With superstars like Bad Bunny and Rosalía up in multiple races, this year’s Latin Grammys on Nov. 17 in Las Vegas promise to be a big draw. The nominations list included a vast array of artists and genres from all walks of the music industry, including legends and rookies.
Rauw Alejandro was nominated for the record of the Year alongside Shakira, for their reggaeton banger “Te Felecito,” plus Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo and Noah Goldstein earned their first-ever Latin Grammy noms this year for their work on Rosalía’s “Motomami.”
However, there are many other notables and surprising items scattered throughout the list. Here are a few of them:
It’s All About Bad Bunny
His blockbuster summer movie was the catalyst. “Un Verano Sin Ti,” the reggaeton titan dominated over the Latin Grammy nominations list with 10 nods – including album of the year and record of the year for the leading single “Ojitos Lindos,” featuring Bomba Estéreo. And when it comes to records, Bad Bunny has broken a few — like having the year’s top-seller and the first all-Spanish language to debut at No. Billboard 200 album charts at No. 1. He also became the first artist to do two separate $100 million tours in less than twelve months. “El Último Tour Del Mundo”And “World’s Hottest Tour,”Which is more than doubledThe gross version of the former.
The prodigious reputation of “Un Verano”Many are speculating that it will be nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammys. “gringo Grammys”Bunny calls it the mainstream competition
Xtina’s Triumphant Return
There were seven nominees, including the prestigious Album of the Year prize. “Aguilera,” the Ecuadorian-American pop idol comes full circle with the awards ceremony – and Latin music in general. Aguilera won a Latin Grammy nomination in 2001 for her Spanish-language album. “Mi Reflejo”The album won the award for best female pop vocal album. The singer’s new set explores entirely new vocal territories, including guaracha and Reggaeton, rancheras and evocative songs. The album’s leading single — the anthemic “Pa Mis Muchachas,” featuring Becky G, Nicki Nicole and Nathy Peluso — also earned a nod for record of the year. At the time of this article’s publication, the song’s theatrical music video boasts over 31 million views on YouTube.
Ra Ra Rosalía
The night’s most-recognized female artist, with eight nods, Rosalía continues to defy convention with her genre-agnostic “Motomami,”This album won a triple-crown for song, album and song nominations“Hentai”) and record of the year (”La Fama”), the latter’s infectious bachata and electro-pop rhythms boosted by a feature from the Weeknd.
TikTok’s first Latin Grammy nomination was also won by the Spanish singer. The video came one day later. “Motomami’s” release, was a collaborative live stream brought together by TikTok, Columbia Records, and Rosalía’s go-to creative production team at Canada. The performance incorporated 14 songs from the album, lasting almost 30 minutes.
Per the singer’s directions, the performance was filmed entirely on mobile phones and since its premiere, has been used as stage design for her “Motomami”The world tour.
Barrera brings the Secret Sauce
Edgar Barrera, a Mexican-American record producer/composer, comes to the ceremony with nine nominations.“Pegao”(“Índigo”) of the year — both collaborations with his long-time collaborator, Camilo. “I’m very grateful to Camilo because he involves me in the creation of the album from start to finish,” Barrera tells Variety. “We write together even if it has to be through Zoom and then we spend months producing and polishing every detail until we can put out something we’re proud of.” Barerra’s additional credits include work with Christian Nodal, Camila Cabello, Ed Sheeran, Grupo Firme and Ariana Grande.
Best New Artist Standouts
Many standout firsts in this year’s Best New Artist category were made. The competition has always excluded the Mexican regional genre, but this year Yahritza Y Su Esencia was nominated. With their first single, the trio of siblings was fronted by Yahritza, a 16-year old girl. “Soy El Unico.”
Plus, 95-year-old Angela Álvarez became the oldest musician nominated in the category following the success of her self-titled debut album in 2021. The 15-track set is made up of songs re-discovered by her grandson and film composer Carlos Jose Álvarez, who urged their release decades later. Álvarez also made her film debut this year in the movie “The Father of the Bride,” starring Andy García and Gloria Estefan, where she sings “Quiéreme Mucho.“