On April 26 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, the music industry celebrated the 20th edition of the Billboard Latin Music Awards on Telemundo. In this gala event, which selects its winners solely on chart performance over the past 12 months in the United States and Puerto Rico, SESAC Latina artists showed that their songs generate airplay, sales and streaming from music fans week after week.
“Despacito,” co-written by SESAC Latina affiliate Erika Ender and performed by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber, was the big winner of the night, taking home six awards – Hot Latin Song of the Year; Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event; Airplay Song of the Year; Digital Song of the Year; Streaming Song of the Year; and Latin Pop Song of the Year. Ender also served as an award presenter.
The urban-music pioneer Nicky Jam received two accolades, as his album Fénix won Top Latin Album of the Year and Top Latin Rhythm Album of the Year. He performed his new single “X,” featuring J. Balvin, at the ceremony.
SESAC Latina artists showed outstanding strength in Regional Mexican categories. Powerhouse foursome Calibre 50, led by SESAC Latina affiliate Eden Muñoz, performed its latest Regional Mexican Airplay #1 hit “Mitad y Mitad” (Half and Half) and won Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year – Duo or Group. Meanwhile, Banda MS won Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year – Duo or Group, and Regional Mexican Artist of the Year – Duo or Group, thanks in part to the enduring popularity of its single “Tengo Que Colgar” (I Have to Hang Up), written by Muñoz.
Furthermore, the 19-year-old Mexican artist Christian Nodal won Regional Mexican Artist of the Year – Solo, and Artist of the Year – New on the breakout success of his closing-time classic “Adiós Amor.” He also performed his single “Me Dejé Llevar” (I Gave Myself Free Rein).
In the pop realm, the SESAC Latina-affiliated Mexican trio Reik performed its new smash “Me Niego” (I Refuse) featuring Ozuna and Wisin. This song has racked up over 280 million views on YouTube in just two months.
SESAC Latina congratulates all of its affiliates who dazzled the world with their talent on this memorable night.
Winners List:
Artist of the Year, New:
Christian Nodal
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Calibre 50
Top Latin Album of the Year:
Nicky Jam
Fenix
Regional Mexican Artist of the Year, Solo:
Christian Nodal
Regional Mexican Song of the Year:
Christian Nodal
“Adiós Amor”
Latin Rhythm Album of the Year:
Nicky Jam
Fenix
Also, congratulations to all SESAC affiliates who contributed to Billboard Award-winning projects.
Hot Latin Song of the Year:
Erika Ender
For her contribution to
“Despacito” recorded by Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber
Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event:
Erika Ender
For her contribution to
“Despacito” recorded by Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber
Airplay Song of the Year:
Erika Ender
For her contribution to
“Despacito” recorded by Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber
Digital Song of the Year:
Erika Ender
For her contribution to
“Despacito” recorded by Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber
Streaming Song of the Year:
Erika Ender
For her contribution to
“Despacito” recorded by Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber
Latin Pop Song of the Year:
Erika Ender
For her contribution to
“Despacito” recorded by Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber
Latin Pop Album of the Year:
Nicky Jam, Antonio Rayo Gibo, Saga WhiteBlack
For their contributions to
El Dorado recorded by Shakira
Tropical Album of the Year:
Nicky Jam
For his contribution to
Golden recorded by Romeo Santos
Latin Rhythm Album of the Year:
Juan Diego Medina, Saga WhiteBlack
For their contributions to
Fenix recorded by Nicky Jam
ABOUT SESAC Holdings
SESAC Holdings is the only U.S.-based Music Rights Organization that administers public performance, mechanical, and other rights. SESAC Holdings is unique in its ability to offer singular licenses for the works of its affiliated writers and publishers that aggregate both performance and mechanical rights in order to drive greater efficiency in licensing for music users, as well as enhanced value for music creators and publishers. Its businesses operate on a sophisticated information technology and data platform to provide timely, efficient royalty collection and distribution. SESAC Holdings’ subsidiaries are some of the most well-known companies in music licensing and administration.
SESAC’s Performing Rights subsidiary is the second oldest and most progressive PRO in the U.S., the only PRO to pay monthly radio royalties and was the first PRO to pay songwriters and publishers for live performances in venues of any size. Its affiliate roster includes Adele, Zac Brown, George Clinton, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Kings of Leon, Randy Newman, R.E.M., the Kurt Cobain estate and many more. In addition, SESAC Latina represents such prestigious artists as Nicky Jam, Reik, Jencarlos Canela, Carlos Baute, Enrique Bunbury, Rayito, Rafa Arcaute, Luz Casal, Gaby Moreno, Intocable, Joey Montana, Luciano Luna, Calibre 50, and América Sierra, among many others. SESAC, founded in 1930, was the first performing rights organization to create a Latin music-focused division.
SESAC Holdings’ acquisition of the Harry Fox Agency (HFA) in 2015 accelerated its transition to a “multi-rights” organization with HFA’s deep publisher relations and mechanical licensing history. Following the HFA acquisition, HFA’s administrative service business unit adopted the Rumblefish brand of its sister company. Rumblefish simplifies business for digital services, publishers, labels, artists and apps.
SESAC has offices in New York, Nashville, Los Angeles, Portland, San Francisco, London and Munich.