The 2013 Latin Billboard Music Award Nominees Are…

Shelley Mendoza

February 5, 2013

The 2013 Latin Billboard Award nominations were announced today during a press conference at the Gibson Showroom in Miami that featured finalists América Sierra, Gerardo Ortiz and Chino y Nacho, and Telemundo actor and singer Jencarlos Canela. The top nominees for the 15th annual awards show included Don Omar, Romeo Santos, and Jenni Rivera.

Don Omar leads with 18 nods, including Artist of the Year; Songs Artist of the Year; Albums Artist of the Year; Social Artist of the Year; Streaming Artist of the Year and Male Songwriter of the Year. His album “Don Omar Presents MT02: New Generation” (Orfanato/Machete/UMLE) competes for Latin Rhythm Album of the Year and Digital Album of the Year. Three of Don Omar’s hit songs “Dutty Love,” featuring Natty Natasha, “Hasta Que Salga El Sol” and “Danza Kuduro” are finalists in various song categories.

Following with 12 nods is bachata star Romeo Santos which include Artist of the Year and Albums Artist of the Year, Male. His album “Formula: Vol. 1” (Sony Music Latin) vies for Album of the Year, Digital Album of the Year and competes against “The King Stays King: Sold Out at Madison Square Garden” (Sony Music Latin) for Tropical Album of the Year. Santos’ song “Promise,” featuring Usher, contends for Digital Song of the Year, Streaming Song of the Year, and Tropical Song of the Year where it’s up against his song “La Diabla.”

Urban duo Wisin & Yandel have 11 award nods including: Streaming Artist of the Year and Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group. The album “Lideres” (Machete/UMLE) is up for Latin Rhythm Album of the Year and Digital Album of the Year. Their song “Algo Me Gusta de Ti,” featuring Chris Brown and T-Pain, is up for Song of the Year, Vocal Event and Latin Pop Song of the Year; while their collaboration with Jennifer Lopez “Follow the Leader” vies for Streaming Song of the Year.

The late Jenni Rivera is up 11 nods as well for Album of the Year and Latin Pop Album of the Year; “La Misma Gran Señora” (Fonovisa/UMLE) also vies for Album of the Year and Regional Mexican Album of the Year; in the latter category she competes against herself with “Joyas Prestadas: Banda” (Fonovisa/UMLE).

Prince Royce is nominated for 10 awards in nine categories including Artist of the Year and Songs Artist of the Year, Male while his album “Phase II” is up for Album of the Year; Digital Album of the Year; and Tropical Album of the Year. The songs “Incondicional” and “Las Cosas Pequeñas” vie for Tropical Song of the Year.

Pitbull has nine nods including Social Artist of the Year and Streaming Artist of the Year, while his collaboration on Juan Magán’s “Bailando Por El Mundo” also featuring El Cata is up for Song of the Year, among other categories. La Arrolladora Banda el Limón de René Camacho and Gerardo Ortiz have seven and six nods, rockers Maná have five and pop act Ricardo Arjona has three.

In the Female Artist of The Year category, Leslie Grace is the only new female artist nominated. She immediately gained popularity after singing the bachata version of ‘Will U Still Love Me Tomorrow.’

The 2013 Latin Billboard Awards air live on Telemundo April 25th from the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami in Florida. The awards are the culmination of the Billboard Latin Music Conference, which takes place April 22-24 at the JW Marriot Marquis in Miami. the 2013 Billboard Latin Music Awards featured two new categories: Streaming Artist of the Year and Streaming Song of the Year. Last year, the awards added a Social Artist of the Year category, determined by the new Billboard Social 50 chart.

For the full list of Nominees visit: http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/latin-notas/1537923/billboard-latin-music-awards-don-omar-romeo-santos-jenni-rivera?page=0%2C1