In a demonstration of its commitment to reflect the ever-changing musical landscape, the Latin Recording Academy has announced the addition of several changes, a new field and categories to the Latin GRAMMY Awards Process.

"Our priority is to effectively represent all the Latin music creators that we serve," Latin Recording Academy CEO Manuel Abud said in a statement. "We are excited to present these new categories that reflect the constant evolution of our music."

All new updates will go into effect immediately for the upcoming 2023 Latin GRAMMY Awards, officially known as the 24th Latin GRAMMY Awards, which take place this November. The Online Entry Process for this year’s Latin GRAMMYs opens on Thursday, March 23.

NEW LATIN GRAMMY AWARDS FIELD AND CATEGORY ADDED:

Best Songwriter Of The Year

As part of the newly-created Songwriting Field, this new category recognizes the written excellence, profession and art of songwriting. Songwriters must have a minimum of six newly written songs in which they are credited as a songwriter or co-writer and are not the performer, producer or engineer.

NEW LATIN GRAMMY AWARDS CATEGORIES ADDED:

Best Singer-Songwriter Song

To be eligible for this new category within the Singer-Songwriter Field, the singles or tracks must contain at least 51% of the lyrics in Spanish, Portuguese or any native regional dialect, and must be from a Singer-Songwriter Album competing in the Singer-Songwriter Album Category that year.

Best Portuguese-Language Urban Performance

This new category within the Portuguese Language Field recognizes the enormous amount of Urban music that is being created in Brazil and Portugal. The singles or tracks can include a fusion mix of Urban styles with other genres as long as the Urban character predominates.

The Latin Recording Academy has also made amendments to the following existing categories: 

Album Of The Year

Albums within the General Field must contain at least 51% playing time of newly recorded material. Award to the Artist, Producer(s), Engineer(s), Mixer(s), Mastering Engineer(s) and Songwriter(s) of 33% playing time of the album if other than the Artist will receive the award.

Song Categories

It is now required to include the date of composition when submitting product for all of the Song categories.

New Criteria For Best Engineered Album

Award goes to Recording Engineer(s) and Mixing Engineer(s) credited with at least 33% of the album and Mastering Engineer(s) credited with at least 51% of the album within the Production Field.

The Recording Academy lauds its sister Academy for this thrilling series of developments; keep watching their space for more updates on the 2023 Latin GRAMMYs!

 Listen: Celebrate Día Nacional De La Zalsa With The Latin Recording Academy's Official Playlist Of Latin GRAMMY-Winning Salsa & Tropical Songs

The Latin Recording Academy today announced that 18-time Latin GRAMMY winner and two-time GRAMMY winner Carlos Vives will be the 2024 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year. He will be honored at a star-studded gala leading up to the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs, which this year marks the 25th anniversary of the Latin GRAMMY Awards.

The heartfelt tribute concert will honor Vives' celebrated career, which spans more than 30 years as a multifaceted singer and composer, and will feature renditions of his renowned repertoire performed by an array of notable artists and friends. In addition to his achievements in music, the 2024 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year gala will honor Vives' continued commitment to environmental and social initiatives.

Details about the coveted event, which takes place during the 2024 Latin GRAMMY Week in Miami, will be announced at a later date.

An architect of Latin music's ongoing evolution and global expansion, Carlos Vives is one of the most respected artists in Spanish-language music around the world. He helped pioneer a new Latin American sound, redefining traditional Colombian vallenato by incorporating pop and rock. The first Colombian to win a GRAMMY Award, he boasts more than 10 billion streams on digital platforms, 20 million albums sold, and enduring hits like "La Gota Fría," "Pa' Mayte," "La Tierra Del Olvido," "Fruta Fresca" and "Volví A Nacer."

Vives has become an ambassador of Colombian and Latin American culture around the world, and his commitment also transcends the musical realm. In 2015, he created the Tras La Perla initiative to promote the sustainable development of Santa Marta and its ecosystem.

In addition, he created the Escuela de Música Río Grande to offer artistic experiences to children and young people and founded the record label Gaira Música Local to promote new Colombian talent. As part of his ongoing commitment to music education, Vives has been a strong advocate and generous supporter of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation since its inception and sponsored its annual Prodigy Scholarship in 2018.

"Carlos Vives is one of the most prolific and beloved artists of our time, whose commitment to Latin music and support for the new generations truly personifies the values of our Academy," Latin Recording Academy CEO Manuel Abud said in a statement. "We honor him as our Person of the Year for his vast contributions to our musical heritage and for his many philanthropic initiatives."

"I am honored and moved to have been chosen as the 2024 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year. It is the reward for an authentic journey, for a wonderful team, and, above all, it is the recognition of the musical spirits of our Latin American diversity," Vives said in a statement. "These spirits taught us to love and enrich our language, to take care of it, and to respect it in order to exalt humanity with it."

The Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year honors musicians and their artistic achievements in the Latin music industry as well as their humanitarian efforts. The past honorees are Laura Pausini (2023), Marco Antonio Solís (2022), Rubén Blades (2021), Juanes (2019), Maná (2018), Alejandro Sanz (2017), Marc Anthony (2016), Roberto Carlos (2015), Joan Manuel Serrat (2014), Miguel Bosé (2013), Caetano Veloso (2012), Shakira (2011), Plácido Domingo (2010), Juan Gabriel (2009), Gloria Estefan (2008), Juan Luis Guerra (2007), Ricky Martin (2006), José José (2005), Carlos Santana (2004), Gilberto Gil (2003), Vicente Fernández (2002), Julio Iglesias (2001), and Emilio Estefan (2000).

Net proceeds from the Latin Academy Person of the Year Gala will go toward the charitable work of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation.

The 2024 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year gala will take place days ahead of the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs, which take place Thursday, Nov. 14, in Miami at Kaseya Center, in partnership with Miami-Dade County and the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB). The nominations for the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs will be announced Tuesday, Sept. 17.

This year, the Latin Recording Academy will introduce two new Latin GRAMMY categories and a new field: Best Latin Electronic Music Performance, housed within the new Electronic Music Field, and Best Contemporary Mexican Music Album (Regional-Mexican Field). These additions also include several changes, including additional category amendments, to be added to the 2024 Latin GRAMMY Awards Process.

8 Essential Latin Electronic Releases: Songs And Albums From Bizarrap, Arca & More

The Latin Recording Academy today announced that the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs, officially known as the 25th Latin GRAMMY Awards, will take place on Thursday, Nov. 14, in Miami at Kaseya Center, in partnership with Miami-Dade County and the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB). Additionally, the nominations for the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs will be announced Tuesday, Sept. 17.

The 2024 Latin GRAMMYs celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Latin GRAMMY Awards, a momentous milestone for the Latin Recording Academy. The show's return to Miami is also a homecoming for the Latin GRAMMYs, returning to the place it calls home, where the Latin Recording Academy's journey commenced and where its headquarters remain today. The 2024 Latin GRAMMYs mark the third time that the Latin GRAMMYs will be held in Miami: The first time took place in 2003 and the second time took place in 2020, when the show was closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The three-hour telecast of the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs, produced by TelevisaUnivision, will air live on Univision, Galavisión, and ViX on Thursday, Nov. 14, beginning at 8 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. CT), preceded by a one-hour pre-show starting at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

The 2024 Latin GRAMMYs will see the debut of a new Field and several new Latin GRAMMY Categories, including Best Latin Electronic Music Performance, housed within the new Electronic Music Field, and Best Contemporary Mexican Music Album (Regional-Mexican Field), among other changes.

Ahead of the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs, the Latin Recording Academy will host multiple official Latin GRAMMY Week 2024 events throughout Miami-Dade County, including marquee events like Leading Ladies of Entertainment, the Best New Artist Showcase, Special Awards Presentation, Nominee Reception, Person of the Year, and the Premiere Ceremony preceding the telecast. More details on the official Latin GRAMMY Week 2024 events and calendar will be announced in the coming months.

The news of the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs was announced via a press conference in Miami today. Watch the full press conference, featuring Latin Recording Academy CEO Manuel Abud, below.

"Since our first awards presentation in the year 2000, the Latin GRAMMYs have provided an international spotlight for Latin music second to none and provided iconic performances that have become part of global music and pop culture history.  We are thrilled to celebrate our 25th anniversary in Miami," Latin Recording Academy CEO Manuel Abud said. "Miami has evolved to become the epicenter of Latin entertainment and we are grateful for the community support and enthusiasm we have received."

"Welcome home, Latin GRAMMYs! As the cultural capital for Latinos in the United States, there's no better place than Miami-Dade to host the best of Latin music and entertainment," said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. "It's a true honor to host this incredible event once again and welcome people from all over the world to enjoy the vibrant and diverse cultural hub we call home. This event celebrates the very best in music, and we are proud to showcase Miami's unique energy, where music and culture collide in the most spectacular way."

"We are excited to bring to life the landmark 25-year celebration of the Latin GRAMMYs from the city we call home – the city where Hispanic culture has flourished as a driving force of influence and impact globally," said Ignacio Meyer, President of Univision Television Networks Group at TelevisaUnivision. "As the Home of Latin Music, we're excited to deliver yet another unforgettable night of excellence in music, grounded in our passion and unwavering commitment to shining a bright light on the most culture-defining moments for Spanish-speaking audiences worldwide."

"This announcement underscores Greater Miami's status as a global hub at the intersection of multicultural music, entertainment, events and tourism," said David Whitaker, president and CEO of The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. "On behalf of the travel and hospitality industry of Greater Miami, we are absolutely thrilled by the news that the 25th Latin GRAMMYs is returning home to Miami – bringing with it an influx of visitors eager to experience the excitement and energy of this iconic destination."

The Latin GRAMMY Awards are the preeminent international honor and the only peer-selected award celebrating excellence in Latin music worldwide.

Additional key dates for the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs include:

• July 24, 2024 — Aug. 5,2024:  First Round of Voting

• Sept. 17, 2024: Nominations Announcement

• Sept. 27, 2024 — Oct. 10, 2024: Final Round of Voting

Visit the Latin Recording Academy website for more information regarding the 2024 Latin GRAMMY Awards season.

Join the conversation online and share the official hashtags on all popular social media platforms: #LatinGRAMMY #25AñosDeExcelencia. 

The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation Announces The 2024 Sebastián Yatra Scholarship

The Latin Recording Academy has announced significant updates to the eligibility guidelines for the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs, officially known as the 25th Latin GRAMMY Awards, introducing a new field and categories, and revising existing Category requirements to better reflect the evolving musical landscape.

To reflect the evolving landscape of Latin music, The Latin Recording Academy has introduced a new Electronic Music Field, highlighting a Category for Best Latin Electronic Music Performance tailored for singles and tracks, and a Best Contemporary Mexican Music Album Category in the Regional-Mexican Field for albums majorly featuring new material while retaining the core of Regional Mexican Music genres. 

Further adjustments include a renaming in the Portuguese Language Field to encompass Música Popular Brasileira and Afro-Portuguese-Brazilian Music, a refined definition for the Best Singer-Songwriter Song category, an update to the Best Long Form Music Video criteria allowing for shorter videos, and a new nominations protocol based on entry numbers, aiming to enhance the representation and recognition of diverse Latin music genres.

New Field & Category

FIELD: Electronic Music

CATEGORY: Best Latin Electronic Music Performance

For singles and tracks only (vocal or instrumental). Recordings must have 51 percent playing time of Latin Electronic music genres (as defined by the Latin Electronic Committee), as well as related emerging genres, and Latin elements, in order to accurately reflect the current trends in Latin electronic music. Recordings containing interpolations/sampling are eligible if the interpolation/sampling does not constitute more than 25 percent of the lyrics and/or 51 percent of the music of the original song. Latin electronic remixes are eligible. Award is presented to solo artists, duos or groups (for groups of more than 10 members, the statuette will be presented to the “leader” of the group). Winner’s Certificates are presented to producer(s), engineer(s), mixer(s), composer(s) and to the original recording artist, if applicable.

New Category

CATEGORY:  Best Contemporary Mexican Music Album (Regional-Mexican Field)

For vocal or instrumental albums of Contemporary Regional Mexican Music, in Spanish, which contain at least 51 percent of the total time recorded with new material, and which maintain at least 60 percent of the essence of the genres of Regional Mexican Music. Award is presented to solo artists, duos or groups, producer(s), recording engineer(s) and mixing engineer(s) of 51 percent or more of the total playing time of the album. Winner’s Certificates are presented to mastering engineer(s) and to producer(s), engineer(s), and mixer(s) of less than 51 percent of the total playing time (if not the artist).

Additional Category Amendments

CATEGORY NAME CHANGE: Best MPB (Música Popular Brasileira) / MAPB (Música Afro Portuguesa-Brasileira) Album (Portuguese Language Field)

For vocal or instrumental Música Popular Brasileira and Afro-Portuguese-Brazilian Music albums containing at least 51percent of total play time of new material.

AMENDMENT TO DEFINITION: Best Singer-Songwriter Song (Singer-Songwriter Field)

For singles or tracks that contain at least 60 percent of the lyrics in Spanish, Portuguese or any native regional dialect. Must be a new song composed and performed 100percent by the singer-songwriter(s). Award is presented to the songwriter(s). Winner’s Certificate presented to the music publisher.

NEW VIDEO ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Best Long Form Music Video Category (Music Video Field)

Eligible videos in Best Long Form Music Category consist of at least 12 minutes of duration (reduced from 20 minutes). 

AMENDMENT TO THE RULE REGARDING NUMBER OF NOMINATIONS: Number of nominations in a category will be based on the number of entries (All Fields)

Each category shall have at least 40 distinct artist entries. If a category receives between 25 and 39 entries, only three recordings will receive nominations in that year. Should there be fewer than 25 entries in a category, that category will immediately go on hiatus for the current year and entries will be screened into the next most logical category. If a category receives fewer than 25 entries for three consecutive years, the category will be discontinued, and submissions will be entered in the next most appropriate category.

Online Entry Process

NEW GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSIONS: Single Submission Round

 All submissions for the Online Entry Process (for recordings released June 1, 2023 through May 31, 2024) will occur in one single round of entries, starting on April 1, 2024, and closing on April 30, 2024 at 6 p.m. (PT). Any releases scheduled for May 2024 must be submitted in April, before the Online Entry Process closes, and the streaming link and credits must be submitted by May 31, 2024.

REMOVAL OF FINAL SUBMIT CONCEPT

Submissions can be completed ‘as they go’, there is no need to hold on completion of all entries for a final submit, thus facilitating the submission of entries.

All updates go into effect immediately for the upcoming 25th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards® taking place in November 2024. To view this year’s Awards calendar, visit https://www.latingrammy.com/en/awards/calendar.

For Karol G, 2023 was a watershed year. Her fourth album, Mañana Será Bonito, peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 200 and took home the golden gramophone for Album Of The Year at the Latin GRAMMYs. Her many milestones also included a Rolling Stone cover, and signing with Interscope. At the 2024 GRAMMYs, Mañana Será Bonito is nominated for Best Música Urbana Album. 

The Colombian singer and songwriter was suddenly everywhere in 2023, but this moment is the culmination of a long, steady rise. Karol G has been on the scene for some time, and changing it for the better just by being who she is: an extremely talented woman making waves in a genre still dominated by men.  

Karol G has been a pivotal figure in the world of urbano since 2017, when she collaborated with Bad Bunny on the Latin trap single "Ahora Me Llama." It was a transformative moment for both artists, whose careers took off precipitously after its release. The track led Ms. G’s aptly titled debut album, Unstoppable, which went multi-platinum and peaked at No. 2 on both the U.S. Top Latin Albums and U.S. Latin Rhythm Albums charts. At the 2018 Latin GRAMMYs, Karol was awarded Best New Artist. 

Although she came out of the gate in an unstoppable fashion, Karol G's chart-topping debut was the result of years of touring and recording. The artist born Carolina Giraldo Navarro was no overnight success.

She started singing as a teenager growing up in Medellín and, after signing to Colombia's Flamingo Records, chose the name Karol G and began releasing music. Early on, she flew to Miami for a meeting with Universal Records, but they chose not to sign her on the basis that a woman would not be successful making reggaeton — a severe miscalculation, that belies female pioneers and a blossoming roster of contemporary acts. 

Thankfully, she ignored them. A year after "Ahora Me Llama" and Unstoppable, Karol G won her first Latin GRAMMY. 

The star’s determination makes her a role model, but Karol G's career has also been defined by an inspiring integrity around her principles and artistic vision. By now, it is a well-known anecdote that she turned down the song "Sin Pijama" because it references marijuana use. Karol does not smoke, so the lyrics would not have been authentic to her as a person, or as an artist. 

This authenticity has doubtless been key to Karol G's success. Rather than try to fit an established mold, she brings a uniquely sunny swagger and sporty style to reggaeton. She projects a powerful and feminine energy, and her music often expresses a healthy sense of sexual independence and self-empowerment. This is an intentional part of her message, especially to her female fans.

"They teach us it’s wrong to celebrate ourselves for something we have," she told Rolling Stone of her musical messaging. "And it’s not. We have to be the first ones to give ourselves credit."

Like early collaborator Bad Bunny, Karol G is able to reach a global audience without having to change the language she sings in, her genre of choice, or her messages. Case in point: One of her 2023 accomplishments was becoming the first Latina to headline a global stadium tour, and the highest-grossing Latin touring artist of the year.

She also became the first Latina to headline Lollapalooza and, in between record-breaking tour dates, saw her song "WATATI" featured on Barbie The Album. (The soundtrack is nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media at the 66th GRAMMY Awards.)

In November, she closed out her big year with a sweep of the Latin GRAMMYs: Mañana Será Bonito received the award for Best Música Urbana Album and Album Of The Year; her Shakira collab "TQG" took home the golden gramophone for Best Urban Fusion/Performance. When she accepted her award for Best Música Urbana Album, Karol exclaimed, "How cool is it for a woman to win this?" 

Karol G’s wins made up a large part of an awards ceremony where women won big:  Shakira won Song Of The Year for her collaboration with Bizzarap, while Natalia Lafourcade won Record Of The Year and Joaquina took home Best New Artist. This was the first year that women won in all the general categories — something that suggests progress for the Latin music industry. The last time a woman won the Latin GRAMMY for Best Música Urbana Album was in 2013, when Spanish rapper Mala Rodríguez took home the award for Bruja. 

Watching the Latin GRAMMYs this year, it was easy to forget that women still have a long way to go to achieve parity with their male counterparts in the music industry. If you lost sight of that, the year-end Latin charts would bring you back to reality: Of the top 50 tracks on the Hot Latin Songs chart, 11 primarily featured women, but six of those tracks belonged to Karol G. Karol’s presence matters and she knows it. 

Karol G brings a powerful feminine energy to reggaeton and Latin trap, but also an unapologetic feminism. While this is explicit in her music, it's also clear in the creative partnerships she makes. She’s had many high profile collaborations with male artists, but just as many with a diverse roster of female artists from reggaeton OG Ivy Queen ("Leyendas") to Latin fusion pop singer Kali Uchis ("Me Tengo Que Ir," "Labios Mordidos"). In an arena so dominated by male artists, each collaboration with another woman is meaningful, but her collaborations with rising artists, such as Young Miko — who appears on the song "Dispo" from Karol’s Bichota Season — truly make a difference. 

Artists like Karol G increase the range of possibilities for artists in their wake, and for anyone in the music industry who flouts narrow expectations. Karol G knows that her victories have larger implications, and this eye toward the future has helped her reach unprecedented heights. "I understand how hard it is [for women to break through] because of how hard it was for me,"she recently told Billboard.

It wasn't easy for Karol G to get where she is today, but she has been opening doors for others — women, artists in reggaeton, artists in urbano and others —  every step of the way. From here on, the title of her album is ringing more and more prescient, and that’s mas bonito.  

2024 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Full Nominees List