Premios Especiales 2013 de La Academia Latina de la Grabación

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Premios Especiales 2013 de La Academia Latina de la Grabación

Latin GRAMMYs/Sep 03, 2013 - 01:00 PM

Oscar D'León, Juan Formell, Roberto Menescal, Totó La Momposina, Palito Ortega, Eddie Palmieri, y Miguel Ríos serán reconocidos con el Premio A La Excelencia Musical de La Academia Latina de la Grabación®, mientras que Mario Kreutzberger, conocido como "Don Francisco" y Pedro Ramírez Velázquez recibirán el prestigioso Premio del Consejo Directivo anunció hoy La Academia Latina de la Grabación.

Los homenajeados serán reconocidos en una ceremonia especial por invitación que se realizará el miércoles, 20 de noviembre en el Four Seasons Hotel de Las Vegas como parte de la celebración de la 14a. Entrega Anual del Latin GRAMMY®, que se extenderá por una semana.

"Es un honor para esta organización, anunciar a los homenajeados de este año, que no solo constituyen la esencia de  verdaderos maestros de su arte y género, sino que además representan el espectro musical global que abarca a la comunidad latina en general", dijo Gabriel Abaroa Jr., Presidente/CEO de La Academia Latina de la Grabación. "Sus contribuciones al legado musical del mundo latino son objeto de nuestra admiración permanente, que celebramos y honramos  por sus logros, además de celebrar el talento que han compartido con nosotros por décadas y que perdurará para las futuras generaciones".

Premio A La Excelencia Musical: Este premio es otorgado por votación del Consejo Directivo de La Academia Latina de la Grabación a artistas que han realizado contribuciones creativas de excepcional importancia artística en el campo de la grabación durante sus carreras.

Nacido con el ritmo en su sangre, el renombrado cantante y músico venezolano Oscar D'León es conocido como "El León de la Salsa". A temprana edad, D'León expresó un amor por la música improvisando vocalmente armonías y utilizando superficies de muebles para imitar ritmos de percusión. Intérprete de bajo, autodidacta, logró destacar por su habilidad para entretener bailando, cantando y tocando instrumentos en sus presentaciones. En 1972, formó el grupo Dimensión Latina con quienes lanzó uno de sus éxitos más famosos, "Llorarás". En 1976, abandonó el grupo para formar dos orquestas más, La Salsa Mayor y La Crítica. En la década de 1980, la carrera como solista de D'León alcanzó fama internacional cuando inició una gira por Europa y se transformó en un fenómeno de la noche a la mañana. En sus 30 años de carrera, se ha presentado en Japón, Australia, Cuba, Turquía, Canadá y Latinoamérica. Hoy en día, sigue grabando música y es un gran filántropo.

Renombrado músico, bajista, compositor y arreglista  Juan Formell es la verdadera definición de un innovador de la música. Inició sus estudios en Cuba bajo la tutela de su padre, el músico y compositor Francisco Formell. A medida que su talento crecía, comenzó a trabajar con algunos de los artistas más famosos de La Habana lo que derivó en sus muy exitosas composiciones con la Orquesta de Carlos Faxas: "Ya Lo Sé", "De Mis Recuerdos" y "Lo Material". El trabajo de Formell con la Orquesta de Elio Reve lo puso en vitrina como pionero en el sonido de la música popular. Introdujo la instrumentación electrónica en el campo de la música cubana, con lo que cambió su forma, su estilo y su estructura, y derivó en la creación de "La Nueva Trova Cubana". En 1969, creó Los Van Van –una de las bandas más importantes e influyentes en la historia de la música pop cubana– y más adelante ganó un premio GRAMMY® en 1999 por Mejor Interpretación en Salsa. Es autor de más de 250 obras musicales, compuestas para teatro, televisión y películas, y ha recorrido el globo mientras sigue experimentando y creando nuevos ritmos y sonidos.

Con una carrera que abarca más de 50 años como compositor, productor, guitarrista y vocalista, Roberto Menescal es reverenciado como uno de los fundadores de la bossa nova. Nacido en Brasil y con una carrera profesional iniciada a los 20 años, su capacidad para escribir canciones creativas y brillantes, aparejada con su uso rítmico de la guitarra, le han permitido crear algunas de las canciones clásicas más queridas del país, como "O Barquinho", "Você", "Nós E O Mar", "Bye, Bye Brasil" y "Rio", entre otras. Aparte de sentar las bases para el sonido bossa nova, Menescal se ha desempeñado en una variedad de medios musicales latinos, como el pop brasileño, la Música Popular Brasileira y la Samba. Ha compuesto dos bandas sonoras de películas y su vida ha sido tema de cuatro libros biográficos que tratan sobre el trabajo de su vida y sus aportes. Sigue haciendo presentaciones a nivel internacional, grabando música y participa en talleres por todo Brasil.

Venida de Colombia, la cantante e intérprete Totó La Momposina es un tesoro nacional. Su música se inspira en una rica mezcla de historia africana, india nativa y española que abarca a su tierra natal y está plasmada en los ritmos latinoamericanos que ella presenta. Realizando giras y presentaciones desde temprana edad en pueblos costeros, su profundo amor a sus raíces y tradiciones musicales se transformó en su estilo distintivo. Mientras estudiaba historia de la música, coreografía y ritmo en la parisina Universidad de La Sorbona, también empezó a hacer giras en Europa y presentó por primera vez la música indígena de su país natal al mundo exterior. Posteriormente realizaría giras por Latinoamérica y el Caribe, junto con un paso por Cuba, donde estudió el bolero. Sigue realizando giras internacionales y compartiendo la colorida historia, las melodías nativas y las formas rítmicas de su amada Colombia.

El cantante, actor, productor y ex político argentino Palito Ortega es una parte integral de la gran cantera del rock and roll de artistas cuyas innovaciones quedaron acreditadas en la nueva ola de música durante la década de 1960. Teniendo como ídolo al legendario Elvis Presley, comenzó a hacer presentaciones con distintas bandas para, eventualmente, emprender su carrera de solista. En colaboración con el escritor de canciones Dino Ramos, pronto alcanzó éxito con temas como "Sabor A Nada", "Lo Mismo Que Usted" y "Vestida De Novia". Su popularidad le valió un papel protagónico en el conjunto para televisión "El Club Del Clan" y, poco después, una carrera cinematográfica. A pocos años de haber lanzado su carrera, había grabado 27 álbumes, protagonizado 26 películas y surgido como el ídolo indiscutible de los adolescentes. Tras varias décadas de éxito en la industria del entretenimiento, fijó su mirada en la política y se convirtió en el gobernador de la Provincia de Tucumán en Argentina en 1991. En la actualidad sigue realizando presentaciones y grabando música además de colaboraciones con varios artistas.

Pianista, líder de banda y músico ganador en ocho ocasiones del GRAMMY y del Latin GRAMMY Eddie Palmieri ha grabado casi 40 álbumes y tiene una carrera que abarca más de cinco décadas. Un "Nuyorican" de primera generación, es mejor conocido por su combinación de jazz piano y solos instrumentales con ritmos latinos. Inspirado por su hermano mayor, el renombrado pianista Charlie Palmieri, formó la banda Conjunto La Perfecta en 1961, con el cantante Ismael Quintana a la cabeza, y trabajó en la creación de un estilo influyente y un sonido único. En 1975, ganó su primer GRAMMY a la  Mejor Grabación Latina con The Sun Of Latin Music, que fue la primera vez que los premios distinguieron al género de música latina. Palmieri ha recorrido el mundo en numerosas ocasiones y ha recibido varios premios, honores y distinciones.

Reconocido como uno de los pioneros del rock en español, el cantante, compositor, director, productor y actor español Miguel Ríos es una proeza en sí. Sus innumerables conciertos y giras con entradas agotadas han resonado entre los fanáticos de la música rock de todas las edades por más de 50 años. En 1970, lanzó una de sus obras maestras en la cúspide del movimiento de rock sinfónico, "Himno De La Alegría", que presentaba un extracto de la novena sinfonía de Beethoven. La grabación ha vendido más de 3 millones de copias en el mundo y alcanzó el No. 14 en el ranking Billboard Hot 100. En 1982, lanzó un álbum doble en vivo de su concierto Rock & Rios, que vendió más de 450.000 copias en menos de un año. Los críticos de música consideran la grabación como una de las obras más importantes de rock español moderno. Ha participado en numerosos conciertos de beneficencia y ha recibido innumerables premios, distinciones y elogios en toda la península iberica.

Premio Del Consejo Directivo: Este Premio es otorgado por votación del Consejo Directivo de La Academia Latina de la Grabación a individuos que han realizado importantes contribuciones — excluyendo interpretaciones —  en el campo de la grabación durante sus carreras.

La  personalidad de Mario Kreutzberger, "Don Francisco", ha sido clave en el mundo de la televisión  en los hogares latinos de Estados Unidos, Chile y Latinoamérica a lo largo de más de 50 años. Es el creador y presentador de "Sábado Gigante" desde 1962, el espectáculo que ha hecho historia en la televisión y ha servido como plataforma para desarrollo y establecimiento de artistas, así como para presentar la  música a una amplia audiencia de habla hispana. Guinness World Records declaró a "Sábado Gigante" el show de variedades en televisión más longevo en América, que ha sido presentado ininterrumpidamente por su creador estrella y que el 2012 celebró sus 50 años de existencia. Junto con el show de variedades, ha dirigido el programa de entrevistas "Don Francisco Presenta" y el programa para recaudación de beneficencia "Teletón". Asimismo, Don Francisco es un respetado autor de jingles y ha recibido numerosos premios, incluida una estrella en el Paseo de la Fama de Hollywood y un  Emmy®  honorario como  "líder en la televisión de habla hispana". El 2012, fue inducido al Television Academy Hall of Fame.

A temprana edad, el músico, compositor y director musical mexicano Pedro Ramírez Velázquez quedó fascinado por el sonido de la trompeta. Después de sus estudios formales en la Escuela Libre de Música en la Ciudad de México, pronto se unió a la troupe musical de su padre como segundo trompetista, algo sin precedentes para las bandas de mariachis a fines de la década de 1940. En 1954, a los 14 años, fue invitado a unirse al Mariachi México de Pepe Villa, un grupo aclamado por los críticos por presentar orquestaciones a dos trompetas. Velázquez permaneció con el grupo durante lo que los críticos consideran la edad dorada de la música mariachi y cuando lo abandonó en la década de 1970, comenzó a hacer arreglos, dirigir y producir para algunos de los artistas más legendarios en la historia de la música latina. Ha colaborado con Angélica María, Leo Dan, Roberto Carlos y Beatriz Adriana entre otros, y se ha desempeñado como director musical exclusivo para Vicente y Alejandro Fernández, lo que le ha valido tres Latin GRAMMYs.

La 14a Entrega Anual del Latin GRAMMY® se llevará a cabo en el Mandalay Bay Events Center de Las Vegas el jueves 21 de noviembre del 2013 y se transmitirá en vivo en los Estados Unidos y Puerto Rico a través de la cadena Univision a las 8–11 p.m. hora del Este/Pacífico (7 p.m. Hora del Centro). Para obtener noticias de último momento y contenido exclusivo, sigue @LatinGRAMMYs en Twitter,  hazte un fanático en Facebook, y únete a las redes sociales de la organización en Foursquare, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, y YouTube.

Daddy Yankee Named 2026 Latin Recording Academy Person Of The Year™

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Daddy Yankee Named 2026 Latin Recording Academy Person Of The Year™

Latin GRAMMYs/Apr 07, 2026 - 01:00 PM

The artist will be honored at a special gala on November 11 in Las Vegas, during Latin GRAMMY® Week

Photo credit: Isaac Reyes

Click here to access the image in high resolution

MIAMI (APRIL 7, 2026)— The Latin Recording Academy® announced that multi–Latin GRAMMY® winner and multi-GRAMMY® nominee, Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez, known as Daddy Yankee, will be the 2026 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year™.

Daddy Yankee, a pioneer and driving force behind the globalization of reggaeton music, will be honored for his nearly three-decade career as a singer, songwriter and performer within the urban genre, as well as for his humanitarian efforts. His career represents an example of perseverance, resilience and creativity.

“Daddy Yankee has been a defining force in the global rise of Latin music,” said Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. “His leadership, discipline and vision opened the doors for a genre and inspired an entire generation of creators, and he remains as relevant today as ever. We are proud to honor him as our 2026 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year.”

“This recognition from The Latin Recording Academy is a dream come true. It means a lot because it represents more than just a successful career; it’s recognition of years of discipline, struggle, faith and commitment to our culture,” said Daddy Yankee. “Receiving something like this is to honor Puerto Rico, to honor all Latinos, and specifically to that entire generation that believed in our music when no one else understood it.”

From his humble beginnings in the barrios of Las Lomas and Villa Kennedy in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Daddy Yankee channeled a complex social reality—marked by violence, censorship, and exclusion—into a musical language of his own. In a context where reggaeton music was stigmatized by society, he not only defended artistry but also played a decisive role in its cultural legitimization.

The historic turning point came in 2004 with Barrio Fino, an album that redefined Latin music in the 21st century, selling over eight million copies and spending 24 consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart. With the global phenomenon of “Gasolina,” Daddy Yankee opened the international doors to reggaeton and popularized it among new generations. He became the first reggaeton performing artist to embark on an international tour, visiting more than 29 countries and bringing urban music to stages worldwide. Among his international hits are “Limbo,” “Con Calma,” and “Dura,” which reached number one in multiple countries.

His impact on the charts is both historic and sustained. “Despacito,” written in collaboration with Erika Ender and Luis Fonsi, marked a turning point in the music industry: 16 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, 56 weeks atop Hot Latin Songs, and more than 8.9 billion streams, establishing itself as one of the greatest musical phenomena of all time.

In 2022, Daddy Yankee announced his retirement from professional music, stating that Legendaddy would be the last album of his career, and subsequently, “La Última Vuelta World Tour” became one of the highest-grossing Latin tours in history. In his most recent phase, Daddy Yankee has developed a new creative direction focused on purpose-driven music, incorporating spiritual reflection, ethical values and personal transformation. His latest album, Lamento En Baile, includes the song “Sonríele,” which reached number one on Billboard Latin Airplay.

Daddy Yankee’s social impact is equally powerful. He is an agent of change in Puerto Rico, offering meaningful and timely social and educational programs through his foundation, and demonstrating a genuine and consistent commitment to the most vulnerable communities. In recent years, his strategic investment in sports—from the baseball team Cangrejeros de Santurce to the NBA Basketball School in Puerto Rico—confirms a legacy-driven vision focused on developing future generations of athletes.

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. Daddy Yankee will be celebrated at a private gala on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, in Las Vegas, as part of Latin GRAMMY® Week. The tribute concert will feature renditions of his renowned repertoire performed by an array of international artists and close friends. To purchase tickets, please contact: lgticketing@grammy.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

Iveliesse Malavé

ive@grammy.com

305.576.0036

For Artist Inquiries:

Nevárez Communications

mayna@nevarezpr.com

The Latin Recording Academy® Announces New Eligibility Guidelines For The 27th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®, Set To Take Place On Nov. 12

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The Latin Recording Academy® Announces New Eligibility Guidelines For The 27th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®, Set To Take Place On Nov. 12

Latin GRAMMYs/Mar 25, 2026 - 04:00 PM

Nominations will be announced on Sept. 16, and streamed across all social channels

MIAMI (MARCH 25, 2026) – The Latin Recording Academy® announced several category and eligibility changes for the 27th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®, taking place on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, with nominations set to be announced on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026.

These changes to the Awards Process, from the music creators and professionals that make up its membership body, are part of The Latin Academy’s commitment to evolve with the ever-changing musical landscape, and to best serve its approximately 7,000 members from 62 countries around the world. All updates go into effect immediately for the upcoming 27th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards.

“As our Academy continues to evolve, our focus remains firmly on our membership and the integrity of our Awards Process,” said Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. “These updates are driven by our members, whose participation each year ensures the Latin GRAMMY Awards continue to stand as a benchmark for excellence in Latin music.”

CATEGORY CHANGE

  • Best Portuguese Language Urban Performance category will evolve to an album category as Best Portuguese Language Urban Album (Portuguese Language Field).

CATEGORY NAME CHANGES

  • Best Latin Electronic Music Performance category will evolve to Best Electronic Music Performance (Electronic Field)

  • Best Urban/Urban Fusion Performance category will evolve to Best Urban Performance (Urban Field)

  • Best Classical Contemporary Composition category will evolve to Best Classical Composition (Classical Field)

AMENDMENTS TO ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SEVERAL CATEGORIES

Eligibility requirements for Producer of the Year category:

  • A minimum of five (5) total producer credits, achieved through any combination of album credits, single/track credits or co-production percentage credits. Alternatively, a producer credit on 100% of at least five (5) singles or tracks.

  • Co-production rule: credits are divided evenly among all producers. Example: four (4) producers = 0.25 credits each per track.

Eligibility requirements for Best New Artist category:

  • An artist is not eligible for consideration if they have released more than three (3) albums, or 25 singles, or a combination of albums and singles that surpasses these limits. Singles that are subsequently included as tracks on an album shall not be counted towards the single total.

Eligibility requirements for Best Instrumental Album category:

  • Vocals can be used in up to 40% of the total playing time, while requiring that at least 60% of the work remain instrumental. If vocals are present, 60% of the vocal content must be performed in one of The Latin Academy’s accepted languages.

Eligibility requirements for Singer-Songwriter categories:

  • A singer-songwriter may compose and perform some songs with a colleague, provided the required participation percentages are met.

  • For a singer-songwriter album to be eligible, the artist(s) must both write and perform together on at least 75% of the album.

  • In cases where two singer-songwriters collaborate, eligibility applies only when both artists jointly write and perform the same material; artists who perform together but do not write together are not eligible. “Live” albums may be eligible if they contain at least 51% new material.

  • The statuette is presented only to eligible singer-songwriter artists, with eligibility strictly requiring both songwriting and performance contributions, ensuring consistent interpretation.

Eligibility requirements for Best Contemporary Tropical Album category:

  • Category now includes and accepts recordings influenced by or belonging to Kompa Haitiano.

Eligibility Requirements for Best Music for Visual Media category:

  • Category now requires eligible submissions to include supporting video materials.

USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

The Latin GRAMMY Awards® recognize creative excellence. Only human creators are eligible to be submitted for consideration for, nominated for, or win a Latin GRAMMY®. A work that contains no human authorship is not eligible in any category. A work that features elements of A.I. material (i.e. material generated by the use of artificial intelligence technology) is eligible in applicable categories, however: (1) the human authorship component of the work submitted must be meaningful and more than de minimis; (2) such human authorship component must be relevant to the category in which such work is entered (e.g. if the work is submitted in a songwriting category, there must be meaningful and more than de minimis human authorship in respect of the music and/or lyrics; if the work is submitted in a performance category, there must be meaningful and more than de minimis human authorship in respect of the performance); and (3) the author(s) of any A.I. material incorporated into the work are not eligible to be nominees or Latin GRAMMY recipients insofar as their contribution to the portion of the work that consists of such A.I material is concerned. De minimis is defined as lacking significance or importance; so minor as to merit disregard.

LABEL COPY CREDITS AND UPDATED FEES

All requests for label copy credit corrections must include the following:

  • A formal statement detailing what information was inaccurately submitted or omitted.

  • Updated (final) label copy.

  • Call sheets or studio logs confirming that the additional individual(s) worked on the recording and specifying their roles.

  • Confirmation that credits have been updated across all applicable DSPs.

  • All requests must be submitted in writing by the person who made the entry.

Changes or corrections to credits will be accepted from the time of submission until the announcement of nominations. If a nominated recording or video requires a credit correction after nominations are announced, a fee will be implemented. New fees and payment requirements are as follows: Record labels: USD $5,000 per label copy and Latin Recording Academy members: USD $1,000 per label copy.

ENTRY PROCESS UPDATED FEE

Early bird entry pricing model for record labels will now be replaced with a single,

set entry fee of USD $2,000 that applies regardless of submission date within the eligibility period.

For complete category descriptions and eligibility requirements, please refer to the new Rules & Guidelines document. And to view this year’s Awards calendar, visit https://www.latingrammy.com/en/awards/calendar.

Key dates for this year’s Awards Process include:

June 1, 2025 - May 31, 2026: Product Eligibility Period

April 1 - May 31, 2026: Online Entry Process (OEP)

July 27 - Aug. 10, 2026: First Round of Voting

Sept. 16, 2026: Nominees announced for the 27th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards

Oct. 1 - 12, 2026: Final Round of Voting

Nov. 12, 2026: 27th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards airing live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Univision. Additional broadcasting partners will be announced in the Fall.

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 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

Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® Hosts First Leading Ladies Of Entertainment Symposium

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Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® Hosts First Leading Ladies Of Entertainment Symposium

Latin GRAMMYs/Mar 04, 2026 - 10:30 PM

Presented by Open Society Foundations, the event united industry leaders to champion mentorship and the advancement of women in music

Click here for images

Credit: John Parra and Desiree Navarro/

Getty Images for the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation

MIAMI (MARCH 5, 2026) — The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® hosted its first- Leading Ladies of Entertainment Symposium at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Davie, FL, on March 4, convening more than 200 industry professionals for a day dedicated to leadership, mentorship and the advancement of women in music.

The program featured former Leading Ladies of Entertainment honorees including Róndine Alcalá, founder of RondenePR, María Elisa Ayerbe, Latin GRAMMY®-winning sound engineer, Goyo, Latin GRAMMY-nominated artist, Maricarmen “Tuti” Bou, Vice President of Sony Music Entertainment Puerto Rico, Rocío Guerrero, Global Head of Latin Music for Amazon Music, Paula Kaminsky, Managing Director at Global Talent Services US, and Ana Rosa Santiago, Senior Vice President of Latin Music for Universal Music Publishing Group.

Additionally, trailblazing women in the industry including Brenda Carrasco, Senior VP of Marketing and Artist Strategy, Warner Music Latina, Thatiana Díaz, award-winning Editor in Chief at Remezcla and Hip Latina, María Fernández, Chief Operating Officer, Latin Iberia at Sony Music Entertainment, Mary Nuñez, Vice President, Head of Sync US Latin & Latin America, Warner Chappell Music, Evelyn Suero, Founder & attorney at Suero Law, and Vicky Van, Univision reporter and radio host, joined the event as guest speakers.

Award-winning journalist Maity Interiano served as master of ceremonies. Sessions focused on entrepreneurship, branding and the evolving music industry, complemented by curated networking opportunities. The event concluded with a special performance by Latin GRAMMY and GRAMMY®-nominated artist Elena Rose.

Paying-it-forward and forging opportunities for future generations is a core pillar of this initiative. Applications are now open for the Foundation’s fifth cohort of the Leading Ladies of Entertainment Mentorship Program through Monday, April 6, 2026, at www.latingrammyculturalfoundation.org.

The symposium and mentorship program are presented by Open Society Foundations, the world’s largest private funder of independent groups working for rights, equity and justice.

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. To learn about previous honorees click here.

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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. For over a decade, 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. To date, the Foundation has invested more than $15 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

Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® Launches First  Leading Ladies Of Entertainment Symposium & Opens Applications For Fifth Mentorship Program

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Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® Launches First Leading Ladies Of Entertainment Symposium & Opens Applications For Fifth Mentorship Program

Latin GRAMMYs/Feb 19, 2026 - 02:00 PM

Open Society Foundations joins as Presenting Sponsor of the mentorship program and symposium to be held on March 4 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Davie, FL

Apply to the Leading Ladies of Entertainment Mentorship Program by April 6, 2026

MIAMI (FEBRUARY 19, 2026) — The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® announced it will host its inaugural Leading Ladies of Entertainment Symposium on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, bringing together influential voices to inspire leadership, mentorship and the advancement of women in music at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Davie, FL.

Throughout the day, guests will hear from former Leading Ladies of Entertainment honorees as well as trailblazing women in the industry who will speak on topics ranging from entrepreneurship, branding and the future of the industry, as well as participate in networking opportunities. Panelists will be announced over the coming weeks. For more event details and to secure tickets click here.

The Foundation also announced that applications are now open for its Leading Ladies of Entertainment Mentorship Program. Paying-it-forward and forging opportunities for future generations is a core pillar of this initiative, and the program is now accepting applications for its fifth cohort of mentees looking to follow a career in the music and entertainment industry. To apply visit www.latingrammyculturalfoundation.org by Monday, April 6, 2026.

This year, Open Society Foundations, the world’s largest private funder of independent groups working for rights, equity and justice, joins as Presenting Sponsor of the inaugural Leading Ladies of Entertainment Symposium as well as the Mentorship Program.

“At the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation, we believe access creates opportunity, and the Leading Ladies Symposium and Mentorship Program are powerful reminders of what happens when women come together with purpose and commit to ensuring that future generations have access to resources and opportunities,” said Raquel “Rocky” Egusquiza, Executive Director, Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation. “We thank Open Society Foundations for sharing our vision to bring together such an inspiring group of women who are generously sharing their stories, insights and leadership to help create pathways for the next generation of women in entertainment.”

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. To learn about previous honorees click here.

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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. For over a decade, 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. To date, the Foundation has invested more than $15 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