Guerra Leads List Of Billboard Latin Music Awards Finalists

Leila Cobo, Miami
Vying for seven honors, Dominican singer/songwriter Juan Luis Guerra tops the list of finalists for the 19th Billboard Latin Music Awards. Guerra and his group 440, whose album “La Llave de Mi Croazón” (EMI Televisa) and its eponymous single garnered critical acclaim, is up for honors in several tropical categories, including Tropical Album of the year, duo or group and Tropical Airplay song of the year. Guerra is also up for Songwriter of the year and Producer of the year awards.

Following Guerra in sheer number of finalist slots is Colombian newcomer Fanny Lu, whose pop/tropical album “Lágrimas Cálidas” (Universal Music Latino) and its eponymous single are up for six awards, including Tropical Album of the year, female and Tropical album of the year, new artist.

Finalists up for five awards each are urban/bachata group Aventura; Mexican singer/songwriter Marco Antonio Solís and ranchera icon Vicente Fernández.

Finalists for four awards include superstar Enrique Igleisas, Colombian rock star Juanes, reggaetón duo Wisin & Yandel, singer and actress Jennifer López, banda sensation Jenni Rivera, Los Creadorez del Pasito Duranguense de Alfredo Ramírez, newcomer Kany García and Mexican rock band Maná. Those up for three awards include Camila, Grupo Montez de Durango, Daddy Yankee, El Chapo de Sinaloa, Black: Guayaba and Kinto Sol.

The varied list of finalists reflects a market that saleswise, was still amply dominated by regional Mexican music but whose airwaves were permeated by multiple sounds.

Regional Mexican acts, for example, dominated the Top Latin Albums Artist of the year award, with Aventura the sole finalist against Vicente Fernández, Marco Antonio Solis and Valentín Elizalde.

But the newly created Latin Album of the year category, to be awarded to the top selling album of the year, had a diverse group of competitors. Finalists are pop group Camila for “Todo Cambió” (Sony BMG Norte), Daddy Yankee for “El Carte: The Big Boss” (El Cartel/Interscope/IGA), Jennifer López for “Como Ama Una Mujer” (Epic/Sony BMG Norte) and Wisin & Yandel’s “Wisin Vs. Yandel: Los Extraterrestres” (Machete).

Also making a debut as a category, and reflecting the growing importance of the digital market, is the Latin ringmaster of the year category, coexisting alongside the Latin ringtone of the year category.

This year’s awards will air live April 10, marking their tenth anniversary on the Telemundo network. The landmark also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Finalists and eventual winners to the Billboard Latin Music Awards are determined by the actual sales and radio airplay data that informs Billboard's weekly charts during a one-year period from the issue dated February 10, 2007 through this year's February 2nd issue.