Edén Muñoz & Manuel Turizo Named Songwriters of the Year at SESAC Latin Music Awards

Edén Muñoz and Manuel Turizo are sharing a special honor…

The 30-year-old Mexican singer, the charismatic lead singer of regional Mexican group Calibre 50, and the 21-year-old Colombian singer/songwriter have both been recognized as Songwriter of the Year at the annual SESAC Latin Music Awards 2021.

Eden Munoz & Manuel Turizo

It’s the first time in awards history that the top award was presented in two categories — Regional Mexican and Pop/Latin Rhythm — and it underscores how both urban and regional Mexican music have taken a front seat in Latin music in the past year.

Muñoz won songwriter of the year in the regional Mexican category for the second time for songs penned both for Calibre 50 (“Barquillero,” “Solo Tú”) and for other groups, including Banda MS (“Cerrando Ciclos”) and Banda Carnaval (“Esta Vez Soy Yo”). All were recognized with SESAC Latina Performance Awards.

Muñoz’s publisher, Dulce María Music, won publisher of the year, Regional Mexican.

Turizo, who often writes with brother Julián and is known for his deep, velvety voice, won songwriter of the year, Pop/Latin Rhythm for the first time with his songs “TBT,” “Quiéreme Mientras Se Pueda,” “Te Quemaste,” “Pegao,” “La Nota” and “No Encuentro Palabras,” which were all recognized with SESAC Latina Performance Awards.

His publisher, Sony Sounds (Sony Music Publishing) won publisher of the year for the sixth consecutive year.

The song of the year award in regional Mexican went to Christian Nodal for “Se Me Olvidó.” The track peaked at No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart and spent 23 weeks on the chart.

In the Pop / Latin Rhythm category, song of the year went to Ñengo Flow for “Safaera,” the hit he wrote and performed with Jowell & Randy and Bad Bunny for Bunny’s hit album YHLQMDLG.

The track peaked at No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart.

Although these year’s winners will be announced on SESAC’s social media channels and website due to the pandemic, the organization has honored the best in Latin music every year for nearly three decades.

“There is no doubt that music makes our world a better place to enjoy life, helping us overcome any difficult situation like the one we are facing now,” said Celeste Zendejas, vice president of SESAC Latina. “Thanks to all our songwriters for capturing all their experiences and feelings in each song.”

“It has been an exciting year in Latin music, and we are proud to celebrate and honor SESAC Latina’s songwriters’ and publishers’ most performed songs,” said Sam Kling, senior vice president of creative operations, SESAC Rights Management in an official statement. “Their songs have blended genres, transcended eras, and made their way to non-Spanish speaking audiences in unprecedented ways.”

Bad Bunny Speaks Out on Racism, Poverty & More in Surprise New Single “Compositor del Año”

Bad Bunny is back… And, he’s using his music to send a message to the haters.

The 26-year-old Puerto Rican Latin trap and reggaeton singer, who was named Songwriter of the Year at this year’s ASCAP Latin Music Awards, has released the surprise single “Compositor del Año.”

Bad Bunny

The single addressed the social media chatter from people who questioned his win due to his sometimes explicit lyrics.

Via the track, Bad Bunny sends a message to his haters, saying there are more important issues going on in the world.

“They fight because they gave me composer of the year but not for what matters,” he belts in the song.

In the song, which has a Soundcloud link that ends in “f–k2020”), Bad Bunny opens up about the ongoing social issues affecting the United States, including racism, immigration, the importance of voting and more.

Sampling Little Richard’s 1955 classic “Tutti Frutti,” Bad Bunny’s 2-minute, 34-second song is a rap freestyle in which he first and foremost reminds fans that he went from an altar boy to a trap star. He then mentions the Black Lives Matter movement, saying, “It’s 2020 and racism is worse than COVID/ A black man with a gun, that’s a criminal, but if he’s white, they say that’s a hobby.”

“There are more important things than sitting down to criticize the achievements of an artist,” he continues, like encouraging the youth to vote.

“There are more important things like fighting for the rights of immigrants.”

At the end of the track, the “Yo Perreo Sola” singer expresses his dream to change the world and end poverty.

“But I can’t; it’s not my fault,” he says. “Before being born, all of this already existed. We only have to teach and learn, live and grow. Understand that we will always see something that will hurt us. To have faith, to believe that it is going to be possible.”

The song can be found on Amazon under the name Bad Bunsy.

Bad Bunny Wins ASCAP Songwriter of the Year at ASCAP Latin Music Awards

It’s a special first for Bad Bunny

ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) has revealed the winners of the most performed songs of the past year in Latin music, with the 26-year-old Puerto Rican singer and rapper taking the top honor for the first time in his career.

Bad Bunny

Bad Bunny, who’d previously won the ASCAP Song of the Year award for his Cardi BJ Balvin collaboration “I Like It.,” was named the ASCAP Songwriter of the Year at the ASCAP Latin Music Awards. He won the prestigious award on the strength of seven of his recognized singles, including “Callaita,” “La Cancion,” “Que Pretendes,” and “Solo de Mi.”

Romeo Santos picked up the Songwriter/Artist of the Year award. The 38-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American singer earned the honor for penning the recognized singles “Aullando,” “Canalla,” and “Inmortal.”

The Song of the Year award went to Daddy Yankee’s “Con Calma,” featuring Snow.

The 43-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton rapper/singer’s uptempo reggaeton and dancehall song, a reimagination of Snow’s chart-topping single “Informer,” was YouTube’s most viewed music video of 2019.


Other recognized artists include Gerado Ortiz (“Aerolinea Carrillo”), Becky G (“Bubalu”), FarrukoPedro Capo (“Calma (Remix)”), Marc Anthony (“Parecen Viernes”),Jhay Cortez (“Reggaeton,” “Hola” ) and Carlos Vives(“Si Me Das Tu Amor”).

Universal Music Publishing Group was bestowed the Publisher of the Year award and the Independent Publisher of the Year award went to Kobalt Songs Music Publishing.  

Due to the coronavirus, this year’s winners were announced via ASCAP’s social media platforms: @ASCAPLatino and @ASCAP. The innovative virtual format allowed fans, friends and peers to join in the online celebration.

The virtual event, hosted by Greeicy Rendón and Mike Bahía, also included special performances and appearances by: Marc Anthony, Descemer Bueno, Pedro Capó,Desmond Child, Jhay Cortez, Darrell, Natalia Lafourcade, Lunay, Silverio Lozada andSebastián Yatra, among other music creators. 

The complete list of winners is available on the ASCAP website.

Gloria & Emilio Estefan: First Hispanic Musicians to Receive the Library of Congress’ Gershwin Prize

Gloria and Emilio Estefan have earned an extra special prize…

The 61-year-old Cuban singer and her 65-year-old Cuban producer husband will receive this year’s Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

Gloria & Emilio Estefan

The Estefans usher in two firsts for the prize: This year marks the first time it has been awarded to a married couple and the first time it’s awarded to musicians/songwriters of Hispanic descent.

“Emilio and Gloria Estefan… are the creative force behind the popularity of music steeped in the Latino culture,” said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. “This dynamic couple’s professional and personal journey truly mirrors the American dream and we are so pleased to honor their musical legacy.”

Married since 1978, the Estefans catapulted to global fame in 1985 with Miami Sound Machine, creating a unique sound that blended Latin and pop rhythms that pulsed through hits including “Conga,” “Turn the Beat Around,” “Get on Your Feet” and “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You.”

The Estefans were each named BMI’s songwriter of the year and between them have garnered 26 Grammys. Their life story and music were showcased in the Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical On Your Feet!, which they executive produced. In addition to their musical talents, they are also successful entrepreneurs, philanthropists and humanitarians.

Gloria is having a banner year of acknowledgment by the vaunted cultural institutions of the nation’s capital. This past December, Gloria was inducted into the Kennedy Center Honors. She also was part of the ensemble who last year feted 2017’s Gershwin Prize tribute to Tony Bennett.

The Estefans will receive the prize at an all-star tribute concert in March in Washington, D.C., that will later be aired on PBS.