As urban music continues to dominate Billboard’s Latin music charts, two of the genre’s most prolific names — Bad Bunny and Ozuna — lead the list of finalists for the 2020 Billboard Latin Music Awards with 14 mentions each. They were followed in number of nods by other stars of the genre: Daddy Yankee and J Balvin both have 12 finalist mentions; Anuel AA has 11; and Farruko has 10.
Bad Bunny, Ozuna and J Balvin will also compete for artist of the year, a category that also includes bachata star Romeo Santos, who frequently collaborates with urban artists.
While the Billboard Latin Music Awards honor artists in the main musical genres of Latin Pop, Tropical, Latin Rhythm and Regional Mexican, the dominance of urban is felt across the board.
In the artist of the year, new category, for example, all contenders — Jhay Cortez, Manuel Turizo, Paulo Londra and Sech — lean urban, although their styles and sounds are vastly different, underscoring the evolution of the genre beyond simply reggaeton.
In the producer of the year category, the contenders are also all urban — Dimelo Flow, DJ Snake, Mambo Kingz and Tainy — although Tainy has also been involved in multiple pop projects. Likewise, the songwriter of the year category is urban and dominated by huge hitmakers: Bad Bunny Daddy Yankee, J Balvin and Ozuna.
And in a nod to the ongoing spirit of collaboration, the finalists for hot Latin song of the year are exactly the same finalists for hot Latin song of the year, vocal event: Bad Bunny & Tainy, “Callaíta;” Daddy Yankee featuring Snow, “Con Calma;" Pedro Capó & Farruko, “Calma;” and Sech, Darell, Nicky Jam, Ozuna & Anuel AA, “Otro Trago.”
All is not urban, however. This year's top finalists also include Sech and Snow with seven mentions; Pedro Capó and Romeo Santos with six; Nicky Jam and Tainy with five; Darell, Luis Fonsi and Marc Anthony with four; and with three each, Los Angeles Azules, Aventura, Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizárraga, Becky G, Calibre 50, Christian Nodal, Karol G, Rosalía, Santana, and Wisin & Yandel.
The Latin pop category is a cornucopia of sounds, with names like Luis Fonsi, Sebastian Yatra, Enrique Iglesias, CNCO, Reik, Maná, Danny Ocean, Mau & Ricky and Santana competing in top categories.
Likewise, the Regional Mexican category runs the gamut from established to new and revolutionary, with finalists like Christian Nodal, El Fantasma, Lenin Ramírez, T3r Elemento, Los Angelez Azules, Raymix, Calibre 50 and Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizárraga.
Finalists for Latin tour of the year cover the entire spectrum of Latin music, with Bad Bunny, Chayanne, Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez as the four finalists.
The Billboard Latin Music Awards will air live from Las Vegas on the Telemundo network April 23, with awards to be given out in 59 categories honoring the top artists, songs, albums, labels, publishers, songwriters and producers of the year. The awards show will close out LatinFest+, presented by Billboard and Telemundo, a three-day immersive experience dedicated to Latin music, culture and entertainment. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, LatinFest+, formerly known as Billboard Latin Music Week, will include superstar conversations, workshops, live concerts, fan experiences, and will feature artists such as J Balvin, Rosalía, Los Tigres del Norte, and Ozuna.
The full list of finalists is below.
For information on Latinfestplus+ and its featured artists, visit http://latinfestpus.com.
OVERALL ARTIST CATEGORIES
Artista del Año / Artist of the Year:
• Bad Bunny
• J Balvin
• Ozuna
• Romeo Santos
Artista del Año, Debut / Artist of the Year, New:
• Jhay Cortez
• Manuel Turizo
• Paulo Londra
• Sech
Gira del Año / Tour of the Year:
• Bad Bunny
• Chayanne
• Jennifer Lopez
• Marc Anthony
Artista del Año, Redes Sociales
Social Artist of the Year:
• Anuel AA
• Becky G
• Daddy Yankee
• Lali
Artista Crossover del Año
Crossover Artist of the Year:
• DJ Snake
• Drake
• Katy Perry
• Snow
SONGS CATEGORIES
“Hot Latin Song” Canción del Año
Hot Latin Song of the Year:
• Bad Bunny & Tainy, “Callaíta”
• Daddy Yankee featuring Snow, “Con Calma”
• Pedro Capó & Farruko, “Calma”
• Sech, Darell, Nicky Jam, Ozuna & Anuel AA, “Otro Trago”
“Hot Latin Song”, Colaboración Vocal del Año
Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event:
• Bad Bunny & Tainy, “Callaíta”
• Daddy Yankee featuring Snow, “Con Calma”
• Pedro Capó & Farruko, “Calma”
• Sech, Darell, Nicky Jam, Ozuna & Anuel AA, “Otro Trago”
“Hot Latin Songs” Artista del Año, Masculino
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Male:
• Anuel AA
• Bad Bunny
• J Balvin
• Ozuna
“Hot Latin Songs” Artista del Año, Femenina
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Female:
• Becky G
• Karol G
• Natti Natasha
• Rosalía
“Hot Latin Songs” Artista del Año, Dúo o Grupo
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
• Banda los Sebastianes de Mazatlán, Sinaloa
• Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizárraga
• Calibre 50
• Wisin & Yandel
“Hot Latin Songs” Sello Discográfico del Año
Hot Latin Songs Label of the Year:
• Interscope
• RIMAS
• Sony Music Latin
• Universal Music Latin Entertainment
“Hot Latin Songs” Casa Disquera del Año
Hot Latin Songs Imprint of the Year:
• El Cartel
• RIMAS
• Sony Music Latin
• Universal Music Latino
Canción del Año, Airplay
Airplay Song of the Year:
• Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, Karol G, Ozuna &
J Balvin “China”
• Daddy Yankee featuring Snow, “Con Calma”
• Ozuna, Daddy Yankee, J Balvin, Farruko, Anuel AA, “Baila Baila Baila”
• Pedro Capó & Farruko “Calma”
Sello Discográfico del Año, Airplay
Airplay Label of the Year:
• El Cartel
• Lizos
• Sony Music Latin
• Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Casa Disquera del Año, Airplay
Airplay Imprint of the Year:
• El Cartel
• Fonovisa
• Sony Music Latin
• Universal Music Latino
Canción del Año, Digital
Digital Song of the Year:
• Bad Bunny & Tainy “Callaíta”
• Daddy Yankee featuring Snow, “Con Calma”
• Ozuna, Daddy Yankee, J Balvin, Farruko,
Anuel AA, “Baila Baila Baila”
• Pedro Capó & Farruko “Calma”
Canción del Año, Streaming
Streaming Song of the Year:
• Anuel AA & Romeo Santos “Ella Quiere Beber”
• Daddy Yankee featuring Snow, “Con Calma”
• Pedro Capó & Farruko “Calma”
• Sech, Darell, Nicky Jam, Ozuna & Anuel AA, “Otro Trago”
ALBUM CATEGORIES
“Top Latin Album” del Año
Top Latin Album of the Year:
• Bad Bunny, X 100Pre
• J Balvin & Bad Bunny, OASIS
• Luis Fonsi, Vida
• Sech, Sueños
“Top Latin Albums” Artista del Año, Masculino
Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Male:
• Bad Bunny
• J Balvin
• Ozuna
• Romeo Santos
“Top Latin Albums” Artista del Año, Femenina
Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Female:
• Becky G
• Karol G
• Natti Natasha
• Shakira
“Top Latin Albums” Artista del Año Dúo o Grupo
Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
• Aventura
• Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizárraga
• Santana
• T3r Elemento
“Top Latin Albums” Sello Discográfico del Año
Top Latin Albums Label of the Year:
• Rich
• RIMAS
• Sony Music Latin
• Universal Music Latin Entertainment
“Top Latin Albums” Casa Disquera del Año
Top Latin Albums Imprint of the Year:
• Rich
• RIMAS
• Sony Music Latin
• Universal Music Latino
CATEGORIA LATIN POP
LATIN POP CATEGORIES
Artista “Latin Pop” del Año, Solista
Latin Pop Artist of the Year, Solo:
• Enrique Iglesias
• Luis Fonsi
• Sebastián Yatra
• Shakira
Artista “Latin Pop” del Año, Dúo o Grupo
Latin Pop Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
• CNCO
• Maná
• Reik
• Santana
Canción “Latin Pop” del Año
Latin Pop Song of the Year:
• Luis Fonsi, Sebastián Yatra & Nicky Jam “Date La Vuelta”
• Pedro Capó & Farruko “Calma”
• Rosalía & Ozuna “Yo X Ti, Tu X Mi”
• Rosalía, J Balvin & El Guincho “Con Altura”
“Latin Pop Airplay” Sello Discográfico del Año
Latin Pop Airplay Label of the Year:
• El Cartel
• Sony Music Latin
• Universal Music Latin Entertainment
• Warner Latina
“Latin Pop Airplay” Casa Disquera del Año
Latin Pop Airplay Imprint of the Year:
• El Cartel
• Sony Music Latin
• Universal Music Latino
• Warner Latina
Álbum “Latin Pop” del Año
Latin Pop Album of the Year:
• Danny Ocean, 54+1
• Luis Fonsi, Vida
• Mau y Ricky, Para Aventuras y Curiosidades
• Santana, Africa Speaks
“Latin Pop Albums” Sello Discográfico del Año
Latin Pop Albums Label of the Year:
• Concord
• Sony Music Latin
• Universal Music Latin Entertainment
• Warner Latina
“Latin Pop Albums” Casa Disquera del Año
Latin Pop Albums Imprint of the Year:
• Capitol Latin
• Sony Music Latin
• Universal Music Latino
• Warner Latina
CATEGORIA TROPICAL /
TROPICAL CATEGORIES
Artista Tropical del Año, Solista
Tropical Artist of the Year, Solo:
• Juan Luis Guerra
• Marc Anthony
• Prince Royce
• Romeo Santos
Artista Tropical del Año, Dúo o Grupo
Tropical Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
• Aventura
• Gente de Zona
• La Sonora Dinamita
• Monchy y Alexandra
Canción Tropical del Año
Tropical Song of the Year:
• Aventura, “Inmortal”
• Marc Anthony, “Parecen Viernes”
• Silvestre Dangond & Maluma “Vivir Bailando”
• Wisin & Yandel & Romeo Santos, “Aullando”
“Tropical Airplay” Sello Discográfico del Año
Tropical Airplay Label of the Year:
• Pina
• RIMAS
• Sony Music Latin
• Universal Music Latin Entertainment
“Tropical Airplay” Casa Disquera del Año
Tropical Airplay Imprint of the Year:
• Pina
• Sony Music Latin
• Universal Music Latino
• WK
Álbum Tropical del Año
Tropical Album of the Year:
• Gilberto Santa Rosa, 40… Y Contando: En Vivo Desde Puerto Rico
• Marc Anthony, OPUS
• Romeo Santos, Utopía
• Victor Manuelle, Memorias de Navidad
“Tropical Albums” Sello Discográfico del Año
Tropical Albums Label of the Year:
• Discos Fuentes
• Sony Music Latin
• The Orchard
• Universal Music Latin Entertainment
“Tropical Albums” Casa Disquera del Año
Tropical Albums Imprint of the Year:
• Norte
• Sony Music Latin
• The Orchard
• Top Stop
REGIONAL MEXICAN CATEGORIES
Artista Regional Mexicano del Año, Solista
Regional Mexican Artist of the Year, Solo:
• Christian Nodal
• El Fantasma
• Lenin Ramírez
• Raymix
Artista Regional Mexicano del Año, Dúo o Grupo
Regional Mexican Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
• Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizárraga
• Calibre 50
• Los Ángeles Azules
• T3r Elemento
Canción Regional Mexicana del Año
Regional Mexican Song of the Year:
• Banda Los Sebastianes de Mazatlán, Sinaloa, “A Través del Vaso”
• Calibre 50, “Simplemente Gracias”
• Christian Nodal “De Los Besos Que Te Di”
• Los Ángeles Azules featuring Natalia Lafourcade, “Nunca Es Suficiente”
“Regional Mexican Airplay” Sello Discográfico del Año
Regional Mexican Airplay Label of the Year:
• DEL
• Lizos
• Sony Music Latin
• Universal Music Latin Entertainment
“Regional Mexican Airplay” Casa Disquera del Año
Regional Mexican Airplay Imprint of the Year:
• Andaluz
• Disa
• Fonovisa
• Lizos
Álbum Regional Mexicano del Año
Regional Mexican Album of the Year:
• Christian Nodal, Ahora
• Fuerza Regida, Del Barrio Hasta Aquí
• Herencia de Patrones, Pa Las Vibras
• Los Ángeles Azules, Esto Sí Es Cumbia
“Regional Mexican Albums” Sello Discográfico del Año
Regional Mexican Albums Label of the Year:
• DEL
• Rancho Humilde
• Sony Music Latin
• Universal Music Latin Entertainment
“Regional Mexican Albums” Casa Disquera del Año
Regional Mexican Albums Imprint of the Year:
• DEL
• Fonovisa
• Lizos
• Lumbre
CATEGORIA LATIN RHYTHM
LATIN RHYTHM CATEGORIES
Artista “Latin Rhythm” del Año, solista
Latin Rhythm Artist of the Year, Solo:
• Bad Bunny
• J Balvin
• Maluma
• Ozuna
Artista “Latin Rhythm” del Año, Dúo o Grupo
Latin Rhythm Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
• CNCO
• Jowell & Randy
• Wisin & Yandel
• Zion & Lennox
Canción “Latin Rhythm” del Año
Latin Rhythm Song of the Year:
• Bad Bunny & Tainy “Callaíta”
• Daddy Yankee featuring Snow, “Con Calma”
• Ozuna, Daddy Yankee, J Balvin, Farruko, Anuel AA, “Baila Baila Baila”
• Sech, Darell, Nicky Jam, Ozuna & Anuel AA “Otro Trago”
“Latin Rhythm Airplay” Sello Discográfico del Año
Latin Rhythm Airplay Label of the Year:
• El Cartel
• RIMAS
• Sony Music Latin
• Universal Music Latin Entertainment
“Latin Rhythm Airplay” Casa Disquera del Año
Latin Rhythm Airplay Imprint of the Year:
• El Cartel
• La Industria
• Universal Music Latino
• WK
Álbum “Latin Rhythm” del Año
Latin Rhythm Album of the Year:
• Bad Bunny, X 100PRE
• Farruko, Gangalee
• J Balvin & Bad Bunny, OASIS
• Sech, Sueños
“Latin Rhythm Albums” Sello Discográfico del Año
Latin Rhythm Albums Label of the Year:
• Rich
• Rimas
• Sony Music Latin
• Universal Music Latin Entertainment
“Latin Rhythm Albums” Casa Disquera del Año
Latin Rhythm Albums Imprint of the Year:
• Dimelo Vi LLC
• Rimas
• Sony Music Latin
• Universal Music Latino
WRITERS/PRODUCERS/PUBLISHERS CATEGORIES
Compositor del Año
Songwriter of the Year:
• Bad Bunny
• Daddy Yankee
• J Balvin
• Ozuna
Editora del Año
Publisher of the Year:
• Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing America, INC., BMI
• SONY/ATV Discos Publishing LLC, ASCAP
• Universal Musica Unica Publishing, BMI
• WC Music Corp., ASCAP
Corporación Editora del Año
Publishing Corporation of the Year:
• Kobalt Music
• Sony/ATV Music
• Universal Music
• Warner/Chappell Music
Productor del Año
Producer of the Year:
• Dimelo Flow
• DJ Snake
• Mambo Kingz
• Tainy
The Billboard Latin Music Awards, to broadcast live April 23, 2020 on Telemundo, are the only ones to honor the most popular albums, songs and performers in Latin music as determined by the actual sales, streaming, radio airplay and social data that informs Billboard's weekly charts during a one-year period from the rankings dated February 2, 2019 through this year's January 25 charts. Based on album sales, digital track sales, streaming data and monitored radio airplay provided by Nielsen Music and social media data provided by Next Big Sound, Billboard’s rankings are the world's most authoritative music charts.
