The Latin Recording Academy to honor Eva Ayllón, Joan Baez, José Cid, Lupita D’alessio, Hugo Fattoruso, Pimpinela, Omara Portuondo, and José Luis Rodríguez "El Puma" with The Lifetime Achievement Award

Mario Kaminsky to Receive the Trustees Award

MIAMI (Aug. 22, 2019) – The Latin Recording Academy^® announced today that Eva Ayllón, Joan Baez, José Cid, Lupita D’Alessio, Hugo Fattoruso, Pimpinela, Omara Portuondo, and José Luis Rodríguez "El Puma," will receive this year's Lifetime Achievement Award. Additionally, Mario Kaminsky will receive the Trustees Award. The honorees will be celebrated during a private luncheon ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas on Nov. 13, 2019, as part of the milestone 20th anniversary Latin GRAMMY^® week. Singer, composer and Latin GRAMMY winner Johnny Ventura, and renowned Mexican journalist Paola Rojas will be the hosts of the event.

"I’m delighted to recognize a remarkable and well-rounded group of individuals with this year’s Lifetime Achievement and Trustees Awards," said Gabriel Abaroa Jr., Latin Recording Academy President/CEO. "Each of these legends continues leaving their mark in the Latin music world through their talent, grace, and passion for creating sounds that have vibrated throughout our communities while helping to build our music for decades. We are looking forward to spotlighting their accomplishments during our landmark 20th anniversary Latin GRAMMY week."

The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to performers who have made contributions of outstanding artistic significance to Latin music. The Trustees Award is bestowed to individuals who have made significant contributions, other than performance, to music during their careers. The Latin Recording Academy's Board of Trustees is the body that votes on both distinctions.

Lifetime Achievement Award Honorees:

Eva Ayllón (Peru)

Eva Ayllón is one of the most celebrated voices in the Afro-Peruvian tradition. Her career started as a member of the popular group Los Kipus, with whom she recorded a catalog of Peruvian folk gems marked by nostalgic melodies and lilting guitar harmonies, followed by a debut solo album, Esta Noche, six years later. Ayllón performed a series of unforgettable concerts at Lima's Teatro Municipal throughout the '90s. Her fame spread beyond South America, with frequent European tours, performances at Carnegie Hall, and a live DVD recorded in Los Angeles. Besides joining the Peruvian version of "The Voice" as a coach, Ayllón continues to tour while expanding her recorded repertoire with a wide array of Latin styles.

Joan Baez (U.S.)

Folk super star singer-songwriter Joan Baez bravely embraced her Latin roots in times where being Latino in the U.S. would backfire in most cases. By recording luminous versions of classic Latin anthems in the '60s, she helped pioneer the American roots revival, paving the way for like-minded artists such as Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell. In 1974, she released her Latin magnum opus, Gracias A La Vida, that framed her never ending context of fighting for the socially abandoned, civic causes and cultural values. With definitive renditions of "Guantanamera," Víctor Jara's "Te Recuerdo Amanda," and even the self-penned "Las Madres Cansadas" Baez has continued exploring an eclectic array of genres and styles across more than 30 albums.

José Cid (Portugal)

José Cid has effortlessly adapted the influence of Anglo popular music into an original style of Portuguese pop-rock. In 1956, the emergence of his cover band Os Babies marked a before-and-after moment for pop-rock in Portugal. His next group, Quarteto 1111, created the foundations of Portuguese rock, with a strong psychedelic tinge and groundbreaking releases such as the massive 1967 hit "A Lenda De El-Rei D. Sebastião." Continuing as a solo artist, in 1978 he released 10000 Anos Depois Entre Vénus E Marte, widely considered a progressive rock masterpiece. As he reached a new stage of musical maturity in the '80s, Cid turned his songbook to the roots of Portugal on the haunting Fado De Sempre. With dozens of hits under his belt, he remains a major concert draw in Portugal, releasing new music and live concert albums.

Lupita D’Alessio (Mexico)

Lupita D’Alessio, also known as "La Leona Dormida" (the Sleeping Lioness) began her career in the early '70s and continues to this day. She has moved effortlessly between slick pop hooks and epic ranchera sessions and has been a key singer in Mexican popular music for the past five decades. In 1971, she released her superb debut, Mi Corazón Es Un Gitano. Boasting ornate arrangements, the album included hit singles such as "Con Amor" and the title track, a cover of an Italian hit. By the mid-'70s, D’Alessio found additional success in the children's music genre and in the '80s she appeared on Mexican soap operas and had a string of radio hits. Since then, she has continued releasing albums and she re-emerged as a key performer after 2010 and in 2017 launched the autobiographical TV series "Hoy Voy A Cambiar."

Hugo Fattoruso (Uruguay)

Iconic Uruguayan keyboardist, singer, and composer Hugo Fattoruso is known for blending rock and roll, electric jazz, and bossa nova with traditional styles and creating his own contemporary sound, which led to a number of key records that span the past six decades of Latin music. Fattoruso began playing the piano professionally at age 12 with his father and brother Osvaldo—a lifelong collaborator—as part of Trío Fattoruso. In the mid-'60s he founded Los Shakers, which became one of the first bands to define the rock en español genre. The band's 1968 album, La Conferencia Secreta Del Toto's Bar, was a definitive masterpiece of the genre, and the next year Fattoruso and his brother released La Bossa Nova De Hugo Y Osvaldo. Fattoruso spent most of the '70s in the United States playing with the trio Opa before moving to Brazil in the '80s, where he worked with a gallery of musical giants, from Milton Nascimento and Chico Buarque to Djavan and Maria Bethânia. In recent years, Fattoruso has performed in a variety of formats and settings, continuing to explore the fusion of jazz and South American folk. His discography includes dozens of albums, rich in innovation and experimentation.

Pimpinela (Argentina)

Argentinian brother-sister duo Pimpinela's novel approach of mixing music with theatrical drama changed the face of Latin pop, generating sales of more than 30 million records. The emotional honesty and rich melodic content of their work struck a chord with the public beginning with their 1984 hit "Olvídame Y Pega La Vuelta." In the '80s they released albums in English, Italian, and Portuguese, and performed at the Viña del Mar International Song Festival, and collaborated with Spanish crooner Dyango. In the '90s they embarked on a change of style, favoring a more relaxed approach and experimenting with traditional Latin formats. Always eager to try new projects, in 2003 they released an album of Italian pop covers titled Al Modo Nuestro, staged the musical comedy Pimpinela, La Familia in 2010, and even published an autobiography in 2017.

Omara Portuondo (Cuba)

Few vocalists have enjoyed a career as dazzling and mercurial as veteran Cuban singer Omara Portuondo. Born in Havana in 1930, Portuondo began her career as a dancer before joining the all-female Orquesta Anacaona in the early '50s. In 1952, she and her sister Haydeé, along with Elena Burke and Moraima Secada, helped form the vocal quartet Cuarteto D’Aida, acclaimed for its refreshing combination of jazz harmonies and traditional Cuban styles. Portuondo remained with Cuarteto for 15 years, performing in Cuba and touring the United States while finding the time to record a stunning debut album, Magia Negra, in 1959. Later, Portuondo remained active as a member of classic charanga Orquesta Aragón, touring in Europe, Africa, and recording a series of solo performances. In 1999, her performance of "Silencio" with Compay Segundo for the Buena Vista Social Club film soundtrack was a highlight of the million-selling album. In 2000, the Social Club presented an exquisite album featuring Portuondo, and in 2009 she received a Latin GRAMMY Award for Best Contemporary Tropical Album for Gracias. At 89, she remains active in the recording studio and on concert stages around the globe.

José Luis Rodríguez (Venezuela)

José Luis Rodríguez, also known worldwide as "El Puma," transcended the boundaries of classic Venezuelan baladas and Latin pop, becoming a cultural treasure for people all over Latin America and in many countries around the world. He began his career singing as a kid with the pop group Los Zeppy, but in 1963, bandleader Luis María "Billo" Frómeta spotted him on a television show and invited him to join Billo's Caracas Boys (Venezuela's great Afro-Caribbean orchestra). Rodríguez spent four years singing boleros, merengues, and other tropical formats, honing the smoldering vocal style that he would later transpose to the balada genre. In 1968, he simultaneously released the album Lo Romántico De José Luis while acting in soap operas. In 1972, he expanded his style with a broader pop repertoire and gained his artistic moniker when portraying the character El Puma in the soap opera "Una Muchacha Llamada Milagros."  International success arrived in the late '70s, with recordings in Spain and the release of major hits such as "Voy A Perder La Cabeza Por Tu Amor," "Pavo Real," and "Dueño De Nada." In 2017, he survived a double-lung transplant and returned to action in 2019 with the appropriately titled Agradecido (Grateful) tour.

Trustees Award Honoree:

Mario Kaminsky (Argentina)

The enjoyment, promotion, and preservation of music has been at the core of Mario Kaminsky's professional life for over 60 years. The Argentine executive who was a native of Chile has been involved in every possible aspect of the business, including the intersection of music, film, and television. Kaminsky founded Microfón Argentina, a record label in 1959. It was through the management of this label that Kaminsky's strength as an eclectic tastemaker shone through, effectively changing the landscape of Latin music by recording pioneering artists such as singer/guitarist Atahualpa Yupanqui, folk groups Los Chalchaleros and Los Fronterizos, and iconic rock stars Charly García and Luis Alberto Spinetta. After tremendous efforts and not less success, Microfón and Mario became considered the home and father of rock en español. The Microfón catalog was sold to Sony in 1995, as Kaminsky continued to explore new creative avenues. From 1997 to 2000, he was president of the Argentine branch of Fonovisa Records. He has also played a prominent role in radio, television, music publishing, and film production.

Latin GRAMMY Week will culminate with the 20th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards^®, which will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Nov. 14, from 8–11 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. Central) on Univision.

For more information and the latest news, please visit the official Latin Recording Academy website at: LatinGRAMMY.com (#LatinGRAMMY).

Facebook: LatinGRAMMYs | Twitter: @LatinGRAMMYs | Instagram: @LatinGRAMMYs

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ABOUT THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY:

The Latin Recording Academy is an international, membership-based organization comprised of Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking recording artists, musicians, songwriters, producers, and other creative and technical recording professionals. The organization is dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for Latin music and its makers. In addition to producing the Latin GRAMMY Awards to honor excellence in the recorded arts and sciences, The Latin Recording Academy provides educational and outreach programs for the Latin music community either directly or through its Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation^®. For more information about The Latin Recording Academy, please visit LatinGRAMMY.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

The Lippin Group on behalf of The Latin Recording Academy:

Elina Adut: EAdut@lippingroup.com

323.965.1990

The Latin Recording Academy:

Soledad Estrella: Soledad.estrella@ grammy.com

305.576.0036

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

The immersive learning experience, sponsored by TikTok, guided aspiring music creators through song production, music business and stage performance techniques

Click here for more images

Credit: John Parra/Getty Images for the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation

MIAMI (JANUARY 30, 2025) – The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®, in partnership with Berklee Global, hosted the debut of their new Emerging Artist Intensive, the first in a series of immersive learning experiences for aspiring music creators. The day long workshop, sponsored by TikTok, was held at Miami Art Studio.

The program was led by Berklee’s faculty professor Enrique González Müller and jazz pianist, composer and educator, Zahili González, alongside Latin music industry leaders including Francisco Granados, Senior Vice President of A&R at Warner Music Latina; Pierre Hachar, Jr., Esq., an entertainment attorney; and Latin GRAMMY® nominee Vikina. The lecture guided more than 100 future music creators through the process of song production, music business and stage performance techniques, and spotlighted key areas like writing, producing and marketing music from conception to completion.

“Artists in the 21st century must be equipped not only to refine their artistry but also to successfully connect with their audience in meaningful ways,” said María Martínez Iturriaga, Senior Vice President at Berklee Global. “This program unites exceptional partners to empower participants with the skills, knowledge and opportunities needed to build and sustain thriving careers in today's dynamic music landscape.”

“At TikTok, we’re committed to empowering the next generation of music creators and celebrating the cultural impact of Latin music,” said Ara Yoo Han, Global Head of Social Impact at TikTok. “We’re thrilled to play a role in shaping the future of Latin music through this hands-on, immersive program.”

“We are proud to launch the first Emerging Artist Intensive with Berklee Global and TikTok,” said Raquel “Rocky” Egusquiza, Executive Director of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation. “Together, we are furthering the Foundation’s mission to advance Latin music and its legacy via hands-on educational opportunities with leaders in the music industry.”

For more information and the latest news, please visit the official Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation website at www.latingrammyculturalfoundation.org

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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 $10 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 TIKTOK:

TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. Our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. TikTok has global offices including Los Angeles, New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo. Visit: https://www.tiktok.com/. TikTok for Business is a global platform designed to give brands and marketers the solutions to be creative storytellers and meaningfully engage with the TikTok community. With solutions that can deliver seamlessly across every marketing touchpoint, TikTok for Business offers brands an opportunity for rich storytelling through a portfolio of full-screen video formats that appear natively within the user experience.

MEDIA CONTACT:

The Latin Recording Academy

Nathalie Alberto

Nathalie.Alberto@grammy.com