Top Stop
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Warner Latina

Latin Pop Airplay Imprint of the Year:
Machete
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Warner Latina

Latin Pop Album of the Year:
Ricardo Arjona “Independiente”
Mana “Drama y Luz”
Jenni Rivera “Joyas Prestadas: Pop”
Alejandro Sanz “La Musica No Se Toca”

Latin Pop Albums Artist of the Year, Solo:
Ricardo Arjona
Jenni Rivera
Alejandro Sanz
Shakira

Latin Pop Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Camila (Sony Music Latin)
Il Volo (Universal Music Latino/UMLE)
Jesse & Joy (Warner Latina)
Mana (Warner Latina)

Latin Pop Albums Label of the Year:
Capitol Latin
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Warner Latina

Latin Pop Albums Imprint of the Year:
Fonovisa
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latino
Warner Latina

Tropical Song of the Year:
Prince Royce “Incondicional”
Prince Royce “Las Cosas Pequeñas”
Romeo Santos “La Diabla”
Romeo Santos Featuring Usher “Promise”

 Tropical Songs Artist of the Year, Solo:
Elvis Crespo
Prince Royce
Romeo Santos
Tito “El Bambino”

Tropical Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Chino & Nacho
Grupo Treo
Ilegales
N’Klabe

Tropical Songs Airplay Label of the Year:
Sony Music Latin
Top Stop
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Venemusic

Tropical Songs Airplay Imprint of the Year:
Machete
Sony Music Latin
Top Stop
Universal Music Latino

Tropical Album of the Year:
Victor Manuelle “Busco Un Pueblo”
Prince Royce “Phase II”
Romeo Santos “Formula: Vol. 1”
Romeo Santos “The King Stays King: Sold Out At Madison Square Garden”

Tropical Albums Artist of the Year, Solo:
Juan Luis Guerra
Victor Manuelle
Prince Royce
Romeo Santos

Tropical Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Aventura
Don Perignon y La Orquesta Puertorriqueña
El Gran Combo De Puerto Rico
N’Klabe

Tropical Albums Label of the Year:
Atlantic Group
Capitol Latin
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 Song of the Year:
3BallMTY Featuring El Bebeto & America Sierra “Intentalo”
La Arrolladora Banda el Limon de Rene Camacho “Llamada De Mi Ex”
Gerardo Ortiz “Amor Confuso”
Espinoza Paz “Un Hombre Normal”

Regional Mexican Songs Artist of the Year, Solo:
Larry Hernandez
Gerardo Ortiz
Espinoza Paz
Jenni Rivera

Regional Mexican Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizarraga
Calibre 50
La Arrolladora Banda el Limon de Rene Camacho
La Original Banda el Limon de Salvador Lizarraga

Regional Mexican Airplay Label of the Year:
Skalona
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Venemusic

Regional Mexican Airplay Imprint of the Year:
Del
Disa
Fonovisa
Sony Music Latin
Sony Music Latin

Regional Mexican Album of the Year:
Jenni Rivera “Joyas Prestadas: Banda”
Jenni Rivera “La Misma Gran Señora”
3BallMTY “Intentalo”
La Arrolladora Banda el Limon de Rene Camacho “Irreversible…2012”

Regional Mexican Albums Artist of the Year, Solo:
Larry Hernandez
Gerardo Ortiz
Espinoza Paz
Jenni Rivera

Regional Mexican Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
3BallMTY
El Trono De Mexico
La Arrolladora Banda el Limon de Rene Camacho
Los Bukis

Regional Mexican Albums Label of the Year:
Freddie
Skalona
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment

Regional Mexican Albums Imprint of the Year:
Del
Disa
Freddie
Fonovisa

Latin Rhythm Song of the Year:
Juan Magan Featuring Pitbull & El Cata “Bailando Por El Mundo”
Daddy Yankee “Lovumba (Prestige)”
Don Omar “Hasta Que Salga El Sol”
Don Omar Featuring Natty Natasha “Dutty Love”

Latin Rhythm Songs Artist of the Year, Solo:
Daddy Yankee
Juan Magan
Don Omar
Pitbull

Latin Rhythm Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Alexis & Fido
Dyland & Lenny
Plan B
Wisin & Yandel

Latin Rhythm Airplay Label of the Year:
Capitol Latin
Pina
Sony Music Latin
Universal Music Latin Entertainment

Latin Rhythm Airplay Imprint of the Year:
El Cartel
Machete
Orfanato
Sony Music Latin

Latin Rhythm Album of the Year:
Daddy Yankee “Prestige”
Don Omar “Don Omar Presents MT02: New Generation”
Wisin & Yandel “Lideres”
Various Artists “Pina Records Presenta: La Formula: The Company”

Latin Rhythm Albums Artist of the Year, Solo:
Daddy Yankee (El Cartel/Capitol Latin)
Don Omar (Orfanato/Machete/UMLE)
Pitbull (Mr. 305/Famous Artist/Sony Music Latin)
Tito “El Bambino” (Siente/UMLE)

Latin Rhythm Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Akwid (Platino)
Alexis & Fido (Sony Music Latin)
Kinto Sol (Luz/Sony Music Latin)
Wisin  & Yandel (WY/Machete/UMLE)

Latin Rhythm Albums Label of the Year:
Capitol Latin
Nelflow
Sony Music Latin
Universal Latin Music Entertainment

Latin Rhythm Albums Imprint of the Year:
El Cartel
Machete
Orfanato
Pina

Songwriter of the Year:
Horacio Palencia Cisneros
Isidro Chavez “Espinoza Paz” Espinoza
William “Don” Omar Landron
Gerardo Ortiz

Publisher of the Year:
ARPA Musical, LLC, BMI
Del Melodies,BMI
EMI Blackwood Music Inc, BMI
Los Cangris Publishing, ASCAP

Publishing Corporation of the Year:
EMI Music
Sony/ATV Music
Universal Music
Warner/Chappell Music

Producer of the Year:
Jesus Tirado Castañeda
Sergio George
Gerardo Ortiz
Fernando Camacho Tirado