Nobody saw it coming. You’d think in a year dominated by the global takeover of reggaeton and Mexican regional music, the "old guard" might take a back seat. Nope. The 25th Annual Latin Grammy Awards, held at the Kaseya Center in Miami, basically told us that legends never go out of style.
Juan Luis Guerra. That’s the name that silenced the room.
The Dominican icon didn’t just show up; he swept. While everyone was betting their house on Karol G or Bad Bunny to walk away with the top hardware, Guerra and his legendary band, 4.40, snatched both Record of the Year for "Mambo 23" and Album of the Year for Radio Güira. It was a massive reminder that complexity, arrangement, and soul still carry a ton of weight with the Academy voters.
The Latin Grammys 2024 Nominees: A Field of Giants
When the list of Latin Grammys 2024 nominees first dropped, the industry was buzzing about Edgar Barrera. If you don't know the name, you definitely know his work. He’s the secret sauce behind almost every hit you’ve heard in the last three years. He walked into the night with nine nominations. Nine!
He ended up winning Producer of the Year and Songwriter of the Year, which, honestly, feels like the least they could do given how much he’s shaped the current sound of Latin music.
But the nominations weren't just about the heavy hitters behind the scenes. The spread was wild. We had everything from the futuristic pop of Kali Uchis to the raw, traditional power of Grupo Frontera. It felt like a crossroads.
Who actually won?
- Album of the Year: Radio Güira – Juan Luis Guerra 4.40
- Record of the Year: "Mambo 23" – Juan Luis Guerra 4.40
- Song of the Year: "Derrumbe" – Jorge Drexler (Wait, what? Yeah, he beat out "Mi Ex Tenía Razón.")
- Best New Artist: Ela Taubert
- Best Urban Music Album: Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season) – Karol G
- Best Pop Vocal Album: El Viaje – Luis Fonsi
The "Song of the Year" category was a bit of a shocker. Jorge Drexler is a darling of the Academy, but seeing him take it over Karol G’s massive anthem "Mi Ex Tenía Razón" raised some eyebrows. It was a tie, actually—he shared the win with Kany García for her song "García." That’s the kind of drama you only get at these shows.
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The Breakthrough of Ela Taubert
Let’s talk about the Best New Artist category because it was stacked. Latin music is in this weird, beautiful phase where TikTok stars are actually turning into real-deal musicians. Ela Taubert, the Colombian singer-songwriter, ended up taking the trophy home.
She was visibly shaking. It was one of those rare, authentic moments where you see a career shift in real-time. Later that night, she performed a bilingual version of "¿Cómo Pasó?" with Joe Jonas.
The contrast was striking. You have these newcomers like Taubert and the Mexican rock trio The Warning (who absolutely shredded their performance, by the way) sharing a stage with Marc Anthony and Carlos Vives.
Why the 2024 Nominees Mattered More Than Usual
This wasn't just another awards show. It was the 25th anniversary. Because of that, the stakes felt higher for the Latin Grammys 2024 nominees.
The Academy also introduced some new categories to keep up with the times. We finally got Best Contemporary Mexican Music Album, which Carín León rightfully took home for Boca Chueca, Vol. 1. For years, "Regional Mexican" was this broad bucket that didn't quite capture the evolution of the genre. Now, with artists like Peso Pluma and Natanael Cano changing the game, the Academy had to adapt.
Another new one? Best Latin Electronic Music Performance. Bizarrap and Shakira won that for the Tiësto remix of their "Vol. 53" session. It’s kinda funny—Shakira keeps winning for a song that’s basically a legendary diss track.
The Snubs and Surprises
Let's be real: Bad Bunny had a relatively quiet night compared to previous years. He was all over the nominations list, but "Monaco" didn't dominate the way people expected.
And then there’s the Karol G factor. She won Best Urban Music Album, and you could tell how much it meant to her. She’s essentially the queen of the genre right now, but the Academy seems hesitant to give the "Big Three" (Album, Record, Song) to urban artists consistently.
Is there a bias? Maybe. Or maybe the Academy just really loves a well-composed merengue or a poetic folk song.
What You Should Do Next
If you want to actually understand why these winners were chosen, you have to go beyond the radio hits.
- Listen to Radio Güira from start to finish. Juan Luis Guerra isn't just making "old people music." It's a masterclass in production.
- Check out the "Best New Artist" shortlist. Artists like Agris and Nicolle Jadad might not have won, but they represent where the sound is going in 2025 and 2026.
- Watch the Salsa Tribute. If you missed the live broadcast, find the clip of Marc Anthony and La India. They hadn't performed "Vivir Lo Nuestro" together in 29 years. It was historic.
The 2024 cycle proved that Latin music isn't a monolith. It's a messy, loud, sophisticated explosion of cultures that refuses to be put in a box. Whether you're here for the reggaeton beats or the soulful boleros, the 2024 nominees gave us a little bit of everything.