With a heavy heart and profound sense of nostalgia, The Latin Recording Academy® mourns the passing of Alberto Aguilera Valadez, our beloved Juan Gabriel. He left us at an early age, but after almost five decades of enormous creativity. His musical legacy is much more than one or hundreds of songs; he composed philosophy. In addition, he carried out heartfelt philanthropy with orphans of his Ciudad Juárez. He broke taboos, devoured stages and conquered diverse audiences. In 2009, the Latin Academy named him Person of the Year, and honored him for his career and social work during a star-studded gala. The voice of the Mexican icon will resonate forever in all those who knew him, as we continue to dance to his music and appreciate his art. Rest in peace, Juan Gabriel.
 
Gabriel Abaroa
President/CEO
The Latin Recording Academy

Rocío Guerrero, Rosa Lagarrigue, Luana Pagani, Ivy Queen, Vivir Quintana, Diana Rodríguez, Janina Rosado, Maria Elena Salinas, Ana Rosa Santiago and Julieta Venegas, will be the mentors of this year’s Leading Ladies of Entertainment Connect TogetHER

MIAMI (APRIL 8, 2025) — The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® announced the fourth Leading Ladies of Entertainment Connect TogetHER mentorship program, in partnership with She Is The Music, a global nonprofit that works to increase the number of women in music.

The mentors of this year’s collaborative program, which will provide one-on-one virtual mentoring sessions with young women looking to follow a career in the music and entertainment industries include:

• Rocío Guerrero, Head of Music, Latin/Iberia, Amazon Music

• Rosa Lagarrigue, CEO of artist management company RLM

• Luana Pagani, Partner & President at Fairwinds Entertainment

• Ivy Queen, singer/songwriter Latin GRAMMY® nominee

• Vivir Quintana, singer/songwriter and social activist for women’s rights in Mexico

• Diana Rodríguez, CEO and founder of Criteria Entertainment, a music management and marketing firm, and Mercado Negro, a boutique management agency and label

• Janina Rosado, Latin GRAMMY winning pianist, arranger and director

• Maria Elena Salinas, award winning journalist

• Ana Rosa Santiago, Senior Vice President of Latin Music & LatAm for Universal Music Publishing Group

• Julieta Venegas, singer/songwriter Latin GRAMMY and GRAMMY® winner

Paying-it-forward and forging opportunities for future generations is a core pillar of the program and the Leading Ladies of Entertainment Connect TogetHER Panel will expand access to these Leading Ladies expertise. The panel moderated by mentees, Anabella Paolucci and Maria Esperanza features’ conversations with Rocío Guerrero, Luana Pagani, Maria Elena Salinas and Ana Rosa Santiago. To tune in visit: m.youtube.com/watch?v=YiNWxvlR4LE.

“We are proud to support the next generation of women in the Latin music industry with the Leading Ladies who generously share their time and expertise, and She is the Music”, said Raquel “Rocky” Egusquiza, Executive Director, Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation. “Together, the impact of community is made visible as we work towards closing the gender gap within the Latin music industry.”

The Leading Ladies of Entertainment initiative was created by The Latin Recording Academy in 2016 to honor and recognize professional and socially conscious women within the arts and entertainment fields who have made significant contributions and inspired the next generation of female leaders.

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ABOUT THE LATIN GRAMMY CULTURAL FOUNDATION:

The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization established by The Latin Recording Academy® with the vision of becoming a global champion of music education and empowering communities through Latin music and culture. In 2024, the Foundation celebrated its 10-year anniversary, and during the last decade it has fostered the next generation of Latin music creators through scholarships, education programs and grants that advance Latin music and celebrate its rich cultural heritage. To date, the Foundation has donated more than $12 million with the support of The Latin Recording Academy’s members, artists, corporate sponsors and other generous donors. For additional information or to donate, please visit latingrammyculturalfoundation.org or our Facebook page. And follow us @latingrammyfdn on X and Instagram, and at Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation on Facebook and LinkedIn.

ABOUT SHE IS THE MUSIC:

She Is The Music (SITM) is a global nonprofit with the mission to increase the number of women working in music – songwriters, artists, producers, engineers, and executives. Their programs include the largest global database of women in music, mentorship and education programs and all-women songwriting camps hosted around the world. Operating as a unifying network for the music business and beyond, SITM provides resources and support for female-focused initiatives, both through its own programs as well as external efforts worldwide. A first-of-its-kind collaboration, SITM is powered by industrywide representation: creators, publishers, record labels, talent agencies, management companies, industry groups, think tanks, media companies, streaming services and more. Entertainment Industry Foundation serves as a partner. For more information, visit sheisthemusic.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:

The Latin Recording Academy

Nathalie Alberto

Nathalie.Alberto@grammy.com

A new Field and two Categories added, and changes to requirements for existing categories also made

MIAMI (MARCH 19, 2025) — As part of The Latin Recording Academy®’s commitment to evolve with the ever-changing musical landscape, and to best serve its membership body of music creators and professionals, we are pleased to announce that several changes, including a new field and two categories, have been added to the 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards® Process.

NEW FIELD & CATEGORY

FIELD: VISUAL MEDIA

CATEGORY: BEST MUSIC FOR VISUAL MEDIA

The category of Music for Visual Media recognizes original music created to accompany and enrich the storyline of movies, television series, video games and other visual media.

This includes music that, through its creativity and originality, significantly enriches the narrative and atmosphere of movies, series, documentaries, video games, and other visual media, elevating the viewer's experience. For a project to participate in this category, it must: A) feature Latin rhythms recognized as genres participating in the annual Latin GRAMMY awards; or B) be composed by someone of Ibero-American descent. A fundamental condition is that the music be original and created specifically for the visual media project. To qualify, the total duration of the production must be at least 15 minutes of the original music and not different versions of it, and it can include songs with lyrics and vocals in Spanish, Portuguese, and/or regional dialects, or it can be instrumental. The statuette is presented to: Composer(s) and Artist(s) with significant contributions, Producer(s), Arranger(s), Recording Engineer(s) and Mixing Engineer(s) for 51% or more of the total recording time of the album.

NEW CATEGORY

BEST ROOTS SONG – SINGLES OR TRACKS ONLY (TRADITIONAL FIELD)

This award is given to the songwriters of new, unpublished recordings, both vocal and instrumental, that reflect the traditions and roots of various communities, cultures, or social groups, especially those of Hispanic American origin, whether in Spanish, Portuguese or in indigenous languages or dialects. Eligible genres include tango, folk, flamenco, and other traditional subgenres, excluding tropical music and its derivatives, and must be in Spanish, Portuguese or in indigenous languages or dialects. If another language is included, the recording must contain at least 60% of its lyrics in Spanish, Portuguese or in an indigenous language, be completely original, and have been released during the current eligibility period. The recording can be part of an album (tracks) or presented as a single. Covers, remixes, and recordings that use interpolation or samples from other previously released recordings will not be considered. The award is given to the songwriter(s), and Special Certificates (Publisher’s Certificates) are awarded to the music publishers.

ADDITIONAL CATEGORY AMENDMENTS

1. CATEGORY NAME CHANGES:

• Best Pop Vocal Album category will now be named Best Contemporary Pop Album (Pop Field).

• Best Urban Fusion/Performance category will now be named Best Urban/Urban Fusion Performance (Urban Field).

• Best Latin Children’s Album category will now be named Best Children’s Album (Children’s Field).

2. AMENDMENT TO CATEGORY NAMES WITHIN THE POP FIELD:

The Pop Field is eliminating the word “Vocal” from the categories within its field, therefore, the album categories names will be as follows:

• Best Contemporary Pop Album

• Best Traditional Pop Album

3. AMENDMENT TO ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

Eligibility criteria was updated in the Best Urban/Urban Fusion Performance category (Urban Field):

• Remixes are eligible only if the original version of the song was released within the same eligibility year.

• The required percentage of urban elements is increasing from 51% to 60% to qualify in this category.

4. NEW SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

The Songwriter of the Year category reduced the minimum song threshold from six (6) songs to four (4). Songwriters with a minimum of four (4) newly written songs will be credited as a songwriter or co-writer, provided they are not also the performer, producer or engineer.

5. NEW VIDEO ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

Best Long Form Music Video Category (Music Video Field)

Eligible videos in the Best Long Form Music Video category must have a minimum duration of 12 minutes. Additional eligibility criteria: the duration of the credits will not be counted as part of the video's length unless they contribute to the creative process.

6. AMENDMENT TO THE SCREENING AND VOTING PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCER OF THE YEAR CATEGORY:

The Producer of the Year category (Production Field), recognized as a craft category, will now be screened and voted on by a specialized committee in addition to the membership screening and voting process.

ONLINE ENTRY PROCESS

NEW GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSIONS:

1. REQUIRED INFORMATION

For each entry in the Online Entry Process, the entrant is required to provide the recording date, the UPC or the ISRC number for the recording being submitted for Latin GRAMMY consideration.

2. STREAMING LINKS

The entrant must provide at least two (2) streaming links, ensuring that the links direct to the specific recording and not to the artist's page.

3. ENTRY FEES

The Latin Recording Academy has decided to implement the following fee structure:

MEMBERS - The Per-entry fee structure encourages submitters to carefully evaluate the value of each entry and prioritize work, they truly believe is worthy of recognition. Under this model, all Associate and Voting Members receive five (5) complimentary entries annually. Starting with the 6th entry members will pay $20 USD per additional entry.

RECORD LABELS - Record labels are currently required to pay a $500 fee to submit entries, with such fee varying based on the timing of the submission, as outlined below:

THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY FEE SCHEDULE

All updates go into effect immediately for the upcoming 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards taking place in November 2025. To view this year’s Awards calendar, visit https://www.latingrammy.com/en/awards/calendar.

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ABOUT THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY:

The Latin Recording Academy® is an international nonprofit dedicated to nurturing, celebrating, honoring and elevating Latin music and its creators. Established as the global authority on Latin music, the membership-based organization composed of music professionals produces the annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®, The Biggest Night in Latin Music®, which honors excellence in the recording arts and sciences, in addition to providing educational and outreach programs for the music community through its Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®. For more information, please visit LatinGRAMMY.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

The Latin Recording Academy

Nathalie Alberto

Nathalie.Alberto@grammy.com

MIAMI, FL (MARCH 11, 2025) —The Latin Recording Academy® announced new serving Board members for the next three years. The new Trustees include Gabriel Abaroa, Jr., Pedro Blanco, multi-Latin GRAMMY® winner Gustavo Borner, Rafael Fernández, Jr., Dr. Chelsey Green, Jorge Hernández-Toraño, and Latin GRAMMY winner Berta Rojas, who will assume the great responsibility of helping chart the course of the organization and ensure its continued success.

Luis Álvarez-Fiol, Eduardo Bergallo, Paty Cantú, Alexandra Lioutikoff, Rico Love, Rafa Sardina and Manuel Tejada have reached their serving term limits and have retired from the Board.

“Our deepest gratitude to all our former Trustees! I am honored to give a warm welcome to a very talented and diverse group of professionals joining our Board,” said Eduardo Hütt, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Latin Recording Academy. “Each of our new Trustees has been serving the music community over the years in different roles, and I look forward to working closely with them as we continue to grow, evolve and strengthen our organization.”

The Board of Trustees, in partnership with CEO Manuel Abud and The Latin Academy Executive Team, works to uphold the organization's mission to nurture, celebrate, honor and elevate Latin music and its creators.

ABOUT THE NEWLY ELECTED TRUSTEES:

Gabriel Abaroa, Jr. is a seasoned entertainment executive, attorney and the first President Emeritus of The Latin Academy, where he also served as President/CEO from 2002 to 2021. Currently, Abaroa is a co-founder and CEO of Incurator LLC. Previously, he founded Legal Corp, a law firm providing services to multinational and independent record labels in México. He is a musician and record producer of children’s music, and was a professor of entertainment law for five years at the Anáhuac University. Abaroa is a dual member of the Recording Academy and The Latin Academy, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, serves as Board member of NALAC and is an international jury member for Premios Platino. He also participated in the Hispanic Committee of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Pedro Blanco is the President and CEO of Blanco-Lorenz, a global content branding studio with 25 years of experience in the industry. Blanco and his company specialize in content development and packaging for streaming platforms, digital media, television and film, and have collaborated with leading companies such as HBO, Spotify, ViX, A+E Networks, Netflix, BBC, ESPN, FOX, Warner Bros. Television, TelevisaUnivision, NBCUniversal, Disney and Telemundo. He has also directed over 50 commercials and has been behind the lens for music videos featuring artists like Marc Anthony, Alejandro Sanz, Gente de Zona, and Fonseca. In addition, Blanco has served on the Latin GRAMMY TV Committee since 2003. His work has earned him honors from the Global Entertainment Marketing Academy, the Mark Awards and the Streamy Awards.

Gustavo Borner is a renowned producer and sound engineer, winner of six GRAMMYs® and 14 Latin GRAMMYs. With four decades of experience, he has worked on productions for artists such as Phil Collins, Santana, Juanes, Fito Páez, Vicente Fernández, Luis Miguel and Plácido Domingo, totaling over 40 million records sold. He has worked on all Latin MTV Unplugged productions since 2004 as an engineer, mixer or producer. Borner has also worked on television projects for the Latin GRAMMYs, MTV Music Awards and “Sep7imo Día”, the Cirque du Soleil show dedicated to Soda Stereo. His talent has left a mark on film soundtracks, including Birdman, Guardians of the Galaxy, Suicide Squad, and video games such as Spiderman. Borner has served The Latin Academy as an active member of the Circle of Producers and Engineers (CPI) since 2019. In 2018, he received the AES Fellowship Award for his achievements in audio production and worldwide dissemination of audio knowledge. Since 2000, he has operated Igloo Music in Burbank, California, a complex with 18 studios.

Rafael Fernández, Jr. is the Senior Vice President of State Public Policy and Industry Relations at the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), where he directs government relations activities across all 50 U.S. states, while also serving as the Director of Latin Music. Previously, Fernández held the position of Vice President of Latin Music at the RIAA and has been with the organization for nearly 24 years. Under his leadership, the RIAA has been an active supporter of The Latin Academy and its Person of the Year Gala.

Dr. Chelsey Green is an artist, entrepreneur and educator who combines classical and contemporary to make music uniquely her own. Dr. Green and her ensemble, Chelsey Green and The Green Project, have released five studio projects, debuted on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart, and actively perform concerts, music festivals and educational workshops around the world. Dr. Green has appeared on stage and screen with artists of various genres, including Stevie Wonder, Lizzo, Samara Joy, The War and Treaty, Esperanza Spalding, Kirk Franklin and many more. Committed to music education, advocacy and youth arts access, Dr. Green is an associate professor at Berklee College of Music and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Recording Academy.

Jorge Hernández-Toraño is an attorney specializing in general business law, corporate transactions and entertainment law. After 31 years as a partner at the international law firm Holland & Knight, Hernández-Toraño retired from full-time legal practice in 2024. Throughout his career, he has represented GRAMMY-winning artists and producers and negotiated recording contracts, publishing agreements, tours, radio and television appearances, and sponsorship deals. Hernández-Toraño served as counsel to The Latin Recording Academy® from 2002 through 2023. He has also represented major record labels and the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). Recognized in rankings such as The Best Lawyers in America and Chambers, Hernández-Toraño was named one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in the U.S. entertainment industry by Hispanic Business Magazine. Committed to his community, he served as Trustee and General Counsel for United Way of Miami, is a past President and former Board Member of the Cuban American Bar Association and chaired the Miami Business Forum.

Berta Rojas is one of Latin America's most celebrated classical guitarists. With a career spanning over three decades, the Paraguay-born artist has released 14 studio albums and performed in some of the world's most prestigious concert halls. Her exceptional talent also led her to academia at Berklee College of Music, where she serves as an associate professor, becoming the first Latin American instructor invited to join the institution's guitar department. In 1992, Rojas earned a bachelor’s degree in music with a concentration in guitar from the Universidad de la República in Uruguay, and later completed a master’s in music, specializing in guitar, from Johns Hopkins University. She has received four Latin GRAMMY nominations and won Best Classical Music Album in 2022 for Legado. In 2023, she was honored with the National Order of Merit in the Gran Cruz, Paraguay's highest civil and military decoration.

The full list of the Latin Recording’s Board of Trustees can be found here.

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ABOUT THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY:

The Latin Recording Academy® is an international nonprofit dedicated to nurturing, celebrating, honoring, and elevating Latin music and its creators. Established as the global authority on Latin music, the membership-based organization composed of music professionals produces the annual Latin GRAMMY® Awards, The Biggest Night in Latin Music®, which honors excellence in the recording arts and sciences, in addition to providing educational and outreach programs for the music community through its Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®. For more information, please visit LatinGRAMMY.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

The Latin Recording Academy

Iveliesse Malavé

ive@grammy.com

Presented by Windstar Cruises, the series features conversations with 2024 Special Award honorees Albita, Alejandro Lerner and Ángel "Cucco" Peña

MIAMI (FEBRUARY 6, 2025)—The Latin Recording Academy® announced the launch of its digital series highlighting 2024 Special Awards honorees, presented by Windstar Cruises. The video capsules kickoff today, with the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and Latin GRAMMY® winner, Albita. Throughout the month of February, 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and Latin GRAMMY nominee Alejandro Lerner, and 2024 Trustees Award recipient and Latin GRAMMY winner Ángel "Cucco" Peña, join the series to reflect on their distinguished careers and the defining moments that cemented their legacies in Latin music.

The series is part of a two-year agreement with Windstar Cruises, who serve as a presenting sponsor of The Latin Academy’s Special Awards Presentation, held annually during Latin GRAMMY® Week. The interviews feature an intimate glimpse into the lives and contributions of Latin music creators and will be available across all Latin GRAMMY social media accounts.

The Special Awards Presentation recognizes legendary artists whose careers have had immeasurable influence and impact within the world of Latin music. Both the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to performers who have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance of Latin music and its communities, and the Trustees Award, presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to Latin music during their careers, other than through performance, are voted on by The Latin Recording Academy's Board of Trustees.

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ABOUT THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY:

The Latin Recording Academy® is an international nonprofit dedicated to nurturing, celebrating, honoring and elevating Latin music and its creators. Established as the global authority on Latin music, the membership-based organization composed of music professionals, produces the annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®, The Biggest Night in Latin Music®, which honors excellence in the recording arts and sciences, in addition to providing educational and outreach programs for the music community through its Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®. For more information, please visit LatinGRAMMY.com.

ABOUT WINDSTAR CRUISES:

With a fleet of seven boutique all-suite and sailing yachts, each carrying between 148 to 342 guests, Windstar Cruises offers an intimate experience like no other. Guests can explore enchanting destinations across Europe, the Caribbean, Costa Rica and the Panama Canal, Alaska, Canada and New England, South America, Japan, and the South Pacific. Plus, Windstar operates year-round in Europe and will offer two unique ship experiences in Tahiti starting in 2027. Windstar will introduce two new ships to its Star Class beginning with Star Seeker in December 2025 and followed by Star Explorer in December 2026. At Windstar Cruises, it's not just about travel – it's about creating experiences that resonate with the soul. With port-intensive itineraries, iconic destinations, exceptional service, and an innovative culinary program, every moment with Windstar is an opportunity for discovery and delight. Windstar Cruises is proud to be part of the Xanterra Travel Collection®.

MEDIA CONTACT:

The Latin Recording Academy

Nathalie Alberto

Nathalie.Alberto@grammy.com