MIAMI,. FL (Telemudo) - Finalists for the 2006 Billboard Latin
Music Awards were announced during a live broadcast of Telemundo's "Al Rojo Vivo con
Maria Celeste." Daddy Yankee, RBD, Shakira,
Wisin & Yandel, Juanes, Olga Tañon, Aventura, La 5a Estacion, Reyli, Diana Reyes, N'Klabe, La Autoridad de la Sierra, Andy Andy, Baby Ranks, Tonny Tun Tun and
Hector "El Father" are among finalists featured in multiple categories. The ceremony will be held on Thursday, April 27th and will be produced and broadcast live on Telemundo.
"Telemundo has distinguished itself as the leader in producing the most innovative and high quality Spanish language music awards on television," said Ramon Escobar, Senior Executive Vice President Network Entertainment for Telemundo. "In this year's Billboard Latin Music Awards we guarantee a show like no other, with numerous surprises, from a new and exciting venue soon to be announced. This is one more TV event by the leader of original productions for the U.S. Hispanics with the quality seal of 'Hecho Para Ti'."
"The Billboard Latin Music Awards are the only honor that reflects the best in Latin music, as determined by actual sales and radio airplay. Our finalists truly reflect what fans listen to and purchase when it comes to music," said Leila Cobo, Latin Bureau Chief of Billboard. "We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Telemundo to make the 2006 show better than ever before."
Topping the list as a finalist for ten awards in eight categories is reggaeton superstar Daddy Yankee, up for Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year; Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year; Songwriter of the Year; Reggaeton Album of the Year - "Barrio Fino: En Directo;" Hot Latin Song of the Year - "Mayor Que Yo:" Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Duet - "Mayor Que Yo;" Reggaeton Song of the Year - "Mayor Que Yo" and "Lo Que Paso, Paso", and under the new category of Latin Ringtone of the year he's a finalist for the hits "Gasolina" and "Lo Que Paso Paso."
Mexican pop sensation RBD is up for nine awards in six categories, including Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year and Latin Pop Album of the Year, Duo or Group for the albums "En Vivo," "Nuestro Amor," and "Rebelde;" Latin Pop Album of the Year, New Artist - "Nuestro Amor," "Rebelde;" and their hit "Solo Quedate en Silencio" is up for an award in the categories of Latin Pop Airplay Song of the Year, Duo or Group; Latin Pop Airplay Song of the Year, New Artist and Latin Ringtone of the Year.
Latin pop's biggest female crossover artist Shakira is up for eight awards in the categories of Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year; Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year; Latin Pop Album of the Year, Female - "Fijacion Oral Vol 1;" Latin Pop Airplay Song of the Year, Female - "No;" and her hit "La Tortura" is up for Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Duet; Hot Latin Song of the Year; Latin Pop Airplay Song of the Year, Duo or Group, and Latin Ringtone of the Year .
Reggaeton duo Wisin & Yandel are up for seven awards in the categories of Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Hot Latin Song of the Year - "Rakata;" Reggaeton Album of the Year - "Pa'l Mundo;" Reggaeton Song of the Year - "Rakata;" and they are up for Hot Latin Song of the Year; Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Duet and Reggaeton Song of the Year for the collaboration with Daddy Yankee, Baby Ranks, Tonny Tun Tun, and Hector "El Father" - "Mayor Que Yo."
Colombian rock star Juanes and renowned Puerto Rican artist Olga Tañon are both up for five awards. Juanes is a finalist in five categories, competing with Daddy Yankee, Shakira and Wisin & Yandel in the Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year category and with Daddy Yankee, RBD and Shakira in the Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year category. In addition, he's also a finalist in the categories of Songwriter of the Year; Hot Latin Song of the Year - "La Camisa Negra;" and Latin Pop Airplay Song of the Year, Male - "La Camisa Negra." Olga Tañon is a finalist in four categories including Latin Pop Album of the Year, Female - "Una Nueva Mujer;" Tropical Album of the Year, Female - "Como Olvidar: Lo Mejor de Olga Tañon;" Latin Pop Airplay Song of the Year, Female - "Bandolero" Tropical Airplay Song of the Year, Female - "Bandolero;" and Tropical Airplay Song of the Year, Female - "Vete Vete."
Finalists up for four awards include Alejandro Sanz, Aventura, Baby Ranks, Don Omar, La 5a Estacion and Reyli, and those up for three awards include Andy Andy, Diana Reyes, Hector "El Father," La Autoridad de la Sierra, N'Klabe, Sergio Vega, Tito Nieves and Tonny Tun Tun.
