News (Noticias) Tagged ‘Wisin & Yandel’

We know, we know… all of the chiquitas are enamoradas de Yandel right now. We agree that this W&Y reggaetonero is pretty hot. Or maybe, just pretty. Don’t you think that a guy with neater brows than most chicas is a bit questionable? At the risk of sounding like Jerry Seinfeld, What…is the deal…with that super-brow?”*

Reggaetón, the Puerto Rican rhythm-and-rhyme style that spread from regional to international audiences as the 21st century began, has been stalled in the United States by a language barrier. Hip-hop and R&B had their flirtation with it around 2005. But in other Spanish-speaking territories, reggaetón has entrenched itself so strongly that the Puerto Rican duo Wisin & Yandel sold out Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.

In their songs, Wisin (born Juan Luis Morera Luna) and Yandel (Llandel Veguilla Malavé Salazar) can’t resist a pretty body, especially when she’s dancing. Over the boom-chicka-boom-chick reggaetón beat — a Latin twist on Jamaican dancehall — Yandel (pronounced Yon-DELL) croons romantic endearments while Wisin (WE-seen) raps some racier specifics. Pop melodies dominate the songs, adrenalized by Wisin’s excitable voice. Now and then they claim reggaetón’s street-level grit, but they’re pop Romeos at heart, with squealing female fans who return the affection.”*

Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) (Nasdaq: SBSA) announced today that the recent concert featuring the popular Reggaeton duo Wisin and Yandel set an attendance record on a live event. The concert, which was presented by SBS Entertainment, SBS radio station Latino 96.3 FM, and AEG Worldwide, was held on Friday, May 30 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

“We are delighted and proud to have brought together SBS Entertainment, Latino 96.3 FM and AEG Worldwide for such a successful, record breaking event,” said Oscar Llord, Managing Director of the Division of Talents and Entertainment for SBS Entertainment. “All three organizations went beyond the call of duty to promote this mega concert, which exceeded all of our expectations. Our special thanks and appreciation goes out to Wisin and Yandel who put on a magnificent show and demonstrated to everyone in the audience why they are such talented artists.”

Wisin and Yandel, have become a veritable revolution in the world of modern Latin music, achieving several important milestones, including being the very first Latino group to have four top 10 hits in a single week on the Latin Billboard charts. The four songs that achieved this accomplishment were “Llamé Pa’ Verte,” “Noche De Sexo,” “Rakata,” and “Mayor Que Yo.”

Additionally, their renowned album, “Pa’l Mundo,” has kept Wisin and Yandel in the top 10 on the Latin Billboard charts for over 50 consecutive weeks, highlighting an amazing triumph for this young Puerto Rican duo. “*

In their 2005 single “Rákata,” the reggaetón duo Wisín & Yandel demanded that their rivals either dance or get out of the way.

Since then, the two Puerto Ricans have followed through on that demand, churning out danceable hits with a consistency rarely seen in contemporary Latin music.

And on Saturday the self-proclaimed “Duo de la Historia” will be in Madison Square Garden for a concert that could very well be the highlight of this National Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend.”*

Wisin & Yandel took Los Angeles by storm this past week during the presentation of their new CD Wisin vs. Yandel: Otra Dimension at the Hard Rock Café Universal City Walk. Thousand waited for hours to get a glimpse of their favorite urban Latin superstars Wisin & Yandel. The Instore established a sales record by selling 1,600 in just two hours.

The scene repeated itself again on the following day, when thousands convened at the Staples Arena to enjoy Wisin & Yandel’s first concert at this arena. By 6:00 pm that evening there were absolutely no tickets left, a feat that have only been exceeded by acts like Ricky Martin, Maná, Revelde and Shakira.”*

• Hot Latin Song Of The Year: "Mi Corazoncito,” Aventura (Premium Latin)
• Hot Latin Song Of The Year, Vocal Duet: "Pegao,” Wisin & Yandel f/ Los Vaqueros (WY/Machete)
• Hot Latin Songs Artist Of The Year: Juan Luis Guerra Y 440
• Latin Album Of The Year: "El Cartel: The Big Boss," Daddy Yankee (El Cartel/Interscope/IGA)
• Latin Pop Album Of The Year, Male: "La Vida…Es Un Ratico," Juanes (Universal Latino)
• Latin Pop Album Of The Year, Female: "Como Ama Una Mujer," Jennifer Lopez (Epic/Sony BMG Norte)
• Latin Pop Album Of The Year, Duo Or Group: "Todo Cambio," Camila (Sony BMG Norte)
• Latin Pop Album Of The Year, New Artist: "Cualquier Dia," Kany Garcia (Sony BMG Norte)
• Top Latin Albums Artist Of The Year: Valentin Elizalde
• Latin Rock/Alternative Album Of The Year: "La Radiolina," Manu Chao (Because/Nacional)
• Tropical Album Of The Year, Male: "El Cantante," Marc Anthony (Sony BMG Norte)
• Tropical Album Of The Year, Female: "90 Millas," Gloria Estefan (Burgundy/Sony BMG Norte)
• Tropical Album Of The Year, Duo Or Group: Juan Luis Guerra Y 440, "La Llave De Mi Corazon" (EMI Televisa)
• Tropical Album Of The Year, New Artist: Andres Jimenez: El Jibaro, "Mi Parranda" (Cuarto Menguante)
• Regional Mexican Album Of The Year, Male Solo Artist: Valentin Elizalde, "Lobo Domesticado" (Universal Latino)
• Regional Mexican Album Of The Year, Male Duo Or Group: Grupo Montez De Durango, "Agarrese" (Disa/UG)
• Regional Mexican Album Of The Year, Female Group or Female Solo Artist: "Mi Vida Loca," Jenni Rivera (Fonovisa/UG)
• Regional Mexican Album Of The Year, New Artist: Los Creadorez Del Pasito Duraguense De Alfredo Ramirez "Recio, Recio Mis Creadorez," (Disa/UG)
• Latin Pop Airplay Song Of The Year, Male: "Si Nos Quedara Poco Tiempo," Chayanne (Sony BMG Norte)
• Latin Pop Airplay Song Of The Year, Female: "Eres Para Mi," Julieta Venegas (Sony BMG Norte)
• Latin Pop Airplay Song Of The Year, Duo Or Group: "Todo Cambio," Camila (Sony BMG Norte)
• Latin Pop Airplay Song Of The Year, New Artist: "Hoy Ya Me Voy," Kany Garcia (Sony BMG Norte)
• Tropical Airplay Song Of The Year, Male: "Mas Que Tu Amigo," Tito Nieves (SGZ/La Calle/Univision)
• Tropical Airplay Song Of The Year, Female: "No Llores," Gloria Estefan (Burgundy/Sony BMG Norte)
• Tropical Airplay Song Of The Year, Duo Or Group: "Mi Corazoncito," Aventura (Premium Latin)
• Tropical Airplay Song Of The Year, New Artist: "Y Si Te Digo," Fanny Lu (Universal Latino)
• Regional Mexican Airplay Song Of The Year, Male Solo Artist: "A Ti Si Puedo Decirte," El Chapo De Sinaloa (Disa)
• Regional Mexican Airplay Song Of The Year, Male Group: "De Ti Exclusivo," La Arrolladora Banda El Limon (Disa/Edimonsa)
• Regional Mexican Airplay Song Of The Year, Female Group or Female Solo Artist: "Mirame," Jenni Rivera (Fonovisa)
• Regional Mexican Airplay Song Of The Year, New Artist: "Cada Vez Que Pienso En Ti," Los Creadorez Del Pasito Duraguense De Alfredo Ramirez (Disa/Edimonsa)
• Latin Tour Of The Year: Mana
• Reggaeton Album Of The Year: "El Cartel: The Big Boss," Daddy Yankee (El Cartel/Intescope/IGA)
• Reggaeton Song Of The Year: "Igual Que Ayer," R.K.M. & Ken-Y (Pina/Universal Latino)
• Latin Ringtone Of The Year: "Me Matas," R.K.M. & Ken-Y (Pina/Universal Latino)
• Latin Ringmaster Of The Year: "Lean Like A Cholo," Down AKA Kilo (Silent Giant/Machete)
• Latin Dance Club Play Track Of The Year: "Whine Up," Kat DeLuna featuring Elephant Man (Epic)
• Latin Rap/Hip-Hop Album Of The Year: "Los Hijos Del Maiz," Kinto Sol (Univision/UG)
• Latin Greatest Hits Album Of The Year: "Historia De Un Idolo, Vol. 1" (Special Edition), Vicente Fernandez (Discos 605/Sony BMG Norte)
• Latin Compilation Album Of The year: "Bachata #1’s," Various Artists (La Calle/UG)
• Latin Jazz Album Of The Year: "The New Bossa Nova," Luciana Souza (Verve/VG)
• Latin Christian/Gospel Album Of The Year: "Tu Amor," Danilo Montero (Integrity Music Latin)
• Songwriter Of The Year: Marco Antonio Solis
• Producer Of The Year: Juan Luis Guerra
• Publisher Of The Year: Sony/ATV Discos, ASCAP
• Publishing Corporation Of The Year: EMI Music
• Hot Latin Songs Label Of The Year: Sony BMG Norte
• Top Latin Albums Label Of The Year: UG
• Latin Pop Airplay Label Of The Year: Sony BMG Norte
• Tropical Airplay Label Of The Year: Sony BMG Norte
• Regional Mexican Airplay Label Of The Year: Fonovisa
• Latin Rhythm Airplay Label Of The Year: Machete
• Latin Pop Albums Label of The Year: Sony BMG Norte
• Tropical Albums Label Of The Year: Sony BMG Norte
• Regional Mexican Albums Label Of The Year: UG
• Latin Rhythm Albums Label Of The Year: Machete

Reggaeton, the urban music genre shunned by radio and maligned by many critics, is still a force to be reckoned with in the Latino community.

Reggaeton star Daddy Yankee’s “El Cartel: The Big Boss” was the top-selling Latin album for calendar year 2007. So far this year, another reggaeton title, Wisin & Yandel’s “Los Extraterrestres,” has been the top seller.”*

*From: http://www.reuters.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Grammy and Oscar award-winning composer and producer Gustavo Santaolalla will become a BMI Icon Thursday, June 12, at the performing right organization’s 15th annual Latin Awards. Staged at the Beverly Wilshire in Los Angeles and hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and BMI Assistant Vice President, Latin Music, Delia Orjuela, the black-tie, invitation-only gala will also recognize the songwriters and publishers of the past year’s top BMI Latin songs played on American radio and television.

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 will pay 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.

In addition to the Icon tribute, the ceremony will also recognize the Latin Song, Songwriter and Publisher of the Year. Previous honorees include Latin superstars Juanes, Shakira, Estefano, Gloria & Emilio Estefan, Wisin & Yandel, Luis Miguel and Cristian Castro.

Broadcast Music, Inc.(R) (BMI) is an American performing right organization that represents more than 375,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in all genres of music and more than 6.5 million works. BMI’s most recent financial results, $839 million in performing right collections for its fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, were the highest for any copyright organization in the world. BMI has represented the most popular and beloved music from around the world for over 65 years. The non-profit-making U.S. corporation collects license fees from businesses that use music, which it then distributes as royalties to the musical creators and copyright owners it represents. “*

*From: http://www.hispanicprwire.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Azteca América presented Los Ganadores de la Gente, a special that showcased the best of El Premio de la Gente from 1999 until 2007. The event, produced by UNO Productions, was hosted by E! Entertainment star Daisy Fuentes and Azteca América’s actor Omar Germenos. The winners of the music and sports categories of 2007 were also announced.

RBD won Pop Group of the Year. Boxing sensation Julio Cesar Chávez Jr. was voted Most Popular Boxer of the Year and singer Belinda was named New Artist of the Year. A complete list of winners can be found at the conclusion of this release.

The two-and-a half hour special also showcased past special tributes to, among others, music legend Celia Cruz. Her 2003 tribute, presented by Juan Gabriel, was accepted by her husband Pedro Knight. The special also included a 2000 tribute to Joan Sebastian presented by Marco Antonio Solís “El Buki” and composer and singer Antonio Aguilar, as well as the presentation of a special award to Spanish singer Miguel Bosé. Special recognitions for Renán Almendárez Coello “El Cucuy” in 2004 and to Eddie “El Piolín” Sotelo in 2005 were also included on the show. The special also showcased a presentation of the 2001 edition of El Premio de la Gente. “Voces Cristianas,” led by Mexican singer Yuri, performed a song about love and hope.

“Azteca América is proud to offer its audience the best of the last seven years of Los Ganadores de la Gente,” said Adrián Steckel, the network’s President and CEO. “El Premio de la Gente is important for Azteca América because it’s the fans who chose the most outstanding artists and athletes of 2007.”

Fans of Latino celebrities have chosen the winners of El Premio de la Gente for seven years. In 2007 and due to viewers’ requests, the organization added sports categories. Fans voted from October 14 to November 14 of 2007 on www.elpremio.tv.

Azteca América also announced “El Reto de la Gente,” a trivia contest. Fans will be able to play via SMS (text message) by sending the word “premio” to 55225; or by visiting www.elpremio.tv and answering music and sports questions about their favorite celebrities. The grand prize is a “convivio’ (meet & greet) with Daisy Fuentes plus an all-expense trip paid to Los Angeles. Other winners will receive Nano iPods. Participants will be able to play from December 2 to January 1, 2008. Visit www.elpremio.tv for further details.

About Azteca América
Azteca América is the alternative choice in broadcast television for Spanish speaking families residing in the United States. As the fastest-growing Hispanic network, Azteca América now reaches 89% of the Hispanic households in the U.S., operating in sixty markets nationwide. Wholly owned by Mexican broadcaster TV Azteca, S.A. de C.V, Azteca América has access to the best programming from TV Azteca’s three national networks including a library with over 200,000 hours of original programming and news from local bureaus in 32 Mexican states. The network compliments Mexican programming with an innovative line-up of shows from international producers and distributors to ensure the finest programming to Spanish speaking viewers and unique advertising solutions to partners seeking to reach the most dynamic market in the country.

About UNO Productions
Founded by entertainment industry pioneer and producer Luis Medina, UNO Productions provides companies with a valuable link to Latin communities, helping them to expand into the multi-billion dollar Latin consumer market. UNO has become the foremost authority in the Latin music marketplace, providing promotional campaigns for nearly every major record label including Sony Disco, EMI Latin, WEA Latina, Arista, BMG, Atlantic, and Interscope. During the course of its 17 year history, UNO has gained the confidence of many international superstars including Julio Iglesias, Paul Simon, Enrique Iglesias and Placido Domingo. In addition, UNO has extended the range of its clientele to include some of America’s largest corporations, including Target, Mervyns, Clairol and a collaboration with The Miller Brewing Company that produced the enormously successful Sólo con Invitación (By Invitation Only) contests for Miller Genuine Draft and Al Punto Advertising. UNO is the official production company of El Premio de la Gente (R) for the 8th consecutive year.

LIST OF WINNERS OF LOS GANADORES DE LA GENTE 2007

– Pop Artist or Group of the Year - RBD (Album: Celestial)
– Most Popular Baseball Player of the Year - Alex Rodriguez (Team: New York Yankees)
– Regional Mexican Artist or Group of the Year - Alicia Villareal (Album: Orgullo de Mujer)
– Most Popular Team of the Year - San Antonio Spurs (Sport: Basketball)
– New Artist of the Year - Belinda (Album: Utopia)
– Athlete of the Year - Emmanuel Ginóbili (Team: San Antonio Spurs)
– Tropical Artist or Group of the Year - Olga Tañon (Album: Soy Como Tú)
– Most popular Boxer of the Year - Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
– Artist of the Year - Shakira (Album: Fijación Oral)
– Most Popular Soccer Team of the Year - LA Galaxy (City: Los Angeles, CA)
– Album of the Year - Fijación Oral (Interpreter: Shakira)
– Most Popular Basketball Player of the Year - Emmanuel Ginóbili (Team: San Antonio Spurs)
– Song of the Year - Pam Pam – Wisin & Yandel (Producers: Hectór Luis Delgado, Juan Luis Morera Luna, Uandel Veguilla Malave, Marco E. Masis)
– Most Popular International Soccer Team of the Year – Brasil (Confederación Brasilera de Fútbol) “*

“Wisin & Yandel, the reggaeton duo with an uncanny knack for delivering hit singles, will become the first act to get its own customized Zune player, Billboard has learned.

The limited-edition Wisin & Yandel Zune device will hit Wal-Mart stores nationwide October 29, before the release of the duo’s new album, “Los Extraterrestres,” November 6.

Featuring the new album, videos, exclusive pictures and customized packaging, the MP3 player is but one aspect of a multiplatform Microsoft promotion that targets a new Latin consumer at the same time it promotes a hip Latin act.”*

Latina Magazine and Pepsi have teamed up to offer the opportunity of a lifetime - the chance to dance onstage in San Juan with Wisin & Yandel! Details are below - contestants submit a video of themselves dancing at Latina.com/pegate and hope they are chosen! I also have a video with Wisin & Yandel explaining the contest and the contest details in Spanish that I can give you to post.

Contest Details:

• Go to Latina.com/pegate to upload an audition video of yourself busting a move
• The window of opportunity is short – log on STARTING Wednesday, October 3rd through October 23rd
• Winner is announced on November 1st
• Winner receives:
• Round-trip airfare for 2 to San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Hotel accommodations for 2 nights
• Onstage appearance at Wisin & Yandel’s CD Release party/concert – (Los Extraterrestres in stores November, 2007)
• Backstage passes to hang out with the artists and their crew
• A starring role in a behind-the-scenes video
• Winner will be chosen by the editors of Latina magazine
• Plus, you can log on and vote for your favorite video and the voters will choose a PEPSI PEOPLE’S CHOICE winner to attend the concert as the first runner-up!

“The mexican pop group phenomenon ruled the night by winning five awards, followed by Daddy Yankee and Wisin & Yandel, who each took home three statues”

“BMI, the U.S. performing rights organization, held its 14th annual Latin Music Awards Friday, March 23rd, 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 years 50 most performed Latin songs on U.S. radio and television.

A highlight was the presentation and musical tribute to legendary norteño group Los Tigres del Norte. The longest-running and most influential Norteño music group in the history of the genre, “Los Jefes de Jefes,” “the bosses of the bosses,” is the nickname affectionately given to them by their loyal fans. 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 all-star tribute featured Mexican pop singer Reyli, who 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.

BMIs Songwriter of the Year title was a four-way tie, shared by Wisin & Yandels 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 Toscanos award-winning corridos — “La Sorpresa,” “Señor Locutor” and “Socios.”

“La Tortura” took home BMI Song of the Year and the inaugural BMI Latin Ringtone of the Year honors for its two songwriters — Shakira and Luis F. Ochoa.

With nine songs among the years top 50, EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc. nabbed its first Latin Publisher of the Year award for songs including “Algo Está Cambiando,” “Enséñame A Olvidar,” “Llamé Pa Verte Bailando Sexy,” and “Rakata.”

The ceremony also featured the presentation of the BMI Foundations fourth annual peermusic Latin Scholarship to Berklee College of Music student Daniel F. Díz. The 23 year-old Mexico native will receive a $5,000 scholarship for his song “Todo Lo Que Necesito.”

Other 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 Garcí Santillana SACM and Ramón Ortega Contreras SACM, took home its second honor.

A complete list of the 2007 BMI Latin Awards is available on www.bmi.com.

Broadcast Music, Inc.® BMI is an American performing right organization that represents more than 300,000 songwriters, composers and publishers in all genres of music. For more than 65 years, BMI has represented the most popular and beloved music from around the world, a vast repertoire that includes more than 6.5 million works. The non-profit-making corporation collects license fees from businesses that use music, which it then distributes as royalties to the musical creators and copyright owners it represents.”

“Last Saturday, Wisin and Yandel, the singing Duo that is making history, achieved what no other Reggaeton artist has done by becoming the first stars of the genre to present a concert in the majestic amphitheater at Altos del Chavón in the Dominican Republic.

For the Reggaeton idols it was truly a magical night, overflowing with energy and emotion. “To perform on this stage where such artists of the caliber of Frank Sinatra, Julio Iglesias, Santana and Marc Anthony have appeared, fills us with a sense of great pride and satisfaction. We know we are elevating the name of Puerto Rico and of Latinos everywhere to new heights and it is a responsibility we can’t ignore,” stated the interpreters of 14 hits in 2006.

Wisin and Yandel, accompanied by their dancers and a band under the direction of Angelo Torres, had over 6,000 fans singing and dancing to the rhythms of 22 of their recent musical hits. Among them, “Pega’o”, “Pam Pam”, “Rákata”, “Llamé pa’ Verte”, “Burn it Up” and “Noche de Sexo.” The event also counted with the participation of Anthony from the music group Aventura.

The public wore T-shirts, caps, and held posters with images celebrating the historical visit of the young recording artists. Many became emotional as they danced and sang to the “Dynamic Duo’s” catchy songs. During their interpretation of “Yo te Quiero”, Wisin and Yandel accompanied by the male dancers created a commotion among the fans in the audience.

Among those present in this spectacular event were major league baseball players Sammy Sosa, Robinson Cano of the New York Yankees and David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox. Wisin took advantage of a musical break to affirm, “I am a fan of many Dominicans. I love baseball. And here in Santo Domingo and in Puerto Rico we have among the best ball players.”

Wisin and Yandel have become the most highly sought after singers in the Reggaeton market, positioning themselves and earning the favor of both the industry and the public, thanks to their spectacular stage presence, which included fireworks, giant plasma screens, live bands and professional dancers that brought everyone to their feet.

This week, Wisin and Yandel, who have also been nominated for Lo Nuestro Awards, will depart for New York City and promise not to disappoint the public at Radio City Music Hall. Among the hydraulic stages, special lighting effects, dry ice, pyrotechnics and visuals, the Duo will make young and old get up to sing and dance.

“Thanks for supporting the duo that is making history. We belong to the public and will represent Latinos where ever we go,” expressed Wisin and Yandel from the stage.”

“The world’s premier Latin music awards show will spotlight performances by Andrea Bocelli, Luis Fonsi, Ana Gabriel, Juan Luis Guerra, Maná, Ricky Martin, Grupo Pesado, RBD, Alejandro Sanz, Joan Sebastian, Shakira, and Thalí. Special reggaetón performance includes Hector “El Father,” Tonny Tun Tun, Ivy Queen, and Wisin & Yandel. And, a special salsa tribute performance will include Willie Colón, Fania All-Stars, India, Andy Montañez, Tito Nieves, and Gilberto Santa Rosa. Newly announced presenters are current Latin GRAMMY nominee La 5a. Estación, GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY winner Marc Anthony, reggaetón sensation Tego Calderón, actor René Lavan, actor John Leguizamo, current Latin GRAMMY nominee Rosario, current Latin GRAMMY nominees Sin Bandera, actress Paz Vega and current Latin GRAMMY nominee Julieta Venegas. The 7th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards will take place on Nov. 2 at Madison Square Garden in New York and will be broadcast on the Univision Network from 8 – 11 p.m. ET/PT (7 – 10 p.m. Central).

Singer/actress Lucero and salsa superstar Victor Manuelle will host the Latin music industry’s premier event. Fashion entrepreneur and former Miss Universe Barbara Palacios will serve as emcee of the Pre-Telecast ceremony, during which winners in more than 30 of the 47 Latin GRAMMY categories will be announced prior to the evening’s telecast.”

“Conjunto Primavera, Luis Fonsi, Ana Gabriel, Maná, Joan Sebastian, Thalí, and Wisin & Yandel are the first performers announced for the 7th Annual Latin GRAMMY® Awards telecast, it was announced today by The Latin Recording Academy®. Singer/actress Lucero and salsa superstar Victor Manuelle will host the Latin music industry’s premier event. Confirmed to present awards are current three-time Latin GRAMMY nominee Fonseca, current two-time Latin GRAMMY nominee Ricardo Montaner, TV personality Galilea Montijo, 2006 Latin Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Paloma San Basilio, actor Jimmy Smits, current Latin GRAMMY nominee Olga Tañón and actress Sofia Vergara. The 7th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards will take place on Nov. 2 at Madison Square Garden and will be broadcast on the Univision Network from 8–11 p.m. (ET/PT).

Conjunto Primavera is nominated for Best Regional Mexican Song (”Aun Sigues Siendo Mia”). Luis Fonsi is nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Album (Paso A Paso). Ana Gabriel is currently nominated for Best Ranchero Album (Dos Amores Un Amante) and Best Regional Mexican Song (”Sin Tu Amor). Two-time GRAMMY winner and four-time Latin GRAMMY winner Maná will perform in a very special segment and will be presented with the President’s Award by The Latin Recording Academy for their musical accomplishments. Two-time GRAMMY winner and three-time Latin GRAMMY winner Joan Sebastian is nominated for Best Banda Album (Más Allá Del Sol), Best Grupero Album (En El Auditorio Nacional) and Best Regional Mexican Song (”Más Allá Del Sol”). Thalí is currently nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Album (El Sexto Sentido/Re Loaded) and Wisin & Yandel are nominated for Best Urban Music Album (Pa’l Mundo).

Lucero and current Latin GRAMMY nominee Victor Manuelle will serve as hosts of the Latin premier show. With a career that spans more than 20 years, Lucero, a Latin Recording Academy member, has released 19 original albums of ranchero and mariachi music as well as Latin pop. She has appeared in five blockbuster telenovelas and seven films, winning numerous awards as an actress and singer. Latin Recording Academy member Victor Manuelle has become one of today’s best-selling salsa performers, songwriters and improvisational soneros. His 1999 Inconfundible, 2001 Instinto Y Deseo and 2004’s Travesí have reached Billboard’s top 200 album charts and have sold a combined one million copies in the United States.

Fonseca is currently nominated for Record Of The Year and Best Tropical Song (”Te Mando Flores”), and Best Contemporary Tropical Album (Corazón) and Best Tropical Song (”Te Mando Flores”). Ricardo Montaner is nominated for Song Of The Year (”Cuando A Mi Lado Estas”) and Best Male Pop Vocal Album (Todo Y Nada). GRAMMY-winner and Latin GRAMMY-winner Olga Tañón is nominated for Best Contemporary Tropical Album (Una Nueva Mujer).

Preceding the Awards show telecast, Univision will present exclusive “Noche de Estrellas” (Night of the Stars) coverage of the celebrity arrivals direct from the Latin GRAMMY Awards Green Carpet starting at 7 p.m. ET/PT (6 p.m. Central). Hosted by “Primer Impacto” co-anchor Bárbara Bermudo and popular Univision personality Giselle Blondet, “Noche de Estrellas” will feature live interviews and commentary on the stars and their fashions, and provide viewers an intimate and up close look at Latin music’s most glamorous and gala event.”

TIME Calls CALLE 13 One Of The Best LATIN GRAMMY Nominees, While Billboard Calls The Duo: The Year’s Most Surprising Latin Music Success Story

Widely Called The Artistic Evolution Of Reggaeton, CALLE 13 Has Become One Of Latin Music’s Top/Most Important New Acts This Year – Boasting THREE LATIN GRAMMY Nominations & Another THREE Nominations For Los Premios MTV 2006

“[One of] the best [LATIN GRAMMY] nominees”¦ For months, music critics have been announcing the demise of reggaeton. Here come the paramedics: two middle-class half brothers from Puerto Rico. Calle 13 has eschewed the genre’s obsession with machine-gun beats and opted for new-wave keyboards, funk-inspired bass lines and even the occasional clarinet lick. The lyrics are clever–often hilarious–and go beyond babes, bullets and bling. Atrévete-te-te dares an intellectual girl to come out of the pop-rock closet and embrace reggaeton. No doubt Calle 13 will persuade others to do the same.” - TIME Magazine- 10/16/06

BILLBOARD FEATURE STORY - October 14, 2006
OUT OF NOWHERE
How Puerto Rico’s Calle 13 Became The Year’s Most Surprising Latin Music Success Story
BY LEILA COBO
Calle 13 came out of nowhere. In a world dominated by collaborations, featured performers and guest artists, these guys””René Pérez (aka Residente) and Eduardo Cabra (aka Visitante)
””had been conspicuously absent. And then, just as quickly, they were conspicuously obvious: two funny-looking white guys who wore funny shirts but no bling, and who purportedly did reggaetón but whose sound was really something else, more like Latin rap, with clever lyrics that often made you gasp in outright shock.

Without a single previous recording to its name and airplay limited to Puerto Rico, Calle 13 released its self-titled debut album in December 2005, bowing and peaking at No. 6 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart. Since then, Calle 13 has sold close to 150,000 copies in the United States alone, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

In the U.S. Latin music world, where breaking new acts is notoriously difficult, such numbers are phenomenal for anyone, much less one this novel. Only two other brand-new Latin acts have broken the 100,000-unit mark in the past year.

That alone makes Calle 13’s success noteworthy. More so is the fact that the pair did it without a radio hit. The highest Calle 13 has reached on the Hot Latin Songs chart is No. 15.

Read on for the chronology of a hit act””from its inception to its current status as a multiple Latin Grammy Award nominee.

THE EARLY DAYS: Pérez and Cabra meet at 2 years old when Pérez’s mother and Cabra’s father marry. After the couple divorced, the brothers””that’s what they consider themselves””remain close for the next 25 years. (They are 28 now.) The name Calle 13 comes from Pérez’s address in San Juan, Puerto Rico; it means “13th Street.” It also inspired the duo’s stage names. Since it was his residence, Pérez became El Residente. Because Cabra came to see his brother every weekend, he is El Visitante (the visitor). Residente was musical but leaned more toward the visual. Visitante was the real musician and pursued it as a career. All of Calle 13’s arrangements and orchestrations are his. Residente studied fine arts in Puerto Rico, then got a master’s degree in fine arts in Georgia. But he has written raps and poems all his life, and Calle 13’s lyrics are his. In 2003, Residente returned to Puerto Rico and immediately immersed himself in film, art and music.

NOVEMBER 2004: Residente and Visitante record together for the first time. “The notion was to make a Web page and put our music up for free,” Residente says. The pair cut a two-track demo with the songs “La Tripleta” and “La Aguacatona.”

FEBRUARY 2005: Fed up with the artistic life, Residente and Visitante start shopping for a label. Visitante suggests indie White Lion, which Residente likes because it originally signed Tego Calderón. He looks up the address in the phone book, walks to the label’s offices and drops off the disc. In true indie spirit, White Lion owner Elias de León actually listens to all demos every Tuesday. That particular day wasn’t a Tuesday, but his cousin and A&R director came up to him and said, “These weird guys brought this demo. You’ve got to listen to it.” In his car, de León played “La Tripleta,” the least reggaetón-minded track. “I understood there was something different. The lyrics. It was too much,” de León says. At 2 a.m. the next day, Residente was working at his day job as draftsman for an architectural firm when he got the call: “Where did you come from?” de León asked. He gave him an appointment for the next day. Residente rolled up the drafts he was working on and never looked back.

APRIL 2005: De León plays a demo for Lorenzo Braun, VP of marketing/A&R for Sony BMG Urbano, with whom White Lion has a licensing deal. “It smelled good,” Braun says. “Evidently, it was something different.” But his eureka moment came when he saw the video to “Se Vale To’ ” months later. “When I saw the visual proposal, I saw an artist that could change things.”

JUNE 2005: White Lion signs Calle 13 and takes “Se Vale To’ ” to Puerto Rican reggaetón station WVOZ (Mix 107), simply to test the waters. At 5 p.m. on a Friday, PD Jaime Ortiz “El Coyote” plays the track for the first time. “People started calling, saying, ‘I like this crazy song,’ ” Ortiz says. “By Monday, it had exploded, and people had already recorded it from the radio and released it on the Internet.”

Meanwhile, Sony BMG Latin America president Kevin Lawrie hears “Se Vale To’ ” during a hip-hop convention in Puerto Rico. “I thought, ‘This is something that’s fantastic and different,’ ” Lawrie says. “It doesn’t want to be Daddy Yankee or Wisin & Yandel. It’s totally in its own space. I thought it could be one of those things that can change the game. And that was how we became involved.”

JULY 2005: Calle 13 plays its first massive show July 31 at Mix 107’s Mixactivo Sports concert. It performs “Se Vale To’ ” and “flips the beach around,” according to Ortiz. Calle 13 records its first video, for “Se Vale To’,” for $14,000. Pérez shoots it on film with help from his cousin and edits it himself.

AUGUST 2005: Calle 13 releases “Querido FBI,” a track critical of the FBI’s intervention in Puerto Rico, as an underground single. Fans make a clandestine video to accompany it.

NOVEMBER 2005: De León introduces Pérez to established reggaetón artist Julio Voltio. They collaborate on the track “Chulí­n Culí­n Chunfly,” included on Voltio’s album. The track eventually reaches No. 8 on Hot Latin Songs in March 2006. “It was the best move we did with them,” de León says. “He was able to reach both the masses and the upper crust of Puerto Rico.”

Armed with three videos, Braun devises a strategy built on the group’s visual and aesthetic appeal. Sony BMG makes a mixed DVD, which it had never done before with DVDs, and distributes it via street teams. “I wanted everybody to see that video and feel the impact I had felt,” Braun says.

DECEMBER 2005: The duo pens “Balas Perdidas,” which also becomes a local radio hit, despite not being on any album. The act’s album, “Calle 13,” debuts at No. 6 on Top Latin Albums, with sales coming predominantly from Puerto Rico.

JANUARY-MAY 2006: Sony BMG works patiently at breaking Calle 13 stateside, concentrating on Internet and grass-roots strategies. Radio is a tough sell outside Puerto Rico, so every spin becomes precious. In May, Calle 13 sells out the Coliseo de Puerto Rico.

JUNE 2006: “Atrevete-Te-Te” is added to the Superestrella radio network on the West Coast, giving Calle 13 pop radio airplay on stations nationwide and broadening its reach. Sony makes a concerted campaign to convince PD Nestor Rocha to program a track that doesn’t quite fit Superestrella’s top 40 format.

JULY 2006: After much wrangling between Sony BMG and the Univision network, Calle 13 is booked to perform on the highly rated Premios Juventud awards show. Sources say the network was reluctant to bring the duo in, as it wasn’t an established name. But following Premios Juventud, Calle 13’s sales shoot up again, and the album returns to the top 10, where it remains for five weeks.

In addition, Nelly Furtado invites Calle 13 to record a new version of her song “No Hay Igual.” The track is released as a single, and a video is shot.

AUGUST 2006: Calle 13 records a rap interlude for “La Peleita,” a track on Alejandro Sanz’s upcoming album.

SEPTEMBER 2006: Calle 13 garners three Latin Grammy Award nominations, including best new artist, and three nods for the MTV Latin America Awards, where it is slated to perform with Furtado. The duo also joins her on the premiere of new channel MTV Tr3s.

TODAY: Calle 13 has already begun promotion throughout Latin America and has garnered heavy rotation in countries like Colombia. The act is now being heavily worked in Mexico and Spain. A new album is slated for next year. Pérez says it will be darker, more musically complex and designed to make the listener think.

“Really, I was very sure of this,” he says about Calle 13. “I was crazy to have somebody listen to us. Understand it. I hadn’t had the opportunity, and this was my first one. I knew it was good. The lyrics were good. It sounded like nothing else. There was no excuse not to do it.”

“Shakira danced and reggaeton ruled at the Billboard Latin Music Awards.

Shakira, the Colombian pop songstress, won six awards and reggaeton pacesetter Daddy Yankee took home three prizes at Thursday night’s awards.

Reggaeton - a mix of tropical rhythms, reggae, hip-hop and rap - also was the theme of the show’s final performance, which featured Tito ”El Bambino,” Angel y Khriz and Wisin & Yandel rapping among gyrating dancers and flashy pyrotechnics. “