The Latin Recording Academy has announced the nominations for its 26th annual Latin Grammy Awards, with Bad Bunny receiving the most nods. His album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, earned 12 nominations across major categories, marking a significant moment for reggaeton artists at the awards. The nominations also highlight new talents like Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso and Liniker, alongside established figures such as Edgar Barrera, Alejandro Sanz, and Natalia Lafourcade.
Key Takeaways
- Bad Bunny leads with 12 nominations, including Album, Song, and Record of the Year.
- Música Mexicana receives limited recognition despite its growing popularity.
- New categories, Best Music for Visual Media and Best Roots Song, have been added.
- Breakout acts Liniker and Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso secure major category nominations.
Bad Bunny Dominates Major Categories
Reggaeton and trap artists have historically faced challenges in gaining recognition from the Latin Grammys. This year, however, Bad Bunny has achieved widespread acknowledgment. His album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, resonated strongly with voters, earning him a remarkable 12 nominations. This includes significant nods in all major categories.
The album is nominated for Album of the Year. Two of its tracks, "Baile Inolvidable" and "DTmF," are contenders for both Song of the Year and Record of the Year. "DTmF" also received nominations for Best Urban Song and Best Urban/Fusion Performance. "Voy A Llevarte Pa Pr" is recognized in the Best Reggaeton Performance category, while "LA MuDANZa" is another nominee for Best Urban Song.
Furthermore, Debí Tirar Más Fotos is up for Best Urban Music Album. The emotional track "Lo Que Le Pasó A Hawaii" is nominated in the newly introduced Best Roots Song category. The music video for "El Club," directed by Stillz, is a nominee for Best Short Form Music Video. These multiple nominations suggest a potential shift in the Academy's recognition of urban music.
"His standout album Debí Tirar Más Fotos struck a chord with voters; it appears across categories, including Album of the Year."
Fast Fact
Bad Bunny's 12 nominations for the 26th Latin Grammys represent one of the highest tallies for an individual artist in recent history, reflecting the increasing global influence of reggaeton.
Música Mexicana's Limited Recognition
Despite a surge in popularity over the past three years, the música mexicana genre continues to receive limited recognition at the Latin Grammys. In the main categories, only one act from the genre, Carin Leon, secured a nomination for Album of the Year. Notably, both Song of the Year and Record of the Year categories feature no música mexicana artists. Even established artists like Natalia Lafourcade, a frequent Latin Grammy nominee, are not counted within this genre's specific representation.
This trend suggests a disconnect between the Academy's nominations and the music currently trending among younger audiences. Albums that achieved significant chart success, such as Fuerza Régida’s 111xpantia, were entirely overlooked, even in genre-specific categories like Contemporary Mexican Music Album. Rising artists like Xavi and Netón Vega, who released acclaimed debut albums, also received no nominations.
In the Best New Artist category, emerging talents such as Estevie and Vega were notably absent from the nominee list. This consistent pattern raises questions about the diversity of the voting body and its ability to reflect the evolving landscape of Latin music. In 2023, industry figure Jimmy Humilde criticized the nominations, stating, "I think they’re full of shit."
Context: Música Mexicana's Rise
Over the last three years, música mexicana, encompassing genres like corridos tumbados and regional Mexican pop, has experienced significant growth in streaming and global appeal. Artists from this genre have frequently topped charts and gained massive fan bases, particularly among younger demographics.
Breakout Stars: Liniker and Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso
Each year, the Latin Grammys introduce new artists who have made a significant impact. For 2025, Brazil's Liniker and Argentina's Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso are among the most exciting breakout acts. Liniker's album, Caju, earned her nominations in major categories, showcasing her unique sound. Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso gained widespread attention after their Tiny Desk concert last October, leading to multiple significant nominations.
These artists represent genres that the Latin Grammys have not traditionally embraced in mainstream categories. Brazilian music and pop-jazz fusions often appear in specialized categories. However, both Liniker and Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso are nominated for Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year. Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso even received multiple nominations within certain categories, similar to Bad Bunny.
Their inclusion in prominent categories suggests a potential broadening of the Academy's scope, recognizing diverse musical expressions beyond traditional pop and urban genres. This could pave the way for more varied artists to achieve mainstream recognition in future awards.
- Liniker's impact: Her album Caju brings a distinct Brazilian sound to the forefront.
- Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso's viral success: Their Tiny Desk performance significantly boosted their profile.
- Genre expansion: These nominations challenge the historical silo-ing of certain musical styles.
New Categories Reflect Musical Innovation
The 26th Latin Grammys introduce two new categories: Best Music for Visual Media and Best Roots Song. These additions aim to acknowledge contemporary musical trends and the evolving ways music is created and consumed. The Best Roots Song category, in particular, highlights artists who blend traditional sounds with modern pop music.
The nominees for Best Roots Song are notable. Bad Bunny earned a nomination for "DtMf," a track that skillfully combines Puerto Rico’s plena sound with contemporary instrumentation and rap-sung verses. Natalia Lafourcade and El David Aguilar are also nominated, recognized for their work in reinterpreting traditional sounds for modern audiences. This category acknowledges the importance of cultural heritage in new musical expressions.
The Best Music For Visual Media category focuses on music with a cinematic scope. Argentine legend Gustavo Santaolalla, known for his work on film scores like Amores Perros and Brokeback Mountain, is a strong contender. Cabra, the acclaimed producer and former member of Calle 13, is also nominated for his ability to create rich sonic landscapes. These new categories demonstrate the Academy's effort to stay current with the music industry's innovations and broaden its recognition of diverse artistic contributions.
Category Expansion
The addition of Best Music for Visual Media and Best Roots Song brings the total number of Latin Grammy categories to 55, reflecting a continuous effort to encompass the wide range of Latin music. This expansion aims to honor more specialized musical contributions and their cultural significance.
The 2025 Latin Grammy Awards ceremony is scheduled for November 13 in Las Vegas. The event is expected to draw significant attention, particularly with Bad Bunny's dominant presence and the recognition of new artistic voices. The outcomes in the major categories, especially concerning the representation of música mexicana, will be closely watched by industry observers and fans alike.