Seven years ago, the Latin Recording Academy developed an initiative to honor and recognize professional and socially-conscious women within the arts and Latin entertainment fields. Today, the organization has announced its 2023 Leading Ladies Of Entertainment honorees, each of whom have made significant contributions and inspired the next generation of female leaders. 

 This year's honorees are:

• Róndine Alcalá: Founder of RondenePR, a music and entertainment public relations firm

• Mon Laferte: Singer/songwriter, multiple Latin GRAMMY winner and GRAMMY  nominee

• Simone Torres: GRAMMY-nominated engineer and vocal producer

• Ana Villacorta López: SVP Marketing and Promotion at Sony Music Entertainment Mexico

A private ceremony and luncheon celebrating the Leading Ladies' efforts will be held in Sevilla (Andalusia), Spain, on Monday, Nov. 13, as part of the marquee events for Latin GRAMMY Week 2023. 

"This diverse group of outstanding and successful women have made great contributions to Latin music," Latin Recording Academy CEO Manuel Abud said. "We are proud to celebrate them with this and other initiatives that seek to promote gender parity and honor the important role women play in the entertainment industry."  

El Corte Inglés, Viñas Familia Gil and Noteable by Spotify for Artists join the celebration as official sponsors; and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports of the Junta de Andalucía, with co-financing from European Funds, joins as institutional partner. 

For the third year, Notable will be making another special scholarship donation to the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation's Scholarship Fund in support of future Latin music makers.

Forging opportunities for future generations is a core pillar of the program, and Leading Ladies of Entertainment has partnered with  She Is The Music — a global nonprofit working to increase the number of women in music — and the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation on a collaborative mentorship program. Past Leading Ladies honorees will be invited to mentor a She Is The Music mentee. The partnership will build on last year's  Leading Ladies Connect TogetHER Mentorship Program.

Applications for the Leading Ladies of Entertainment Connect TogetHER Mentorship Program are now open through Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. E.T. Apply to the mentorship program now and read the guidelines. For any additional questions, email lgcf@grammy.com.  

Learn more about the Latin Recording Academy’s 2023 Leading Ladies of Entertainment honorees below:

Róndine Alcalá:

Róndine Alcalá, founder and owner of Rondene PR, started her career in public relations while working for international artist Luis Miguel in 1999 on his "Amarte Es Un Placer" world tour. Shortly after that she worked as senior publicist for a renowned PR firm in Los Angeles, where she developed and managed campaigns for superstars such as Alejandro Sanz, Shakira, Maná, Robi Draco Rosa, Enrique Iglesias, Ricardo Arjona, Sin Bandera, Alejandro Fernández and Julieta Venegas. Originally from Venezuela, Alcalá has contributed to the careers of global artists such as Ricky Martin, Juan Luis Guerra, Laura Pausini, Los Temerarios, Luis Fonsi, Soraya, Natalia Lafourcade, Pablo Alborán, Jesse & Joy and Camilo, as well as served corporate clients, at her own firm.

Mon Laferte:

Inside Norma Monserrat Bustamante Laferte also lives singer/songwriter and visual artist Mon Laferte. She began her career de ella performing popular songs in the streets of Viña del Mar, on the central Chilean coast, during her adolescence. This growth continued in Mexico, a country that welcomed her with open arms and where she was able to independently release her first two albums of hers, Desechable and Tornasol. A few years would pass before the arrival of the acclaimed Mon Laferte Vol.1 , an album with which she conquered not only an increasingly loyal, affectionate and large audience, but also several Latin GRAMMY nominations. New songs continued to appear over the years, until the 2021 release of the GRAMMY-nominated 1940 Carmen , her seventh album, as well as its predecessor Seis . Mon Laferte is an artist with a vision that goes beyond genres and ways of making music. This experimentation, overcoming the fear of trial and error, perseverance and, of course, her de ella talent, have made her one of the most beloved and influential Latin American female artists in the world.

Simone Torres:

GRAMMY and Diamond Award-nominated engineer and vocal producer Simone Torres has worked on records for artists like Cardi B, Camila Cabello, Becky G and Anitta. Some notable accomplishments include vocal producing Normani's "Motivation" and engineering Cardi B's "I Like It" and "Be Careful." Recently she's worked with Becky G on multiple records including her latest single "La Nena." She believes that her role de ella is to help bridge the gap between the technical and the creative aspects of making music. A Berklee College of Music graduate, Torres is known for her deft touch when it comes to vocal production. Beyond the studio, she works with organizations to create safe spaces that foster young women and gender expansive folks seeking music careers.
 
Ana Villacorta López:

Ana Villacorta López joined the music entertainment industry in 1981. After a brief stint at RCA, she worked for over a decade at EMI, primarily as Director of International Development in Spain. In 1993 she assumed the position of Regional Marketing Director at EMI and moved to Mexico. Five years later she joined BMG as Marketing Director of Ariola. After the merger with Sony, she took over as Marketing Director, and in 2015 she returned to Mexico as Senior Vice President. She has accompanied many artists in their careers, including Rocío Durcal, Julio Iglesias, Héroes del Silencio, Thalía, Fito Páez, Tony Bennett, Maná, One Direction, Vicente Fernández, Joaquín Sabina, Joan Manuel Serrat, Reik, Carlos Rivera and Camila.

**About She Is The Music:**

She Is The Music (SITM) is a global nonprofit working to increase the number of women in music and transform the gender landscape of the industry. Operating as a unifying network for the music business and beyond, SITM provides resources and support for female-focused initiatives, both through their own programs as well as external efforts worldwide. A first-of-its-kind collaboration, SITM is powered by industry-wide representation: creators, publishers, record labels, talent agencies, management companies, industry groups, think tanks, media companies, streaming services and more. Entertainment Industry Foundation serves as a partner. For more information, visit  sheisthemusic.org.

The Latin Recording Academy Announces Its 2023 Special Merit Award Honorees: Alex Acuña, Arturo Sandoval, Soda Stereo, Simone & More

The Latin Recording Academy today announced its 2024 Special Awards recipients: Albita, Lolita Flores, Alejandro Lerner, Los Ángeles Azules, Draco Rosa, and Lulu Santos will receive this year's Latin Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award as part of its annual Special Awards Presentation. Additionally, Ángel ‘Cucco’ Peña and Chucho Rincón will receive the Latin Recording Academy's Trustees Award.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to performers who have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to Latin music and its communities. The Trustees Award is bestowed on individuals who have made significant contributions to Latin music during their careers in ways other than performance. Both distinctions are voted on by the Latin Recording Academy's Board of Trustees.

“It is with great pride that we honor these musical legends — who continue redefining our Latin music and heritage — and we look forward to celebrating them as part of our Latin GRAMMY 25th anniversary festivities in November,” Latin Recording Academy CEO Manuel Abud said in a statement.

The honorees will be celebrated during a private event as part of Latin GRAMMY Week on Sunday, Nov. 10, in Miami, ahead of the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs. Alex Hadad will serve as executive producer of the Special Awards Presentation, working under the direction of the Latin Recording Academy’s production team led by Ayleen Figueras.

The 2024 Latin GRAMMYs, officially known as the 25th Latin GRAMMY Awards, will take place Thursday, Nov. 14, in Miami at Kaseya Center. The three-hour telecast will air live on Univision, Galavisión, and ViX on Thursday, Nov. 14, beginning at 8 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. CT), preceded by a one-hour pre-show starting at 7 p.m. ET/PT. Nominations for the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs will be announced Tuesday, Sept. 17.

The 2024 Latin GRAMMYs mark the 25th anniversary of the Latin GRAMMY Awards. This year, the Latin GRAMMYs will debut a new Field and two new Categories: Best Latin Electronic Music Performance, housed within the new Electronic Music Field, and Best Contemporary Mexican Music Album (Regional-Mexican Field).

Ahead of the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs, the Latin Recording Academy will host the official Latin GRAMMY Week 2024, which includes multiple events throughout Miami-Dade County, including marquee events like Leading Ladies of Entertainment, the Best New Artist Showcase, Special Awards Presentation, Nominee Reception, Person of the Year, and the Premiere Ceremony preceding the telecast. This year, 18-time Latin GRAMMY winner and two-time GRAMMY winner Carlos Vives will be honored as the 2024 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year. More details on the official Latin GRAMMY Week 2024 events and calendar will be announced in the coming months.

Learn more about the Latin Recording Academy’s 2024 Special Awards recipients below:

2024 Lifetime Achievement Award Honorees

Albita (Cuba)

One of the most exuberant ambassadors of Latin culture in the United States, Latin GRAMMY-winner Albita has championed the rollicking beauty of Cuban music since the release of her debut album in 1988. The daughter of a popular folk duo, Albita Rodríguez was born in Havana in 1962. Noted for the fiery combustion of her vocal cords and a precise understanding of Cuban musical tradition, Albita reignited her career after she left Cuba and moved to Miami in 1993. Her breathtaking live performances at Florida nightclubs resulted in a recording contract with Emilio Estefan’s Crescent Moon label. 

Released in 1995, her U.S. debut, No Se Parece A Nada, included one of her biggest hits: the brassy tropical anthem “Qué Manera de Quererte,” as well as a velvety bolero — a genre in which she also excels. A prolific songwriter, Albita built up a prodigious discography of original material, fusing the essence of son cubano with traditional trova and balada. The hostess of a highly successful television show, “La Descarga Con Albita,” she also showcased her formidable acting chops in productions of the Broadway musicals “The Mambo Kings,” “Carmen La Cubana,” and “Havana.” Albita continues actively recording new music and performing in front of enthusiastic audiences all over the world. 

Lolita Flores (Spain)

María Dolores González Flores was born in Madrid in 1958 and was only 17 when she released a hugely successful debut album, Amor, Amor. In 1976, her second album featured the smash “No Renunciaré,” an impossibly nostalgic balada marked by an ornate arrangement and her gritty performance. During the 1980s, Lolita became a beloved pop star throughout the Americas, and in the 1990s, she developed a parallel career as an award-winning actress and television presenter. The daughter of singers Lola Flores and Antonio González ‘El Pescaílla’ and sister of Rosario and the late Antonio Flores, Lolita found a distinctive personal approach anchored on the gorgeous texture of her vocals and an eclectic repertoire that never ceases to surprise. In 2001, the album Lola, Lolita, Lola triumphed with an irresistible cover of the Cuban standard “Sarandonga,” which her father had recorded in 1966. In later decades, Lolita expanded her palette with sophisticated albums such as 2007’s Sigue Caminando, which veered into bossa nova, jazz, and pop-rock.

Alejandro Lerner (Argentina)

A thoughtful singer/songwriter anchored on his impeccable keyboard technique, Alejandro Lerner is the most covered Latin artist of his generation. Born in Buenos Aires in 1957, Alejandro Federico Lerner began his career as a teenager, playing with various legends of 1970s Argentine rock. Released in 1982, his solo debut, Alejandro Lerner Y La Magia, showcased the qualities that would soon garner him millions of fans: solid musicianship, the raw honesty of his lyrics, and a natural gift for evoking delicate, nocturnal moods. Inspired by Argentina’s return to democracy, 1983’s “Todo A Pulmón” was recorded by Spanish star Miguel Ríos and became an international hit. The mutual admiration that he shared with Mexican balada icon Armando Manzanero resulted in several successful tours together. Alternating between his native Argentina and Los Angeles, Lerner collaborated with Carlos Santana on the 2002 album Shaman and toured with the guitarist. He has also worked with Carole King, Luis Miguel (on the 1996 mega-hit “Dame”), Celine Dion, Air Supply, Gino Vannelli, Paul Anka, Alan Parsons, and Barry Gibb, among many other luminaries. In 2005, he was enlisted by Disney to perform the songs in the Spanish version of Chicken Little and to compose an original song for the closing credits of the animated film. A tireless performer, Lerner is still active in the recording studio and tours sold-out venues across the Americas.

Los Ángeles Azules (Mexico)

Founded in the Mexico City municipality of Iztapalapa in 1976 by the siblings of the Mejía Avante family, the group released their debut album in 1982. But it was in 1996 that the orchestra became a fundamental part of Mexican cumbia with “Cómo Te Voy A Olvidar.” Noted for their openness to collaborate with artists from other genres, Los Ángeles Azules revolutionized their sound — and the Latin music business — in 2013 by teaming up with legends from the Latin alternative field: Caifanes’ Saúl Hernández, Fabulosos Cadillacs’ Vicentico, and Ximena Sariñana, to name a few. Subsequent duets with Natalia Lafourcade (the retro charm of “Nunca Es Suficiente” in 2018), Argentinian artists (the brilliant fusion of De Buenos Aires Para El Mundo in 2020), and Carlos Santana (2023’s funky single “A Todos Los Rumberos,” with Panteón Rococó) solidified the band’s reign as one of the most beloved acts in all of Latin music.

Draco Rosa (Puerto Rico)

The remarkable musical career of Draco Rosa encompasses many facets — from boy band superstar to iconic rock en español pioneer and global hitmaker — all of them informed by his virtuoso vision and protean talent. Born in Long Island, New York, in 1969 to Puerto Rican parents, the Latin GRAMMY-winning singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Robert Edward Rosa Suárez got his first taste of fame as a member of Menudo. After a brief stint with rock band Maggie’s Dream, Rosa released two fundamental albums that shaped the 1990s wave of Latin American rock: 1994’s Frío and 1996’s Vagabundo. Delving into the pop machinery with the desire to subvert any and all expectations, Rosa co-wrote “Livin’ la Vida Loca” and other pop smashes for former Menudo bandmate Ricky Martin and also produced songs for Julio Iglesias. Always invested in exploring new ground, he developed a solo career that switches effortlessly from epic alternative rock (2018’s Monte Sagrado) to soulful ambient sonics (2021’s Sound Healing 1:11). This year marked the release of Reflejos de Lo Eterno, a transcendent covers collection of Latin alternative classics.

Watch: Draco Rosa Talks On Tour Backstage Must-Haves | Herbal Tea & White Sofas

Lulu Santos (Brazil)

A prodigiously talented guitarist, singer, and composer able to infuse an ethereal sense of romance into every song he touches, Lulu Santos has spent the past five decades carving a distinguished path in Brazilian music. Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1953, Luiz Maurício Pragana dos Santos abandoned his studies in favor of the hippie movement and a music career. After founding the ambitious progressive rock outfit Vímana, Santos launched a solo career in 1982 with the album Tempos Modernos. The jangly self-titled track and the lush “De Repente Califórnia” epitomized the MPB aesthetic of the time: sunny pop-rock chords, oblique melodies, and echoes of new wave. His third LP, 1984’s Tudo Azul, established him as one of the key Brazilian rockers of the decade. Still, Santos’ tireless quest for novel forms of expression found him incorporating dance, funk, and R&B into his 1990s output. A passionate champion of fellow musicians, Santos released poignant albums revisiting the songbooks of fellow legends Roberto and Erasmo Carlos (2013) and Rita Lee (2017). He remains active in music, having recently released a new EP of remixes — Atemporal — in May 2024. 

2024 Trustees Award Honorees

Ángel ‘Cucco’ Peña (Puerto Rico)

Marc Anthony. Celia Cruz. Willie Colón. Gilberto Santa Rosa. These are just a few of the many stars whose work was enhanced by the talent of composer, producer, and orchestrator Ángel ‘Cucco’ Peña, a living legend of Puerto Rican music. Born in Santurce in 1948, Peña attended Puerto Rico’s Conservatory of Music and later sharpened his skills as a performer with tropical ensemble Orquesta Panamericana. His ability to infuse his Puerto Rican roots into every recording he touched cemented his sterling reputation as a sympathetic collaborator of other artists. In 1993, he co-produced Willie Colón’s classic LP Hecho en Puerto Rico, including the salsa anthem “Idilio.” The late 1990s were a time of fiery creativity for Peña. He produced Marc Anthony’s third album, Contra la Corriente, took over the musical direction on Gilberto Santa Rosa’s live album En Vivo Desde El Carnegie Hall, and contributed to albums by Ricky Martin (the pop blockbuster Vuelve), Chayanne and Celia Cruz. The Latin GRAMMY winner has worked extensively in film, advertising and television specials and remains an active ambassador of Latin music.

Chucho Rincón (Mexico)

A prolific composer, producer and label executive, Latin GRAMMY winner Chucho Rincón is a pioneer of the Mexican recording industry and a guiding light within Latin music. Born in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, in 1937, Jesús ‘Chucho’ Rincón Cárdenas grew up in Michoacán and learned to play the guitar at a young age. After moving to Mexico City and taking acting and voice lessons, he became the lead vocalist for the soulful Trío Los Aguilillas in 1956. Rincón left the band in favor of a solo career and began writing songs in 1962. His charismatic presence and musical expertise facilitated a transition into a musical director with several labels. Working for Capitol, he signed many artists, including a young Joan Sebastian, whose career he would continue to shepherd decades later. In 1988, Rincón moved with his family to Spain where he became the musical director of the Orfeón label. He has produced over 300 albums by stars such as Alejandro Fernández, Chavela Vargas, and La Sonora Santanera and composed more than 200 songs, including the mega-hit “Quén Pompó.” Rincón continues producing music as part of a creative team with his son Fabián.

The Latin Recording Academy today announced that 18-time Latin GRAMMY winner and two-time GRAMMY winner Carlos Vives will be the 2024 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year. He will be honored at a star-studded gala leading up to the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs, which this year marks the 25th anniversary of the Latin GRAMMY Awards.

The heartfelt tribute concert will honor Vives' celebrated career, which spans more than 30 years as a multifaceted singer and composer, and will feature renditions of his renowned repertoire performed by an array of notable artists and friends. In addition to his achievements in music, the 2024 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year gala will honor Vives' continued commitment to environmental and social initiatives.

Details about the coveted event, which takes place during the 2024 Latin GRAMMY Week in Miami, will be announced at a later date.

An architect of Latin music's ongoing evolution and global expansion, Carlos Vives is one of the most respected artists in Spanish-language music around the world. He helped pioneer a new Latin American sound, redefining traditional Colombian vallenato by incorporating pop and rock. The first Colombian to win a GRAMMY Award, he boasts more than 10 billion streams on digital platforms, 20 million albums sold, and enduring hits like "La Gota Fría," "Pa' Mayte," "La Tierra Del Olvido," "Fruta Fresca" and "Volví A Nacer."

Vives has become an ambassador of Colombian and Latin American culture around the world, and his commitment also transcends the musical realm. In 2015, he created the Tras La Perla initiative to promote the sustainable development of Santa Marta and its ecosystem.

In addition, he created the Escuela de Música Río Grande to offer artistic experiences to children and young people and founded the record label Gaira Música Local to promote new Colombian talent. As part of his ongoing commitment to music education, Vives has been a strong advocate and generous supporter of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation since its inception and sponsored its annual Prodigy Scholarship in 2018.

"Carlos Vives is one of the most prolific and beloved artists of our time, whose commitment to Latin music and support for the new generations truly personifies the values of our Academy," Latin Recording Academy CEO Manuel Abud said in a statement. "We honor him as our Person of the Year for his vast contributions to our musical heritage and for his many philanthropic initiatives."

"I am honored and moved to have been chosen as the 2024 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year. It is the reward for an authentic journey, for a wonderful team, and, above all, it is the recognition of the musical spirits of our Latin American diversity," Vives said in a statement. "These spirits taught us to love and enrich our language, to take care of it, and to respect it in order to exalt humanity with it."

The Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year honors musicians and their artistic achievements in the Latin music industry as well as their humanitarian efforts. The past honorees are Laura Pausini (2023), Marco Antonio Solís (2022), Rubén Blades (2021), Juanes (2019), Maná (2018), Alejandro Sanz (2017), Marc Anthony (2016), Roberto Carlos (2015), Joan Manuel Serrat (2014), Miguel Bosé (2013), Caetano Veloso (2012), Shakira (2011), Plácido Domingo (2010), Juan Gabriel (2009), Gloria Estefan (2008), Juan Luis Guerra (2007), Ricky Martin (2006), José José (2005), Carlos Santana (2004), Gilberto Gil (2003), Vicente Fernández (2002), Julio Iglesias (2001), and Emilio Estefan (2000).

Net proceeds from the Latin Academy Person of the Year Gala will go toward the charitable work of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation.

The 2024 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year gala will take place days ahead of the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs, which take place Thursday, Nov. 14, in Miami at Kaseya Center, in partnership with Miami-Dade County and the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB). The nominations for the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs will be announced Tuesday, Sept. 17.

This year, the Latin Recording Academy will introduce two new Latin GRAMMY categories and a new field: Best Latin Electronic Music Performance, housed within the new Electronic Music Field, and Best Contemporary Mexican Music Album (Regional-Mexican Field). These additions also include several changes, including additional category amendments, to be added to the 2024 Latin GRAMMY Awards Process.

8 Essential Latin Electronic Releases: Songs And Albums From Bizarrap, Arca & More

The explosive Latin music scene is moving in many directions: from brassy corridos tumbados to pounding perreo tracks. Yet another, slower movement is quietly brewing: Latin trip-hop and downtempo. 

Trip-hop originated in the 1990s and typically refers to downtempo music with a degree of electronic experimentation and an elusive sense of eeriness. While it's a contentious term that has been shunned by the very artists’ whose sound it was coined to describe (Portishead’s Geoff Barrow once tweeted "call it anything else but that";), it has been widely embraced in Latin America, which has imprinted on the genre since it’s infancy.

In 2001, the Franco-Argentine act Gotan Project poured tango into trip-hop musings to create their seminal record La revancha del Tango. Brazilian bossa nova has also featured heavily in the peripheral trip-hop scene: London-Brazilian outfit Smoke City’s 1997 Flying Away was awash with the rhythms of Rio de Janeiro. 

Latin GRAMMY winner Mon Laferte recalls listening to the sounds of Portishead in the 1990s, gazing out the window of her Chilean home in portside city Viña del Mar. "I loved Beth Gibbons’ voice," she says. "I remember the television was showing a Portishead concert, and I thought, Who is this captivating voice?"

That interest has followed Laferte throughout her career. On 2023's Autopoetica, Laferte brings back the Latin twist on trip-hop — drawing on traditional styles that have been a staple to her previous catalog (bolero, salsa, cumbia), then blending them into a downtempo electro canvas. "40yMM," a song that navigates the ups and downs of turning 40, begins with atmospheric strings, whispered vocals, and slow, pulsating beats, before unexpectedly branching into a rhythmic salsa. 

Laferte is one of a new wave of artists exploring the boundaries of traditional Latin styles through poignant, reflective experimentation — whether it be pasting a hypnotic double cumbia beat onto a trippy electro soundscape, or combining regional folk guitar with shuddering synths. Read on for five artists who are at the forefront of a new wave of Latin trip-hop and downtempo.

Karen y Los Remedios 

Hailing from Mexico, Karen y Los Remedios is a Mexican trio that makes "existential Cumbia." Their 2023 debut album, Silencio, is a gorgeously dark exploration of the realizations that occur through silence. On "Cartas Marinas," Ana Karen G Barajas asks "What would your voice be without mine?/What would your hand be without mine?"; her profound, prophetic tone that chills the spine.

The trio, formed by Barajas, guitarist Guillermo Berbeyer and producer Jonathan Muriel (Jiony), first met on projects under Jiony's Mexico City label, VAA, which specializes in electro, techno, funk and traditional Latin sounds. The trio eventually teamed up to put out two EPs, cumbia-driven Botanas, Vol15, in 2020, and lo-fi hip hop effort Recuerdos de Expiación in 2021.

Federico Aubele

Singing with shivering stillness, Federico Aubele’s music is soft, pensive and haunting. Mixing jazz, trip-hop and folk, the Argentine is signed to ESL Music, which is headed by U.S. electro act Thievery Corporation. His musical footprint is similarly global: Aubele released his debut album, Gran Hotel Buenos Aires, in 2004 while living in Berlin, and then spent time making music in Barcelona, before settling in New York.

His latest album, 2023's Time Drips On My Bed, is a meditative reflection on the past inspired by his early life in Buenos Aires, a city he grew up in, but is at once a stranger to. His music is informed by Latin classical guitars, nodding to the tango and folk styles present in Argentina, and mixing in contemporary electronic elements to hone his eclectic and exploratory style. 

Luiza Lian 

Signed to international independent label ZZK Records, Luiza Lian is a Sao Paulo-based musician who toys with experimental techniques, bouncing basslines and erratic vocal arrangement. On the latest album, 7 Estrelas | quem arrancou o céu?, she uses voice manipulation to explore themes of reality and deception, holding a mirror up to a consumerist world to question where our real values should lie. 

Lian’s deep mediations on the record translate to an immersive live show that has won awards in her native Brazil. With frantic projections, flashing lights and costume design that form part of the stage backdrop, she creates a deliberately disorientating and harrowing mood, encouraging viewers to join her reflection on humanity. 

Natalia Clavier

Like Abuele, Buenos Aires vocalist Clavier is another protegee of the Thievery Corporation and spent a large part of her early career as the band’s lead vocalist. Clavier kindled a love for singing as a child after listening to her grandmother’s jazz records and eventually grew to love electronic music after discovering the sounds of Massive Attack, Björk and Portishead. 

After spending the first chapter of her music career as a session and live vocalist, Clavier released her debut album, Nectár, in 2008. She's since crafted a body of solo work that combines hushed, jazzy vocals with gorgeously downtempo tracks. Her most recent album with Thievery Corporation’s Eric Hilton, 2023’s Corazón Kintsugi, combines Bossa Nova, dub, and trip-hop into a rich soundscape. 

Céu 

Maria do Céu Whitaker Poças, known as Céu, is a Sao Paulo musician whose music veers into a particularly dub vein of downtempo. 

Since releasing her first self-titled album in 2005, Céu has worked with a mixture of jazz, reggae and samba, her blissfully smooth vocals weaving between the genres. The self-titled album was a critical success, earning her a Latin GRAMMY nomination for Best New Artist in 2006, and a GRAMMY nomination for Best Contemporary World Music Album in 2008.

Céu continues to make soft, blissfully melodic music with an electronic edge. On 2024 single Coração Âncora, she teams up with producer RDD to sing a breezy, summery ode the "anchored heart," committed and assured. 

6 Artists Reimagining Flamenco For A New Generation: María José Llergo, C. Tangana, Mëstiza & More

The Latin Recording Academy today announced that the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs, officially known as the 25th Latin GRAMMY Awards, will take place on Thursday, Nov. 14, in Miami at Kaseya Center, in partnership with Miami-Dade County and the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB). Additionally, the nominations for the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs will be announced Tuesday, Sept. 17.

The 2024 Latin GRAMMYs celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Latin GRAMMY Awards, a momentous milestone for the Latin Recording Academy. The show's return to Miami is also a homecoming for the Latin GRAMMYs, returning to the place it calls home, where the Latin Recording Academy's journey commenced and where its headquarters remain today. The 2024 Latin GRAMMYs mark the third time that the Latin GRAMMYs will be held in Miami: The first time took place in 2003 and the second time took place in 2020, when the show was closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The three-hour telecast of the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs, produced by TelevisaUnivision, will air live on Univision, Galavisión, and ViX on Thursday, Nov. 14, beginning at 8 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. CT), preceded by a one-hour pre-show starting at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

The 2024 Latin GRAMMYs will see the debut of a new Field and several new Latin GRAMMY Categories, including Best Latin Electronic Music Performance, housed within the new Electronic Music Field, and Best Contemporary Mexican Music Album (Regional-Mexican Field), among other changes.

Ahead of the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs, the Latin Recording Academy will host multiple official Latin GRAMMY Week 2024 events throughout Miami-Dade County, including marquee events like Leading Ladies of Entertainment, the Best New Artist Showcase, Special Awards Presentation, Nominee Reception, Person of the Year, and the Premiere Ceremony preceding the telecast. More details on the official Latin GRAMMY Week 2024 events and calendar will be announced in the coming months.

The news of the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs was announced via a press conference in Miami today. Watch the full press conference, featuring Latin Recording Academy CEO Manuel Abud, below.

"Since our first awards presentation in the year 2000, the Latin GRAMMYs have provided an international spotlight for Latin music second to none and provided iconic performances that have become part of global music and pop culture history.  We are thrilled to celebrate our 25th anniversary in Miami," Latin Recording Academy CEO Manuel Abud said. "Miami has evolved to become the epicenter of Latin entertainment and we are grateful for the community support and enthusiasm we have received."

"Welcome home, Latin GRAMMYs! As the cultural capital for Latinos in the United States, there's no better place than Miami-Dade to host the best of Latin music and entertainment," said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. "It's a true honor to host this incredible event once again and welcome people from all over the world to enjoy the vibrant and diverse cultural hub we call home. This event celebrates the very best in music, and we are proud to showcase Miami's unique energy, where music and culture collide in the most spectacular way."

"We are excited to bring to life the landmark 25-year celebration of the Latin GRAMMYs from the city we call home – the city where Hispanic culture has flourished as a driving force of influence and impact globally," said Ignacio Meyer, President of Univision Television Networks Group at TelevisaUnivision. "As the Home of Latin Music, we're excited to deliver yet another unforgettable night of excellence in music, grounded in our passion and unwavering commitment to shining a bright light on the most culture-defining moments for Spanish-speaking audiences worldwide."

"This announcement underscores Greater Miami's status as a global hub at the intersection of multicultural music, entertainment, events and tourism," said David Whitaker, president and CEO of The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. "On behalf of the travel and hospitality industry of Greater Miami, we are absolutely thrilled by the news that the 25th Latin GRAMMYs is returning home to Miami – bringing with it an influx of visitors eager to experience the excitement and energy of this iconic destination."

The Latin GRAMMY Awards are the preeminent international honor and the only peer-selected award celebrating excellence in Latin music worldwide.

Additional key dates for the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs include:

• July 24, 2024 — Aug. 5,2024:  First Round of Voting

• Sept. 17, 2024: Nominations Announcement

• Sept. 27, 2024 — Oct. 10, 2024: Final Round of Voting

Visit the Latin Recording Academy website for more information regarding the 2024 Latin GRAMMY Awards season.

Join the conversation online and share the official hashtags on all popular social media platforms: #LatinGRAMMY #25AñosDeExcelencia. 

The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation Announces The 2024 Sebastián Yatra Scholarship