May 7, 2002

BMI Honors Top Latin Songwriters, Publishers at 9th Annual Awards Ceremony

En Espanol

BMI presented its 9th Annual Latin Awards on May 8 with top honors going to songwriter/producer Estefano, “Enséñame A Olvidarte,” and publisher Sony/ATV Latin Music Publishing LLC. 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 Diplomat Hotel & Resort in Hollywood, Florida. The event coincided with the Billboard Latin Music Conference, which runs until May 9 at the nearby Eden Roc Resort in Miami.

Estefano Songwriter of the Year

Luis Gerardo Padilla Riojas Song of the Year

Writer/producer Estefano was named Latin Songwriter of the Year for the second time by placing the most songs on the most performed list. The four songs are: “El Ultimo Adiós” and “Y Yo Sigo Aquí” by Paulina Rubio, “Ni Una Lágrima Más” by Noelia, and “Yo Te Amo” by Chayanne. In 2000, he shared the Songwriter of the Year title with Marco Antonio Pérez, Mario Quintero, Kike Santander and Shakira.

Repeat BMI Latin Songwriter of the Year Estefano, BMI President and CEO Frances W. Preston, BMI Award Winner Juanes, and Sony/ATV Latin Music Publishing's Richard Rowe.

“Enséñame A Olvidarte” (“Teach Me How to Forget You”), written by Luis Gerardo Padilla Riojas and published by SER-CA Publishing, Inc., earned Song of the Year accolades as the most performed song in the BMI Latin catalog. The Tex-Mex hit, recorded by Tejano/Norteño fusion band Intocable, spent several weeks in the top 10 on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart.

BMI President and CEO Frances W. Preston and BMI Award Winner Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees.

BMI Award Winning Songwriters Lupillo Rivera and Juanes.

BMI's Del Bryant, Ramon Gonzalez Mora, Marco Antonio Perez

Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC was named Publisher of the Year with eight songs on the most performed list, including all four of Estefano’s award winning songs.

Juanes, Certificate of Achievement recipient

Kike Santander, multiple award winner

Mario Quintero, multiple award winner

A special highlight of the gala evening included a special Certificate of Achievement presentation to Colombian recording artist Juanes in recognition of his contributions to the evolution and worldwide success of Latin music. The BMI-affiliated songwriter won three Latin Grammys last year out of an impressive seven nominations.

Eduardo Garcia, Diego Montalvo, BMI's Diane Almodovar, BMI President and CEO Frances W. Preston, Jesus Melendez, BMI's Del Bryant

Other multiple award-winning songwriters included three-time Songwriter of the Year Kike Santander with three songs on the most performed list, and Armando Manzanero Canche (SACM) and 2000 Songwriter of the Year Mario Quintero with two songs each. Publishers earning two or more Citations of Achievement were Foreign Imported Productions and Publishing, Inc., peermusic, and World Deep Music Publishing Corporation (4); EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc. and SER-CA Publishing, Inc. (3); and D’Nico International, Editora Arpa Musical, El Conquistador Music Publishing, Elzaz Music Co., M�s Flamingo Music and Tigres del Norte Ediciones Musicales (2).

High-resolution photos of the 2002 BMI Latin Awards will be available for downloading at press.bmi.com.

Juanes, Barry Gibb, Estefano

BMI's Diane Almodovar, Nestor Rodriguez, Patricia Chavez, BMI President and CEO Frances W. Preston, Martin Buenrostro

Jorge Reynoso, Pilar Montenegro, Kike Santander

Juan Marquez, Richard Rowe, Estefano, Carmen Alfanno, BMI's Diane Almodovar, BMI President and CEO Frances W. Preston, Marcello Azevedo, Ivan Alvarez, Oscar Rodriguez, BMI's Del Bryant