Karol G Wins Three Latin Grammy Awards, Including Album of the Year for “Mañana Será Bonito”

Karol G is the leading (Latin Grammy) lady…

Women proved to be the big winners at the 2023 Latin Grammys in Seville, Spain, on Thursday night (Nov. 16), with the 32-year-old Colombian superstar taking home one of the night’s top prizes.

Karol GKarol G and her Colombian compatriot Shakira tied Mexico’s Natalia Lafourcade with three major awards each. The best new artist award also went to a woman, young singer/songwriter Joaquina.

Karol G took home the coveted album of the year award for her historic chart-topper Mañana Será Bonito, which became the first Spanish-language album ever by a Latina to top the Billboard 200. The set also won best urban album, and “TQG,” her collaboration with Shakira, won best urban/fusion performance.

On top of her win with Karol G for “TQG,” Shakira also won song of the year and best pop song along with Argentine DJ Bizarrap for their chart smash “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53.”

Earlier in the evening, Mexican singer/songwriter Natalia Lafourcade, who has won multiple Latin Grammys through the years, won best singer/songwriter album for De Todas Las Flores and best singer/songwriter song for the track of the same name. During the telecast, she also won record of the year for “De Todas Las Flores,” but wasn’t there to pick up her award, which was collected by her producer.

Venezuelan singer/songwriter Joaquina, who performs highly personal songs and has been opening shows for the likes of Juanes and Fonseca, broke down in tears as she collected her best new arist award. “I’ve been writing since I was 8 years old. … They told me I wouldn’t make it if I recorded my own songs, but here I am.”

Hitmaker Edgar Barrera, the lead nominee for the 2023 Latin Grammy Awards, also won three awards, for producer of the year, songwriter of the year and best regional song for “un X100to,” the Bad Bunny and Grupo Frontera hit.

Here’s the full list of winners of the 24th annual Latin Grammy Awards:

General Field

Record of the year: “De Todas Las Flores,” Natalia Lafourcade
Album of the yearMañana Será Bonito, Karol G
Song of the year: “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” Santiago Alvarado, Bizarrap, Kevyn Mauricio Cruz & Shakira, songwriters (Bizarrap Featuring Shakira)
Best new artist: Joaquina

Field 1: Pop

Best pop vocal albumTu Historia, Julieta Venegas
Best traditional pop vocal albumDécimo Cuarto, Andrés Cepeda
Best pop song: “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” Santiago Alvarado, Bizarrap, Kevyn Mauricio Cruz Moreno & Shakira, songwriters (Bizarrap Featuring Shakira)

Field 2: Urban

Best urban/fusion performance: “TQG,” Karol G Featuring Shakira
Best reggaeton performance: “La Receta,” Tego Calderón
Best urban music albumMañana Será Bonito, Karol G
Best rap/hip hop song: “Coco Chanel,” Bad Bunny & Eladio Carrión, songwriters (Eladio Carrión Featuring Bad Bunny)
Best urban song: “Quevedo: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 52,” Santiago Alvarado, Bizarrap & Quevedo, songwriters (Bizarrap Featuring Quevedo)

Field 3: Rock

Best rock albumSólo D’ Lira, Molotov
Best rock song: “Leche De Tigre,” Juan Galeano, songwriter (Diamante Eléctrico Featuring Adrián Quesada)
Best pop/rock albumVida Cotidiana, Juanes
Best pop/rock song: “Ojos Marrones,” Luis Jiménez, Lasso & Agustín Zubillaga, songwriters (Lasso)

Field 4: Alternative

Best alternative music albumBolero Apocalíptico, Monsieur Periné
Best alternative song: “El Lado Oscuro Del Corazón,” Dante Spinetta, songwriter (Dante Spinetta)

Field 5: Tropical

Best salsa albumNiche Sinfónico, Grupo Niche y Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Colombia
Best cumbia/vallenato albumEscalona Nunca Se Había Grabado Así, Carlos Vives
Best merengue/bachata album (Tie): Fórmula, Vol. 3, Romeo Santos & A Mi Manera, Sergio Vargas
Best traditional tropical albumVida, Omara Portuondo
Best contemporary tropical album5:10 am, Luis Fernando Borjas
Best tropical song: “Si Tú Me Quieres,” Fonseca, Yadam González & Yoel Henríquez, songwriters (Fonseca & Juan Luis Guerra)

Field 6: Singer-Songwriter

Best singer-songwriter albumDe Todas Las Flores, Natalia Lafourcade
Best singer-songwriter song: “De Todas Las Flores,” Natalia Lafourcade, songwriter (Natalia Lafourcade)

Field 7: Regional-Mexican

Best ranchero/mariachi album: Forajido EP2, Christian Nodal
Best banda albumDe Hoy En Adelante, Que Te Vaya Bien, Julión Álvarez y Su Norteño Banda
Best Tejano albumPara Empezar A Amar, Juan Treviño
Best Norteño albumColmillo De Leche, Carin León
Best regional song: “un X100to,” Bad Bunny, Edgar Barrera, Andrés Jael Correa Rios & Mag, songwriters (Grupo Frontera Featuring Bad Bunny)

Field 8: Instrumental

Best instrumental albumMade In Miami, Camilo Valencia & Richard Bravo

Field 9: Traditional

Best folk albumCamino Al Sol, Vicente García
Best tango albumOperation Tango, Quinteto Astor Piazzolla
Best flamenco albumCamino, Niña Pastori 

Field 10: Jazz

Best Latin jazz/jazz AlbumI Missed You Too!, Chucho Valdés & Paquito D’Rivera (with Reunion Sextet)

Field 11: Christian

Best Christian album (Spanish language): Lo Que Vemos, Marcos Vidal
Best Portuguese language Christian albumNós, Eli Soares

Field 12: Portugese language

Best Portuguese language contemporary pop album: Em Nome da Estrela, Xênia França
Best Portuguese language rock or alternative album: Jardineiros, Planet Hemp
Best Portuguese language urban performance: “Distopia,” Planet Hemp Featuring Criolo
Best Samba/Pagode album: Negra Ópera, Martinho Da Vila
Best MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira) albumSerotonina, João Donato
Best Sertaneja music albumDecretos Reais, Marília Mendonça
Best Portuguese language roots albumTecnoShow, Gaby
Best Portuguese language song: “Tudo O Que A Fé Pode Tocar,” Tiago Iorc & Duda Rodrigues, songwriters (Tiago Iorc)

Field 13: Children’s

Best Latin children’s albumVamos Al Zoo, Danilo & Chapis

Field 14: Classical

Best classical albumHuáscar Barradas Four Elements Immersive Symphony For Orchestra And Chorus, Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra; Ollantay Velasquez, conductor; Huascar Barradas, Maria Cardemas, Eugenio Carreño & Eduardo Martinez Planas, album producers
Best classical contemporary composition: “Concerto Venezolano,” Paquito D’Rivera, composer (Pacho Flores Featuring Paquito D’Rivera)

Field 15: Arranging

Best arrangement: “Songo Bop,” Rafael Valencia, arranger (Camilo Valencia, Richard Bravo Featuring Milton Salcedo)

Field 16: Recording Package

Best recording packageAtipanakuy (Deluxe), Gustavo Ramirez, art director (Kayfex) 

Field 17: Songwriter

Songwriter of the year: Edgar Barrera

Field 18: Production

Best engineered album: Canto A La Imaginación, Érico Moreira, engineer; Érico Moreira, mixer; Felipe Tichauer, mastering engineer (Marina Tuset)
Producer of the year: Edgar Barrera

Field 19: Music Video

Best short form music video: “Estás Buenísimo”, Nathy Peluso; Félix Bollaín & Rogelio González, video directors; María Rubio, video producer
Best long form music video: Camilo: El Primer Tour De Mi Vida, Camilo; Camilo & Camilo Ríos, video directors; Mauricio Ríos, video producer

Juanes Releases New Single “La Versión en mi Cabeza”

Juanes is getting something out of his head

The 51-year-old Colombian superstar has released “La Versión en mi Cabeza” as part of the deluxe version of his successful album Vida Cotidiana, which earned him four Latin Grammy nominations this year.

JuanesThe new song begins with soft chords from an electric guitar and the singer’s melodious voice, followed by soft percussion that unleashes the rock ballad.

Written primarily by Venezuelan singer-songwriter Joaquina, the protagonist reflectively accepts and understands the fact of not being able to change his partner to meet his expectations.

He finally realizes that the time has come to let go of that relationship: “I come back every time, even if I don’t want to/ To the version of you that only exists in my head/ I know you never wanted to hurt me/ But what do I do, ask you to change/ It’s too much,” goes the chorus.

Julio Reyes Copello Signs Multiyear Worldwide Deal with Sony Music Publishing

Julio Reyes Copello has a new worldwide deal…

The 53-year-old Colombian producer, songwriter and record engineer has inked a multiyear worldwide deal with Sony Music Publishing.

Julio Reyes Copello I am thrilled to be starting this new phase of my creative life as part of the great Sony Music Publishing family,” says Copello, who won producer of the year honors at the 2022 Latin Grammys. “I am very grateful for the belief, respect and enthusiasm that [Sony Music Publishing president/CEO for Latin America & U.S. Latin] Jorge Mejia and his team have shown, which will be essential in order to find new outlets and homes for my music.”

“I have known and admired Julio for many years,” adds Mejia. “He is widely respected as a musician’s musician, with a deft touch at the piano and a sensitivity as a producer and songwriter, that makes all manner of artists and writers feel right at home whenever they work with him. It is a dream come true, therefore, to finally be able to work directly with Julio, as well as the artists and songwriters he’s developing. I can’t wait for what comes next.”

Reyes is currently working on upcoming releases with Spanish pop star Pablo Alborán, Marc AnthonyAlejandro Sanz, among many others.

The four-time Grammy and seven-time Latin Grammy winner is widely considered one of Latin pop’s most important songwriters, producers and musicians.

Since launching his career in 2001, the Cúcuta alchemist has also penned hits for the likes of superstars Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, Thalía, Chayanne, Laura Pausini, Kany García and more.

In total, he has earned 48 Grammy and Latin Grammy nominations; he also has more than 10 ASCAP awards under his belt.

Aside from his songwriting career, Reyes founded Art House Records, a talent incubator where he continues to discover and develop emerging artists, which includes Joaquina, Riza, Ela Taubert and more.

Additionally, he partnered with Abbey Road Institute — the first U.S. music production school, and an extension of the music production education program held at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London.

Together, both parties established the Art House Academy & Abbey Road Institute Miami, where they specialize in music performance, music production and sound engineering to develop and educate “the next generation of singer/songwriters, music producers and sound engineers.”