Taking home nine trophies – including wins awards for artist of the year, tour of the year and songwriter of the year – Bad Bunny was the big winner at the 2022 Billboard Latin Music Awards.
Born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, the Puerto Rican superstar, who’s been breaking attendance and chart records for years, also took home top Latin album of the year and top Latin rhythm album of the year for Un Verano Sin Ti, the longest-running #1 LP on the Billboard 200 so far this year, as well as Hot Latin Songs and Top Latin Albums artist of the year, male and tropical song of the year for “Volví.”
Following Bad Bunny in overall number of wins was Farruko with his juggernaut hit “Pepas,” which secured Hot Latin Song of the year award, as well as sales, streaming and Latin rhythm song of the year. Karol G was the top female musician winning Hot Latin Songs and Top Latin Albums artist of the year, female, while “Mamiii,” her collaboration with Becky G, won Hot Latin Song of the year, vocal event.
Rauw Alejandro and regional Mexican stars Grupo Firme and Eslabón Armado all took home two awards each, as did 18-year-old Mexican newcomer Iván Cornejo, who won the coveted new artist of the year trophy. And the producer of the year award once again went to Tainy.
The overall list of winners represented a vast array of Latin genres and artists ranging from icons to newcomers, including Rosalía, Wisin y Yandel, Romeo Santos and Christian Nodal.
That variety was also present in the special awards. Pop superstar Chayanne was feted with the Billboard Icon Award, while Nicky Jam received the Hall of Fame Award for his success as a reggaeton trailblazer, but also as a successful personality in film and media. The Spirit of Hope Award for philanthropic endeavors went to Christina Aguilera, and Spanish icon Raphael was given the Lifetime Achievement Award. José Feliciano was honored with the Billboard Legend Award.
On the label and publishing end, Sony Music Latin led the charge with nine awards, including Latin Airplay label of the year, while Sony Music Publishing won publishing corporation of the year. Rimas, Bad Bunny’s label, took home six awards, including Top Latin Albums label of the year, while its publishing division, RSM Publishing (ASCAP), won publisher of the year.
Finalists and winners were celebrated live at the Billboard Latin Music Awards, which aired on the Telemundo network from the Watsco Center in Miami. Billboard Latin Music Awards is the only awards show to honor the most popular albums, songs and performers in Latin music as determined by Billboard‘s renowned weekly charts. Finalists, and eventual winners, reflect performance of new recordings on Billboard‘s albums and songs charts during a one-year period, from the rankings dated Aug. 14, 2021, through the Aug. 6, 2022, charts. Determinations are based on key fan interactions with music, including album and digital song sales, streaming, radio airplay and touring, tracked by Billboard and its data partner, Luminate.
Here is the full list of winners.
ARTIST CATEGORIES
Artist of the Year:
- Bad Bunny
Artist of the Year, New:
- Ivan Cornejo
Tour of the Year:
- Bad Bunny
Crossover Artist of the Year:
- Skrillex
SONG CATEGORIES
Hot Latin Song of the Year:
- Farruko, “Pepas”
Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event:
- Becky G & Karol G, “Mamiii”
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Male:
- Bad Bunny
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Female:
- Karol G
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
- Grupo Firme
Hot Latin Songs Label of the Year:
- Rimas
Hot Latin Songs Imprint of the Year:
- Rimas
Latin Airplay Song of the Year:
- Rauw Alejandro, “Todo de Ti”
Latín Airplay Label of the Year:
- Sony Music Latin
Latin Airplay Imprint of the Year:
- Sony Music Latin
Sales Song of the Year:
- Farruko, “Pepas”
Streaming Song of the Year:
- Farruko, “Pepas”
ALBUM CATEGORIES
Top Latin Album of the Year:
- Bad Bunny, Un Verano Sin Ti
Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Male:
- Bad Bunny
Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Female:
- Karol G
Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
- Eslabon Armado
Top Latin Albums Label of the Year
- Rimas
LATIN POP CATEGORIES
Latin Pop Artist of the Year, Solo:
- Enrique Iglesias
Latin Pop Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
- Maná
Latin Pop Song of the Year:
- Rauw Alejandro, “Todo De Ti”
Latin Pop Airplay Label of the Year:
- Sony Music Latin
Latin Pop Airplay Imprint of the Year:
- Sony Music Latin
Latin Pop Album of the Year:
- Rosalía, Motomami
Latin Pop Albums Label of the Year:
- Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Latin Pop Albums Imprint of the Year:
- Universal Music Latino
TROPICAL CATEGORIES
Tropical Artist of the Year, Solo:
- Romeo Santos
Tropical Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
- Aventura
Tropical Song of the Year:
- Aventura & Bad Bunny, “Volví”
Tropical Airplay Label of the Year:
- Sony Music Latin
Tropical Airplay Imprint of the Year:
- Sony Music Latin
Tropical Albums of the Year:
- Marc Anthony, Pa’lla Voy
Tropical Albums Label of the Year:
- Sony Music Latin
Tropical Albums Imprint of the Year:
- Sony Music Latin
REGIONAL MEXICAN CATEGORIES
Regional Mexican Artist of the Year, Solo:
- Christian Nodal
Regional Mexican Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
- Eslabon Armado
Regional Mexican Song of the Year:
- Grupo Firme, “Ya Supérame (En Vivo Desde Culiacán, Sinaloa)”
Regional Mexican Airplay Label of the Year:
- Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Regional Mexican Airplay Label of the Year
- Fonovisa
Regional Mexican Albums of the Year:
- Ivan Cornejo, Alma Vacía
Regional Mexican Albums Label of the Year:
- Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Regional Mexican Albums Imprint of the Year:
- Del
LATIN RHYTHM CATEGORIES
Latin Rhythm Artist of the Year, Solo:
- Bad Bunny
Latin Rhythm Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
- Wisin & Yandel
Latin Rhythm Song of the Year:
- Farruko, “Pepas”
Latin Rhythm Airplay Label of the Year:
- Sony Music Latin
Latin Rhythm Airplay Imprint of the Year:
- Universal Music Latino
Latin Rhythm Album of the Year:
- Bad Bunny, Un Verano Sin Ti
Latin Rhythm Albums Label of the Year:
- Rimas
Latin Rhythm Albums Imprint of the Year:
- Rimas
WRITERS/PRODUCERS/PUBLISHERS CATEGORIES
Songwriter of the Year:
- Bad Bunny
Publisher of the Year:
- RSM Publishing, ASCAP
Publishing Corporation of the Year:
- Sony Music Publishing
Producer of the Year:
- Tainy
SPECIAL AWARDS
Billboard Icon Award:
- Chayanne
Billboard Spirit of Hope Award:
- Christina Aguilera
Billboard Legend Award:
- José Feliciano
Billboard Hall of Fame Award:
- Nicky Jam
Billboard Lifetime Achievement Award:
- Raphael
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Author: Saul Goode
Photo: nagi usano