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Gustavo Santaolalla Named Icon at 15th Annual BMI Latin Music Awards

Posted in News on June 13, 2008

Songwriters of the Year Wisin & Yandel and Espinoza Paz Honored; ‘De Rodillas Te Pido’ Named Song of the Year; Editora Arpa Musical Earns Latin Publisher of the Year

BMI held its 15th annual Latin Music Awards Thursday, June 12 at the Beverly Wilshire in Los Angeles. Esteemed composer and producer Gustavo Santaolalla was named a BMI Icon; Juan Luis Morera Luna and Llandel Veguilla Malavé, better known as reggaetón duo Wisin & Yandel, and singer/songwriter Espinoza Paz comprised the three-way tie for Latin Songwriter of the Year; “De Rodillas Te Pido” garnered Song of the Year honors for writer José A. Sosa; and Editora Arpa Musical received the Latin Publisher of the Year crown. Hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and Assistant Vice President, Latin Music, Delia Orjuela, the black-tie dinner also touted the writers and publishers of the past year’s 50 most-performed Latin songs on U.S. radio and television.

The BMI Icon award is bestowed on creators who have had a “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.” An all-star musical tribute paid homage to the achievements of Gustavo Santaolalla, who joins an elite list of past honorees that includes Latin music titans Los Tigres Del Norte, Juan Luis Guerra and Carlos Santana, along with legends Willie Nelson, Brian Wilson, Isaac Hayes, Paul Simon, Dolly Parton and the late James Brown.

  • Gustavo Santaolalla
  • Espinoza Paz
  • Wisin & Yandel

Artist, talent scout, producer, documentarian and composer, Gustavo Santaolalla’s genius spills over into numerous disciplines. The Argentina native helped define the nascent Latin rock movement of the 1970’s with his innovative Latino folk/rock band, Arco Iris, and later as a solo artist. Santaolalla has mastered Andean string instrument the ronroco and filmed Pan-American, indigenous folk musicians. His transformation to producer was inevitable; the subsequent cultural unification was historic. Along with partner Anibal Kerpel, he united the traditionally separate Mexican and Argentine rock spheres, gaining recognition for production work on numerous platinum and gold-selling projects. The duo achieved a new level of visibility with band Café Tacuba, whose collaborations with Santaolalla/Kerpel garnered multiple Grammy nominations and a Latin Grammy win. Santaolalla triumphantly entered the world of cinema, where he has composed numerous BMI, Golden Globe and Oscar award-winning original scores for films including Brokeback Mountain and Babel. His work on Babel and the critically-acclaimed Motorcycle Diaries also earned BAFTA honors. Through the creation of his label Surco, Santaolalla has also launched and sustained marquee artists, including international star Juanes.

Chart-dominating reggaetón duo Wisin & Yandel and charismatic troubadour Espinoza Paz shared the prestigious Latin Songwriter of the Year title. The win marks the second consecutive Songwriter of the Year crown for Wisin & Yandel’s Juan Luis Morera Luna and Llandel Veguilla Malavé. Three of the co-writing pair’s infectious hits rested comfortably on BMI’s most-performed list: “Noche De Entierro (Nuestro Amor)” (Los Benjamins featuring Wisin & Yandel, Daddy Yankee, Héctor "El Father,” Tonny Tún Tún and Zion), “Pam Pam” (Wisin & Yandel) and “Pegao” (Wisin & Yandel featuring Los Vaqueros). Mexican singer/songwriter Espinoza Paz earned his first Songwriter of the Year trophy by also contributing three songs to the top 50: “Mil Heridas” (Banda Cuisillos), “Prohibido” (El Coyote y su Banda Tierra Santa) and “Te Compro” (Duelo).

“De Rodillas Te Pido” earned BMI Latin Song of the Year honors for award-winning songwriter José a.k.a. “Pepe” A. Sosa. Published by Siempre Music and recorded by renowned group Alegres de la Sierra, “De Rodillas Te Pido” shot to the top slot of Billboard’s Latin Regional Mexican Airplay Chart and reached the Hot Latin Tracks’ top ten ranks. The combination of José A. Sosa and Alegres de la Sierra proved potent, as Sosa also took home an award for composing the band’s hit “Y Si Volviera A Nacer.”

With the highest percentage of copyright ownership of the year’s most-performed songs, Editora Arpa Musical garnered the Latin Publisher of the Year crown. Hits including Mariano Barba’s “Aliado Del Tiempo”; La Banda Pequeños Musical’s “Reencuentro” and “Me Encantaría”; El Chapo de Sinaloa’s “Detrás De La Puerta”; and Songwriter of the Year Espinoza Paz’s compositions catapulted Editora Arpa Musical to the top.

The ceremony also featured the presentation of the BMI Foundation's fifth annual peermusic Latin Scholarship to Boston’s Simmons College student Daniela Blau. The 21 year-old Costa Rica native will receive a $5,000 scholarship for her song “Y Si No Lo Sabes.” Established by the BMI Foundation and funded by the generosity of Ralph Peer II and the peermusic companies, the scholarship is awarded annually through a competition for original Latin songs and instrumental compositions. The 2008 competition was open to college students between the ages of 16 and 24 currently attending school throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

BMI also honored beloved Mexican troupe La Banda El Récodo with a commemorative plaque celebrating the prolific group’s 70th anniversary. Recognized as the first recorded banda, La Banda El Récodo also ranks among the most eclectic, combining Latin dance, jazz and classical music to produce an inimitable sound.

Premier Latin songwriters Manuel Eduardo Castro (SACM), Agustín Cejudo, Edgar Cortázar, Héctor Delgado "El Father,” Cuauhtémoc González García, Don Omar, Luis "Louie" Padilla and Julieta Venegas (SGAE) took home two awards each. Additional big winners included Mariano Barba for “Aliado Del Tiempo”’s second award; Ramón González Mora for “Voy A Llorar Por Ti”; Adrián Pieragostino for “Me Duele Escuchar Tu Nombre”; Kike Santander for “¿Quién Me Iba A Decir?”; Sergio Vallin for “Bendita Tu Luz”; and Luigi Giraldo and A.B. Quintanilla III for “Chiquilla.”

Publishers claiming two or more songs among the top 50 were Universal Music Publishing Group (Universal Music-Careers/Universal-Música Unica Publishing/Universal Music Publishing SA [SGAE]); EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.; SER-CA Publishing, Inc.; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.; Máximo Aguirre Music Publishing, Inc.; Blue Kraft Music Publishing; Crown P. Music Publishing; Peer Music Group (Peer International Corp./peermusic III, Ltd.); and Rompediscoteca Music Publisher.


Below is the complete list of 2008 BMI Latin Awards winners:

Adiós A Mi Amante
Jaime Velázquez
Universal Music-Careers
Grupo Montéz de Durango
Disa Records

Alguien Te Va A Hacer Llorar
Luis "Louie" Padilla
SER-CA Publishing, Inc.
Intocable
EMI International

Aliado Del Tiempo (2nd Award)
Mariano Barba
Editora Arpa Musical
Mariano Barba
Three Sound Records

Angelito
Eliel Lind
Don Omar
Crown P. Music Publishing
Diego VI Music Publisher
Don Omar
Machete Music

Antes De Que Te Vayas
Marco Antonio Solís
peermusic III, Ltd.
Marco Antonio Solís
Fonovisa Records

¡Atrévete Te Te!
René Pérez
Residente Music Publisher
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Calle 13
White Lion/Sony BMG Norte

Bendita Tu Luz
Sergio Vallin
Vallincito Songs
Maná
Warner Bros.

Besos Y Copas
Victor Cordero Aurrecoechea (SACM)
Cordova Publishing Company
Jenni Rivera
Fonovisa Records

Chiquilla
Luigi Giraldo
A.B. Quintanilla III
King of Bling Music
Universal-Música Unica Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
A.B. Quintanilla Ayer Fue Los Kumbia Kings, Hoy Es Kumbia All Starz
EMI Latin

¿Cómo Quieres Que Te Olvide?
Edgar Cortázar
Mark Portmann
Mark Portmann Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Pedro Fernández
Universal Music Latino

Como Una Mariposa
José Maria Muneta Gómez (SGAE)
Oscar Varela Llavona (SGAE)
Cinco Rayas Ediciones Musicale SSL (SGAE)
Universal Music Publishing SA (SGAE)
Universal-Música Unica Publishing
Diana Reyes
Universal Music Latino

De Rodillas Te Pido
José A. Sosa
Siempre Music
Alegres de la Sierra
Universal Music Latino

Detalles
Nacho Hernández
Editora Once Ríos Musical
Los Tigres Del Norte
Fonovisa Records

Detrás De La Puerta
Agustín Cejudo
Editora Arpa Musical
El Chapo de Sinaloa
Disa Records

Díganle
Juan "Colorado" García (SACM)
Peer International Corp.
Conjunto Primavera
Fonovisa Records

Dime Quién Es
Gabriel Flores
Máximo Aguirre Music Publishing, Inc.
Los Rieleros del Norte
Fonovisa Records

El Hombre Que Más Te Amó
Abelardo Flores
Golden Huina Publishing Company, Inc.
Lalo Mora
Disa Records

Entrégame
Miguel Mendoza
SER-CA Publishing, Inc.
La Costumbre
Fonovisa Records

Eres Para Mí
Julieta Venegas (SGAE)
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Julieta Venegas
Sony International

La Noche Perfecta
Rafael Rubio
Tigres Del Norte Ediciones Musicales
El Chapo de Sinaloa
Disa Records

La Tragedia Del Vaquero
Teodoro Bello
Universal-Música Unica Publishing
Vicente Fernández
Sony BMG Music Entertainment

Le Compré La Muerte A Mi Hijo
Norberto Quintanilla (SACM)
DOS Sound Music Publishing
Los Tigres Del Norte
Fonovisa Records

Me Duele Escuchar Tu Nombre
Edgar Cortázar
Adrián Pieragostino
José Luis Terrazas
APA House Of Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Grupo Montéz de Durango
Disa Records

Me Encantaría
Rogelio García Sánchez a.k.a. Jesús R. Rodríguez
Editora Arpa Musical
La Banda Pequeños Musical
Fonovisa Records

Me Quedan Todas
Manuel Eduardo Castro (SACM)
Máximo Aguirre Music Publishing, Inc.
Vicente Fernández
Sony BMG Norte

Me Voy
Julieta Venegas (SGAE)
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Julieta Venegas
Sony BMG Norte

Mi Amor Por Ti
Alvaro Torres
JAM Entertainment, Inc.
Los Horóscopos de Durango
Disa Records

Mil Heridas
Espinoza Paz
Editora Arpa Musical
Banda Cuisillos
Musart/Balboa Records

Ni Así Me Rajo
Manuel Eduardo Castro (SACM)
Máximo Aguirre Music Publishing, Inc.
Conjunto Primavera
Fonovisa Records

No Puedo Más
Agustín Cejudo
Editora Arpa Musical
El Coyote y su Banda Tierra Santa
Univision Records

Noche De Entierro (Nuestro Amor)
Víctor Cabrera "Tunes"
Héctor Delgado "El Father"
Juan Luis Morera Luna "Wisin"
Francisco Saldaña "Luny"
Llandel Veguilla Malavé "Yandel"
Blue Kraft Music Publishing
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Rompediscoteca Music Publisher
Universal-Música Unica Publishing
Los Benjamins featuring Wisin & Yandel,
Daddy Yankee, Héctor "El Father,” Tonny Tún Tún & Zion
Mas Flow Inc./Machete Music

Pam Pam
Marcos Masís "Tainy"
Juan Luis Morera Luna "Wisin"
Llandel Veguilla Malavé "Yandel"
Blue Kraft Music Publishing
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Universal-Música Unica Publishing
Wisin & Yandel
Machete Music

Payaso Loco
José Luis Rodríguez
Patrulla 81
Disa Records

Pegao
Juan Luis Morera Luna "Wisin"
Ernesto Fidel Padilla "Nesty"
Llandel Veguilla Malavé "Yandel"
La Mente Maestra Music Publishing
Universal-Música Unica Publishing
Wisin & Yandel featuring Los Vaqueros
Machete Music

Pégate
Ricky Martin
Dharmik Music
Ricky Martin
Sony International

Pensando En Ti
Artemio García
Cuauhtémoc González García
Universal-Música Unica Publishing
Beto y Sus Canarios
Disa Records

Por Ella
Luis "Louie" Padilla
SER-CA Publishing, Inc.
Intocable
EMI Latin

Prohibido
Espinoza Paz
Editora Arpa Musical
El Coyote y su Banda Tierra Santa
Univision Records

¿Qué Hiciste?
Jimena Romero
Agatulave Music Publishing
Jennifer Lopez
Epic/Sony BMG Music Entertainment

¿Quién Me Iba A Decir?
Kike Santander
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Kike Santander Music LLC
David Bisbal
Vale/Universal Music Latino

Reencuentro
Gerardo Franco (SACM)
Editora Arpa Musical
La Banda Pequeños Musical
Fonovisa Records

Salió El Sol
Don Omar
Crown P. Music Publishing
Don Omar
Machete Music

Se Terminó El Amor
Cuauhtémoc González García
Monarca Musical
Beto y Sus Canarios
Disa Records

Si Tu Amor No Vuelve
Wilfrán Castillo (SAYCO)
Universal-Música Unica Publishing
La Arrolladora Banda El Limón
Disa Records

Sin Ti Soy Un Loco
Mario Quintero
Canciones Primo Music
Los Tucanes De Tijuana
Univision Records

Sola
Héctor Delgado "El Father"
Rompediscoteca Music Publisher
Universal-Música Unica Publishing
Héctor "El Father"
Machete Music

Te Compro
Espinoza Paz
Editora Arpa Musical
Duelo
Disa Records

Tus Palabras
Luciano Luna Díaz
LGA Music Publishing
Banda El Récodo
Fonovisa Records

Un Idiota Como Yo
Marco Antonio Pérez
René Trevizo
SER-CA Publishing, Inc.
Duelo
Univision Records

Voy A Llorar Por Ti
Ramón González Mora
Seg-Son Music, Inc.
Los Rieleros del Norte
Fonovisa Records

Y Si Volviera A Nacer
José A. Sosa
Cultura Urbana Publishing
Alegres de la Sierra
Universal Music Latino

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