By: Fredwill Hernandez

Flavio Morales, VP of Programming mun2, The late Regional Mexican singer Jenni Rivera, and Leila Cobo, Billboard Executive Director of Content and Programing for Latin Music and Entertainment

Miami-Fl.(Hollywood Today)2/9/13/—–During a press conference held on Feb. 5, 2013 at the Gibson Showroom in Miami, Fl., Billboard and Telemundo announced the finalist for the 2013 Billboard Latin Music Awards presented by State Farm® which concludes the 24^th annual Billboard Latin Conference. Universal Music Group parent of Universal Music Latin Entertainment (Fonovisa, Disa, Universal Latino, Machete, VI Music, and ASL) received the most nominations with a total of 127, including the most nominated artist Don Omar with 18 nominations himself.  Other artist nominated and competing in multiple categories are Bachata singer Romeo Santos with 12, Reggaeton Duo Wisin & Yandel with 11, the late Regional Mexican singer Jenni Rivera who died in a plane crash on Dec. 9, 2012 with 11, Bachata singer and young heart throb Prince Royce with 10, Pitbull with 9, 3BALLMTY who recently won a Latin GRAMMY® in the best new artist category with 8, La Arrolladora Banda el Limon De Rene Camacho, Brazilian sensation Michel Telo, and Columbian singer Shakira all tied with 7 nominations each, prominent corrido singer Gerardo Ortiz, and DJ Juan Magan competing for 6, while Daddy Yankee, Mexican rock band MANÁ and Don Omar’s protegee Natty Natasha are all tied for 5 nominations each.

Reggaeton artist Don Omar and Leila Cobo, Billboard Executive Director of Content and Programing for Latin Music and Entertainment

The awards ceremony will be produced and broadcast live by Telemundo will air Thursday, April 25^th at 7pm/6c from the Bank United Center at the University of Miami, Fl. This year marks the 15^th year which Telemundo has broadcast the most prestigious Latin music awards show honoring the most popular albums, songs, and performers in Latin Music.  The nominees are determined by actual sales, radio airplay, streaming and social media data that inform Billboard’s (Magazine, www.billboard.com ) weekly charts during a one-year period from the issue dated February 4, 2012 through this year’s January 26, 2013 issue. The album and digital track sales are based on data provided by Nielsen SoundScan, Nielsen BDS data of monitored radio information and streaming data, and social media data provided by Next Big Sound Billboard rankings. Finalists and winners are chosen based on new recordings on Billboard’s album and track sales charts, Top Latin Albums and Latin Digital songs, radio charts, including Latin Airplay, social and streaming charts such as On Demand Songs, Social 50, and Streaming Songs.

The Billboard Latin Conference unites today’s top Latin music artist/s, managers, publishers, record label executives, and key players in other areas, will take place on April 23-25, 2013 at the JW Marriott Marquis in Miami, Florida. The conference allows opportunities for attendees to get informed based on the panels, live music showcases, networking opportunity, a Latin music marketing awards reception and the Pre-Award kick off party dubbed as the Billboard Bash, were music publishers and record labels awards are handed out and some finalists perform. For more information on the Billboard Latin Conference & Awards, or for complete list of nominees, log on to www.billboardlatinconference.com

The award show will be held April 25 concluding the Billboard Latin Conference which will be held at the JW Marriot Marquis in Miami, Florida

Photographer: Fredwill Hernandez

The Billboard Latin Music Conference
Presented by State Farm
April 23-25, 2013
JW Marriot Marquis
Miami, FL

#BBLATIN

TUESDAY, APRIL 23
8:00am – 5:00pm
REGISTRATION & EXHIBITS

9:15am – 9:30am
WELCOME ADDRESS & STATE OF THE INDUSTRY 2013
Speaker:
Leila Cobo, Executive Director, Latin Content & Programming, Billboard

9:30am – 10:00am
THE NEW LISTENER
Pandora, Spotify, Sirius and NPR find the Latin listener.

10:00am-10:30am
RISK MANAGEMENT: FIVE MOVES THAT CAN MAKE OR BREAK YOUR CAREER

10:30am – 11:15am
THE DEALMAKERS
How are deals made, broken, bartered? See it first-hand as Latin music’s top managers hash out possibilities in one no-holds-barred session.

11:30pm – 12:15pm
THE BILLBOARD Q&A with CARLOS VIVES
Celebrating today’s release of his first album in eight years
Speaker:
Carlos Vives

12:15pm – 1:30pm
LUNCH

THE MARKETING ECHANGE
Hosted by Telemundo

1:30pm – 2:15pm
STRATEGIES THAT WORK
How music moves brands and brands move music. When, why and how? We hear it from top agencies, brands and artists.

2:30pm – 3:00pm
WHITE PAPER
Who really is the Latin consumer?

3:00pm-3:30pm
CASE STUDY
How Pepsi is developing new Latin talent to reach a youth demographic.

3:30pm – 4:15pm
THE NEW MUSIC PROMOTION PLATFORMS
If radio and television aren’t selling music and tours, what is? A look at branding and advertising platforms that move music and ticket sales.

4:15pm – 5:00pm
TBD

5:00pm – 7:00pm
MARKETING AWARDS & HAPPY HOUR
-Online/Social
-TV
-Tour Sponsorship
-Campaign of the year
Click here to submit your campaign for the Latin Music Marketing Awards

7:00pm – 10:00pm
LATIN SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME & AFTERPARTY*

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24

8:30am-6:30pm
REGISTRATION & EXHIBITS

9:50am – 10:00am
OPENING REMARKS

10:00am – 10:45am
THE INDUSTRY Q&A with EMILIO ROMANO
Telemundo Media’s Bold Musical Moves: As part of its recent re-branding, new programming offerings, and with the support of its parent company Comcast and NBCUniversal, Telemundo Media is aggressively placing music at the forefront of its programming and content development strategy. An in-depth conversation with president Emilio Romano on Telemundo’s Musical Future.
Speaker:
Emilio Romano

11:00am – 11:30am
VIVA FOR VEVO
Maximizing your presence and revenue in the world’s leading all-premium music video and entertainment platform.
Speaker:
Doug McVehil, SVP, Music Programming, Talent & Content Operations, VEVO

11:30-Noon
THE CRICKET/MUVE SOLUTION
How a the music offering of a prepaid wireless service provides a blueprint to successfully reach the Latin consumer.

12:00am – 12:45pm
HOW I WROTE THAT SONG
The top Latin songwriters come together to tell the stories behind their songs and perform in an acoustic setting for this program favorite, presented by BMI.

12:45pm – 2:00pm
LUNCH

2:00pm- 3:00pm
LATIN’S LEADING LADIES
A gathering of bold new female artists who are changing the sound and look of women in music.

3:00pm – 3:15pm
CASE STUDY

3:15pm- 4:00pm
Q&A

4:15pm – 5:30pm
THE REGIONAL MEXICAN PANEL

5:30pm – 6:30pm
ROUNDTABLES

6:00pm – 9:00pm
ARTIST SHOWCASES

8:30pm
THE BILLBOARD BASH

THURSDAY, APRIL 25
BILLBOARD LATIN MUSIC AWARDS & AFTERPARTY