BMI held its 15th annual Latin Music Awards Thursday, June 12 at the Beverly Wilshire in Los Angeles. Esteemed composer and producer Gustavo Santaolalla was named a BMI Icon; Juan Luis Morera Luna and Llandel Veguilla Malavé, better known as reggaetón duo Wisin & Yandel, and singer/songwriter Espinoza Paz comprised the three-way tie for Latin Songwriter of the Year; “De Rodillas Te Pido” garnered Song of the Year honors for writer José A. Sosa; and Editora Arpa Musical received the Latin Publisher of the Year crown. Hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and Assistant Vice President, Latin Music, Delia Orjuela, the black-tie dinner also touted the writers and publishers of the past year’s 50 most-performed Latin songs on U.S. radio and television.

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The BMI Icon award is bestowed on creators who have had a “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.” An all-star musical tribute paid homage to the achievements of Gustavo Santaolalla, who joins an elite list of past honorees that includes Latin music titans Los Tigres Del Norte, Juan Luis Guerra and Carlos Santana, along with legends Willie Nelson, Brian Wilson, Isaac Hayes, Paul Simon, Dolly Parton and the late James Brown.

Artist, talent scout, producer, documentarian and composer, Gustavo Santaolalla’s genius spills over into numerous disciplines. The Argentina native helped define the nascent Latin rock movement of the 1970’s with his innovative Latino folk/rock band, Arco Iris, and later as a solo artist. Santaolalla has mastered Andean string instrument the ronroco and filmed Pan-American, indigenous folk musicians. His transformation to producer was inevitable; the subsequent cultural unification was historic. Along with partner Anibal Kerpel, he united the traditionally separate Mexican and Argentine rock spheres, gaining recognition for production work on numerous platinum and gold-selling projects. The duo achieved a new level of visibility with band Café Tacuba, whose collaborations with Santaolalla/Kerpel garnered multiple Grammy nominations and a Latin Grammy win. Santaolalla triumphantly entered the world of cinema, where he has composed numerous BMI, Golden Globe and Oscar award-winning original scores for films including Brokeback Mountain and Babel. His work on Babel and the critically-acclaimed Motorcycle Diaries also earned BAFTA honors. Through the creation of his label Surco, Santaolalla has also launched and sustained marquee artists, including international star Juanes.

Chart-dominating reggaetón duo Wisin & Yandel and charismatic troubadour Espinoza Paz shared the prestigious Latin Songwriter of the Year title. The win marks the second consecutive Songwriter of the Year crown for Wisin & Yandel’s Juan Luis Morera Luna and Llandel Veguilla Malavé. Three of the co-writing pair’s infectious hits rested comfortably on BMI’s most-performed list: “Noche De Entierro (Nuestro Amor)” (Los Benjamins featuring Wisin & Yandel, Daddy Yankee, Héctor "El Father,” Tonny Tún Tún and Zion), “Pam Pam” (Wisin & Yandel) and “Pegao” (Wisin & Yandel featuring Los Vaqueros). Mexican singer/songwriter Espinoza Paz earned his first Songwriter of the Year trophy by also contributing three songs to the top 50: “Mil Heridas” (Banda Cuisillos), “Prohibido” (El Coyote y su Banda Tierra Santa) and “Te Compro” (Duelo).

“De Rodillas Te Pido” earned BMI Latin Song of the Year honors for award-winning songwriter José a.k.a. “Pepe” A. Sosa. Published by Siempre Music and recorded by renowned group Alegres de la Sierra, “De Rodillas Te Pido” shot to the top slot of Billboard’s Latin Regional Mexican Airplay Chart and reached the Hot Latin Tracks’ top ten ranks. The combination of José A. Sosa and Alegres de la Sierra proved potent, as Sosa also took home an award for composing the band’s hit “Y Si Volviera A Nacer.”

With the highest percentage of copyright ownership of the year’s most-performed songs, Editora Arpa Musical garnered the Latin Publisher of the Year crown. Hits including Mariano Barba’s “Aliado Del Tiempo”; La Banda Pequeños Musical’s “Reencuentro” and “Me Encantaría”; El Chapo de Sinaloa’s “Detrás De La Puerta”; and Songwriter of the Year Espinoza Paz’s compositions catapulted Editora Arpa Musical to the top.

The ceremony also featured the presentation of the BMI Foundation's fifth annual peermusic Latin Scholarship to Boston’s Simmons College student Daniela Blau. The 21 year-old Costa Rica native will receive a $5,000 scholarship for her song “Y Si No Lo Sabes.” Established by the BMI Foundation and funded by the generosity of Ralph Peer II and the peermusic companies, the scholarship is awarded annually through a competition for original Latin songs and instrumental compositions. The 2008 competition was open to college students between the ages of 16 and 24 currently attending school throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

BMI also honored beloved Mexican troupe La Banda El Récodo with a commemorative plaque celebrating the prolific group’s 70th anniversary. Recognized as the first recorded banda, La Banda El Récodo also ranks among the most eclectic, combining Latin dance, jazz and classical music to produce an inimitable sound.

Premier Latin songwriters Manuel Eduardo Castro (SACM), Agustín Cejudo, Edgar Cortázar, Héctor Delgado "El Father,” Cuauhtémoc González García, Don Omar, Luis "Louie" Padilla and Julieta Venegas (SGAE) took home two awards each. Additional big winners included Mariano Barba for “Aliado Del Tiempo”’s second award; Ramón González Mora for “Voy A Llorar Por Ti”; Adrián Pieragostino for “Me Duele Escuchar Tu Nombre”; Kike Santander for “¿Quién Me Iba A Decir?”; Sergio Vallin for “Bendita Tu Luz”; and Luigi Giraldo and A.B. Quintanilla III for “Chiquilla.”

Publishers claiming two or more songs among the top 50 were Universal Music Publishing Group (Universal Music-Careers/Universal-Música Unica Publishing/Universal Music Publishing SA [SGAE]); EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.; SER-CA Publishing, Inc.; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.; Máximo Aguirre Music Publishing, Inc.; Blue Kraft Music Publishing; Crown P. Music Publishing; Peer Music Group (Peer International Corp./peermusic III, Ltd.); and Rompediscoteca Music Publisher.

Next came Chosen Few: El Documental II “El Tour”— the sophomore release. In addition to being the project’s executive producer, Boy Wonder contributed as a songwriter/producer/remixer, notably on the track “Revelacion: Chosen Few Remix” with Tempo featuring Getto & Reychesta Secretweapon.

Brooklyn-born Ruiz, the son of a Dominican/Puerto Rican single mother, grew up hearing Michael Jackson and the Beatles along with the traditional “Bachata” from the Dominican Republic. His first production credits were in the late ’90s with underground hip-hop artists and remixes.

As Boy Wonder expands on the reggaetón genre in Chosen Few III: The Movie, he expands on his music and entertainment empire, Chosen Few: Emerald Entertainment. His sensibilities and the ever-inclusive currents he creates are a prime force in uniting Latin and urban hip-hop into a living musical mélange, the cultural blending pot that symbolizes the ongoing evolution of modern music.

Nely’s nickname is “El Arma Secreta” (The Secret Weapon) and for good reason. Even though Nely (born Josias de la Cruz) is only 19, he has already proven himself a one-man reggaeton machine. The producer was behind the soundboard for major hits such as Wisin & Yandel’s “Noche de Sexo” and “Rakata,” Tito “El Bambino’s” “Mia,” Hector “El Father”’s “Noche De Travesura,” Don Omar’s “Salvaje” and Zion Y Lennox’s “Cuando.”

Most recently, Nely, who was nominated for producer of the year at the 2007 Billboard Latin Music Awards, produced a number of tracks on Daddy Yankee’s new album, El Cartel: The Big Boss. Released in June, the album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart and No. 9 on the Billboard 200. He’s previously worked with Daddy Yankee on his duet with Snoop Dogg, “Gangster Zone.” His latest effort with Don Omar is the infectious “Calm My Nerves,” from Omar’s El Pentagono, a collection of tunes from top reggaeton artists that came out in March.

Nely, who was raised in Puerto Rico, is signed to Universal Music Publishing Group Latin America. He began playing drums when he was only five and was producing before he was old enough to drive. Among his influences, according to his myspace page, are Dr. Dre, Scott Storch, Neptunes and Timbaland. He now splits his time between Puerto Rico and Miami.

Songwriting brought the pair together when they were introduced through a shared producer. A potent team who support each other’s strengths, Jowell y Randy epitomizes the growing cross-cultural appeal of reggaetón, blending their beats with an upbeat, melodic approach. The collaborative nature off the genre serves them well, as they have been included on compilations alongside Mackie Ranks, Ivy Queen, Tego Calderéon, 3-2 Get Funky, Alberto Stylee and Bebe, among others. Their track “Siguelo Bailando Solita” from Boy Wonder and Chencho Records Present Reggaeton: El Draft 2005 paired the duo with big-league reggaetón MCs like Don Omar, Daddy Yankee, and Bimbo; El Documental II in 2006 crowned the pair as “Chosen Few All Stars,” while La Calle Volume I teamed the two with Arcangel on the track “Agresivo.”

Perfect for this video age and a decided favorite among female audiences, street-smart hits like “Soy Una Gargola” and “No Te Veo” plus a new track, “No Juegues Mas,” from yet another CD compilation, Invasion, keeps the energetic pair at the forefront of this pulsating rhythmic landscape.

Within his genre, Don Omar is expanding the rhythmic reach of his beats beyond jackhammer predictability just as he elevates his themes with conscious messages. Beneath his boldness lies a deeper subtext, one of uplifting spirituality and determination inspired by, as he put it, “the real king of kings.”

This spirit is a through line in his life: Born William Landrón in Villa Palmeras, Puerto Rico, Omar was previously a preacher at the Fuente de Agua Viva church in Bayamón. Although he eventually departed from the pulpit (a matter he addressed in his song “Aunque Te Fuiste”), evangelistic fervor was a hallmark of his music. From the sanctuary to the streets, Omar joined the growing reggaetón movement and hooked up with Héctor el Bambino (now know as Hector El Father) of the popular duo Héctor y Tito, producing and writing songs for the pair, and eventually collaborating vocally on “A la Reconquista.” With his solo hit “Desde que Llego” in 2002 and the release of his own CD, The Last Don, he rode the rising reggaetón wave, just beginning to crash ashore into the lucrative stateside market.

His debut featured extensive production work by Luny Tunes and Eliel, two of reggaetón’s preeminent hitmakers, and showcased two massive singles, “Intocable” and “Dile.” Omar scored further hits with Luny Tunes on their compilation albums Mas Flow and Trayectoria, but his break, “Reggaeton Latino,” came from the Chosen Few compilation. The Latino pride anthem hit just as reggaetón was exploding across the U.S. urban landscape in the summer of 2005 and was so popular that a bilingual remix and a video — only the second reggaetón song with MTV airplay in the States — was created with preeminent Latino rappers N.O.R.E. and Fat Joe.

Don Omar’s inventory of accolades includes a 2006 BMI Latin Award for “Pobre Diabla,” and Latin Pop Album of the Year, New Artist and Latin Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year from the 2003 Billboard Latin Music Awards. The platinum-selling live version of The Last Don was also nominated for Urban Music Album at the 2005 Latin Grammys.

Omar is mounting a multi-million dollar King of Kings tour, a massive stage production complete with elaborate pyrotechnics and full-blown theatrical and dance elements. In the dazzling, over-the-top show, at one point Omar emerges in a white suit with a full-length, hooded cape to deliver a fire-and-brimstone sermon, “Predica” (Preach), that neatly brings his career full cycle.

Omar’s impact on reggaetón is now extending outside of the studio and stage through his recent partnership with UMBRO, a globally recognized football brand to launch the Don Omar Casual Clothing Collection. Foot Locker in the U.S. and Puerto Rico is distributing the line of urban clothing.

A complex artist and a sterling songwriter, Don Omar drives a shifting style with both bravado and substance. As reggaetón outgrows its adolescence, the thoughtfulness and inclusion of Omar may well be a signpost of what lies ahead for the urban market’s fastest growing genre.

Songwriter Of The Year Accolades Go To Wisin & Yandel, Francisco Saldaña “Luny” And Manuel Eduardo Toscano

‘La Tortura’ Takes Song Of The Year And Ringtone Of The Year Awards; EMI-Blackwood Music Inc. Named Latin Publisher Of The Year

BMI held its 14th annual Latin Music Awards tonight, with top honors going to BMI Icons Los Tigres del Norte; Songwriters of the Year Juan Luis Morera Luna and Llandel Veguilla Malavé of duo Wisin & Yandel, songwriter/producer Francisco Saldaña “Luny” of producing duo Luny Tunes and corrido master Manuel Eduardo Toscano (SACM); Song of the Year “La Tortura” written by Shakira and Luis F. Ochoa; and Publisher of the Year EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc. Hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and Assistant Vice President, Latin Music, Delia Orjuela, the awards were held at the Venetian Resort Hotel in Las Vegas. The black-tie dinner honored the writers and publishers of the past year’s 50 most performed Latin songs on U.S. radio and television.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation and musical tribute to legendary norteño group Los Tigres del Norte. Honored as Icons, they were presented silver BMI Icon buckets for their “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.” The longest-running and most influential Norteño music group in the history of the genre, “Los Jefes de Jefes” (“the bosses of the bosses,” the nickname affectionately given to them by their loyal fans) are renowned for their “corridos,” which depict timeless stories of the Mexican people and culture as well as the lives and struggles of Hispanic immigrants in the United States. They join an elite list of previous BMI Icons that includes Juan Luis Guerra, Carlos Santana, Crosby, Stills & Nash, James Brown, Dolly Parton and Brian Wilson.

The group was honored with an all-star musical tribute. Mexican pop singer Reyli performed “La Puerta Negra,” Regional Mexican singer-songwriter Mariano Barba covered “Ya Te Velé” and Latin pop singer Christian Castro belted out “Golpes En El Corazón.” Los Tigres themselves also jumped up onstage to perform a medley of their songs for the standing-room-only house.

BMI’s Songwriter of the Year title was a four-way tie, shared by Wisin & Yandel’s Juan Luis Morera Luna and Llandel Veguilla Malavé; Francisco Saldaña “Luny” of production duo Luny Tunes; and Manuel Eduardo Toscano. The four-way tie represents the first BMI Latin Award for each member of this elite cross-section of Latin hit-makers. To earn this honor, all four writers contributed three songs to the top 50. The Puerto Rican Reggaetón duo Wisin & Yandel and acclaimed producer “Luny” of Luny Tunes co-wrote “Llamé Pa’ Verte ‘Bailando Sexy’,” “Mayor Que Yo” and “Rakata,” which were all hits for Wisin & Yandel. Premier Mexican songwriter Manuel Eduardo Toscano’s award-winning corridos — “La Sorpresa,” “Señor Locutor” and “Socios” — were signature hits for Icons Los Tigres del Norte.

“La Tortura” took home BMI Song of the Year and the inaugural BMI Latin Ringtone of the Year honors for its two songwriters—international superstar Shakira and Luis F. Ochoa. “La Tortura” is Shakira’s second Song of the Year win; “Suerte,” which she also co-wrote and performed, snagged the honor in 2002.

With nine songs among the year’s top 50, EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc. nabbed its first Latin Publisher of the Year award. Songs including “Algo Está Cambiando,” “Enséñame A Olvidar,” “Llamé Pa' Verte ‘Bailando Sexy’,” and “Rakata” catapulted EMI-Blackwood to the top.

The ceremony also featured the presentation of the BMI Foundation's fourth annual peermusic Latin Scholarship to Berklee College of Music student Daniel F. Díaz. The 23 year-old Mexico native will receive a $5,000 scholarship for his song “Todo Lo Que Necesito.” Established by the BMI Foundation and funded by the generosity of the peermusic publishing companies, the scholarship is awarded annually through a competition for original Latin songs and instrumental compositions. The 2007 competition was open to college students throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Some of the night’s other big winners included songwriters Josias De La Cruz “Nely,” Don Omar, Ramón Ortega Contreras (SACM), Martha “Ivy Queen” Pesante, Shakira and Ricky Vela, all boasting two awards each. “No Me Queda Más,” written by Ricky Vela, took home its third BMI Latin Award, while “¿Qué Me Vas A Dar?,” composed by Alfonso García Santillana (SACM) and Ramón Ortega Contreras (SACM), took home its second honor.

Publishers claiming two or more songs among the top 50 were SER-CA Publishing, Inc., Tigres Del Norte Ediciones Musicales, Universal-Música Única Publishing, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., Blue Kraft Music Publishing, Editora Arpa Musical, Peer International Corp./peermusic III, Aniwi Music LLC, LGA Music Publishing, Lone Iguana Music, Mexican Music Copyright, Inc. and Songs of Univision, Inc.

‘LA TORTURA’ ES CANCIÓN DEL AÑO Y “RINGTONE DEL AÑO EMI-BLACKWOOD MUSIC INC. ES NOMBRADA EDITORA DEL AÑO.

BMI presentó esta noche su décimo cuarta entrega de Premios Latinos. Los máximos reconocimientos fueron entregados a Los Tigres del Norte, como Icono de BMI; Compositor Del Año fue un cuádruple empate entre Juan Luis Morera Luna y Llandel Veguilla Malavé, del dúo “Wisin & Yandel”; Francisco Saldaña “Luny” compositor y productor del dúo de productores “Luny Tunes” y Manuel Eduardo Toscano (SACM), maestro del corrido. La Canción del Año, fue “La Tortura” escrita por Shakira y Luis F. Ochoa; y La Editora del Año, EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.

La gala fue presentada por el Presidente & CEO de BMI, Del Bryant y la Vice Presidenta Asistente de Música Latina Delia Orjuela; los premios se realizaron en el Venetian Resort Hotel en Las Vegas. La cena de gala honró a los compositores y editores de los 50 temas Latinos más interpretados en la radio y televisión de Estados Unidos.

El momento central de la noche fue la presentación del tributo musical a la legendaria agrupación Los Tigres del Norte quienes fueron honrados como Icono BMI de la Música Latina.

Los integrantes de Los Tigres del Norte recibieron este magnífico reconocimiento por su “única e indeleble influencia en las generaciones de los autores de música”

Los Tigres del Norte, grupo norteño de mayor importancia y trayectoria en la historia del género, “Los Jefes de Jefes, apodo creado por sus fieles seguidores, se han distinguido particularmente por sus “corridos”, los cuales cuentan anécdotas de la gente y de la cultura mexicana, además de las vidas y batallas de los inmigrantes hispanos en los Estados Unidos.

Así, Los Tigres del Norte se integran a la distinguida lista de anteriores Iconos de BMI que incluye a notables de la industria como Juan Luis Guerra, Carlos Santana, Crosby, Stills & Nash, James Brown, Dolly Parton y Brian Wilson.

El grupo Los Tigres del Norte fue homenajeado con un tributo musical por reconocidos artistas Mexicanos: Reyli interpretó “La Puerta Negra"; Mariano Barba, presentó “Ya Te Velé” y Christian Castro, interpretó “Golpes En El Corazón”.

En el momento más emocionante de la noche, los mismos Tigres del Norte, decidieron subir al estrado e interpretaron un popurrí de sus temas más conocidos ante una multitud que los ovacionó de pie.

El premio Compositor del Año de BMI terminó con un empate entre Juan Luis Morera Luna y Llandel Veguilla Malavé (Wisin y Yandel); Francisco Saldaña “Luny” (Luny Tunes); y Manuel Eduardo Toscano. Para cada uno de los ganadores en esta categoría, significaba su primer Premio Latino de BMI. Para lograr este honor, cada uno aportó 3 canciones a la lista de las 50 canciones más interpretadas del año.

El dúo puertorriqueño de Reggaetón, Wisin y Yandel y el aclamado productor “Luny” de Luny-Tunes co-escribieron “Llamé Pá Verte Bailando Sexy,” “Mayor Que Yo” y “Rakata”, éxitos interpretados por Wisin & Yandel.

El compositor mexicano Manuel Eduardo Toscano fue premiado por sus afamadas piezas musicales “La Sorpresa”, “Señor Locutor”, y “Socios” – convertidas en éxitos en las voces de Los Tigres del Norte.

“La Tortura” se llevó el premio como Mejor Canción del Año y el trofeo que se otorga por primera vez como El Ringtone Latino del Año; los honores fueron para sus dos autores, la superestrella internacional Shakira y Luis F. Ochoa.

“La Tortura” es la segunda vez en la que Shakira se lleva este honor. La primera ocasión fue en el año 2002, con la Canción del Año “Suerte" la cual también co-escribió y grabó.

Con nueve de los 50 temas más tocados, EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc. se adjudicó el título de Editor del Año. Los temas que lo llevaron al triunfo incluyen “Algo Está Cambiando”, “No”, “Enséñame A Olvidar”, “Noviembre Sin Ti”, “Llamé Pa' Verte Bailando Sexy","Rakata”,“ Mayor Que Yo” entre otros

Durante la ceremonia la Fundación BMI presentó, la cuarta beca Latina de Peermusic. El ganador fue el joven Mexicano estudiante del Colegio de Música de Berklee, Daniel F. Díaz. Daniel de 23 años, recibirá una beca de $5,000 por su tema “Todo Lo Que Necesito”

Establecida por la Fundación BMI y apoyada económicamente con la generosidad de la casa editora Peermusic, la beca es ofrecida anualmente a través de una competencia para el tema Latino o composición instrumental más original. La competencia se llevó a cabo entre estudiantes de todo Estados Unidos y Puerto Rico.

Otros grandes ganadores de la noche incluyen a Josías De La Cruz “Nely”, Don Omar, Ramón Ortega Contreras (SACM), Martha “Ivy Queen” Pesante, Shakira y Ricky Vela, todos ellos se llevaron dos trofeos. La canción “No Me Queda Más”, escrita por Ricky Vela, ganó su tercer Premio Latino de BMI, mientras que “¿Qué Me Vas A Dar?”, compuesta por Alfonso García Santillana (SACM) y Ramón Ortega Contreras (SACM), se adjudicó su segundo Premio Latino de BMI.

Otros editores que contaban con dos temas o más entre los 50 más interpretados fueron SER-CA Publishing, Inc., Tigres Del Norte Ediciones Musicales, Universal-Música Única Publishing, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., Blue Kraft Music Publishing, Editora Arpa Musical, Peer International Corp./Peermusic III, Aniwi Music LLC, LGA Music Publishing, Lone Iguana Music, Mexican Music Copyright, Inc. y Songs of Univision, Inc.