Seasoned Entertainment Executive Manuel Abud Joins as Chief Operating Officer,
Chief Financial Officer Luis Dousdebes takes a new role,
and Aida Scorza promoted to Senior Vice President of Awards

MIAMI (SEPTEMBER 23, 2019) – As it celebrates its 20th anniversary and make plans for the next decade, The Latin Recording Academy^® has today announced key changes to a leadership team that will continue to drive its remarkable and aggressive growth for the next decade. Changes in the Executive team include appointing former Azteca America President and CEO, Manuel Abud, as the new Chief Operating Officer of The Latin Academy while naming 19-year Latin GRAMMY^® veteran Luis Dousdebes to the new position of Chief Awards, Membership and Preservation Officer. Additionally, Aida Scorza, who has served both the Recording Academy™ and The Latin Recording Academy for more than 30 years, has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Awards.

"I'm thrilled about the future of The Latin Recording Academy. As we build on two decades of excellence in Latin music, our organization is stronger than ever," said Latin Recording Academy President/CEO Gabriel Abaroa Jr. "We have a terrific team and I am looking forward to continuing to work with Luis and Aida in their new and expanded roles, while welcoming Manuel to the family. Manuel is a world-class entertainment executive with exceptional leadership and operational skills. His addition to our organization will uniquely position us for another decade of sustained international and domestic growth." 

In his new role as COO, Abud will be spearheading several international and local growth initiatives. He will also be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Latin Academy including the areas of business development, production, communications, marketing, and digital. He will report to the President/CEO. Abud's work in U.S. Hispanic television has made him an expert in Latin entertainment. He joins The Latin Academy from Azteca America, where he served as president and CEO since 2014. With an impressive 20-plus year career in the media industry, during which he has held a wide range of high-level executive positions, he has played a pivotal role in the evolution of the news and entertainment landscape in U.S. Hispanic television. At Azteca America, he implemented a full-scale turnaround of the network and spearheaded the November 2017 acquisition by HC2 Holdings, Inc. Before Azteca, he held prominent top leadership positions at NBC Universal where he spent more than 14 years as president of the Telemundo Station Group, TV station president and GM in Los Angeles and Dallas, and president of Telemundo Cable. Prior to that Abud was president of CBS Telenoticias. Earlier in his career he worked for leading Mexican companies Televisa, Medcom, and ICA.

Dousdebes has been part of the Academy since the first Latin GRAMMY Awards^®, and is taking on this new role following nearly two decades with the organization, most recently as its Chief Financial Officer. He has been instrumental in the growth and development of The Latin Recording Academy, which he joined after being an employee of the Recording Academy, where he started as a junior controller later transferring to Miami as Director of Administration before being appointed CFO. In his new role, effective early 2020, Dousdebes will oversee the total revamp of The Latin Academy’s Awards structure, embracing the advantages and efficiencies that the digital world can bring to this important area of The Latin Academy's work. He will also lead a new approach to the Membership department, refreshing The Latin Academy's membership base. In addition, he will be responsible for developing and implementing preservation programs and initiatives with international organizations and the GRAMMY Museum^® in Los Angeles.

Scorza started her career in her native New York, working for Billboard magazine. She moved to Los Angeles to work in radio and at record labels such as Motown Records and Shelter Records, where she assisted in all the production aspects in the careers of global superstars. Soon after that, Scorza joined the Recording Academy to work in its Awards department. She transitioned to The Latin Recording Academy, launching its Awards department.  

ABOUT THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY:

The Latin Recording Academy is an international, membership-based organization comprised of Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking recording artists, musicians, songwriters, producers, and other creative and technical recording professionals. The organization is dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for Latin music and its makers. In addition to producing the Latin GRAMMY Awards to honor excellence in the recorded arts and sciences, The Latin Recording Academy provides educational and outreach programs for the Latin music community either directly or through its Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation^®. For more information about The Latin Recording Academy, please visit LatinGRAMMY.com.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:
The Lippin Group on behalf of The Latin Recording Academy:
Elina Adut
EAdut@lippingroup.com
323.965.1990

The Latin Recording Academy:
Soledad Estrella
Soledad.estrella@grammy.com
305.576.0036

Six talented music institutions, nonprofit organizations, musicologists and researchers will receive a total of $30,000 for research and preservation of Latin music

Latin GRAMMY® winner and GRAMMY® nominee Silvestre Dangond sponsored two grants in support of research and preservation of the vallenato genre

MIAMI (DECEMBER 9, 2025) — The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® announced the winners of its 2025 Latin Music Research and Preservation Grant Program. This year, the Foundation awarded a total of $30,000 across six grants to support projects dedicated to researching and preserving Latin music. Two of the awarded research and preservation grants were dedicated to the continued growth and development of vallenato, pledged by Latin GRAMMY® winner and GRAMMY® nominee Silvestre Dangond.

“Research and preservation allow us to keep the heartbeat of Latin music alive by protecting its stories, rhythms and cultural roots for future generations,” said Raquel “Rocky” Egusquiza, Executive Director of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation. “We are honored to champion these remarkable projects and grateful to Silvestre Dangond for his commitment to preserving the legacy of the vallenato genre and ensuring the future of Latin music.”

“Vallenato gave me a voice, a purpose and a connection to the world,” said Dangond. “Supporting projects that study and preserve its history is a great responsibility that I carry with pride. If we want this music to continue touching hearts, we must protect the legacy of those who created it.”

Awarded Preservation Grants:

Julia Sánchez, Peru – Conservación y Preservación del Patrimonio Musical del Maestro Cantautor Ernesto Sánchez Fajardo “El Jilguero del Huascarán” (Conservation and Preservation of the Musical Heritage of Singer/Songwriter Ernesto Sánchez Fajardo “El Jilguero del Huascarán”). Julia Sánchez, researcher and cultural manager at the Universidad Nacional de Folklore “José María Arguedas,” leads a project dedicated to preserving and restoring the phonographic archive of Ernesto Sánchez Fajardo, “El Jilguero del Huascarán,” a pioneering Andean artist and symbol of Peru’s 20th-century migration. The initiative aims to restore and digitize 159 rare 78-RPM and vinyl recordings that document four decades of Huayno’s evolution as a form of cultural resilience. The project will produce a complete technical inventory, restored and digitized audio files in high-resolution WAV format, and three documentary podcasts for public and academic dissemination.

Miviam Ruiz Pérez, Mexico – Preservación y Diseminación de la Obra Inédita de Carlo Borbolla (1902-1990): Archivo Vivo de la Música Caribeña (Preservation and Dissemination of the Unpublished Works of Carlo Borbolla (1902–1990): Living Archive of Caribbean Music).

This project aims to preserve and diffuse the unpublished works of Cuban musicologist Carlo Borbolla Téllez, whose extensive personal archive includes compositions, writings and autobiographical documents largely unknown to the public. Led by Dr. Miviam Ruiz Pérez, the initiative will establish an open-access digital repository to promote Borbolla’s legacy across research, performance, and music education in Latin America. Through this effort, the project not only revives Borbolla’s contributions but also deepens the understanding of the musical and cultural roots that connect genres such as jazz and salsa to their Caribbean origins.

Awarded Research Grants:

Luis Alvarado, Peru – La Evolución de la Pandilla Selvática (The Evolution of the Pandilla Selvática). Luis Alvarado’s research explores the evolution of the pandilla selvática, a defining genre of Peruvian Amazonian popular music. The project traces how its transformation — through the incorporation of the electric guitar into cumbia amazónica — forged a unique regional identity. It also examines how the genre continues to thrive in contemporary jazz and experimental electronic scenes, illustrating its ongoing relevance within Peru’s dynamic musical landscape.

Dr. Romy Martínez, Netherlands – Guaranía in Translation: From Paraguay to Europe Through Music and Language. This project celebrates the centenary of Paraguay’s musical genre Guaranía, created in 1925 by José Asunción Flores, and recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2024. Dr. Romy Martínez seeks to preserve and disseminate the genre internationally through concerts, research and intercultural collaboration across Northern Europe. By engaging new audiences in multilingual and multicultural settings, the initiative ensures that the Guaranía genre remains a living tradition. It bridges cultures while honoring Paraguay’s musical legacy.

Awarded Vallenato Preservation Grant:

Jhojam Rincón, Colombia – Tiempos Idos - Apología a la Amistad (Times Gone By: An Apology to Friendship). Jhojam Rincón’s preservation initiative aims to safeguard an extraordinary sound archive that captures spontaneous parrandas vallenatas recorded between 1974 and 1985, featuring legends such as Leandro Díaz, Rafael Escalona, and the Zuleta brothers. Compiled by collector Juan de Jesús Celedón, the 120 analog cassettes contain unreleased performances, improvisations and verses that mark the golden era of Colombian vallenato. Through professional digitization and secure archiving, the project preserves this invaluable musical record for future generations.

Awarded Vallenato Research Grant:

Ángela Marín Niebles, Colombia – Mujeres en el Vallenato: Una Historia Por Contar (Women in Vallenato: A Story Yet to Be Told). Dr. Ángela Martín Niebles leads a multidisciplinary study to document and celebrate the pioneering women of vallenato music in the early 20th century. Through historical, anthropological and musicological research, the project reconstructs the lives and contributions of female composers and performers who have long been overlooked in a male-dominated genre. By producing accessible multimedia materials, the project strengthens Colombia’s cultural memory and promotes gender equity in the nation’s musical heritage.

A committee of experts from Latin America, the Iberian Peninsula and the United States selected the winners among numerous qualified candidates. Since its inception in 2015, the program has awarded more than $285,000 in grants to support projects, including one that has received a Latin GRAMMY and a GRAMMY.

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ABOUT SILVESTRE DANGOND:

Silvestre Dangond is a world-renowned artist from Colombia, who is especially known for globalizing the vallenato genre. In his nearly 25 years in the industry, Dangond has won four Latin GRAMMYs®, including Best Cumbia/Vallenato Album this year for his latest LP El Último Baile, and earned a GRAMMY nomination. Dangond also recently announced the U.S. leg of his El Último Baile Tour, a series of concerts that will bring this historic project to major venues across the country in 2026. He has collaborated with artists including Nicky Jam, Natti Natasha, Carín León, Emilia, Sebastián Yatra, Fonseca and Carlos Vives, and he often works with initiatives in support of the next generation of vallenato artists.

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 $13.9 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 Instagram, and at Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation on Facebook and LinkedIn.

MEDIA CONTACT:

The Latin Recording Academy

Nathalie Alberto

Nathalie.alberto@grammy.com

For images, click here

MIAMI (NOVEMBER 12, 2025) — The Latin Recording Academy® celebrated its 2025 Person of the Year Gala honoring Raphael, with moving renditions of some of the singer’s renowned repertoire, featuring past and current Latin GRAMMY® nominees including Aitana, Pepe Aguilar, Susana Baca, David Bisbal, Enrique Bunbury, Willy Chirino, Ivan Cornejo, Kany García, Myriam Hernández, Eddy Herrera, Jesse & Joy, Carín León, Pablo López, Víctor Manuelle, Vanesa Martín, Víctor Martínez, Mestrinho, Gaby Moreno, Kiki Morente, Café Quijano, Fito Páez, Silvia Pérez Cruz, Carlos Rivera, Elena Rose, Rozalén, Ángeles Toledano and Néstor Torres.

Raphael was honored for his more than six-decade career as a multifaceted singer and performer, which has established him as a true ambassador of Latin music worldwide. The evening featured tributes from artists who have shaped his repertoire, alongside others who came to honor his lasting impact and celebrate his remarkable career.

The evening opened on a high note with a breathtaking performance by Enrique Bunbury of “Yo Soy Aquél” and was then joined by Carín León, electrifying the stage together with a medley of “Toca Madera” and “Ahora”— the latter a song Bunbury himself wrote for Raphael. Café Quijano and Gaby Moreno followed with a bolero-infused rendition of “Qué Tal Te Va Sin Mí”. David Bisbal raised the energy with a duet alongside Elena Rose on “En Carne Viva,” and then captivated the audience with a heartfelt homage performance of “Como Yo Te Amo.” Jesse & Joy joined Ivan Cornejo for an emotive tribute to “Cierro Mis Ojos.”

Pablo López kept the momentum alive with a passionate delivery of “De Tanta Gente,” followed by his intimate piano rendition of “Lo Saben Mis Zapatos.” Aitana later joined López for a moving performance of “Si No Estuvieras Tú.” Latin rock icon Fito Páez and Rozalén delivered a stirring version of “La Carta,” while Susana Baca and Rozalén offered a folkloric interpretation of “Chabuca, Limeña.” Kiki Morente, Ángeles Toledano and Víctor Martínez on the guitar offered a passionate rendition of “Digan Lo Que Digan,” fusing flamenco textures and thundering Latin percussion. Vanesa Martín and Kany García shared the stage for “Cada Septiembre,” featuring García’s debut solo cello performance, and Martín later returned with Carlos Rivera for an intimate acoustic take on “A Que No Te Vas.”

The magic continued as Pepe Aguilar and Myriam Hernández united their powerhouse vocals in a sweeping version of “Procuro Olvidarte.” Spanish songstress Silvia Pérez Cruz offered a mesmerizing “Somos” with Brazilian accordion virtuoso Mestrinho, weaving Iberian and tropical tones into one. The celebration reached its peak as Eddy Herrera, Víctor Manuelle, Néstor Torres, and Willy Chirino — who wrote the song for Raphael — took the stage with all the infectious rhythms of the Caribbean, filling the room with “Escándalo.”

The evening wouldn’t be complete without the 2025 Person of the Year stepping on stage; he wowed the audience with a medley of “Que Sabe Nadie,” “Mi Gran Noche,” and “Como Yo Te Amo.”

The highly anticipated gala preceded the 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®, which will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Thursday, Nov. 13. 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).

Latin Academy head of Production Ayleen Figueras, along with Macarena Moreno, served as executive producers of the gala. Latin GRAMMY and GRAMMY® winner Carlos Fernando López served as musical director, and the musical production was led by Danny Flores, also a Latin GRAMMY and GRAMMY nominee. The Philharmonic Orchestra Project (“POP”) accompanied all artists.

Live Nation served as presenting sponsor for the second consecutive year, as part of the first multi-year presenting sponsor partnership for the Person of the Year Gala.

Net proceeds from the 2025 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year Gala will go toward the charitable work of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®, whose mission is to be a global champion of music education and empower communities through Latin music and culture. The Foundation 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, and to date has donated more than $13.9 million with the support of Latin Recording Academy members, artists, corporate sponsors and other generous donors.

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.

MEDIA CONTACT:

The Latin Recording Academy

Iveliesse Malavé

Ive@grammy.com

The exclusive event, hosted by 2019 Best New Artist Nominee, Aitana, was held in partnership with Mastercard during

Latin GRAMMY® Week in Las Vegas

Click here for images

Credit: Getty Images for The Latin Recording Academy

MIAMI (NOVEMBER 11, 2025) — The Latin Recording Academy®, in partnership with Mastercard, presents the 2025 Best New Artist Showcase, an initiative that provides exposure for the new generation of music creators during the prestigious Latin GRAMMY® Week.

“Three years ago, we held the first Best New Artist Showcase, and we are proud to continue opening doors for the next generation of Latin music creators,” said Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. “Year after year, this showcase has become an important platform for our Best New Artist nominees to share their talent and creativity with our Academy members, industry leaders and special guests.”

The private event took place on Tuesday, November 11, at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, and was hosted by 2019 Best New Artist nominee Aitana. The evening featured performances from Best New Artist nominees for the 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®: Alleh, Annasofia, Yerai Cortés, Juliane Gamboa, Camila Guevara, Isadora, Alex Luna, Paloma Morphy, Sued Nunes and Ruzzi.

Multiple Latin GRAMMY winner and GRAMMY winner Edgar Barrera, Latin GRAMMY winner Lena Burke, previous Latin GRAMMY winners in the Best New Artist category Joaquina (2023), Gaby Moreno (2013), Monsieur Periné (2015), as well as previous nominees in the category Natascha Falcão (2021), Zoe Gotusso (2021), Beto Montenegro (Rawayana 2017), Raquel Sofia (2015), also joined the showcase as presenters.

The Best New Artist Showcase kicked off in 2022 during Latin GRAMMY Week in Las Vegas. Over the last three years, the initiative has hosted showcases in several cities around the world, in collaboration with Mastercard, including Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Miami, San Juan, São Paulo and Seville. This year, Espolòn® Tequila joined the celebration as the Official Sponsor.

The Best New Artist Showcase was produced by The Latin Academy’s production team, led by Ayleen Figueras, with Ana Maria Daza as executive producer and Gisela Gonzalez as producer. Musical production was led by Roberto Trujillo, forming a nine-piece band of musicians who are members of The Latin Recording Academy.

With over twenty years of experience, Trujillo has collaborated with some of Latin music’s top artists and has served as the musical director for some of the world’s most renowned shows, including the GRAMMYs and the Latin GRAMMY Person of the Year.

The 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Thursday, Nov. 13. 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).

For the latest news, visit the official Latin Recording Academy site at LatinGRAMMY.com. Follow us on Facebook (LatinGRAMMYs), Instagram (@LatinGRAMMYs), the Latin GRAMMYs WhatsApp Channel, and use #LatinGRAMMY on all popular social media platforms. The official Latin GRAMMY app is also available on iOS (Apple) and Android (Google Play).

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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.

MEDIA CONTACT:

The Latin Recording Academy

Iveliesse Malavé

ive@grammy.com

Click here for images

MIAMI (NOVEMBER 10, 2025) — The Latin Recording Academy® announced presenters for the 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®. The lineup includes Enrique Bunbury, Eduin Caz and Jhonny Caz (Grupo Firme), Silvestre Dangond, Fariana, Daisy Fuentes, Kany García, Lupita Infante, Mon Laferte, Richard Marx, Nicki Nicole, Carlos Rivera, Miguel Rojas, Trueno and Yandel.

Confirmed presenters include the following artists nominated this year: Eduin Caz and Jhonny Caz from Grupo Firme (Best Contemporary Mexican Music Album), Silvestre Dangond (Best Cumbia/Vallenato Album), Fariana (Best Urban Music Album), Lupita Infante (Best Regional Song), Mon Laferte (Song Of The Year and Best Long Form Music Video), Nicki Nicole (Best Urban Music Album), Trueno (Best Rap/Hip Hop Song and Best Urban Song) and Yandel (Best Reggaeton Performance and Best Urban Music Album).

The 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Thursday, Nov. 13. 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).

The Latin GRAMMY Premiere®, where the majority of the categories are awarded, will precede the telecast. Additional details about this long-established afternoon full of unforgettable performances, heartfelt acceptance speeches and Latin GRAMMY® moments will be announced soon.

For the latest news, visit the official Latin Recording Academy site at LatinGRAMMY.com. Follow us on Facebook (LatinGRAMMYs), Instagram (@LatinGRAMMYs), the Latin GRAMMYs WhatsApp Channel, and use #LatinGRAMMY on all popular social media platforms. The official Latin GRAMMY app is also available on iOS (Apple) and Android (Google Play).

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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.

MEDIA CONTACT:

The Latin Recording Academy

Iveliesse Malavé

ive@grammy.com