Bad Bunny leads the list of finalists for the 2021 Billboard Latin Music Awards, with 22 nods in 13 categories, including artist of the year, songwriter of the year, Hot Latin Songs artist of the year, top Latin rhythm album and top Latin album of the year — with three of his releases up for wins.
It’s a stellar showing that caps a very good year for the Puerto Rican rapper, who was able to place three albums — El Último Tour del Mundo, YHLQMDLG and Las Que No Iban a Salir — atop the Billboard charts during the eligibility period for the awards (Feb. 1, 2020, through the Aug. 7, 2021, charts).
Following Bad Bunny in the double digits is Maluma with 11 nods, including artist of the year and Hot Latin Songs artist of the year, with his global hit “Hawái” up for six awards, including airplay song of the year and Hot Latin Song of the year.
Other multi-finalists include J Balvin with nine nods, and Karol G, Anuel AA and Black Eyed Peas with eight each.
Finalists and winners will be honored at the annual Billboard Latin Music Awards, which will broadcast live on Telemundo from the Watsco Center in Miami on Thursday, Sept. 23, and which will cover 59 categories across the major music genres of Latin pop, tropical, Latin rhythm and regional Mexican.
As evidenced by this year’s finalists (see the full list below) — which reflect performance on the Billboard charts — reggaetón and urban music remain the dominant players in the Latin musical landscape.
Balvin and Anuel AA are both up for artist of the year in a category that also includes fellow reggaetón star Ozuna, who is up for seven awards. Balvin also garnered four nods for “Ritmo (Bad Boys for Life),” the blockbuster track with Black Eyed Peas, who are also four-time finalists with “Ritmo.”
Fellow Colombian Karol G is a four-time finalist for her smash “Tusa” (with Nicki Minaj), while Anuel is up for Hot Latin Songs artist of the year and Top Latin Albums artist of the year, primarily on the strength of his sophomore album, Emmanuel.
But while urban music continued to drive the beat of Latin music, regional Mexican music wasn’t far behind, thanks to a new crop of acts who are revamping the genre’s sound and branding.
Leading the way is the group Eslabon Armado with seven nods that include three of their albums: Corta Venas, Tu Veneno Mortal and Vibras de Noche. They’re followed by Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga with four nods, including song of the year for “Que Maldición,” and Los Dos Carnales, who are up for three awards, including regional Mexican song of the year, where they compete against themselves with “El Envidioso” and “Cabrón y Vago.”
Beyond the growing strength of regional Mexican, another highly visible trend in this year’s list of finalists is mainstream music’s growing interest in Latin acts. The leaders of the pack are the Black Eyed Peas, whose album Translation featured mostly Latin acts, and which has two tracks, “Mamacita” and “Ritmo,” up for awards in addition to the Peas’ nod in the crossover artist of the year category. In addition, The Weeknd has seven nods on the strength of “Hawái,” his collaboration with Maluma; Minaj has six on the strength of “Tusa” alongside Karol G; and Snoop Dogg is a finalist for regional Mexican song of the year for “Que Maldición,” his collaboration with Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga.
The Billboard Latin Music Awards were not immune to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligibility for the awards, whose finalists and eventual winners are based exclusively on performance on the Billboard charts, was extended from its usual one-year period to 18 months (from the rankings dated Feb. 1, 2020, through the Aug. 7, 2021, charts), as the 2020 awards were delayed by the pandemic.
And this year, given the pause in touring of the past 18 months, there is no touring category.
But there is a live awards show that will be broadcast once again on the Telemundo network at 8 p.m. ET and preceded by the red carpet one-hour preshow “La Alfombra de Premios Billboard.” Confirmed performers include Camila Cabello, Prince Royce, Christian Nodal and Natti Natasha. The music special will also broadcast simultaneously on Spanish entertainment cable network Universo and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean on Telemundo Internacional.
The awards coincide with Billboard Latin Music Week, which returns to Miami from Sept. 20-25, with a roster of star speakers that includes Karol G, Daddy Yankee and Nicky Jam. For more information on Billboard Latin Music Week and to register, visit billboardlatinmusicweek.com.
BILLBOARD 2021 LATIN MUSIC AWARDS FINALISTAS
Artista del Año / Artist of the Year:
- Anuel AA
- Bad Bunny
- J Balvin
- Maluma
- Ozuna
Artista del Año, Debut / Artist of the Year, New:
- Camilo
- Eslabon Armado
- Kali Uchis
- Myke Towers
- Rauw Alejandro
Artista Crossover del Año / Crossover Artist of the Year:
- Black Eyed Peas
- Dua Lipa
- Ne-Yo
- Nicki Minaj
- The Weeknd
SONG CATEGORIES
“Hot Latin Song” Canción del Año / Hot Latin Song of the Year:
- Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, “Dákiti”
- Black Eyed Peas & J Balvin, “Ritmo (Bad Boys For Life)”
- Kali Uchis, “Telepatía”
- Karol G & Nicki Minaj “Tusa”
- Maluma & The Weeknd, “Hawái”
“Hot Latin Song”, Colaboración Vocal del Año / Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event:
- Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, “Dákiti”
- Bad Bunny & Rosalía, “La Noche De Anoche”
- Black Eyed Peas & J Balvin, “Ritmo (Bad Boys For Life)”
- Karol G & Nicki Minaj “Tusa”
- Maluma & The Weeknd, “Hawái”
“Hot Latin Songs” Artista del Año, Masculino / Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Male:
- Anuel AA
- Bad Bunny
- J Balvin
- Jhay Cortez
- Maluma
“Hot Latin Songs” Artista del Año, Femenina / Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Female:
- Kali Uchis
- Karol G
- Natti Natasha
- Rosalía
- Selena Gomez
“Hot Latin Songs” Artista del Año, Dúo o Grupo / Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
- Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
- Calibre 50
- Eslabon Armado
- Grupo Firme
- Los Dos Carnales
“Hot Latin Songs” Sello Discográfico del Año / Hot Latin Songs Label of the Year:
- Epic
- Interscope
- Rimas
- Sony Music Latin
- Universal Music Latin Entertainment
“Hot Latin Songs” Casa Disquera del Año / Hot Latin Songs Imprint of the Year:
- Aura Music
- Duars
- Rimas
- Sony Music Latin
- Universal Music Latino
Canción del Año, Airplay /Airplay Song of the Year:
- Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, “Dákiti”
- Karol G & Nicki Minaj “Tusa”
- Maluma & The Weeknd, “Hawái”
- Ozuna, Karol G & Myke Towers, “Caramelo”
- Prince Royce, “Carita de Inocente”
Sello Discográfico del Año, Airplay / Airplay Label of the Year:
- Remex
- Rimas
- Sony Music Latin
- Universal Music Latin Entertainment
- Warner Latina
Casa Disquera del Año, Airplay / Airplay Imprint of the Year:
- Aura
- Fonovisa
- Rimas
- Sony Music Latin
- Universal Music Latino
Canción del Año, Ventas / Sales Song of the Year:
- Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, “Dákiti”
- Black Eyed Peas & J Balvin, “Ritmo (Bad Boys For Life)”
- Black Eyed Peas, Ozuna & J. Rey Soul “Mamacita”
- Karol G & Nicki Minaj, “Tusa”
- Maluma & The Weeknd, “Hawái”
Canción del Año, Streaming / Streaming Song of the Year:
- Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, “Dákiti”
- Bad Bunny “Yo Perreo Sola”
- Bad Bunny, “Vete”
- Bad Bunny, Jowell & Randy & Ñengo Flow, “Safaera”
- Maluma & The Weeknd, “Hawái”
ALBUM CATEGORIES
“Top Latin Album” del Año /Top Latin Album of the Year:
- Anuel AA, Emmanuel
- Bad Bunny, El Último Tour del Mundo
- Bad Bunny, Las Que No Iban a Salir
- Bad Bunny, YHLQMDLG
- Maluma, Papi Juancho
“Top Latin Albums” Artista del Año, Masculino / Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Male:
- Anuel AA
- Bad Bunny
- J Balvin
- Ozuna
- Romeo Santos
“Top Latin Albums” Artista del Año, Femenina / Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Female:
- Becky G
- Kali Uchis
- Karol G
- Selena Gomez
- Shakira
“Top Latin Albums” Artista del Año Dúo o Grupo / Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
- Aventura
- Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
- Black Eyed Peas
- Eslabon Armado
- Los Legendarios
“Top Latin Albums” Sello Discográfico del Año / Top Latin Albums Label of the Year:
- Glad Empire
- Rancho Humilde
- Rimas
- Sony Music Latin
- Universal Music Latin Entertainment
“Top Latin Albums” Imprint del Año / Top Latin Albums Imprint of the Year:
- Del
- Real Hasta La Muerte
- Rimas
- Sony Music Latin
- Universal Music Latin Entertainment
LATIN POP CATEGORIES
Artista “Latin Pop” del Año, Solista / Latin Pop Artist of the Year, Solo:
- Camilo
- Enrique Iglesias
- Kali Uchis
- Luis Fonsi
- Shakira
Artista “Latin Pop” del Año, Dúo o Grupo / Latin Pop Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
- CNCO
- Maná
- Mau y Ricky
- Piso 21
- Reik
Canción “Latin Pop” del Año / Latin Pop Song of the Year:
- Black Eyed Peas, Ozuna & J.Rey Soul “Mamacita”
- Kali Uchis “Telepatía”
- Reik, Farruko & Camilo “Si Me Dices Que Sí”
- Sebastián Yatra, Rauw Alejandro & Manuel Turizo “TBT”
- Shakira & Anuel AA “Me Gusta”
“Latin Pop Airplay” Sello Discográfico del Año / Latin Pop Airplay Label of the Year:
- Epic
- Rimas
- Sony Music Latin
- Universal Music Latin Entertainment
- Warner Latina
“Latin Pop Airplay” Casa Disquera del Año / Latin Pop Airplay Imprint of the Year:
- Real Hasta La Muerte
- Rimas
- Sony Music Latin
- Universal Music Latino
- WK
Álbum “Latin Pop” del Año / Latin Pop Album of the Year
- Camilo, Mis Manos
- Camilo, Por Primera Vez
- Kali Uchis, Sin Miedo (Del Amor y Otros Demonios)
- Piso 21, El Amor En Los Tiempos del Perreo
- Selena Gomez, Revelación
“Latin Pop Albums” Sello Discográfico del Año /Latin Pop Albums Label of the Year:
- Interscope Geffen A&M
- Sony Music Latin
- Thirty Tigers
- Universal Music Latin Entertainment
- Warner Latina
“Latin Pop Albums” Casa Disquera del Año / Latin Pop Albums Imprint of the Year:
- Capitol Latin
- Hecho a Mano
- Sony Music Latin
- Universal Music Latino
- Warner Latina
TROPICAL CATEGORIES
Artista Tropical del Año, Solista / Tropical Artist of the Year, Solo:
- Carlos Vives
- Elvis Crespo
- Marc Anthony
- Prince Royce
- Romeo Santos
Artista Tropical del Año, Dúo o Grupo / Tropical Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
- Aventura
- Gente de Zona
- La Sonora Dinamita
- Monchy & Alexandra
- N’Klabe
Canción Tropical del Año / Tropical Song of the Year:
- Daddy Yankee & Marc Anthony, “De Vuelta Pa’ La Vuelta”
- Marc Anthony, “Un Amor Eterno”
- Nio García, Casper Mágico, Ozuna, Wisin & Yandel, Myke Towers & Flow La Movie, “Travesuras”
- Prince Royce, “Carita de Inocente”
- Prince Royce, “Lotería”
“Tropical Airplay” Sello Discográfico del Año /Tropical Airplay Label of the Year:
- El Cartel
- LP
- Pina
- Sony Music Latin
- Universal Music Latin Entertainment
“Tropical Airplay” Casa Disquera del Año / Tropical Airplay Imprint of the Year:
- El Cartel
- Hecho a Mano
- Pina
- Sony Music Latin
- WK
Álbum Tropical del Año / Tropical Albums of the Year:
- El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, En Cuarentena
- Frankie Ruiz, The Greatest Salsa Ever, Vol. 1
- Gloria Estefan, Brazil305
- Prince Royce, Alter Ego
- Sonora Ponceña, Hegemonía Musical
“Tropical Albums” Sello Discográfico del Año / Tropical Albums Label of the Year:
- Discos Fuentes
- Sony Music Latin
- The Orchard
- Universal Music Latin Entertainment
- Zacarías Ferreira
“Tropical Albums” Casa Disquera del Año / Tropical Albums Imprint of the Year:
- Norte
- Premium Latin
- Sony Music Latin
- The Orchard
- Top Stop
REGIONAL MEXICAN CATEGORIES
Artista Regional Mexicano del Año, Solista /Regional Mexican Artist of the Year, Solo:
- Christian Nodal
- El Fantasma
- Junior H
- Lenin Ramírez
- Natanael Cano
Artista Regional Mexicano del Año, Dúo o Grupo / Regional Mexican Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
- Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
- Calibre 50
- Eslabon Armado
- Los Ángeles Azules
- Los Dos Carnales
Canción Regional Mexicana del Año / Regional Mexican Song of the Year:
- Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga & Snoop Dogg, “Que Maldición”
- El Fantasma & Los Dos Carnales, “Cabrón y Vago”
- Lenin Ramírez, featuring Grupo Firme, “Yo Ya No Vuelvo Contigo”
- Los Dos Carnales, “El Envidioso”
“Regional Mexican Airplay” Sello Discográfico del Año / Regional Mexican Airplay Label of the Year:
- Afinarte
- Lizos
- Remex
- Sony Music Latin
- Universal Music Latin Entertainment
“Regional Mexican Airplay” Casa Disquera del Año / Regional Mexican Airplay Imprint of the Year:
- Afinarte
- Disa
- Fonovisa
- Lizos
- Remex
Álbum Regional Mexicano del Año / Regional Mexican Albums of the Year:
- Christian Nodal, Ayayay!
- Eslabon Armado, Corta Venas
- Eslabon Armado, Tu Veneno Mortal
- Eslabon Armado, Vibras de Noche
- Junior H, Atrapado En Un Sueño
“Regional Mexican Albums” Sello Discográfico del Año /Regional Mexican Albums Label of the Year:
- Afinarte
- DEL
- Rancho Humilde
- Sony Music Latin
- Universal Music Latin Entertainment
“Regional Mexican Albums” Casa Disquera del Año / Regional Mexican Albums Imprint of the Year:
- Afinarte
- DEL
- Fonovisa
- Lizos
- Rancho Humilde
LATIN RHYTHM CATEGORIES
Artista “Latin Rhythm” del Año, solista / Latin Rhythm Artist of the Year, Solo:
- Anuel AA
- Bad Bunny
- J Balvin
- Maluma
- Ozuna
Artista “Latin Rhythm” del Año, Dúo o Grupo / Latin Rhythm Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
- Jowell & Randy
- Los Legendarios
- Play-N-Skillz
- Wisin & Yandel
- Zion & Lennox
Canción “Latin Rhythm” del Año Latin / Rhythm Song of the Year:
- Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, “Dákiti”
- Bad Bunny “Yo Perreo Sola”
- Black Eyed Peas & J Balvin, “Ritmo (Bad Boys For Life)”
- Karol G & Nicki Minaj “Tusa”
- Maluma & The Weeknd, “Hawái”
“Latin Rhythm Airplay” Sello Discográfico del Año /Latin Rhythm Airplay Label of the Year:
- Glad Empire
- Rimas
- Sony Music Latin
- Universal Music Latin Entertainment
- Warner Latina
“Latin Rhythm Airplay” Casa Disquera del Año /Latin Rhythm Airplay Imprint of the Year:
- Aura
- La Industria
- Rimas
- Sony Music Latin
- Universal Music Latino
Álbum “Latin Rhythm” del Año / Latin Rhythm Album of the Year:
- Anuel AA, Emmanuel
- Bad Bunny, El Último Tour del Mundo
- Bad Bunny, Las Que No Iban a Salir
- Bad Bunny, YHLQMDLG
- Maluma, Papi Juancho
“Latin Rhythm Albums” Sello Discográfico del Año /Latin Rhythm Albums Label of the Year:
- Glad Empire
- Rich
- Rimas
- Sony Music Latin
- Universal Music Latin Entertainment
“Latin Rhythm Albums” Casa Disquera del Año /Latin Rhythm Albums Imprint of the Year:
- Aura
- Real Hasta La Muerte
- Rimas
- Sony Music Latin
- Universal Music Latino
WRITERS/PRODUCERS/PUBLISHERS CATEGORIES
Compositor del Año / Songwriter of the Year:
- Anuel AA
- Bad Bunny
- Edgar ‘Edge’ Barrera
- J Balvin
- Tainy
Editora del Año / Publisher of the Year:
- RSM Publishing, ASCAP
- Sony Discos Music Publishing LLC, ASCAP
- Universal Music Corp, ASCAP
- WC Music Corp, ASCAP
Corporación Editora del Año / Publishing Corporation of the Year:
- Kobalt Music
- RSM Publishing
- Sony Music Publishing
- Universal Music
- Warner Chappell Music
Productor del Año / Producer of the Year:
-
- Mora
- Ovy On The Drums
- Sky Rompiendo
- Súbelo Neo
- Tainy
