Global superstars Bad Bunny of Puerto Rico and Karol G of Colombia lead this year’s Latin Grammy nominations, each vying for eight trophies. But it’s prolific songwriter and producer Edgar Barrera of Texas who emerges for the second year in a row as the top contender, this time in nine categories: in 2023, he dominated with 13 nominations and took home three golden gramophones.
The pair of reggaeton artists, however, share multiple category honors with the top nominee. Karol G’s cumbia-pop song “Mi Ex Tenía Razón,” a nominee that features Barrera, and Bad Bunny’s “Mónaco” are vying for record of the year. The category includes: Anitta’s “Mil Veces”; Camilo and Carin León’s “Una Vida Pasada”; Cimafunk and Monsieur Periné’s “Catalina”; Jorge Drexler’s “Derrumbe”; Fonseca & Grupo Niche’s “Con Dinero y Sin Dinero”; Juan Luis Guerra 4.40’s “Mambo 23”; Mon Laferte’s “Tenochtitlán” and Kali Uchis & Peso Pluma for “Igual Que Un Ángel.”
Barrera, who has worked with everyone from Shakira to Madonna, is also up for album of the year, song of the year (with three nominations in the category), regional song (two nominations), songwriter of the year and producer of the year.
Barrera’s career spans more than a decade and he has risen through the ranks to become one of the biggest names in the industry of his generation, known for his ability to blend and move between a variety of genres, from urban to Mexican music, among others. This year, his nomination for composer of the year is highlighted by songs performed by Shakira, Don Omar, Becky G and Grupo Firme, among others. He competes in a group with other high-profile names, including Mexican music composer (and singer) Horacio Palencia.
“This recognition means another year of intense work with many others who have been part of the journey,” said Palencia, who lives in Mazatlán.
Karol G’s multiple nominations include album of the year, song of the year and reggaeton performance for the song “Qlona,” featuring Peso Pluma, from “Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season).” The Colombian artist is also competing in the same category with Bad Bunny, J Balvin with Jowell & Randy & De La Ghetto, Alvaro Díaz with Rauw Alejandro and Kali Uchis, who also features Karol G.
Album of the Year nominees include: Angela Aguilar, “Bolero”; Camilo, “Cuatro”; Xande De Pilares, “Xande Canta Caetano”; Karol G, “Tomorrow Will Be Beautiful (Bichota Season)”; Kany Garcia, “Garcia”; Juan Luis Guerra 4.40, “Radio Guira”; Mon Laferte, “Autopoietic”; Carin Leon, “Boca Chueca, Vol. 1”; Residente, “The Letters No Longer Matter” and Shakira’s twelfth studio album in seven years, “Women No Longer Cry.”
New artists nominated include: Agris, Kevin Aguilar, Darumas, Nicolle Horbath, Latin Mafia, Cacá Magalhães, Os Garotin, Iñigo Quintero, Sofi Saar and Ela Taubert. Contenders for pop vocal album include Caloncho, Emilia, Luis Fonsi, Mau y Ricky, Kali Uchis and Nicole Zignago.
The nominated pop/rock albums include “When She Kissed Me I Proved God” by Bruses, “Jet Love” by Conociendo Rusia, the self-titled project by Jay De La Cueva, “Reflejos De Lo Eterno” by Draco Rosas and “Adentro” by Francisca Valenzuela.
Valenzuela, who is also nominated in the alternative song category, said her nominations made her feel grateful to those who have supported her career over the years.
“The album ‘Adentro’ and the song ‘Déjalo Ir’ are such intimate, confessional, personal creations,” Valenzuela told De Los. “To be able to connect through music and songwriting and do your thing and be heard is a privilege and something very exciting and emotional. It makes me believe and trust that we can connect through art and storytelling.”
This year, the Latin Recording Academy has added electronic music as a new discipline. In addition, two categories are being introduced in competition: Latin electronic music performance and contemporary Mexican music album, which this year includes nominees Natanael Cano, DannyLux, Grupo Frontera, Carín León, Michelle Maciel and Peso Pluma.
Manuel Abud, the executive director who has overseen the Latin Recording Academy since 2021, said there were 23,000 entries this year, indicating the growth and global reach of Latin music.
“The Latin Grammys are a true pop culture phenomenon and a true mainstream player, breaking records and topping the charts,” Abud told The Times. [anniversary] “It’s obviously an important point in our history and I think the nominees reflect that process of migration and the process of where we are as an academy.”
This year's Latin Grammy Awards nominees were selected across 58 categories with songs released during the eligibility period between June 1, 2023, and May 31, 2024. Songs considered for nominations must be new and contain a minimum percentage of lyrical content (60%) in Spanish, Portuguese, or any native regional dialect.
The Latin Grammy Awards will take place in Miami on November 14 and will be broadcast live on Univision. For the complete list of nominees, visit the official website.
