LATIN GRAMMY PREVIEW: HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE

With first-round voting for the 25th Latin Grammys underway, let’s take a look at what’s in play for the Biggest Night in Latin Music on 11/14 as the show returns to Miami.

COMMERCIAL FAVORITES

Recent history shows that in the Big 4 categories, for whatever reasons, commercially successful albums and songs aren't taking home trophies. So rewarding KAROL G’s MAÑANA SERÁ BONITO as Album of the Year and Shakira & Bizarrap’s “Bzrp Music Sessions: Vol. 53” for Record of the Year in 2023 was a huge leap for the Latin Recording Academy. But the org is still playing catch-up. Bad Bunny has yet to win Record, Song or Album of the Year. Could that change in November? What better time is there to acknowledge the new class of Latin headliners playing stadiums and arenas across the globe?

Peso Pluma and Carín León, who continue to break new ground for Mexican artists in their recordings and on the road, deserve big looks in the general field. So do Feid and Myke Towers, who've leveled up over the last year behind a string of global hits. The ceremony will take place in the org’s home court of Miami; could the locale lead to major noms for urbano acts? It’s high time Feid and Towers took home some trophies.

MÚSICA MEXICANA

The Latin Grammys’ failure to recognize the artists that lifted música Mexicana to new heights in 2023 could lead to an overcorrection this year. Peso Pluma’s GÉNESIS, a game-changing album for the genre, lands in the 2024 eligibility period and is coming off a Grammy victory for Best Música Mexicana Album. Reigning Best Norteńo Album winner León operates in a lane by himself, as showcased on his latest full-length, Boca Chueca, Vol. 1, which arrived as the Latin-country star was elevating his profile.

Other música Mexicana standouts that could garner multiple noms include Junior H, Pepe Aguilar, Grupo Frontera and Eden Muñoz.

SUPERSTAR PROBLEMS

A number of artists now enjoy mainstream superstar status—a classy problem for the Latin world in an awards context. Shakira’s first album in seven years, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, earning an AOTY nod is probably the closest thing to a lock. Everything Shak does these days is major, and the Colombian icon made sure to carve out dates in the middle of her world tour for the Latin Grammys. Another encouraging sign for Shakira: Latin Grammy voters have a history of taking care of their legends.

KAROL G and Bad Bunny, who delivered smashes “QLONA” f/Peso Pluma and “Monaco,” respectively, from their new projects, will present an interesting debate to voters. KG’s Bichota Season is a victory lap for last year’s AOTY winner, but it’s still a new project with only 10 songs. Bunny’s Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana poses another question: Since the Academy did not properly acknowledge 2022's Un Verano Sin Ti, will it celebrate Benito's new rap album in a make-good move?