Rivera from Mexico tops Billboard finalists

MIAMI, Fl. (CD Univesre) - One of Latin pop's newest sensations, Mexican regional singer Lupillo Rivera, is a finalist in six categories for the 2002 Billboard Latin Music Awards, including New Artist and Top Latin Album.

Rivera was followed by veteran singer and composer Juan Gabriel , who won nods in five categories, including songwriter of the year, the organizers announced at a ceremony Tuesday.

Other well-known names challenging for awards are diva Gloria Estefan , singer-actress Jennifer Lopez , salsero Marc Anthony - also a Top Latin Album finalist - and heartthrob Ricky Martin .

Estefan, the established queen of Latin pop, and Lopez, the young pretender, square off in the Latin Dance Club Play Track of the Year and Dance Maxi-Single of the Year.

The awards ceremony will be held in Miami Beach on May 9, capping Billboard's three-day Latin music industry conference. It will be broadcast on the Spanish-language network on May 12. Last year's broadcast attracted 1.3 million viewers, according to Telemundo. Unlike most other awards shows, the Billboard winners are determined by sales and radio airplay as tracked in the Billboard publication.

The presenters at this year's show will be Latin American soap opera stars Itati Cantoral, Miguel Varoni and Manolo Cardona.