New York, NY (Top40 Charts) The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers' (ASCAP's) 27th Annual ASCAP Latin Awards returned to San Juan, Puerto Rico in support of its music community for a night filled with exceptional talent, as Latin songwriters, performers and publishers gathered to celebrate their resurgence and achievements from the past year. Multi-talented artist
Daddy Yankee was named ASCAP Latin Songwriter/Artist of the Year, presented by the Puerto Rican reggaeton pioneer who discovered him, DJ Playero. Colombian pop star
Maluma received the prestigious ASCAP Latin Songwriter of the Year for the first time.
Acclaimed Latin rockstar and Puerto Rico native
Draco Rosa picked up The ASCAP Vanguard Award for his dynamic career and helping to shape the future of music. Milly Quezada, the "Queen of Merengue," was the recipient of the ASCAP Latin Heritage Award, co-presented by hit singer-songwriter Yaire, for her unique and enduring contributions to Latin music.
Executives from Sony/ATV Discos
Music and BMG Gold Songs were on hand to accept Publisher of the Year and Independent Publisher of the Year, respectively. The ASCAP Latin Song of the Year was "I Like It," interpreted by Cardi B,
Bad Bunny and J Balvin; written by Jhay
Cortez and Mambo Kingz: Xavier and Edgar Semper-Vergas; published by A Million Dollar Dream, Artist Publishing Group West, Convinced Music, Editora De Musica Mambo Kingz, Kobalt Songs
Music Publishing, RSM Publishing, Shaftizm, Sony/ATV Allegro, Sony/ATV Discos
Music Publishing, Washpoppin and WB
Music Corp.
ASCAP chose to bring its biggest Latin event back to Puerto Rico this year to support and emphasize its confidence in the Latin songwriting community there, with senior executives including Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams, Chief Executive Officer
Elizabeth Matthews, Board Member Desmond Child and Vice President of Latin Membership Gabriela Gonzalez making the trip. "It was so important to all of us at ASCAP that we host our awards here, and do our part to help Puerto Rico rebuild," said Gonzalez in the show's opening remarks. "Thank you to the 250 of you who have flown in from around the world. Let's send a clear message to the global music industry: Puerto Rico is open for business!"
The evening featured dazzling performances and participation from some of Latin music's hottest music stars.
Yotuel and Andrés Castro performed a beautiful rendition of their hit Ricky
Martin song "Fiebre," joined by Yotuel's wife, Beatriz Luengo; Silvestre Dangond performed his award-winning "Cásate Conmigo," and
Draco Rosa showcased his mesmerizing songwriting with a performance of "Mil Mañanas."
Maluma seduced the audience with a medley of his music, and Milly Quezada, along with a 13-piece merengue band, sent the crowd home dancing with "Volvio Juanita," "Entre Tu Cuerpo y El Mío (Solo Contigo)" and her 1998 classic "Para Darte Mi Vida."
The complete list of winners is available online here:
https://www.ascap.com/latinawards19
About ASCAP
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is a professional membership organization of songwriters, composers and music publishers of every kind of music. ASCAP's mission is to license and promote the music of its members and foreign affiliates, obtain fair compensation for the public performance of their works and to distribute the royalties that it collects based upon those performances. ASCAP members write the world's best-loved music and ASCAP has pioneered the efficient licensing of that music to hundreds of thousands of enterprises who use it to add value to their business - from bars, restaurants and retail, to radio, TV and cable, to Internet, mobile services and more. The ASCAP license offers an efficient solution for businesses to legally perform ASCAP music while respecting the right of songwriters and composers to be paid fairly. With nearly 700,000 members representing more than 11.5 million copyrighted works, ASCAP is the worldwide leader in performance royalties, service and advocacy for songwriters and composers, and the only American performing rights organization (PRO) owned and governed by its writer and publisher members. Learn more and stay in touch at www.ascap.com, on Twitter @ASCAP and on Facebook.
