Global Superstars Luis Fonsi and Residente Honored at the 25th Annual BMI Latin Awards

BMI presented its 2018 BMI Latin Awards last night honoring global superstar Luis Fonsi with the BMI President’s Award. The 25th annual event also celebrated the songwriters, publishers and administrators of the past year’s most-performed Latin songs in the United States. In addition, multiple award-winning entertainer Residente was presented with the BMI Champion Award in recognition of his exceptional artistry and tireless efforts to affect social change around the world. BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI Vice President of Creative, Latin Music Delia Orjuela hosted the ceremony at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

As one of the leading Latin music figures of his generation, Fonsi was honored with the BMI President’s Award in recognition of his outstanding achievements and contributions to both Latin and Pop music throughout his two-decade career.  In receiving this award, he joins an elite list of songwriters including Juanes, Pitbull, Carlos Vives, Kike Santander, Taylor Swift, Adam Levine, Emilio and Gloria Estefan and Sergio George. Fonsi also took home the coveted Contemporary Latin Song of the Year for his smash crossover hit “Despacito,” which received a staggering 1.3 billion streams in the U.S., according to Nielsen. Producer Andrés Torres was also recognized during the ceremony for his work on the monster hit. After receiving these honors, Fonsi and his band brought the house down with and intro to his 2014 hit, “Corazón En La Maleta,” followed by electrifying performances of “No Me Doy Por Vencido,” his latest hit single “Échame la Culpa,” “Aqui Estoy Yo” and “Despacito.”

Earlier in the evening, the BMI Champion Award was given out for the first time in the BMI Latin Awards’ 25-year history. Residente was presented with the prestigious honor for his exceptional artistry and humanitarian efforts which have touched the lives of many around the globe. Throughout his tremendously successful career as a co-founding member of Calle 13, and as a solo artist, Residente has used his music as an international platform to speak on social injustices such as LGBT equality, human trafficking and cultural diversity. Previous recipients of this award include Keith Urban and Congressman Doug Collins (R-GA-9), who were honored for their tireless commitment to support the next generation of songwriters and music makers.

Throughout the evening, the private event also saluted the songwriters, publishers and administrators of the previous year’s best performing Latin songs in the U.S. from BMI’s repertoire of more than 13 million musical works. J Balvin was named Contemporary Latin Songwriter of the Year for writing four of the most-performed Latin songs including “Bobo,” “Sigo Extrañandote,” “Safari,” and “Otra Vez.” Horacio Palencia was awarded Regional Mexican Songwriter of the Year for penning four of the evening’s most-performed regional Mexican songs including “Me Vas a Extrañar,” which also received the honor of Regional Mexican Song of the Year. Sony/ATV Music Publishing once again secured the prestigious BMI Latin Publisher of the Year award, with 17 of the most-performed songs among their repertoire.

Congratulations to all! Below is a complete list of the night’s winners.

Regional Mexican Song of the Year 2017

Me Vas A Extrañar
Horacio Palencia
Briser Publishing

Contemporary Latin Song of the Year 2017

Despacito
(feat. Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber)
Luis Fonsi
Marty James
Dafons Songs
Music of Underbyte, Inc.
Sony/ATV Latin Music Publishing
These Are Pulse Songs

Regional Mexican Songwriter of the Year 2017

Horacio Palencia
Bien Servida
Me Va A Pesar
Me Vas A Extrañar
Por Enamorarme

Contemporary Latin Songwriter of the Year 2017

J Balvin
Bobo
Otra Vez
Safari
Sigo Extrañandote

Latin Publisher of the Year 2017

Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Ay Mi Dios
Chantaje
Chillax
Despacito (feat. Daddy Yankee)
Despacito (feat. Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber)
Duele El Corazón
El Taxi
La Bicicleta
Nunca Me Olvides
Otra Vez
Que Se Sienta El Deseo
Sin Contrato
Súbeme La Radio
Te Quiero Pa’ Mi
Vacaciones
Vente Pa’ Ca
Ya Me Enteré

Champion Award

René Pérez “Residente”

President’s Award

Luis Fonsi

Award Winning Songs

Al Por Mayor
Mario Quintero
Canciones Primo Music

Amarte Es Hermoso
Jaime García
Jesús Sauceda
Gar-Mex Music

Amor De Los Pobres
Javier Manríquez
Venados Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Amor Del Bueno
Jesús Omar Tarazón
Andaluz Music, Inc.

Andamos En El Ruedo
Juan Carlos “El Grillo” Bracamontes
BMG Platinum Songs US

Andas En Mi Cabeza
Miguel Ignacio Mendoza “Nacho”
Chyno Miranda
Víctor Viera Moore “Jumbo”
Universal-Música Unica Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Ay Mi Dios
Jose Carlos “DJ Chino” Garcia
Jorge Gomez
Armando “Pitbull” Perez
Llandel Veguilla Malavé “Yandel”
Abuela Y Tia Songs
Acere Publishing
La Leyenda Publishing
Most Winning Publishing
Sony/ATV Latin Music Publishing LLC
Sony/ATV Songs LLC

Bien Servida
Horacio Palencia
Editora Marcha Musical

Bobo
J Balvin
Universal-Música Unica Publishing

Chantaje
Joel Antonio Lopez “Kenai”
Shakira
MYMPM Music
Sony/ATV Melody LLC

Chillax
Ky-Mani Marley
Kymani Music
Sony/ATV Melody LLC

Cicatriiices
Jesús Omar Tarazón
BMG Platinum Songs US
DEL Melodies
Fourth and Lime House of Music

Como Lo Hacia Yo
Luis Jorge Romero
Evo Black Music
Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc.

Como Si Fuera Real
Adrián Armendáriz
Aztekas Publishing
Los Compositores Publishing

¿Cómo Te Llamas?
Miguel Luna
Editora Marcha Musical
Moontoones

Culpable Tú
Aaron Gil
LNGR Publishing

¿Desde Cuándo No Me Quieres?
Espinoza Paz
Andaluz Music, Inc.
Don Corazon Publishing
Universal Music-Careers

Despacito (feat. Daddy Yankee)
Luis Fonsi
Dafons Songs
Sony/ATV Latin Music Publishing LLC

Despacito (feat. Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber)
Luis Fonsi
Marty James
Dafons Songs
Music of Underbyte, Inc.
Sony/ATV Latin Music Publishing LLC
These Are Pulse Songs

Dile Que Tú Me Quieres
Jose Antonio Aponte
Omar Alejandro Gonzalez Santiago
Neison Niler Meza Ortega
Ozuna
Vicente Saavedra
Music Good Vibes Publishing
OzunaPublishing
Ozuna Worldwide

Dime Qué Se Siente
Luis Coronel
Empire Royalties

Duele El Corazón
Patrick Ingunza
Juan Luis Morera Luna “Wisin”
Servando Moriche Primera Mussett
Francisco Saldaña “Luny”
Blue Kraft Music Publishing
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Patrick Ingunza Music
Sony/ATV Bailar
Sony/ATV Latin Music Publishing LLC
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Yele Publishing

El Mexico Americano
José Alfredo Ríos “El Komander”
peermusic III, Ltd.
Twiins House of Music

El Paciente
Alfredo Olivas
Universal Music-Careers

El Taxi
Sly Dunbar (PRS)
Jose Carlos “DJ Chino” Garcia
Jorge Gomez
Armando “Pitbull” Perez
William “Sensato” Reyna
Abuela Y Tia Songs
Acere Publishing
Del Patio Music Publishing
Most Winning Publishing
Sensato Del Patio Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.

La Bicicleta
Shakira
Aniwi Music LLC
Sony/ATV Melody LLC

La Carretera
Geoffrey “Prince Royce” Rojas
peermusic III, Ltd.

Me Está Tirando El Rollo
Abraham Ramos
LGA Music Publishing
Máximo Aguirre Music Publishing, Inc.

Me Gustas
Jesus De Noe Hernandez Perez
Meza Publishing

Me Va A Pesar
Geovani Cabrera
Horacio Palencia
Ferca Global Publishing
Universal Music-Careers

Me Vas A Extrañar
Horacio Palencia
Briser Publishing

Nadie Como Tú
Daniel Serrano
Serranos Global Publishing

No Lo Hice Bien
Jesus L. Castro
BMG Platinum Songs US
DEL Melodies

Nunca Me Olvides
Víctor Viera Moore “Jumbo”
Llandel Veguilla Malavé “Yandel”
La Leyenda Publishing
Sony/ATV Latin Music Publishing LLC
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Otra Vez
J Balvin
Felix Ortiz “Zion”
Gabriel Pizarro “Lennox”
Sony/ATV Latin Music Publishing LLC
Universal-Música Unica Publishing

Por Enamorarme
Geovani Cabrera
Horacio Palencia
Songs of JG Publishing

Que Se Sienta El Deseo
Ricky Martin
Juan Luis Morera Luna “Wisin”
Marcos Alfonso Ramírez Carrasquillo
Víctor R. Torres Betancourt
Dharmik Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Sony/ATV Latin Music Publishing LLC
Yele Publishing

Reggaetón Lento (Bailemos)
Eric Perez Soto
Jorge Rivera
Artillery Management Group Publishing

Safari
J Balvin
BIA
Concord Copyrights
Cutcraft Sounds
Universal-Música Unica Publishing

Shaky Shaky
Luis Jorge Romero
Evo Black Music
Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc.

Sigo Extrañandote
J Balvin
Universal-Música Unica Publishing

Sin Contrato
Edgar Barrera
11once Music
Sony/ATV Bailar

Súbeme La Radio
Felix Ortiz “Zion”
Gabriel Pizarro “Lennox”
Juan Rivera Vazquez
Música De Gaby Publishing
Sony/ATV Latin Music Publishing LLC
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Te Dirán
Espinoza Paz
Anval Music
Don Corazon Publishing
Los Compositores Publishing
Universal Music-Careers

Te Quiero Pa’ Mi
Robin Mendez
Víctor Viera Moore “Jumbo”
Don Omar
Felix Ortiz “Zion”
Gabriel Pizarro “Lennox”
Juan Rivera Vazquez
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Música De Gaby Publishing
Sony/ATV Latin Music Publishing LLC
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Todo Es Diferente
Sandra Hurtado Ferrer
Aztekas Publishing

Todo O Nada
Alfredo Olivas
Universal Music-Careers

Vacaciones
Mario Caceres
Arbise “Motiff” Gonzalez
Juan Luis Morera Luna “Wisin”
Pull The Plug Music
Sony/ATV Latin Music Publishing LLC
Yele Publishing

Vale La Pena
Edgar Barrera
Alfonso Lizárraga
LGA Music Publishing
Máximo Aguirre Music Publishing, Inc.

Vente Pa’ Ca
Ricky Martin
Carl Ryden
BMG Platinum Songs US
Dharmik Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.

Ya Me Enteré
Pambo (SACM)
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.