The nominees and initial lineup of performers for the 2018 Latin American Music Awards (Latin AMAS) is out and Ozuna and J Balvin, who had a spectacular year, lead the pack with nine nominations each. Nicky Jam follows with eight.
Other multi-nominees are Daddy Yankee (6), Bad Bunny (5), Banda MS de Sergio Lizarraga (5), Christian Nodal (5), Luis Fonsi (4), Maluma (4), Romeo Santos (4), Shakira (4) and Wisin (4).
Ozuna, one of the most viewed artists globally on YouTube, has dominated music charts, breaking records along the way. His first album Odisea became the most successful debut album on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart spending 46 weeks at No. 1. He is nominated for Artist of the Year, Favorite Artist – Male and Favorite Artist – Urban. Odisea competes for Album of the Year and Favorite Album – Urban. “Escápate Conmigo” by Wisin featuring Ozuna is up for Song of the Year and Favorite Song – Urban. “Me Niego” by Reik featuring Ozuna & Wisin vies for Favorite Song – Pop and “Sobredosis” by Romeo Santos featuring Ozuna is up for Favorite Song – Tropical.
J Balvin saw his star rise over the past year thanks to several successful collaborations with Beyoncé, Cardi B, Willy William and Nicky Jam. He is nominated for Artist of the Year, Favorite Artist – Male and Favorite Artist – Urban. His album Vibras is up for Album of the Year and Favorite Album – Urban. “Mi Gente” by J Balvin & Willy William featuring Beyoncé competes for Song of the Year and Favorite Song – Urban, while “X” by Nicky Jam & J Balvin is nominated for Song of the Year and Favorite Song – Urban.
Latin urban music legend Nicky Jam is also competing against Ozuna and J. Balvin for Artist of the Year and Favorite Artist – Male. His album Fénix is up for Album of the Year.
This is the fourth year Telemundo produces the Latin AMAs, which pay tribute to the most influential and iconic Latin artists as voted by fans in the tradition of the “American Music Awards.”
The three-hour special will showcase performances by Pitbull, hip hop star Cardi B, regional Mexican singer and songwriter Christian Nodal, boy band CNCO, rapper and actor Ludacris, Prince Royce, Becky G, regional Mexican band from Sinaloa, Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga, Leslie Grace, Flo Rida, Argentinian singer Tini, and Spanish pop singer Alvaro Soler.
The awards will be broadcast live from the prestigious Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Thursday October 25, 2018 at 8pm/7c, preceded by a one-hour carpet pre-show “La Alfombra de Latin AMAs” at 7 p.m. ET. The show will also air simultaneously on Spanish-language entertainment cable network Universo.
Voting is now open for fans to pick who they think should win until 3 p.m. ET on October 10. Fans from the United States and Puerto Rico can vote online at www.LatinAMAs.com/vota. Fans worldwide can vote via Twitter.
Here’s the full list of nominees:
Artist of the Year
Bad Bunny
Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Christian Nodal
Daddy Yankee
J Balvin
Luis Fonsi
Maluma
Nicky Jam
Ozuna
Shakira
New Artist of the Year
Bad Bunny
Manuel Turizo
Raymix
Sebastián Yatra
Song of the Year
Becky G feat. Bad Bunny, “Mayores”
Daddy Yankee, “Dura”
J Balvin & Willy William feat. Beyoncé, “Mi Gente”
Luis Fonsi & Demi Lovato, “Échame La Culpa”
Maluma & Nego do Borel, “Corazón”
Nicky Jam & J Balvin, “X”
Wisin feat. Ozuna, “Escápate Conmigo”
Album of the Year
Christian Nodal, Me Dejé Llevar
J Balvin, Vibras
Nicky Jam, Fénix
Ozuna, Odisea
Wisin, Victory
Favorite Artist – Female
Becky G
Jennifer Lopez
Karol G
Natti Natasha
Favorite Artist – Male
Daddy Yankee
J Balvin
Maluma
Nicky Jam
Ozuna
Favorite Artist – Pop
CNCO
Luis Fonsi
Shakira
Favorite Album – Pop
CNCO, CNCO
Juanes, Mis Planes Son Amarte
Sebastián Yatra, Mantra
Favorite Song – Pop
Carlos Vives & Sebastián Yatra, “Robarte Un Beso”
Enrique Iglesias feat. Bad Bunny, “El Baño”
Luis Fonsi & Demi Lovato, “Échame La Culpa”
Reik feat. Ozuna & Wisin, “Me Niego”
Shakira & Nicky Jam, “Perro Fiel”
Favorite Artist – Regional Mexican
Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Calibre 50
Christian Nodal
Favorite Album – Regional Mexican
Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga, La Mejor Versión De Mí
Christian Nodal, Me Dejé Llevar
T3r Elemento, Underground
Favorite Song – Regional Mexican Banda
MS de Sergio Lizárraga, “Tu Postura”
Calibre 50, “Corrido de Juanito”
Christian Nodal, “Me Dejé Llevar”
La Arrolladora Banda el Limón de René Camacho, “Entre Beso y Beso”
Raymix, “Oye Mujer”
