NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OR PUBLICATION PRIOR TO 2/5/13 AT 10AM ET
DON OMAR, ROMEO SANTOS, WISIN & YANDEL, JENNI RIVERA, PRINCE ROYCE, PITBULL, 3BALLMTY, LA ARROLLADORA BANDA EL LIMON DE RENE CAMACHO, MICHEL TELO AND SHAKIRA TOP THE LIST OF FINALISTS FOR THE 2013 BILLBOARD LATIN MUSIC AWARDS PRESENTED BY STATE FARM® TO BROADCAST LIVE ON TELEMUNDO APRIL 25
· Mexican Singer Gerardo Ortiz to Perform at Telemundo’s 15th Anniversary of the Most Prestigious Latin Music Awards
· Topping the List of Finalists is Don Omar, up for 18 Awards, Followed by 12-time Finalist Romeo Santos, while Wisin & Yandel and the late Jenni Rivera are Both up for 11 Awards
Miami – February 5, 2013 – Billboard and Telemundo announced today the finalists for the 2013 Billboard Latin Music Awards presented by State Farm® during a press conference at the Gibson Showroom in Miami, Florida. Topping the list of finalists competing in multiple categories are Don Omar (18), Romeo Santos (12), Wisin & Yandel (11), Jenni Rivera (11), Prince Royce (10), Pitbull (9), 3BallMTY (8), La Arrolladora Banda el Limon de Rene Camacho (7), Michel Telo (7), and Shakira (7). In addition, the network also announced renowned Mexican singer and finalist Gerardo Ortiz as its first confirmed performer for the star-studded award ceremony. The awards ceremony will be produced and broadcast live by Telemundo Thursday, April 25 at 7pm/6c from the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami in Florida, marking the network’s 15th year of broadcasting the most prestigious Latin music awards show. The complete list of finalists, in addition to exclusive content about this year’s event, can be found at www.Telemundo.com/PremiosBillboard - the official website of the 2013 Billboard Latin Music Awards presented by State Farm®. Follow the star-studded event at: Twitter.com/LatinBillboards and Facebook.com/PremiosBillboardTelemundo.
This year’s list of finalists includes two new categories: Streaming Artist of the Year and Streaming Song of the Year, which highlight top viewed or played Latin artists and Latin songs respectively, based on data from leading online or mobile music sites. Don Omar, Pitbull, Shakira and Wisin & Yandel are finalists for Streaming Artist of the Year; while “Intentalo” by 3BallMTY featuring El Bebeto and America Sierra, “Danza Kuduro” by Don Omar and Lucenzo, “Promise” by Romeo Santos featuring Usher, and “Follow the Leader” by Wisin & Yandel with Jennifer Lopez vie for Streaming Song of the Year.
An 18-time finalist in 16 categories, music phenomenon and social media maven Don Omar, tops the list of finalists and is up for awards in major categories including: Artist of the Year; Social Artist of the Year; Streaming Artist of the Year; Songs Artist of the Year, Male; Albums Artist of the Year, Male; Latin Rhythm Songs Artist of the Year, Solo; Latin Rhythm Albums Artist of the Year, Solo; and Songwriter of the Year. His album “Don Omar Presents MT02: New Generation” competes for Latin Rhythm Album of the Year and Digital Album of the Year. Three of Don Omar’s hit songs are finalists in various song categories. “Dutty Love” featuring Natty Natasha is up for Song of the Year; Song of the Year, Vocal Event; Airplay Song of the Year; Latin Rhythm Song of the Year where it competes with “Hasta Que Salga el Sol”, and Digital Song of the Year, vying against his own collaboration with Lucenzo “Danza Kuduro.” The latter is also up for Streaming Song of the Year.
Bachata superstar singer and songwriter Romeo Santos is a 12-time finalist with multiple albums and multiple songs. He is up for Artist of the Year; Albums Artist of the Year, Male; Tropical Songs Artist of the Year, Solo; and Tropical Albums Artist of the Year, Solo. His album “Formula: Vol. 1” vies for Album of the Year, Digital Album of the Year and competes against “The King Stays King: Sold Out at Madison Square Garden” for Tropical Album of the Year. Romeo 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 competes for 11 awards including: Streaming Artist of the Year; Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group; Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group; Latin Pop Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group; Latin Rhythm Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group; and Latin Rhythm Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group. The album “Lideres” contends 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 recent works by the late Mexican music singer Jenni Rivera positioned her as the leading female artist this year, competing for 11 awards with three of her albums also finalists in various categories. “Joyas Prestadas: Pop” is up for the coveted Album of the Year and Latin Pop Album of the Year; “La Misma Gran Señora” also vies Album of the Year and Regional Mexican Album of the Year; the latter category also in competition with her album “Joyas Prestadas: Banda.” Rivera also contends for Artist of the Year; Songs Artist of the Year, Female; Albums Artist of the Year, Female; Latin Pop Albums Artist of the Year, Solo; Regional Mexican Songs Artist of the Year, Solo; and Regional Mexican Albums Artist of the Year, Solo.
Tropical music sensation Prince Royce competes for 10 awards in nine categories including Artist of the Year; Songs Artist of the Year, Male; Albums Artist of the Year, Male; Tropical Songs Artist of the Year, Solo; and Tropical Albums Artist of the Year, Solo. His latest album “Phase II” 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.
Miami born artist, Pitbull, known for his successful collaborations with other singers, is a nine-time finalist for Social Artist of the Year; Streaming Artist of the Year; Songs Artist of the Year, Male; Latin Rhythm Songs Artist of the Year, Solo; and Latin Rhythm Albums Artist of the Year, Solo. His collaboration on Juan Magan’s “Bailando Por El Mundo” also featuring El Cata is up for Song of the Year; Song of the Year, Vocal Event; Airplay Song of the Year; and Latin Rhythm Song of the Year.
Up for eight awards is Mexican newcomer trio 3BallMTY, finalists for Artist of the Year, New; Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group; and Regional Mexican Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group. Their first album “Intentalo” 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; Song of the Year, Vocal Event; Streaming Song of the Year; and Regional Mexican Song of the Year.
Finalists up for seven awards include international leading female singer Shakira, Brazilian sensation Michel Telo and leading Mexican banda music group La Arrolladora Banda el Limon de Rene Camacho. Shakira competes for Social Artist of the Year; Streaming Artist of the Year; Songs Artist of the Year, Female; Albums Artist of the Year, Female; Latin Pop Songs Artist of the Year, Solo; and Latin Pop Albums Artist of the Year, Solo. Her song “Addicted to You” is up for Latin Pop Song of the Year. Michel Telo vies for Artist of the Year, New; Social Artist of the Year; and Latin Pop Songs Artist of the Year, Solo. His song “Ai Se Eu Te Pego” is up for Song of the Year; Airplay Song of the Year; Digital Song of the Year; and Latin Pop Song of the Year. La Arrolladora Banda el Limon de Rene Camacho competes for Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group; Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group; Regional Mexican Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group; and Regional Mexican Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group. Their album “Irreversible... 2012” is up for Regional Mexican Album of the Year, while their hit song “Llamada de Mi Ex” contends for Airplay Song of the Year and Regional Mexican Song of the Year.
Prominent Corrido singer Gerardo Ortiz and DJ sensation Juan Magan are up for six awards; while Reggaeton leading man Daddy Yankee, leading Rock en Español band Mana and Natty Natasha vie for five awards each. Finalists up for four awards include: America Sierra, El Bebeto, El Cata and Espinoza Paz. Meanwhile, Chris Brown, Jennifer Lopez, Jesse & Joy, Ricardo Arjona and Usher are finalists for three awards each. Alejandro Sanz, Alexis & Fido, Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizarraga, Calibre 50, Enrique Iglesias, Larry Hernandez, Lucenzo, N'Klabe, Tito "El Bambino,” T-Pain and Victor Manuelle are up for two awards. Thirty three other musical acts are one-time finalists this year.
Billboard will also present its prestigious discretionary awards including the Billboard Spirit of Hope Award, the Billboard Hall of Fame Award, and the Billboard Lifetime Achievement Award. Past winners of Billboard’s discretionary awards include, among others: Intocable, Marc Anthony, Soraya, Banda El Recodo, Willy Chirino, Gloria Estefan, Vicente Fernandez, Shakira, Mongo Santamaria, Jose Feliciano, Los Tigres Del Norte, Mana, Ricky Martin, Tito Puente, Olga Tañon, Ricardo Montaner, Miguel Bose, Conjunto Primavera, Juanes, Daddy Yankee, Carlos Santana, Los Temerarios, and Emmanuel.
The awards show caps off the 24th annual Billboard Latin Music Conference presented by State Farm. This conference, taking place on April 23 - 25 at the JW Marriot Marquis in Miami, Florida, unites today’s top Latin music artists and key Latin music industry influencers for informative panel discussions, live music showcases, networking opportunities, a Latin music marketing awards reception, and The Billboard Bash – a pre-Billboard Latin Music Awards party featuring performances by some of this year’s finalists. For details on The Billboard Latin Music Conference, visit: www.BillboardLatinConference.com.
The Billboard Latin Music Awards, the longest running and most prestigious awards show in the Latin music world, 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. Based on album and digital track sales data compiled by Nielsen SoundScan, monitored radio information and streaming data provided by Nielsen BDS and social media data provided by Next Big Sound, Billboard’s rankings are the world’s most authoritative music charts. 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.
Billboard is the world’s most influential music brand reaching key executives and tastemakers in and around the music business through Billboard magazine, Billboard.biz <http://www.billboard.biz/>, Billboard Conferences, Billboard Bulletin, and other targeted newsletters, and millions of music fans through Billboard.com <http://www.billboard.com/> and Billboard Events. The Billboard brand is built on its exclusive charts and unrivaled reporting on the latest news, issues and trends across all genres of music. Billboard charts and content are consumed and referenced by millions of people in more than 100 countries through a content syndication deal with a global news network, and strategic relationships with other major companies around the world. In addition to North America, Billboard operates businesses in Brazil, Japan, Korea and Russia. Billboard is owned by Prometheus Global Media, which resides under the newly formed Guggenheim Digital Media, a diversified company with leading assets in the media and entertainment arenas, including: Music (Billboard and its related conferences, events, and awards shows such as The Billboard Music Awards on ABC, and The Billboard Latin Music Awards on Telemundo), Entertainment (The Hollywood Reporter, Backstage, ShowEast, CineAsia, and CineEurope); and Advertising & Marketing (Adweek, Adweek Conferences and The CLIO Awards).
Telemundo Media, a division of NBCUniversal, is a world-class media company, leading the industry in the production and distribution of high-quality Spanish-language content across its multiplatform portfolio to U.S. Hispanics and audiences around the world. Telemundo’s multiple platforms include the Telemundo Network, a Spanish-language television network featuring original productions, theatrical motion pictures, news and first-class sports events, reaching U.S. Hispanic viewers in 210 markets through its 14 owned stations and its broadcast and cable affiliates; mun2, the preeminent voice for young Hispanics in the U.S. reaching TV households nationwide on digital and analog cable, and satellite; Telemundo Digital Media, which distributes Telemundo’s original content across digital and emerging platforms including mobile devices, www.telemundo.com and www.mun2.tv; an owned and operated full power station in Puerto Rico that reaches 99% of all TV households in that DMA; and Telemundo Internacional, the international distribution arm which has positioned Telemundo as the second largest provider of Spanish-language content worldwide by syndicating content to more than 100 countries in over 35 languages.