Latin Grammy Awards 2024 Predictions: Who Will Win the Top Honors?
Who will win the top prize at the 2024 Latin Grammys? Every year, Billboard Latin and Billboard Espa?ol editors dissect the top categories — song of the year, record of the year, album of the year, and best new artist — to forecast the winners and spotlight the most deserving artists.
As we approach the Latin Grammys on Thursday (Nov. 14), our Latin/Espa?ol editorial team has engaged in a spirited analysis, weighing market trends and historical voting behaviors to make educated predictions. This discussion includes insights from Billboard Espa?ol‘s deputy editor Sigal Ratner-Arias and associate editor Isabela Raygoza; as well as the Latin team, assistant editor, Jessica Roiz; senior editor, Griselda Flores; and social media manager/staff writer, Ingrid Fajardo.
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On its 25th anniversary, the Latin Grammy Awards ceremony will broadcast live from the Kaseya Center in Miami. Produced by TelevisaUnivision, the three-hour event will air on Univision, Galavisión, and ViX starting at 8 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. CT).
Here are our predictions:
Record of the year
“Mil Veces,” Anitta
“Monaco,” Bad Bunny
“Una Vida Pasada,” Camilo & Carín León
“Catalina,” Cimafunk & Monsieur Periné
“Derrumbe,” Jorge Drexler
“Con Dinero y Sin Dinero,” Fonseca & Grupo Niche
“Mi Ex Tenía Razón,” Karol G
“Mambo 23,” Juan Luis Guerra y 4.40
“Tenochtitlán,” Mon Laferte
“Igual Que Un ángel,” Kali Uchis & Peso Pluma
Sigal Ratner-Arias: I feel strongly about “Igual Que Un ángel.” I think it’s pun-intended, a heavenly pop song that is so pleasant to the ear with Kali’s vocal style and breathy tones, and Peso shows a softer side that we’ve never heard before. To me, it’s already a winner. I also love Camilo and Carín León’s salsa “Una Vida Pasada,” and I think that would be the runner-up.
Isabela Raygoza: I agree with that. That [“Igual Que Un ángel”] was my pick, but I quickly want to highlight “Monaco.” I love its moodiness, Charles Aznavour’s references, and the menacing violin riffs; the lyrics are really elegant too. But definitely “Igual que un ángel.” Not only did it perform extraordinarily well on many Billboard charts, peaking at No. 1, but what Sigal said, hearing Peso sing in an entirely new style really works for him, and Kali’s voice is so angelic and sultry. The production is so supreme that it drips with opulent sensuality. It’s a song you can dance and get frisky to.
Griselda Flores: I think it could be “Mi Ex Tenía Razón,” because it has Edgar Barrera, and it’s a nicely produced song. We’ve already heard Karol G do a more regional Mexican style but this norte?o is a side that we haven’t seen from Karol. It softens her. And then there’s Barrera, who’s a [Latin] Grammy darling, and obviously that gives her an extra push. But I also think “Monaco” is very strong, because it’s arranged very nicely. It’s a strong contender because it was so catchy. I just hear it and it takes me back to a moment.
Ingrid Fajardo: For me, I would like “Monaco” to win. It’s such a special song on his album and the whole concept that Bad Bunny created. It’s so elegant in the way the intro with the violins, the lyrics, the concept of what he’s talking about and I would like Bad Bunny to win, he deserves it. I feel like he’s the only one who really experiments. He surprises us more and more.
Jessica Roiz: I agree with Ingrid, because we’re seeing Bad Bunny in a new light. He’s very experimental with everything he does, but just the whole classical aspect of it is beautiful. The first time I heard this song, it immediately set the tone for his album and this new era of maturity and evolution. The lyrics were a look inside of what he was going through professionally and personally. Musically, it also made me feel like I was in one of those Golden Age of Hollywood movies. The route he took with this song makes me feel like it’s worthy of a record of the year.
Album of the year
Bolero, ángela Aguilar
Cuatro, Camilo
Xande Canta Caetano, Xande De Pilares
Ma?ana Será Bonito (Bichota Season), Karol G
García, Kany García
Radio Güira, Juan Luis Guerra 4.40
Autopoiética, Mon Laferte
Boca Chueca, Vol. 1, Carín León
Las Letras Ya No Importan, Residente
Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, Shakira
Flores: I would want Carín León to win because he showcased how versatile he can be. Obviously, we know his palette is diverse but he cemented who he could be outside of regional Mexican without losing his essence. I want him to win because I think it’s a beautiful album, but I think Shakira could possibly take this one because of the momentum around her, the tour and her comeback album. I think she’s the strongest contender here.
Fajardo: It’s the same for me because Carín experimented and took us into his genre, but it also has a little bit of rock and country. It’s like Carín’s world, musically, but it also takes us into what he listens to and what he identifies with. The runner-up for me would be “Cuatro” by Camilo.
Ratner-Arias: I agree with Carín, he is my runner-up — but I feel that the competition is really going to be between Residente, who is a darling of the Latin Academy and who presented another innovative masterpiece with his album, and Shakira for her comeback and her heartfelt and personal songs. I would give my vote to her but I think Residente would be deserving and could take it.
Raygoza: I agree that Residente made a masterpiece. He presented himself as a more well-rounded artist, a songwriter who thinks outside the box with production and concept. But I also agree that Carín León could possibly take this one. I love that there is a regional Mexican song in this category; I think he’s the most-fitting darling-esque act for La Academia; however, my actual pick is Mon Laferte. The album opens up with “Tenochtitlán,” singing of the fallen ancient civilizations but the trip-hop-meets-bolero beat, à la Portishead. Then she switches to cumbia rebajada [on “Te Juro Que Volveré”]. I think her sound and voice are so haunting. She’s so poetic. I would love for her to win but I think Carín could win this one.
Roiz: I would like Carín to win as well because I feel that it would make a huge statement for música mexicana music. Yes, he’s experimenting but with what he likes and he’s consuming not with what’s trending. Notably, there’s that song he did with the gospel choir and it’s so passionate. Everything he sings comes out beautiful. I do hope he wins but it could also go to Residente or Kany García — I think those would be my runner-ups.
Song of the year
“A Fuego Lento,” Daymé Arocena & Vicente García, songwriters (Daymé Arocena & Vicente García)
“A La Mitad” (Banda Sonora Original De La Serie “Zorro”), Julio Reyes Copello & Mariana Vega, songwriters (Maura Nava)
“Aún Me Sigo Encontrando”, Rubén Blades, Gian Marco & Julio Reyes Copello, songwriters (Gian Marco & Rubén Blades)
“Caracas En El 2000,” Marvin Hawkins Rodriguez, Jerry Di, La Pichu, Danny Ocean & Elena Rose, songwriters (Elena Rose, Danny Ocean & Jerry Di)
“Derrumbe,” Jorge Drexler, songwriters (Jorge Drexler)
“(Entre Paréntesis),” Edgar Barrera, Kevyn Mauricio Cruz, Manuel Lorente Freire, Lenin Yorney Palacios & Shakira, songwriters (Shakira, Grupo Frontera)
“Mi Ex Tenía Razón,” Edgar Barrera, Andres Jael Correa Rios, Kevyn Mauricio Cruz Moreno, Karol G & MAG, songwriters (Karol G)
“Según Quién,” Edgar Barrera, Kevyn Mauricio Cruz, Luís Miguel Gómez Casta?o, Maluma, Lenin Yorney Palacios & Juan Camilo Vargas, songwriters (Maluma & Carín León)
“Te Lo Agradezco,” Rafa Arcaute, Kany García, Carín León & Richi López, songwriters (Kany García & Carín León)
“313,” Leo Genovese, Residente & Silvia Pérez Cruz, songwriters (Residente, Silvia Pérez Cruz & Penélope Cruz)
Ratner-Arias: As a good Venezuelan I would like to see “Caracas en el 2000” win. It is a happy song, contagious, full of feelings, and nostalgia. It takes you back to a time in your life — it doesn’t matter that you’re not Venezuelan, but it takes you back to your homeland in those teenage years in a way that makes you smile and the chorus is super catchy. However, Residente’s song is very powerful and I think it’s very likely to win.
Flores: I don’t see a clear winner but I think that Jorge Drexler might have more of a chance here because it’s a beautiful song. It’s a spoken word and super poetic. Other than that, “Según Quién” was really catchy and resonated with listeners. Also, Elena Rose and Danny Ocean are beautiful songwriters, so I would like to see them get this recognition as composers.
Fajardo: I would like “Te Lo Agradezco” to win. I feel the lyrics are different. It’s a reminder of self-love from someone else’s point of view. I feel the same way that Jorge Drexler or Rubén Blades could win.
Roiz: I would like to see “Caracas en el 2000” win because it would be one of those statement-making moments. I love what the song represents — especially for Venezuela and for what all these artists have done for their country this year. I also think “Te Lo Agradezco” is a beautifully crafted song and it definitely has song-of-the-year potential. A strong runner-up for me would be “A La Mitad.” Maura Nava is a brand-new artist, coming from Julio Reyes Copello’s ArtHouse Academy, and it’s just surprising to see her in this category. It’s a very haunting and captivating song.
Raygoza: I’m gonna go with “Caracas en el 2000” because Venezuela had a huge year with its artists, and this song beautifully encapsulates that. It’s a powerful Venezuelan trio and the song is a youth nostalgia to their years living in Venezuela. I like the songwriting, enjoying a “cheese empanada,” it’s really cute! It reflects their life amid the country’s dramatic political shift. For my runner-up, I’m also going to go with Residente. I think it’s a very vulnerable song, especially after dedicating the song to a friend of his who passed away. The song navigates between mourning and remembrance, the nature of life, and how we cherish connections. I think it’s a beautiful orchestral ballad that touches on existence.
Best new artist
Agris
Kevin Aguilar
Darumas
Nicolle Horbath
Latin Mafia
Cacá Magalh?es
Os Garotin
I?igo Quintero
Sofi Saar
Ela Taubert
Flores: Latin Mafia. I think they’re everywhere and everyone is talking about them. During Billboard Latin Music Week, I heard an executive say that they are the future of Latin music, and I kind of agree. They come with a different proposal, very unique, very real. They are brothers from Mexico doing avant-garde pop music, and it’s something refreshing for me. They excite me a lot, and I think they should and could win. A runner-up for me could be either Inigo Quintero or Ela Taubert — I think they have a good chance.
Raygoza: I want to echo what Griselda said because I feel similarly about Latin Mafia. They are groundbreaking in terms of their sonic configurations. Their sound is nostalgic but noisy. The production in their debut album is impeccable, they have rock, grunge, trip-hop, and skater punk, and it’s so unpredictable. Obviously, they had a huge year because they debuted at Coachella, and they signed to Rimas. They’re so unique in their presentation and it’s refreshing to see a group like them because it adds more versatility. They’re not pop nor urbano, they’re producers and they’re rockers, and I love that about them.
Fajardo: I agree. I feel that Latin Mafia represents an indie, conceptual, and creative side of music that we don’t hear a lot of in the United States. For me, they are super creative and I’m glad there is a space for them. My runner-up would be Ela, we have seen her very active this year and she has a lot of support.
Ratner-Arias: Each nominee in this category has their charm but my favorites here are Ela and Darumas. In fact, I would love for Darumas to win! Ela has a lot of beautiful pop songs that are relatable lyrics but I feel like we’ve seen a lot of singers like that already. Darumas represents something exciting and special by bringing funk, R&B, and Latin flavor. My vote is for Darumas, but the runner-up could be Latin Mafia.
Roiz: Personally, I would have loved to see Noreh in this category, but I agree with Sigal. I would love to see one of the girls win again. I was shocked when I saw Darumas here. They just kicked off their career this year, so this is pretty exciting. Their concept is super cool and they are very talented. I would love to see either Darumas or Ela Taubert win this one. Ela is a very well-rounded pop star.
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