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BMI presented its 11th Annual Latin Awards on March 16 with top honors going to songwriter/producer Estéfano, his publishing company World Deep Music Publishing Corporation and the Conjunto Primavera hit "Perdóname Mi Amor" written by Ramón González Mora. The black-tie ceremony, hosted by BMI President and CEO Frances W. Preston, Executive Vice President Del Bryant, and Assistant Vice President of Latin Music Diane J. Almodovar, honored the top writers and publishers of the most performed Latin songs on U.S. radio and television at the Ritz Carlton San Juan Hotel, Spa and Casino. This is the first time the performing rights organization has held its Latin Awards in Puerto Rico.

Click here for more photos from the Latin Awards

Click here for the Complete Latin Awards Song List

Pictured on stage are BMI Executive Vice President Del Bryant, Ramón Gonzáles Mora, BMI President & CEO Frances Preston, Estéfano, BMI Assistant Vice President Diane Almodovar, and BMI Senior Vice President Phil Graham.

Songwriter/producer Estéfano, who has earned the prestigious title for the last three years in a row, was named BMI Latin Songwriter of the Year once again by placing the most songs on the list of 50, including "Es Por Amor" by Alexandre Pires, "Herida Mortal" and "Vuela Muy Alto" both by Jerry Rivera, "Márchate" by Gisselle and "No Me Enseñaste" by Thalía. He also shared the Songwriter of the Year crown with Marco Antonio Pérez, Mario Quintero, Kike Santander and Shakira at the 2000 awards ceremony.

Estéfano

Ramón González Mora

Rafael Hernandez

Also in the spotlight was Estéfano's World Deep Music Publishing Corporation, named Publisher of the Year with all five of his award-winning songs. This distinguished honor is given to the publisher with the highest percentage of ownership of songs on the most performed list.

Juanes

Kike Santander

Teodoro Bello Jaimes

"Perdóname Mi Amor" ("Forgive Me My Love"), written by Ramón González Mora and published by Seg-Son Music, Inc., earned the Song of the Year trophy as the most performed song on the Latin list. A hit for norteño group Conjunto Primavera, the Latin Grammy-nominated song is one of González Mora's many compositions that brought the veteran band stardom some 20 years into their career. This is González Mora's second Song of the Year win; he also wrote another Conjunto Primavera hit, "Morir De Amor," which earned him the title at BMI's 2001 Latin Awards.

Emilio Estefan, Jr.

Lester Mendez

Mario Quintero

A special musical tribute to the late Rafael Hernandez was presented by Cucco Peña featuring renowned artists Andy Montañez, Rafy Escudero, and Chucho Avellanet who performed a medley of Hernandez's most treasured songs. Considered one of the most important composers of Puerto Rican popular music in the 20th century, Hernandez, who died in 1965, left a legacy of more than 3,000 musical compositions, including such classics as "Lamento Borincano," "Silencio," and "Ausencia." Guests were also treated to a taste of traditional Puerto Rican music with performances by Rondalla Típica Orocoveña and Rikaplena.

Jorge Villamizar

Marco A. Godoy

In addition to Estéfano, other multiple award-winning songwriters included Juanes and Kike Santander with three songs each, as well as Teodoro Bello Jaimes (SACM), Emilio Estefan, Jr., Lester Mendez, Mario Quintero and Jorge Villamizar with two songs each on the most performed list. Publishers earning two or more Citations of Achievement were Apollinaire Music; Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.; Disa Latin Publishing LLC; EMI Music Publishing; Foreign Imported Productions and Publishing, Inc.; Kike Santander Music LLC/Santander Songs; Más Flamingo Music; Mexican Music Copyright, Inc.; peermusic; SER-CA Publishing, Inc.; Songs of Camaleon; Tigres del Norte Ediciones Musicales; Universal Music Publishing Group; and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Another of the evening's highlights included the announcement of the winner of the BMI Foundation/peermusic Latin Scholarship. Hailing from Caracas, Venezuela, 21-year-old Berklee College of Music freshman Marco A. Godoy was named the scholarship's first winner for his instrumental piece entitled "My Latin Feel." Established by the BMI Foundation and funded by the generosity of the peermusic companies, the new $5,000 scholarship will be awarded annually through a competition for original Latin songs and instrumental compositions.

Pires (born Alexandre Pires do Nascimento) inaugurated his professional career in the late '80s with a local band named Só Pra Contrariar. The group climbed steadily from their 1993 self-titled debut to 1997, when they became a top charting act, selling in excess of 10 million records. In 1999, Só Pra Contrariar recorded an album in Spanish titled Juegos de Amo, featuring "Santo Santo," with Gloria Estefan. The two musical forces first met in Monaco when Estefan presented a World Music Award to the band.

Certainly, his televised duet with American Idol Kelly Clarkson on the 2003 Latin Grammy Awards has presented Pires to an even broader worldwide audience, but Estrella Guia reflects the spiritual side of the artist as well, with a transcendent suite of songs destined to project his career into the stratosphere.]]> 2003-12-08T17:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233794 Artists, Bacilos, Conjunto Primavera, Crespo, Elvis, Gil, Gilberto, India, Juanes, Krys, Sebastian, Lizarraga, Joel, Miguel, Luis, Molotov, Pires, Alexandre, Quintanilla III, A.B., Rabanes, Santander, Kike, Santaolalla, Gustavo, Shakira, Thalia, Torres, Nestor, Villamizar, Jorge, Musical Styles, Classical, Latin, Pop, Rock Juanes and producer Gustavo Santaolalla captured five nominations each for the 4th Annual Latin Grammy Awards, announced July 22 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Miami. The Colombian Latin rock singer earned nominations for Record and Song of the Year for "Es Por Ti," Album of the Year and Best Rock Solo Album for Un Dia Normal, and Best Rock Song for "Mala Gente." BMI producer Gustavo Santaolalla earned nods for Album of the Year, Best Classical Album, Producer of the Year and two nominations for Record of the Year. Juanes is a four time Latin Grammy Award winner, including statuettes for Best New Artist, Best Rock Solo Vocal Album and two Latin Grammy's for Best Rock Song in 2001 and 2002.

Juanes

Gustavo Santaolalla

Shakira

Earning four nominations each were BMI producer Anibal Kerpel and BMI Latin rock group Molotov for Record of the Year, Best Rock Album by a Duo or Group with Vocal, Best Record Song and Best Music Video, while BMI Latin alternative pop band Bacilos captured three nods. The band's lead singer, BMI songwriter Jorge Villamizar, also earned three mentions.

Thalia

Bacilos

Two-time Latin Grammy Award-winning Colombian songwriter/artist Shakira earned a nomination for Best Rock Song for "Te Aviso, Te Anuncio," while Mexican songwriter/artist Thalía received a nod for Best Female Pop Vocal Album. Other BMI artists receiving nominations included A.B. Quintanilla III, India, Elvis Crespo, Kike Santander, Conjunto Primavera, Paquito D'Rivera, Eddie Palmieri, Los Tucanes De Tijuana, Gilberto Gil and Sebastian Krys.

The Latin Grammy's are awarded by members of the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which was created by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) in 1997. The awards ceremony is scheduled for September 3 at the American Airlines Arena in Miami; CBS will air the awards live from 9-11 p.m.

BMI's 2003 Latin Grammy Awards Nominees:

5 Nominations
Juanes
Gustavo Santaolalla

4 Nominations
Anibal Kerpel
Molotov

3 Nominations
Miguel Huidobro
Bacilos
Jorge Villamizar
Carlinhos Brown (SACEM)

2 Nominations
Alex Acuña
Elvis Crespo
Paquito D'Rivera
Jimmy Gonzalez Y el Grupo Mazz
India
Luis F. Ochoa
Alexandre Pires
A.B. Quintanilla III
Caetano Veloso

1 Nomination
Alejandro Allen
Atrapado
Banda El Recodo
Gato Barbieri
Conjunto Primavera
Ray Contreras
Ry Cooder
Oscar D'Leon
Iker Gastraminsa
Gilberto Gil
Ramon Gonzalez Mora
Jimmy Greco
Noe Hernandez
Los Hijos Del Sol
Jaguares
Jaime Y Los Chamacos
Sebastian Krys
Alfonso Lizarraga
Joel Lizarraga
Lester Mendez
Luis Miguel
Eddie Palmieri
Pesado
Jay Perez
Freddy Piñero, Jr.
Rabanes (SGAE)
Ruben Ramos & The Revolution
Shakira
Kike Santander
Thalía
Los Terribles Del Norte
Nestor Torres
Los Tucanes De Tijuana]]> 2003-07-29T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233705 Conjunto Primavera, Estefano, Fernando, Juanes, Miguel, Luis, Mitchell, Tim, Osorio, Fernando, Peer, Ralph, peermusic, Pires, Alexandre, Preston, Frances, Quintero, Mario, Santander, Kike, Shakira, Latin, BMI Latin Awards

BMI presented its 10th Annual Latin Awards last night with top honors going to songwriter/producer Est�fano, Shakira and Tim Mitchell's hit song "Suerte," and publisher peermusic. The black-tie ceremony, hosted by BMI President and CEO Frances W. Preston and Assistant Vice President of Latin Music Diane J. Almodovar, honored the top writers and publishers of the most performed Latin songs on U.S. radio and television at a 400-plus person gala dinner at the Eden Roc Resort in Miami Beach, Florida. The gala event coincided with the Billboard Latin Music Conference & Awards 2003, which runs until May 8, also at the Eden Roc Resort.

BMI executives congratulate Publisher of the Year peermusic and Songwriter of the Year Est�fano at the 10th Annual BMI Latin Awards held May 5 in Miami. Pictured are BMI Executive Vice President Del Bryant, peermusic President Kathy Spanberger, peermusic Chairman Ralph Peer II, Estefano, BMI President and CEO Frances Preston and BMI Assistant Vice President of Latin Music Diane Almodovar

Writer/producer Est�fano was named BMI Latin Songwriter of the Year for the third time with three songs on the most performed list, including "Necesidad" and "Usted Se Me Llev� La Vida," both recorded by Alexandre Pires, and "T� Y Yo" recorded by Thal�a. Est�fano, who earned the prestigious title at last year's BMI Latin Awards, also shared the Songwriter of the Year crown with Marco Antonio P�rez, Mario Quintero, Kike Santander and Shakira at the 2000 awards ceremony.

A hit in both Spanish and English, Shakira's "Suerte" ("Whenever, Wherever"), co-written with Tim Mitchell and published by Aniwi Music, LLC and Foreign Imported Productions and Publishing, Inc., earned Song of the Year accolades as the most performed song in the BMI Latin catalog. The #1 hit is from the Latin diva's multi-platinum Spanish and English-language album, Laundry Service. Peermusic was named Publisher of the Year with a record 12 songs on the most performed list, including Luis Miguel's "Amor, Amor, Amor," "Derecho A La Vida" by Conjunto Primavera, and "Nada" by Juanes. This is the fourth time the powerhouse music publisher has earned the top honor at the BMI Latin Awards.

Click here for the BMI Latin Awards Song List Songwriter of the Year Estefano and Tim Mitchell, co-writer of Song of the Year "Suerte," show off their BMI Crystals at the 10th Annual BMI Latin Awards

Est�fano

Shakira

Tim Mitchell

Other multiple award-winning songwriters included Mario Quintero and Shakira, with two songs each on the most performed list. Publishers earning two or more Citations of Achievement were Aniwi Music, LLC, Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc., EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc., Fernando Osorio Songs, Foreign Imported Productions and Publishing, Inc., M�s Flamingo Music, Mexican Music Copyright, Inc., SER-CA Publishing, Inc., Sony/ATV Latin Music Publishing LLC, Tigres del Norte Ediciones Musicales, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. and World Deep Music Publishing Corporation

High-resolution photos of the 2003 BMI Latin Awards are available at press.bmi.com.