The ‘Evolving Tapestry’ Of Latin Music
Latin music is more global than ever, and the Latin Recording Academy continues expanding its presence to reflect that,” says Abud, who assumed leadership of the organization in 2021, succeeding longtime president/CEO Gabriel Abaroa Jr.
In addition to announcing it was incorporating new categories and amending others for this year’s ceremony, the Latin academy has “defined and implemented” a process for U.S. cities and other countries looking to “bring the Latin Grammys to their respective destinations.”
The response, in the wake of the Latin Grammys’ first-ever international ceremony in Seville, Spain, in 2023, “has been overwhelming,” Abud says. “We will continue expanding to new cities, territories and countries, strengthening Latin music’s cultural impact worldwide, and anticipate sharing more news soon on our next destination.”
On Sept. 17, nominations were announced for this year’s Latin Grammys, with Bad Bunny, Edgar Barrera and duo CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso among the leading contenders. The 26th annual ceremony is scheduled for Nov. 13 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, marking the 15th time the event will be held in the city.
Commenting before this year’s nominations were announced, Abud notes that “one trend that particularly resonates with me is the rise in cross-genre and cross-cultural collaborations — artists from diverse backgrounds coming together to create something fresh and meaningful.”
Asked to comment on the biggest issue in Latin music, Abud replies: “Ensuring that its incredible diversity is fully recognized and represented. Latin music is not one sound or one region — it’s a vast and evolving tapestry shaped by countless cultures, languages and creative expressions. At the Latin academy, we see it as our responsibility to reflect that richness and amplify voices that have historically been underrepresented.
“That’s why we continue to evolve alongside the music and our award categories reflect that. Earlier this year, we introduced new categories like best music for visual media and best roots song and made several category amendments.
“These changes are part of our broader effort to make sure the Latin Grammys celebrate all genres, all creators and all communities that make Latin music what it is today — and what it can be tomorrow.”
—Joe Lynch