In a demonstration of its commitment to advancing the ever-changing musical landscape, the Latin Recording Academy has announced several major developments to be introduced at the upcoming 2023 Latin GRAMMYs, officially known as the 24th Annual Latin GRAMMYs, which take place this November, including the addition of three new categories and a new Field. (The eligibility period for the 24th Annual Latin GRAMMYs is Wednesday, June 1, 2022 – Wednesday, May 31, 2023.)

These include: the launches of the Best Songwriter Of The Year category and the coinciding Songwriting Field; the Best Singer-Songwriter Song category; and the Best Portuguese-Language Urban Performance category. The Latin Recording Academy has also made amendments to several existing categories, including Album Of The Year, Song categories and Best Engineered Album.

While the news of these changes alone is monumental, it begs two questions: What do they signify for the Latin Recording Academy and the wider Latin music industry? And what will they ultimately lead to?

Firstly, introducing and awarding new categories allows the Latin Recording Academy to celebrate more artists and creators who are evolving genres and creating new, boundary-pushing sounds.

"The Latin music industry is very much alive and creating," Luis Dousdebes, the Chief Awards, Membership & Preservation Officer at the Latin Recording Academy, tells GRAMMY.com. "When we are awarding something really good to this community of artists and creators, they want to participate — and then they want to be part of the Latin Academy."

Secondly, by reaching new artist, producer and creator communities around the world, the Latin Recording Academy is diversifying its global base of members and the creators it celebrates at the annual Latin GRAMMYs, while also expanding its wider mission of elevating Latin music on a global scale.

"[We're] bringing more artist and creator communities to the process," Dousdebes reflects, "giving more inclusion to everyone who needs to be recognized; we're very excited about that potential."

Below, read some key takeaways explaining what these changes and amendments will mean for the 2023 Latin GRAMMYs and beyond.

Read More: The Latin Recording Academy Announces New Latin GRAMMY Award Categories And Field: Best Songwriter Of The Year, Best Singer-Songwriter Song, Best Portuguese-Language Urban Performance & More

Songwriters & The Art Of Songwriting Are Being Elevated

While the Latin Recording Academy has honored producers and artists with Latin GRAMMYs since its inception, songwriters are getting two much-deserved, standalone categories from here on out: Best Songwriter Of The Year and Best Singer-Songwriter Song.

The Best Songwriter Of The Year award, which is part of the newly created Songwriting Field, recognizes the written excellence, profession and art of songwriting.

Likewise, the Best Singer-Songwriter Song award, which lives within the Singer-Songwriter Field, honors singles or tracks from a Singer-Songwriter Album competing in the Singer-Songwriter Album Category in the same Latin GRAMMY year. Eligible songs must contain at least 51% of the lyrics in Spanish, Portuguese or any native regional dialect. As well, this category honors songs solely written by one person. "While the album can be co-written and 25% of a 75/25 share," Dousdebes explains, "we think it's a really good idea to motivate… the writing of a song by one person."

"As an Academy, we understand that everything starts with a good song," Dousdebes continues. "Since the Latin Recording Academy has been awarding artists and producers since the foundation of the Latin GRAMMYs in 2000, it was time to finally extend this honor to songwriters as well."

A Milestone For Artists Who Sing In Portuguese — A Growing Subset Of The Latin Music Community

In the past, Portuguese-speaking artists have largely competed with Spanish-speaking artists at the Latin GRAMMYs. Now, they're getting far more real estate on their own with the introduction of the Best Portuguese-Language Urban Performance award.

This exciting, new category, which lives within the Portuguese Language Field, recognizes the enormous amount of Urban music that is being created in Brazil and Portugal. Eligible singles or tracks can include a fusion mix of Urban styles with other genres as long as the Urban character predominates. This specialized performance category does not preclude Portuguese-speaking artists from competing in some of the other Urban Field categories.

"It is time to give [the Portuguese-language creator industry] the chance to grow within their community," Dousdebes says. "By introducing this categeory, we're motivating the participation of this community in the Latin GRAMMYs even more."

Eligibility For Album Of The Year And Best Engineered Album Is Now More Sharply Defined

Starting at the 24th Annual Latin GRAMMYs, all eligible albums submitted for consideration in the Album Of The Year category, within the General Field, must contain at least 51% playing time of newly recorded material. As well, award to the artist, producer(s), engineer(s), mixer(s), mastering engineer(s), and songwriter(s) of 33% playing time of the album if other than the artist will receive the award.

This also extends to the freshly amended Best Engineered Album category. As outlined in the recently announced amendments, new criteria for the Best Engineered Album category states, “Award goes to Recording Engineer(s) and Mixing Engineer(s) credited with at least 33% of the album and Mastering Engineer(s) credited with at least 51% of the album within the Production Field.”

Contributors to albums who do not meet the required percentages outlined in these amendments for both the Album Of The Year and Best Engineered Album categories will receive an official certificate.

While these amendments may seem minor on the surface, they carry profound effects.

"This is about the relevance of our award," Dousdebes says. As he explains, giving the same award to everyone who appeared on an album — even those who mixed one song — undermines such.

Of course, that doesn't mean a relatively minor participant shouldn't be honored at all. By giving certificates, as opposed to Latin GRAMMY statues, to scores of people, everybody shares in the recognition, Dousdebes clarifies. And in the end, this will bolster the integrity of both categories.

Recording Dates For Songs Are Now Requisite For Submission — Leading To Cleaner Organization And More Transparency

Obviously, a song popping up on Spotify doesn't mean it was recorded that day; the gap between a song being created and released can be months or even years.

That's why the date of a track's composition must be included when submitting eligible product for all of the Song categories going forward — to ensure it's truly new.

"We need to have the information of the date when the song was composed because it's very difficult to keep track of composition dates when you have hundreds of songs released every week," Dousdebes says. "It helps the submission process, helps the screening, and helps the staff.”

Ultimately, this small-yet-significant amendment will help streamline the submission process and screening process and will build even more transparency within the Song categories.

Listen: All Of The Latin Music 2023 GRAMMY Nominees In One Playlist

The Latin GRAMMYs are going global! Today, the Latin Recording Academy announced that the 2023 Latin GRAMMYs, officially known as the 24th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, will be held in Sevilla, Spain. Airing on Thursday, Nov. 16, from the Conference and Exhibition Centre (FIBES), the 2023 Latin GRAMMYs marks the first-ever international telecast in the history of the organization and awards.

Nominees for the 2023 Latin GRAMMYs will be announced on Tuesday, Sept. 19.

The announcement also marks the official start of a three-year partnership between the Latin Recording Academy and the Junta de Andalucía, who will sponsor the 2023 Latin GRAMMYs and Latin GRAMMY Week, as well as several Latin Academy events in the community. In addition, Sevilla joins the celebration as host city for all the events during this year's Latin GRAMMY Week, which will precede the Latin GRAMMY telecast.

This year's Latin GRAMMY Week includes the Person of the Year Gala, the Special Awards Presentation, the Leading Ladies of Entertainment luncheon, the Best New Artist showcase, the latter of which recognizes the nominees in that category, and a nominee reception, among other events.

The Latin GRAMMY telecast will be produced by TelevisaUnivision in collaboration with Radio Televisión Española (RTVE).

With the awards show expanding to Spain, the Latin Recording Academy, the organization behind the annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, is further evolving its mission to support and elevate Latin music on a global scale. Earlier this year, the Latin Recording Academy also announced the addition of several globally minded awards categories, including the Best Portuguese-Language Urban Performance category, which will be introduced at the upcoming 2023 Latin GRAMMYs.

“International growth is consistent with our mission,” Latin Recording Academy CEO Manuel Abud said in an exclusive interview. “The Latin Academy, our membership, and the music we honor have always been global. We have members from more than 40 countries, and we've always celebrated music in the Spanish language and the Portuguese language. Now, the only thing that is changing is that we're taking the celebration to another place, which will ultimately expand our global reach even further.”

Learn More: 2023 Latin GRAMMYs Explained: 4 Reasons To Be Excited About The New Categories & Changes

"It is an honor to celebrate our Latin GRAMMY Week in Sevilla and commit to our mission of elevating Latin music and its creators around the world. We are confident that it will be a memorable celebration," Abud further expanded in a statement.

"We are thrilled to produce the Latin GRAMMYs for the first time this year in Spain, and in a new partnership with the prestigious RTVE," Ignacio Meyer, President of U.S. Networks at TelevisaUnivision, said. "This is an extraordinary moment for Latin music globally and we are confident that this partnership with RTVE, and the passion and energy that Univision brings to the show, will make history and deliver an unforgettable experience for audiences who love and enjoy music all around the world."

"It will be an honor for RTVE to participate in the transmission and production of the 24th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards and we are working hard to accomplish it," said Elena Sánchez Caballero, President of Radio Televisión Española. "Music is more than an art form, it's a vehicle that unites us collectively, and we look forward to providing the best possible coverage for our viewers."

Additional key dates on the road to the 2023 Latin GRAMMYs include:

• July 27, 2023 - August 7, 2023: First Round of Voting

• Sept. 19: 2023 Latin GRAMMYs nominees announced

• Sept. 29, 2023 - Oct. 12, 2023: Final Round of Voting

• Nov. 16: 2023 Latin GRAMMY Awards Telecast

Learn more information regarding the 2023 Latin GRAMMYs awards season.

Follow GRAMMY.com all year long as we continue to announce more news and updates about the 2023 Latin GRAMMYs.

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In a demonstration of its commitment to reflect the ever-changing musical landscape, the Latin Recording Academy has announced the addition of several changes, a new field and categories to the Latin GRAMMY Awards Process.

"Our priority is to effectively represent all the Latin music creators that we serve," Latin Recording Academy CEO Manuel Abud said in a statement. "We are excited to present these new categories that reflect the constant evolution of our music."

All new updates will go into effect immediately for the upcoming 2023 Latin GRAMMY Awards, officially known as the 24th Latin GRAMMY Awards, which take place this November. The Online Entry Process for this year’s Latin GRAMMYs opens on Thursday, March 23.

NEW LATIN GRAMMY AWARDS FIELD AND CATEGORY ADDED:

Best Songwriter Of The Year

As part of the newly-created Songwriting Field, this new category recognizes the written excellence, profession and art of songwriting. Songwriters must have a minimum of six newly written songs in which they are credited as a songwriter or co-writer and are not the performer, producer or engineer.

NEW LATIN GRAMMY AWARDS CATEGORIES ADDED:

Best Singer-Songwriter Song

To be eligible for this new category within the Singer-Songwriter Field, the singles or tracks must contain at least 51% of the lyrics in Spanish, Portuguese or any native regional dialect, and must be from a Singer-Songwriter Album competing in the Singer-Songwriter Album Category that year.

Best Portuguese-Language Urban Performance

This new category within the Portuguese Language Field recognizes the enormous amount of Urban music that is being created in Brazil and Portugal. The singles or tracks can include a fusion mix of Urban styles with other genres as long as the Urban character predominates.

The Latin Recording Academy has also made amendments to the following existing categories: 

Album Of The Year

Albums within the General Field must contain at least 51% playing time of newly recorded material. Award to the Artist, Producer(s), Engineer(s), Mixer(s), Mastering Engineer(s) and Songwriter(s) of 33% playing time of the album if other than the Artist will receive the award.

Song Categories

It is now required to include the date of composition when submitting product for all of the Song categories.

New Criteria For Best Engineered Album

Award goes to Recording Engineer(s) and Mixing Engineer(s) credited with at least 33% of the album and Mastering Engineer(s) credited with at least 51% of the album within the Production Field.

The Recording Academy lauds its sister Academy for this thrilling series of developments; keep watching their space for more updates on the 2023 Latin GRAMMYs!

 Listen: Celebrate Día Nacional De La Zalsa With The Latin Recording Academy's Official Playlist Of Latin GRAMMY-Winning Salsa & Tropical Songs

Romeo Santos has helped bring bachata to a worldwide audience. The Dominican-American superstar hit the stage at the 2022 Latin GRAMMY Awards to perform "Bebo," a single from his most recent album, Fórmula, Vol. 3.

Santos brought the drama behind "Bebo" to life during his performance. While singing the heartbreaking bachata ballad, the stage was covered in empty alcohol bottles, with Santos carrying — and drinking from — a bottle himself. He remained smooth as ever while singing about drinking away the memories of a past relationship, brilliantly embodying the spirit of the song with a captivating performance.

Santos has solidified his legacy as the "King of Bachata," achieving global success as both a solo artist and as the lead singer of the band Aventura. Santos is nominated for two Latin GRAMMY Awards this year: one for Best Long Form Music Video for the documentary Romeo Santos: King of Bachata, and a second nomination as a member of Aventura. The bachata band's collaboration with Bad Bunny, "Volví," is nominated for Best Urban Fusion/Performance. 

On his highly-anticipated Fórmula, Vol. 3, Santos continued to push bachata music to new places with innovative collaborations. The album's "Sin Fin" features Justin Timberlake, while  "El Pañuelo" features fellow Latin GRAMMY nominee Rosalía. Santos also experimented with regional Mexican music for the first time on "Me Extraño," which featured crooner Christian Nodal.

Santos is no stranger to the Latin GRAMMY Awards. In 2018, he was nominated for Best Contemporary Tropical Album for his LP Golden. In 2013, Fórmula, Vol. 1 was nominated for Best Tropical Latin Album at the GRAMMY Awards. 

Stay tuned for a clip of the performance, and check out the complete list of winners and nominees at the 2022 Latin GRAMMYs.

The 2022 Latin GRAMMYs are right around the corner, on Nov. 17 — and now we have a taste of its unique visual flair.

On Oct. 20, the Latin Recording Academy announced that Mexican muralist Quetzal Fuerte has been selected as the official artist of the 2022 Latin GRAMMYs.

Approaching this year's official Latin GRAMMY artwork with a fresh lens, Quetzal's mural for The Latin Recording Academy reflects his distinct, vibrant style, and capturesthe energy of Latin music through the use of colors.

The mural is on display in Morelia, Mexico, and a sister piece will soon be created at the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles in November, in an effort to provide access to art and local enthusiasm for the upcoming Latin GRAMMYs.

Additionally, Quetzal's work will be featured prominently on collateral materials and as an exclusive NFT before and during the 23rd Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards.

Official artwork by Quetzal Fuerte for the 2022 Latin GRAMMYs | Photo Courtesy of the Latin Recording Academy

"I am grateful to The Latin Recording Academy for inviting me to join them in crossing a new frontier together through the creation of this mural in Morelia," said Quetzal Fuerte. "Art is nourishment for the soul, whether it's visual or through sound, and through this piece we have the opportunity to impact and transform the lives of those who see it here locally or in its digital form, planting seeds of thought and emotion that will hopefully inspire future creators."

"The Latin Recording Academy is proud to continue its tradition of supporting emerging artists, like Quetzal, whose vision so brilliantly captures the essence of our 23rd Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards," said Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. "His murals and accompanying free NFT mark a series of firsts for us at The Latin Academy, as we bridge music and visual art to make both accessible to fans around the world."

For the official artwork of the 23rd Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards and accompanying mural, the artist shows a variety of musical instruments to illustrate the multifaceted Latino experience through the juxtaposition of bright and dark colors.

In partnership with OneOf, the leading Web3 platform for music, lifestyle brands and sports, The Latin Recording Academy will host the first-ever NFT collection tied to The Latin GRAMMY Awards with a series of drops celebrating Latin music through a collection of NFTs debuting with Quetzal's artwork.

The first NFT in the series is available free on OneOf's website for Latin GRAMMY enthusiasts. Users that claim the free NFT will unlock airdrops of exclusive content from the 23rd Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards.

Quetzal Fuerte describes himself as an urban acupuncturist — but instead of using needles, he uses paintbrush to bring healing to the pressure points of cities. Thus, he covers blank spaces with colorful, allusive art that depicts the highs and lows of modern life while providing residents with moments of respite.

The Latin Academy will host the 23rd Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards on Thursday, November 17, 2022, from the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. The telecast will air live on Univision beginning at 8 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. Central). For airing times in additional countries, please consult local guides. 

For more information and the latest news, visit the official Latin Recording Academy site at www.LatinGRAMMY.com.

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