MIAMI (OCTOBER 10, 2022) — The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation^®, the philanthropic arm of The Latin Recording Academy^®, has appointed Raquel “Rocky” Egusquiza as Executive Director of the organization, effective immediately.

“We are thrilled to welcome Rocky to the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation. Her passion, drive and hands-on work ethic will take the Foundation to the next level of growth and international awareness,” said Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy.

Prior to the joining the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation, Egusquiza served as the Executive Director of the Miami Marlins Foundation as well as the Marlins’ Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In overseeing both roles, she worked to create and nurture a diverse and inclusive culture, on and off the field, providing meaningful impact for staff, fans, players, and the community. She joined the Marlins from NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, where she served as Vice President of Community Affairs and oversaw corporate social responsibility, community engagement, and partnerships. Prior to that, she held various roles in corporate social responsibility, diversity, multicultural marketing, and government affairs in top organizations including AARP, Ford Motor Company, and AT&T. Her experience also includes time as Executive Director for the Dade County Legislative Delegation, as an aide in the County Commission, and as a Legislative Assistant in the Florida Senate.

A lifelong servant committed to driving change, she was a founder of the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute, the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility Corporate Executive Forum, the PRO Sports Assembly and the Maestros Foundation, established in honor of her mother—a former public school educator—to help Latinos pursuing careers in education.  And her passion for Latin culture is visible through her past service and advocacy as a member of the board of the Smithsonian Latino Center, and the Kennedy Center Latino Advisory Board.

She currently serves on the boards of Meals on Wheels America, the Florida Education Foundation, South Florida for Progress Foundation, and the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.

Egusquiza earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Miami and an Associate of Arts degree from Miami-Dade College. She has received continuing education certificates from Harvard Business School and the University of California at Los Angeles.

In her new role, Egusquiza will report to Manuel Abud and the Board of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation. 

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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 $7.6 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.org, Amazon Smile or our Facebook page. And follow us @latingrammyfdn on Twitter and Instagram, and at Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation on Facebook.  

ABOUT THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY:

The Latin Recording Academy is an international non-profit 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
305.576.0036

The annual tribute gala benefits the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®

For additional images, please click here. Credit: Nima Benati

MIAMI (MAY 31, 2023) — The Latin Recording Academy® announced that Latin GRAMMY® and GRAMMY® winner, Laura Pausini, will be the 2023 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year™.

Pausini will be honored for her career as a multifaceted, multi-lingual performer as well as for her continued commitment to supporting social justice causes that are close to her heart including equality for women and LGBTQ+ people and world hunger.

“Laura Pausini is one of the most talented and beloved artists of her generation whose commitment to advocacy and equal rights is exemplary,” said Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. “Throughout her more than three-decade career her extraordinary voice continually breaks down barriers across languages and genres, creating a special bond with audiences around the world.”

Meanwhile, Pausini said, “I am extremely honored to receive this incredible recognition from The Latin Recording Academy. To be named Person of the Year at this moment, when I am celebrating 30 years of my career, is something that I still cannot describe, I can only feel a deep gratitude for The Latin Academy and its members, for my colleagues who have always welcomed me with open arms, but, above all, for my beloved audiences who have made a dream born in my hometown in Italy a beautiful reality, and who have taken me to places I never dreamed I would reach with my music. The Spanish language has opened doors for me from a young age, it has made me feel at home, it has inspired me to move forward and to explore and live music without barriers or limits. To say today that I will receive this important recognition fills me with great pride, joy, strength to continue taking strong steps and to inspire the new generation of artists who lift the music they carry in their hearts on high. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, I am very excited. See you soon in Sevilla.”

Laura Pausini is one of the most celebrated performers in Latin music today. She has seamlessly translated the emotion behind her songs into global success in six different languages, including in the Spanish-language market, where she launched her first album in 1994. Pausini has sold over 70 million albums worldwide and is celebrating 30 years in the music industry in 2023. In addition to her professional accomplishments, she has also used her platform to support philanthropic and humanitarian efforts concerning equality for women and LGBTQ+ people, hunger, poverty, climate change, as well as supporting entities that fight violence against women. Pausini has been honored with the Starlite Humanitarian Award, the Global Gift Humanitarian Award, and was named Person of the Year by the Diversity Media Awards for her support of the LGBTQ+ community. In 1995, she wrote and released “Il Mondo che Vorrei/El Mundo Que Soñé” for UNICEF and was named a spokesperson for LILA, Italian League for the fight against AIDS, in 2004. In 2014 she was also named Goodwill Ambassador of the World Food Programme and has organized and participated in concerts that brought relief to areas affected by natural disasters in Chile, Peru, Beirut, and Italy. In 2021, she won a Golden Globe for Best Original Song for “Io sì (Seen)” which she co-wrote with Diane Warren for the film La Vita Davanti a Sé. The song also earned her an Oscar nomination. Last year, she released the Amazon Original film Laura Pausini: Pleased to Meet You. She is writing her upcoming 11th studio album in Spanish and will kick off an extensive world tour this summer.

Pausini will be celebrated at a special star-studded gala featuring a heartfelt tribute concert, including renditions of her renowned repertoire performed by an array of notable artists and friends. Details of the coveted event to be celebrated during the 2023 Latin GRAMMY Week in Sevilla, Spain, will be announced at a later date.

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 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.

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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.

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 $7.6 million with the support of Latin Recording Academy 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 Twitter and Instagram, and at Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation on Facebook.

MEDIA CONTACT:

The Latin Recording Academy

Iveliesse Malavé

ive@grammy.com

305.576.0036

The Latin GRAMMYs® will air on Thursday, Nov. 16 via Univision in the U.S. and Radio Televisión Española in Spain, concluding a full week of events

 Latin GRAMMY® nominations to be announced Tuesday, Sept. 19

SEVILLA, SPAIN (MAY 4, 2023) — The Latin Recording Academy® announced today that, for the first time in the history of the organization, the 24th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards® will be held at the Conference and Exhibition Centre (FIBES), in Sevilla, Spain.

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 24th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, 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—which recognizes the nominees in that category—and a nominee reception, among others.

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

“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,” said Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy.

“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,” said Ignacio Meyer, President of U.S. Networks at TelevisaUnivision. “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.”

The Latin GRAMMY Awards are the preeminent international honor and the only peer-selected award celebrating excellence in Latin music worldwide. Nominees for the 24th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards will be announced on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023.

Additional key dates on the road to The Biggest Night in Latin Music® include:

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

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

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

If you are planning on attending this year's Latin GRAMMY Week in person and are interested in receiving more information, please fill out the following form: https://forms.gle/xeUWXvsYNUUrudEu9

And for the latest news, visit the official Latin Recording Academy site at LatinGRAMMY.com. Follow us on Facebook (LatinGRAMMYs), Twitter (@LatinGRAMMYs) or Instagram (@LatinGRAMMYs), and use #LatinGRAMMY on all popular social media platforms.

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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.

ABOUT TELEVISAUNIVISION:
As the leading Spanish-language media and content company in the world, TelevisaUnivision features the largest library of owned content and industry-leading production capabilities that power its streaming, digital and linear television offerings, as well as its radio platforms. The Company’s media portfolio includes the top-rated broadcast networks Univision and UniMás in the U.S. and Las Estrellas and Canal 5 in Mexico. TelevisaUnivision is home to 36 Spanish-language cable networks, including Galavisión and TUDN, the No. 1 Spanish-language sports network in the U.S. and Mexico. With the most compelling portfolio of Spanish-language sports rights in the world, TelevisaUnivision has solidified its position as the Home of Soccer. TelevisaUnivision also owns and manages 59 television stations across the U.S. and four broadcast channels in Mexico affiliated with 222 television stations, Videocine studio, and Uforia, the Home of Latin Music, which encompasses 57 owned or operated U.S. radio stations, a live event series and a robust digital audio footprint. TelevisaUnivision is home to the global streaming services ViX and Blim TV, which altogether host over 50,000 hours of high-quality, original Spanish-language programming from distinguished producers and top talent. The company’s prominent digital assets include Univision.com, Univision NOW, and several top-rated digital apps. For more information, visit televisaunivision.com. 

ABOUT RADIO TELEVISION ESPAÑOLA:
Radio Televisión Española is the major multimedia corporation in Spain, and the oldest channel in the Spanish audio-visual world. Its purpose is to offer diverse and high-quality programming that reflects the country’s cultural plurality and wealth. It also plays an important role in broadcasting news and promoting culture and education. It’s comprised of TVE, with seven television channels including its flagship, La 1, which features news, entertainment, domestic and foreign fiction programming; RNE, with six radio stations; the RTVE.es website; the RTVE Institute and the Symphony Orchestra and Choir. It also boasts a network of territorial centres in all the communities and delegations around the world. TVE’s signal reaches the five continents via TVE Internacional.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

The Latin Recording Academy
Iveliesse Malavé
ive@grammy.com

TelevisaUnivision
Gabriel Andriollo
gandriollo@univision.net

Radio Televisión Española
María Eizaguirre Comendador
maria.eizaguirre@rtve.es

Changes to requirements for existing categories also made

MIAMI (MARCH 21, 2023) — 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, the organization announced that several changes, a new field and categories have been added to the Latin GRAMMY® Awards Process.

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

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.

ADDITIONAL CATEGORY AMENDMENTS:

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.

All updates go into effect immediately for the upcoming 24th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards® taking place in November. The Online Entry Process for this year’s Latin GRAMMYs opens on Thursday, March 23, 2023. For full details on the new additions and updates please visit LatinGRAMMY.com.

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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

Erika Ender and Maureen J. Reidy join as members of the Board of Trustees

MIAMI (MARCH 17, 2023) — The Latin Recording Academy® announces Latin GRAMMY® winner and GRAMMY® nominee Erika Ender and Maureen J. Reidy as new serving Board members of The Latin Academy for the next three years. Ender and Reidy, along with the continuing members of the Board, assume the great responsibility of helping chart the course of the organization and ensure its continued success.

Luis Balaguer and Carla Estrada have reached their serving term limits and will be retiring from the Board.

“We are fortunate to have such a diverse group of experienced professionals from all sectors of the entertainment industry provide their expertise to our organization,” said Eduardo Hütt, Chairman of the Board of The Latin Academy. “I’m looking forward to working with Erika and Maureen, two exceptional leaders who will provide a fresh vision and voice to our organization, and thank Carla and Luis for their committed service and invaluable contributions—Carla in TV production and Luis in the areas of marketing, social media and industry relations.”

ABOUT THE NEWLY ELECTED TRUSTEES:

Erika Ender is a versatile entertainment professional with over three decades of international experience. As a singer, songwriter and composer she has collaborated with some of the most successful artists in recent years, including Marc Anthony, Gloria Trevi, Luis Fonsi, Chayanne and Jenni Rivera, and has received two Latin GRAMMYs and a GRAMMY nomination, along with several gold, platinum and diamond records. Ender is the founder and CEO of Endertainment, her communications and production company, and has worked both behind and in front of the cameras as an actor and presenter of several acclaimed productions. She founded the Puertas Abiertas Foundation in her native Panama in 2009 to provide much needed educational and nutritional resources to young children. Ender is a Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics and a Board member of the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, as well as a 2017 Leading Ladies of Entertainment honoree.  

Maureen J. Reidy is the President and CEO of The Paley Center for Media, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving media’s history and showcasing its powerful influence on culture and society. She previously served as CEO of The Argus Group, a full-service strategic marketing agency, and as Chief Operating Officer of IMG Fashion, where she ran the day-to-day worldwide operations and expanded its portfolio of media assets. Reidy was selected by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg to join his administration as CEO of NYC Big Events and as New York City’s Chief Marketing Officer, where she served on the Mayor’s Latin Media and Entertainment Commission and the New York City Economic Development Advisory Council. She is credited with bringing the Latin GRAMMY Awards® to New York City in 2006 and ran the Host Committees for the 2002 GRAMMY Awards® and the 2005 CMA Awards. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of The Paley Center for Media, and previously served on the Board of Directors for the VH1 Save the Music Foundation and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Dream Team.

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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