The Foundation also awarded an additional 43 scholarships to music students worldwide and announced the creation of its Scholarship Alumni Network

Credit: Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation /John Parra/Getty Images

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MIAMI (AUGUST 24, 2023) — The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® awarded the Nicky Jam Scholarship to Dominican pianist Leomar Cordero during a special presentation with the artist in Miami, where the Latin GRAMMY® winner performed alongside Cordero and additional scholarship recipients.

Also known as the Prodigy Scholarship, and sponsored annually by a Latin music icon, it was created nine years ago to support music education and Latin music genres. It holds a maximum value of $200,000 and allows Cordero to pursue a bachelor's degree at Berklee College of Music in Boston, starting this fall. Previous sponsors include: Sofia Carson (2022), Juanes (2021), Julio Iglesias (2020), Emilio and Gloria Estefan (2019), Carlos Vives (2018), Miguel Bosé (2017), Juan Luis Guerra (2016) and Enrique Iglesias (2015).

Cordero, a 19-year-old musician from La Romana, was selected by the Foundation's Scholarship Committee from a highly competitive group of hundreds of applicants worldwide. Since its establishment, the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation has committed an extraordinary sum of more than $9.3 million in scholarships, grants, musical instruments, and educational programs throughout the United States and Ibero-America.

“Since our inception nearly a decade ago, the Foundation's unwavering mission has been to support and cultivate the next generation of Latin music creators. I am humbled to announce our ninth Prodigy Scholarship winner and continue this mission,” said Raquel "Rocky" Egusquiza, Executive Director of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®. “With the extraordinary generosity of respected artists such as Nicky Jam, we have the unique privilege of fostering the education of future generations, paving the way for their dreams to flourish and carry forward the rich legacy of Latin music.”

Nicky Jam shared "My heart swells with joy as I join the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation in awarding the Nicky Jam Scholarship to the extraordinary pianist Leomar Cordero. This is more than a scholarship, it's a symphony of dreams harmonizing with dedication. To witness the power of music uniting us all, and to be a part of Leomar's journey, is an honor beyond words. Through education, we nurture the melodies of tomorrow and keep the soul of Latin music alive. Congratulations, Leomar, let your music paint the world with colors only your heart can imagine."

“I am beyond thankful to the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation and Nicky Jam for rewarding my efforts and motivating not just me, but also a large number of passionate young musicians who share an infinite love for music and our rich culture,” said Cordero. “I am committed to making the most out of this incredible opportunity and leaving a lasting impact in the world of music.”

The Foundation also announced the recipients of its annual Gifted Tuition Scholarships and Tuition Assistance Scholarships, that award 43 talented students from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to pursue an education at some of the most prestigious music institutions in the world.

In addition, upon completing their studies, Cordero and all the Gifted Tuition and Tuition Assistance scholarship recipients listed below will have the opportunity to join the newly formed Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation Scholarship Alumni Network. This network formalizes the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to serve beyond scholarships by providing graduates opportunities to mentor current scholarship recipients, network with industry professionals, access exclusive events and resources as well as give back to the community.

Gifted Tuition Scholarship Recipients:

The following three students will each receive the Gifted Tuition Scholarship, with a maximum value of $100,000, which will support the tuition costs of four years of study at the university, college or music institution of their choice are:

• Gabriel Américo, guitarist from Brazil

• Camilo Astiazarán, guitarist from Uruguay

• Olivia Soler Espinosa, tres cubano from Cuba

Tuition Assistance Scholarship Recipients:

In addition, the following 40 students will each receive the Tuition Assistance Scholarship, a one-time scholarship with a maximum value of $10,000 toward the tuition costs for the university or college of their choice:

Nombre	País	Instrumento	Universidad
Sofía Almeida	Portugal	Voice	Berklee College Of Music
Juan Diego Alván Madueño	Peru	Piano	Los Angeles College
Cobe Isai Banda Salcido	Mexico	Guitar	Tecnológico de Monterrey
Gabriel Braga	Brazil	Trombone	Faculdade de Música Souza Lima
Sebastián Castillo	Panama	Piano	Boston Conservatory
Pedro Henrique Cheik Costantin	Brazil	Guitar	Faculdade de Música Souza Lima
Lorenzo Curik	Argentina	Drum Set	Berklee College of Music
Abner Felipe Dos Santos Martins	Brazil	Electric Guitar	Faculdade de Música Souza Lima
Juan Pablo Faundez	Chile	Drum Set	Berklee College of Music
Marien Femerling García	Mexico	Piano	Manhattan School of Music
Rodrigo García Vargas	Mexico	Piano	Manhattan School of Music
Yandy García-Palacio	Cuba	Drums	Berklee College of Music
Francisco Garrido	Venezuela	Guitar	Conservatorium van Amsterdam, Holanda
Luis González	Venezuela	Cello	Chicago College of Performing Arts
Andrés Guerra	Venezuela	Guitar	Mannes School of Music at The New School
Sebastián Guerrero	Colombia	Electric Bass	Longy School of Music
María Insuasti	Colombia	Voice	Concordia University Irvine
Julieta Iricíbar	Argentina	Voice	The New School
Pau Jorba Bonastre	Spain	Saxophone	The New School
Marina Marchi Silveira	Brazil	Voice	Faculdade de Música Souza Lima
Simón Martínez	Ecuador	Piano	Berklee College of Music
Laia Martínez Gelabert	Spain	Electric Bass	Berklee College of Music
John Maruri	United States	Drums	Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University Bloomington
María Medina Almaguer	Cuba	Piano	Berklee College of Music
Pedro Mujica	Venezuela	Flute	Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University Bloomington
Rafael Ernesto Nocedo	Cuba	Piano	Berklee College of Music
Daniel Olivero	Venezuela	Voice	Berklee College of Music
Estevan Olmos	United States	Percussion	University of Southern California
Andrés Felipe Palacios Rodas	Colombia	Guitar	Peabody Institute de Johns Hopkins University
Andy Popescu	Australia	Electric Bass	Berklee College of Music
Murilo Reis Teixeira	Brazil	Piano	Faculdade de Música Souza Lima
Kalebe Requena	Brazil	Trumpet	Faculdade de Música Souza Lima
Oscar Rojas	Mexico	Piano	Berklee College of Music
Juan Sebastián Sánchez	Colombia	Percussion	Berklee College of Music
Arthur Scarpini	Brazil	Guitar	Faculdade de Música Souza Lima
Kristalis Sotomayor Matos	Puerto Rico	Flute	Boston Conservatory
Cristian Tamblay	Chile	Drums	NYU Steinhardt
Gustavo Tenes de Oliveira	Brazil	Bass	Faculdade de Música Souza Lima
Guillermo Wan	Ecuador	Electric Bass	Berklee College of Music
Tianxiang Ni	China	Piano	Bard College

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ABOUT THE LATIN GRAMMY CULTURAL FOUNDATION:

The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization established by The Latin Recording Academy® in 2014 to further international awareness and appreciation of the significant contributions of Latin music and its makers to the world’s culture. The Foundation provides college scholarships, educational programs and grants for the research and preservation of its rich musical legacy and heritage, and to date has donated more than $9.3 million with the support of The Latin Recording Academy’s members, artists, corporate sponsors and other generous donors. For additional information, or to make a donation, please visit latingrammyculturalfoundation.com, Amazon Smile or our Facebook page. And follow us @latingrammyfdn on X and Instagram,, and at Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation on Facebook.

ABOUT NICKY JAM:

Nick Rivera Caminero, known as Nicky Jam, is an icon in the Latin urban genre. The Puerto Rican singer’s unique perspective made him a reggaeton pioneer starting in the 2000s and into the last decade, helping to shape the genre into a global phenomenon. The Latin GRAMMY winner continues to enjoy success with many multi-platinum hits and sold-out world tours adding to his inspiring legacy.

At age 11, Nicky Jam broke into Puerto Rico’s reggaeton scene with his debut album, Diferente a Los Demás (Different From the Rest). In his teenage years he became a rising star in the genre with hits like “Yo No Soy Tu Marido,” “Me Voy Pa’l Party,” “Fiel A Tu Piel” and “La Combi Completa.” He was also part of the duo Los Cangris with another musical pioneer, Daddy Yankee. However, time in prison and a deep depression derailed Nicky Jam’s career soon after.

Three years later, he moved to Colombia with a renewed spirit to reclaim his career. After a 10-year hiatus from the charts, Nicky Jam returned with “Travesuras,” which peaked on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs in 2014 for over 20 weeks. The following year, he scored another global hit, “El Perdón,” with Enrique Iglesias, which won the Latin GRAMMY Award for Best Urban Performance. He had the biggest hit of 2016 with “Hasta el Amanecer.” The songs were featured on his comeback album, 2017’s Fénix, which is credited with reviving global interest in reggaeton music.

Nicky Jam’s songs have achieved more than 14.5 billion views on YouTube and 1.1 billion streams on Spotify. Among his recent hits are the 35-times platinum “X,” with J Balvin, and his collaborative single “Te Boté,” featuring Casper Mágico, Nio García, Darell, Bad Bunny, and Ozuna. In 2019, Nicky Jam turned his inspiring life story into the hit series El Ganador, which he also starred in. He made his big screen debut in Bad Boys For Life alongside Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

The Latin Recording Academy

Nathalie Alberto

Nathalie.Alberto@grammy.com

BODEN Agency on behalf of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation

Valentina Rojas

Valentina@bodenagency.com

The Latin GRAMMYs® will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Univision; additional Latin GRAMMY® Week events will be held around the city

Nominations will be announced on Wednesday, Sept. 17, and streamed across The Latin Academy’s social channels

MIAMI, FL (APRIL 22, 2025) – The Latin Recording Academy® announced today that the 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards® will be held on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. This marks the 15th time that the ceremony will be held in the city, bringing together music creators from all over the world for an unforgettable Latin GRAMMY® Week that will set the stage for The Biggest Night in Latin Music®.

“We are proud to once again bring the passion and creativity of Latin music to Las Vegas,” said Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. “The city has welcomed the Latin GRAMMYs® over the years, and we look forward to another great Latin GRAMMY Week celebrating Latin music and its creators.”

The three-hour telecast will be produced by TelevisaUnivision, the leading Spanish-language media company in the world, airing across TelevisaUnivision’s U.S. platforms, beginning at 8 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. Central), preceded by a one-hour pre-show starting at 7 p.m. ET/PT (6 p.m. Central).

“As the home of Latin music, we are excited to deliver unparalleled coverage of the 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards to our audience,” said Ignacio Meyer, President of Univision Networks Group at TelevisaUnivision. “This iconic night will showcase the extraordinary talent in Latin music, while shining a spotlight on the visionary artists, creators, and stories that are shaping culture in the U.S. and around the globe.”

In addition, Latin GRAMMY Week events will take place throughout the city, including the Special Awards Ceremony, Leading Ladies of Entertainment, Latin GRAMMY In The Schools, Nominee Reception, Best New Artist Showcase, Person of the Year Gala and Premiere Ceremony, preceding the telecast. More details on the week of events will be announced in the coming months.

Additional key dates for this year’s Awards Process in preparation for The Biggest Night in Latin Music include:

• July 28 - Aug. 8, 2025: First Round of Voting

• Sept. 17, 2025: Nominations Announcement

• Oct. 1 - Oct. 13, 2025: Final Round of Voting

For more information regarding the current awards calendar visit: https://www.latingrammy.com/en/awards/calendar.

For the latest news, visit the official Latin Recording Academy site at LatinGRAMMY.com. Follow us on Facebook (LatinGRAMMYs), X (@LatinGRAMMYs) or Instagram (@LatinGRAMMYs), and join the conversation using our official hashtag #LatinGRAMMY on all popular social media platforms.

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ABOUT THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY:

The Latin Recording Academy® is a nonprofit dedicated to nurturing, celebrating, honoring and elevating Latin music and its creators. Established as the global authority on Latin music, the membership-based organization composed of music professionals, produces the annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®, The Biggest Night in Latin Music®, which honors excellence in the recording arts and sciences, in addition to providing educational and outreach programs for the music community through its Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®. For more information, please visit LatinGRAMMY.com.

ABOUT TELEVISAUNIVISION:

TelevisaUnivision is the world’s leading Spanish-language media company. Powered by the largest library of owned Spanish-language content and a prolific production capability, TelevisaUnivision is the top producer of original content in Spanish across news, sports and entertainment verticals. This original content powers all of TelevisaUnivision’s platforms, which include market-leading broadcast networks Univision, Las Estrellas, Canal 5 and UniMás, and a portfolio of 38 cable networks, which include TUDN, Galavisión, Distrito Comedia and TL Novelas. The company also operates the leading Mexican movie studio, Videocine, and owns and operates the largest Spanish-language audio platform in the U.S. across 35 terrestrial stations and the Uforia digital platform. TelevisaUnivision is also the owner of ViX, the largest Spanish-language streaming platform in the world. For more information, please visit televisaunivision.com.

ABOUT MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA:

The MGM Grand Garden Arena is home to concerts, championship boxing and premier sporting and special events. The Arena offers comfortable seating for as many as 16,800 with excellent sightlines and state-of-the-art acoustics, lighting and sound. Prominent events to date have included world championship fights between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson as well as Floyd Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez as well as Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao; and concerts by The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Bette Midler, George Strait, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, U2, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Jimmy Buffett and the Barbra Streisand Millennium Concert. The MGM Grand Garden Arena also has been home to annual events including the Academy of Country Music Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, the Latin GRAMMY Awards, iHeartRadio Music Festival, Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Championship and Frozen Fury NHL pre-season games hosted by the Los Angeles Kings.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

The Latin Recording Academy

Iveliesse Malavé

ive@grammy.com

TelevisaUnivision

Laura Páez

Lpaez@televisaunivision.com

MGM Grand

Scott Ghertner / Allyson Wadman

sghertner@mgmresorts.com / awadman@mgmresorts.com

Rocío Guerrero, Rosa Lagarrigue, Luana Pagani, Ivy Queen, Vivir Quintana, Diana Rodríguez, Janina Rosado, Maria Elena Salinas, Ana Rosa Santiago and Julieta Venegas, will be the mentors of this year’s Leading Ladies of Entertainment Connect TogetHER

MIAMI (APRIL 8, 2025) — The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® announced the fourth Leading Ladies of Entertainment Connect TogetHER mentorship program, in partnership with She Is The Music, a global nonprofit that works to increase the number of women in music.

The mentors of this year’s collaborative program, which will provide one-on-one virtual mentoring sessions with young women looking to follow a career in the music and entertainment industries include:

• Rocío Guerrero, Head of Music, Latin/Iberia, Amazon Music

• Rosa Lagarrigue, CEO of artist management company RLM

• Luana Pagani, Partner & President at Fairwinds Entertainment

• Ivy Queen, singer/songwriter Latin GRAMMY® nominee

• Vivir Quintana, singer/songwriter and social activist for women’s rights in Mexico

• Diana Rodríguez, CEO and founder of Criteria Entertainment, a music management and marketing firm, and Mercado Negro, a boutique management agency and label

• Janina Rosado, Latin GRAMMY winning pianist, arranger and director

• Maria Elena Salinas, award winning journalist

• Ana Rosa Santiago, Senior Vice President of Latin Music & LatAm for Universal Music Publishing Group

• Julieta Venegas, singer/songwriter Latin GRAMMY and GRAMMY® winner

Paying-it-forward and forging opportunities for future generations is a core pillar of the program and the Leading Ladies of Entertainment Connect TogetHER Panel will expand access to these Leading Ladies expertise. The panel moderated by mentees, Anabella Paolucci and Maria Esperanza features’ conversations with Rocío Guerrero, Luana Pagani, Maria Elena Salinas and Ana Rosa Santiago. To tune in visit: m.youtube.com/watch?v=YiNWxvlR4LE.

“We are proud to support the next generation of women in the Latin music industry with the Leading Ladies who generously share their time and expertise, and She is the Music”, said Raquel “Rocky” Egusquiza, Executive Director, Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation. “Together, the impact of community is made visible as we work towards closing the gender gap within the Latin music industry.”

The Leading Ladies of Entertainment initiative was created by The Latin Recording Academy in 2016 to honor and recognize professional and socially conscious women within the arts and entertainment fields who have made significant contributions and inspired the next generation of female leaders.

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ABOUT THE LATIN GRAMMY CULTURAL FOUNDATION:

The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization established by The Latin Recording Academy® with the vision of becoming a global champion of music education and empowering communities through Latin music and culture. In 2024, the Foundation celebrated its 10-year anniversary, and during the last decade it has fostered the next generation of Latin music creators through scholarships, education programs and grants that advance Latin music and celebrate its rich cultural heritage. To date, the Foundation has donated more than $12 million with the support of The Latin Recording Academy’s members, artists, corporate sponsors and other generous donors. For additional information or to donate, please visit latingrammyculturalfoundation.org or our Facebook page. And follow us @latingrammyfdn on X and Instagram, and at Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation on Facebook and LinkedIn.

ABOUT SHE IS THE MUSIC:

She Is The Music (SITM) is a global nonprofit with the mission to increase the number of women working in music – songwriters, artists, producers, engineers, and executives. Their programs include the largest global database of women in music, mentorship and education programs and all-women songwriting camps hosted around the world. Operating as a unifying network for the music business and beyond, SITM provides resources and support for female-focused initiatives, both through its own programs as well as external efforts worldwide. A first-of-its-kind collaboration, SITM is powered by industrywide 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.

MEDIA CONTACT:

The Latin Recording Academy

Nathalie Alberto

Nathalie.Alberto@grammy.com

A new Field and two Categories added, and changes to requirements for existing categories also made

MIAMI (MARCH 19, 2025) — As part of The Latin Recording Academy®’s commitment to evolve with the ever-changing musical landscape, and to best serve its membership body of music creators and professionals, we are pleased to announce that several changes, including a new field and two categories, have been added to the 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards® Process.

NEW FIELD & CATEGORY

FIELD: VISUAL MEDIA

CATEGORY: BEST MUSIC FOR VISUAL MEDIA

The category of Music for Visual Media recognizes original music created to accompany and enrich the storyline of movies, television series, video games and other visual media.

This includes music that, through its creativity and originality, significantly enriches the narrative and atmosphere of movies, series, documentaries, video games, and other visual media, elevating the viewer's experience. For a project to participate in this category, it must: A) feature Latin rhythms recognized as genres participating in the annual Latin GRAMMY awards; or B) be composed by someone of Ibero-American descent. A fundamental condition is that the music be original and created specifically for the visual media project. To qualify, the total duration of the production must be at least 15 minutes of the original music and not different versions of it, and it can include songs with lyrics and vocals in Spanish, Portuguese, and/or regional dialects, or it can be instrumental. The statuette is presented to: Composer(s) and Artist(s) with significant contributions, Producer(s), Arranger(s), Recording Engineer(s) and Mixing Engineer(s) for 51% or more of the total recording time of the album.

NEW CATEGORY

BEST ROOTS SONG – SINGLES OR TRACKS ONLY (TRADITIONAL FIELD)

This award is given to the songwriters of new, unpublished recordings, both vocal and instrumental, that reflect the traditions and roots of various communities, cultures, or social groups, especially those of Hispanic American origin, whether in Spanish, Portuguese or in indigenous languages or dialects. Eligible genres include tango, folk, flamenco, and other traditional subgenres, excluding tropical music and its derivatives, and must be in Spanish, Portuguese or in indigenous languages or dialects. If another language is included, the recording must contain at least 60% of its lyrics in Spanish, Portuguese or in an indigenous language, be completely original, and have been released during the current eligibility period. The recording can be part of an album (tracks) or presented as a single. Covers, remixes, and recordings that use interpolation or samples from other previously released recordings will not be considered. The award is given to the songwriter(s), and Special Certificates (Publisher’s Certificates) are awarded to the music publishers.

ADDITIONAL CATEGORY AMENDMENTS

1. CATEGORY NAME CHANGES:

• Best Pop Vocal Album category will now be named Best Contemporary Pop Album (Pop Field).

• Best Urban Fusion/Performance category will now be named Best Urban/Urban Fusion Performance (Urban Field).

• Best Latin Children’s Album category will now be named Best Children’s Album (Children’s Field).

2. AMENDMENT TO CATEGORY NAMES WITHIN THE POP FIELD:

The Pop Field is eliminating the word “Vocal” from the categories within its field, therefore, the album categories names will be as follows:

• Best Contemporary Pop Album

• Best Traditional Pop Album

3. AMENDMENT TO ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

Eligibility criteria was updated in the Best Urban/Urban Fusion Performance category (Urban Field):

• Remixes are eligible only if the original version of the song was released within the same eligibility year.

• The required percentage of urban elements is increasing from 51% to 60% to qualify in this category.

4. NEW SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

The Songwriter of the Year category reduced the minimum song threshold from six (6) songs to four (4). Songwriters with a minimum of four (4) newly written songs will be credited as a songwriter or co-writer, provided they are not also the performer, producer or engineer.

5. NEW VIDEO ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

Best Long Form Music Video Category (Music Video Field)

Eligible videos in the Best Long Form Music Video category must have a minimum duration of 12 minutes. Additional eligibility criteria: the duration of the credits will not be counted as part of the video's length unless they contribute to the creative process.

6. AMENDMENT TO THE SCREENING AND VOTING PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCER OF THE YEAR CATEGORY:

The Producer of the Year category (Production Field), recognized as a craft category, will now be screened and voted on by a specialized committee in addition to the membership screening and voting process.

ONLINE ENTRY PROCESS

NEW GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSIONS:

1. REQUIRED INFORMATION

For each entry in the Online Entry Process, the entrant is required to provide the recording date, the UPC or the ISRC number for the recording being submitted for Latin GRAMMY consideration.

2. STREAMING LINKS

The entrant must provide at least two (2) streaming links, ensuring that the links direct to the specific recording and not to the artist's page.

3. ENTRY FEES

The Latin Recording Academy has decided to implement the following fee structure:

MEMBERS - The Per-entry fee structure encourages submitters to carefully evaluate the value of each entry and prioritize work, they truly believe is worthy of recognition. Under this model, all Associate and Voting Members receive five (5) complimentary entries annually. Starting with the 6th entry members will pay $20 USD per additional entry.

RECORD LABELS - Record labels are currently required to pay a $500 fee to submit entries, with such fee varying based on the timing of the submission, as outlined below:

THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY FEE SCHEDULE

Category	Early Entry Pricing (April 1 - April 30)	Standard Pricing (May 1 - May 30)
Members	$20 (after 5 courtesy entries)	$20 (after 5 courtesy entries)
Record Labels	$500	$1,000

All updates go into effect immediately for the upcoming 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards taking place in November 2025. To view this year’s Awards calendar, visit https://www.latingrammy.com/en/awards/calendar.

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ABOUT THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY:

The Latin Recording Academy® is an international nonprofit dedicated to nurturing, celebrating, honoring and elevating Latin music and its creators. Established as the global authority on Latin music, the membership-based organization composed of music professionals produces the annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®, The Biggest Night in Latin Music®, which honors excellence in the recording arts and sciences, in addition to providing educational and outreach programs for the music community through its Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®. For more information, please visit LatinGRAMMY.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

The Latin Recording Academy

Nathalie Alberto

Nathalie.Alberto@grammy.com

MIAMI, FL (MARCH 11, 2025) —The Latin Recording Academy® announced new serving Board members for the next three years. The new Trustees include Gabriel Abaroa, Jr., Pedro Blanco, multi-Latin GRAMMY® winner Gustavo Borner, Rafael Fernández, Jr., Dr. Chelsey Green, Jorge Hernández-Toraño, and Latin GRAMMY winner Berta Rojas, who will assume the great responsibility of helping chart the course of the organization and ensure its continued success.

Luis Álvarez-Fiol, Eduardo Bergallo, Paty Cantú, Alexandra Lioutikoff, Rico Love, Rafa Sardina and Manuel Tejada have reached their serving term limits and have retired from the Board.

“Our deepest gratitude to all our former Trustees! I am honored to give a warm welcome to a very talented and diverse group of professionals joining our Board,” said Eduardo Hütt, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Latin Recording Academy. “Each of our new Trustees has been serving the music community over the years in different roles, and I look forward to working closely with them as we continue to grow, evolve and strengthen our organization.”

The Board of Trustees, in partnership with CEO Manuel Abud and The Latin Academy Executive Team, works to uphold the organization's mission to nurture, celebrate, honor and elevate Latin music and its creators.

ABOUT THE NEWLY ELECTED TRUSTEES:

Gabriel Abaroa, Jr. is a seasoned entertainment executive, attorney and the first President Emeritus of The Latin Academy, where he also served as President/CEO from 2002 to 2021. Currently, Abaroa is a co-founder and CEO of Incurator LLC. Previously, he founded Legal Corp, a law firm providing services to multinational and independent record labels in México. He is a musician and record producer of children’s music, and was a professor of entertainment law for five years at the Anáhuac University. Abaroa is a dual member of the Recording Academy and The Latin Academy, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, serves as Board member of NALAC and is an international jury member for Premios Platino. He also participated in the Hispanic Committee of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Pedro Blanco is the President and CEO of Blanco-Lorenz, a global content branding studio with 25 years of experience in the industry. Blanco and his company specialize in content development and packaging for streaming platforms, digital media, television and film, and have collaborated with leading companies such as HBO, Spotify, ViX, A+E Networks, Netflix, BBC, ESPN, FOX, Warner Bros. Television, TelevisaUnivision, NBCUniversal, Disney and Telemundo. He has also directed over 50 commercials and has been behind the lens for music videos featuring artists like Marc Anthony, Alejandro Sanz, Gente de Zona, and Fonseca. In addition, Blanco has served on the Latin GRAMMY TV Committee since 2003. His work has earned him honors from the Global Entertainment Marketing Academy, the Mark Awards and the Streamy Awards.

Gustavo Borner is a renowned producer and sound engineer, winner of six GRAMMYs® and 14 Latin GRAMMYs. With four decades of experience, he has worked on productions for artists such as Phil Collins, Santana, Juanes, Fito Páez, Vicente Fernández, Luis Miguel and Plácido Domingo, totaling over 40 million records sold. He has worked on all Latin MTV Unplugged productions since 2004 as an engineer, mixer or producer. Borner has also worked on television projects for the Latin GRAMMYs, MTV Music Awards and “Sep7imo Día”, the Cirque du Soleil show dedicated to Soda Stereo. His talent has left a mark on film soundtracks, including Birdman, Guardians of the Galaxy, Suicide Squad, and video games such as Spiderman. Borner has served The Latin Academy as an active member of the Circle of Producers and Engineers (CPI) since 2019. In 2018, he received the AES Fellowship Award for his achievements in audio production and worldwide dissemination of audio knowledge. Since 2000, he has operated Igloo Music in Burbank, California, a complex with 18 studios.

Rafael Fernández, Jr. is the Senior Vice President of State Public Policy and Industry Relations at the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), where he directs government relations activities across all 50 U.S. states, while also serving as the Director of Latin Music. Previously, Fernández held the position of Vice President of Latin Music at the RIAA and has been with the organization for nearly 24 years. Under his leadership, the RIAA has been an active supporter of The Latin Academy and its Person of the Year Gala.

Dr. Chelsey Green is an artist, entrepreneur and educator who combines classical and contemporary to make music uniquely her own. Dr. Green and her ensemble, Chelsey Green and The Green Project, have released five studio projects, debuted on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart, and actively perform concerts, music festivals and educational workshops around the world. Dr. Green has appeared on stage and screen with artists of various genres, including Stevie Wonder, Lizzo, Samara Joy, The War and Treaty, Esperanza Spalding, Kirk Franklin and many more. Committed to music education, advocacy and youth arts access, Dr. Green is an associate professor at Berklee College of Music and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Recording Academy.

Jorge Hernández-Toraño is an attorney specializing in general business law, corporate transactions and entertainment law. After 31 years as a partner at the international law firm Holland & Knight, Hernández-Toraño retired from full-time legal practice in 2024. Throughout his career, he has represented GRAMMY-winning artists and producers and negotiated recording contracts, publishing agreements, tours, radio and television appearances, and sponsorship deals. Hernández-Toraño served as counsel to The Latin Recording Academy® from 2002 through 2023. He has also represented major record labels and the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). Recognized in rankings such as The Best Lawyers in America and Chambers, Hernández-Toraño was named one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in the U.S. entertainment industry by Hispanic Business Magazine. Committed to his community, he served as Trustee and General Counsel for United Way of Miami, is a past President and former Board Member of the Cuban American Bar Association and chaired the Miami Business Forum.

Berta Rojas is one of Latin America's most celebrated classical guitarists. With a career spanning over three decades, the Paraguay-born artist has released 14 studio albums and performed in some of the world's most prestigious concert halls. Her exceptional talent also led her to academia at Berklee College of Music, where she serves as an associate professor, becoming the first Latin American instructor invited to join the institution's guitar department. In 1992, Rojas earned a bachelor’s degree in music with a concentration in guitar from the Universidad de la República in Uruguay, and later completed a master’s in music, specializing in guitar, from Johns Hopkins University. She has received four Latin GRAMMY nominations and won Best Classical Music Album in 2022 for Legado. In 2023, she was honored with the National Order of Merit in the Gran Cruz, Paraguay's highest civil and military decoration.

The full list of the Latin Recording’s Board of Trustees can be found here.

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ABOUT THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY:

The Latin Recording Academy® is an international nonprofit dedicated to nurturing, celebrating, honoring, and elevating Latin music and its creators. Established as the global authority on Latin music, the membership-based organization composed of music professionals produces the annual Latin GRAMMY® Awards, The Biggest Night in Latin Music®, which honors excellence in the recording arts and sciences, in addition to providing educational and outreach programs for the music community through its Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®. For more information, please visit LatinGRAMMY.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

The Latin Recording Academy

Iveliesse Malavé

ive@grammy.com