Nicky Jam and Enrique Iglesias have plenty of reason to celebrate…
The 35-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American singer/songwriter and 40-year-old Spanish singer-songwriter were the big winners of the 2016 Billboard Latin Music Awards, propelled by their global hit “El Perdón.”
Nicky Jam and Iglesias collected six trophies each, including Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event, Airplay Song of the Year, Digital Song of the Year, Streaming Song of the Year and Latin Rhythm Song of the Year. Additionally, Iglesias won Latin Pop Songs Artist of the Year, Solo, while Nicky Jam won Latin Rhythm Songs Artist of the Year, Solo.
After thanking God, his genre Latina, Billboard and the people of Colombia and Puerto Rico, Nicky Jam gave a shout-out to his father, who he was separated from for much of his childhood. “I never brought home to you a medal from school,” he said. “But here is your medal, Papi.”
Right behind in the trophy haul was Mexican singer/songwriter Juan Gabriel, a comeback success story who won Tour of the Year and whose album of duets, Los Duo, won for Top Latin Album of the Year and Latin Pop Album of the Year. Gabriel also won Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Male and Latin Pop Albums Artist of the Year, solo, and was honored with the special Billboard Star Award.
“This doesn’t seem real,” said a giddy Juan Gabriel, the first winner of the night. “I’m amazed. I’m surprised. I am very happy to be here for the first time.”
Other top winners of the evening included Romeo Santos, who won Artist of the Year, Mana, who won Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group, and Shakira, who won Social Artist of the Year.
Here’s a look at the night’s winners:
Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Male: Juan Gabriel
Tropical Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Gente de Zona
Hot Latin Song of the Year: Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias, “El Perdón”
Tropical Song of the Year: Gente de Zona Feat. Marc Anthony, “La Gozadera”
Top Latin Album of the Year: Juan Gabriel, Los Dúo
Tropical Album of the Year: Victor Manuelle, Que Suenen Los Tambores
Regional Mexican Album of the Year: Gerardo Ortiz, Hoy Más Fuerte
Latin Rhythm Songs Artist of the Year, Solo: Nicky Jam
Latin Rhythm Song of the Year: Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias, “El Perdón”
Airplay Song of the Year: Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias, “El Perdón”
Streaming Song of the Year: Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias, “El Perdón”
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizarraga
Regional Mexican Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Latin Rhythm Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Zion & Lennox
Latin Pop Album of the Year: Juan Gabriel, Los Dúo
Tour of the Year: Juan Gabriel
Artist of the Year: Romeo Santos
Artist of the Year, New: Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho
Social Artist of the Year: Shakira
Crossover Artist of the Year: Justin Bieber
Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event: Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias, “El Perdón”
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Male: Romeo Santos
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Female: Shakira
Digital Song of the Year: Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias, “El Perdón”
Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Female: Selena
Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Maná
Latin Pop Song of the Year: Maná Feat. Shakira, “Mi Verdad”
Latin Pop Songs Artist of the Year, Solo: Enrique Iglesias
Latin Pop Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Mana
Latin Pop Albums Artist of the Year, Solo: Juan Gabriel
Latin Pop Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Maná
Tropical Songs Artist of the Year, Solo: Romeo Santos
Tropical Albums Artist of the Year, Solo: Romeo Santos
Tropical Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Buena Vista Social Club
Regional Mexican Song of the Year: Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho, “Te Metiste”
Regional Mexican Songs Artist of the Year, Solo: El Komander
Regional Mexican Albums Artist of the Year, Solo: Joan Sebastian
Regional Mexican Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Julión Álvarez y Su Norteño Banda
Latin Rhythm Album of the Year: Pitbull, Dale
Latin Rhythm Albums Artist of the Year, Solo: Pitbull
Latin Rhythm Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Plan B
Songwriter of the Year: Anthony “Romeo” Santos
Producer of the Year: Saga WhiteBlack