ESTEFANS, YATRA AND SONY'S FERNANDEZ AMONG RIAA HONOREES

The RIAA Honors recognize artists, executives and policymakers who have been influential in the rise of Latin music in the U.S. On 9/19 in Washington, D.C., the annual event will honor (pictured l-r) Gloria Estefan (Icon Award), UMLE's Sebastián Yatra (Artist of the Year), Emilio Estefan (Industry Trailblazer) and Sony Latin-Iberia EVP & COO Maria Fernandez (Executive of the Year). U.S. representatives Veronica Escobar and María Elvira Salazar will be named Policymakers of the Year.

“As advocates for the music community and fans ourselves, the RIAA is so grateful to acknowledge superstars and leaders who have used their voices and platforms to change the culture and break the creative mold. RIAA Honors is a special moment to stop and acknowledge those forging ahead for future generations and making waves in their own right. Latin music has lit up the charts and filled playlists across the U.S. this year, and we are thrilled to celebrate all the honorees,” said RIAA Chairman & CEO Mitch Glazier.

Gloria Estefan—an eight-time Grammy winner, Oscar nominee, Gershwin Prize winner, Kennedy Center honoree and inductee into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame (as the first Hispanic woman to be so honored, in 2023) and the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame—has sold some 100m records, which seems like a lot. She’s also a philanthropist, author and actor in films like Father of the Bride and the animated feature Vivo. We're exhausted from enumerating a portion of her achievements and now require a nap.

Gloria and Emilio Estefan were awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom—the nation’s highest civilian honor—by President Obama. The two also serve as executive producers of the Tony-nominated Broadway musical ON YOUR FEET!, based on their lives.

Yatra currently has a Latin platinum (U.S.) hit with "Vagabundo," which is charting globally on Spotify. The track is also triple platinum in Spain.

Fernandez not only runs operations at Sony Latin-Iberia but negotiates major deals and spearheads mergers and acquisitions. She's closed partnerships with ticketing giant EVENTIM and Latin management firm Walter Kolm Entertainment and played a role in the evaluation and negotiation of Sony's acquisition of Brazilian record company Som Livre.

Our message to Glazier: The rhythm is gonna get you.