VIVA LATIN MUSIC!

According to the Recording Industry Association of America, the genre scored its largest sales numbers ever during the first six months of this year.

RIAA's numbers show the Latin segment grew to 5.2% from 4.9% in terms of list dollars at midyear 1999, resulting in a value of nearly $325 million.

Shipments of Latin discs jumped 16% from 17.5 million units to 20.2 million units, while the dollar value grew from $212 million to nearly $270 million.

While sales of cassettes dropped 23% from last year, the format is still popular in the Latin market, accounting for nearly one-quarter of overall shipments of Latin music. That's three-times that of cassette shipments in the larger U.S. music market.

The growing popularity of the genre prompted the RIAA to launch "Premios De Oro y Platino," the Gold and Platinum certification program for Latin recordings. Since this past January, more than 70 titles have been certified. The highest certified title to date is Gloria Estefan's "Mi Tierra" which is certified at eight times Disco de Multi-Platino, with sales surpassing 1.6 million units. Mexican sensation Juan Gabriel is the most certified artist with ten titles. Man is the highest certified group with "Donde Jugarn Los Nios" certified at six times Disco de Multi-Platino (1.2 million units) and "Sueos Liquidos" certified at five times Disco de Multi-Platino (1 million units).

RIAA President hilary rosen',390,400);">hilary rosen',390,400);">Hilary Rosen said: "The influence of Latin music can continue to be seen in every aspect of the entertainment industry. I see no signs of this remarkable rate of growth slowing down. Now, where's that hunky Enrique Iglesias with my bottle of Cuervo? We're supposed to do body shots."