Stars Glitter At the 2002 Billboard Latin Music Awards Show

Business Wire, May 10, 2002

Entertainment Editors/Music Writers

MIAMI BEACH, Fla.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--May 10, 2002

Singer and Composer Juan Gabriel Takes home 4 Billboard Awards; Ana Gabriel, Ricky Martin, El Gran Combo and Shakira honored with Special Awards; Show to be aired this Sunday, May 12 at 7PM ET/PT on Telemundo

The Jackie Gleason Theater rolled out the red carpet for the star-studded ceremony of the 2002 Billboard Latin Music Awards. Mexican singer/composer Juan Gabriel, a finalist in five award categories, swept the board with four Billboard awards. His track "Abrazame Muy Fuerte", won in the categories Hot Latin Track of the Year and Latin Pop Airplay Track of the Year. He was also honored as Songwriter of the Year, and his track "No Vale la Pena" -- in a duet with Nydia Rojas -- won the Hot Latin Track, Vocal Duo category.

Renowned stars such as Celine Dion -- in her debut on Spanish language television -- Marc Anthony, Thalia, Juan Gabriel, Ana Gabriel, Los Tri-O, Jaci Velasquez, Cristian, A.B. Quintanilla and los Kumbia Kings, Litzy, Victor Manuelle, Carlos Vives, Olga Tanon, Alexandre Pires, Alejandra Guzman and Lupillo Rivera brightened up one of the glitziest evenings in the Latin music industry. Hosting the show were the talented actors Miguel Varoni of "Pedro El Escamoso", Manolo Cardona of "?Por Que Diablos?", and Itati Cantoral of "Vale Todo", who shared the stage with the likes of Celia Cruz, Marco Antonio Solis, Maria Conchita Alonso, Jon Secada and Elvis Crespo, among others, in presenting the awards.

Also, Ricky Martin was presented with the special "Spirit of Hope" award for his humanitarian works; Puerto Rico's El Gran Combo was the recipient of the "Lifetime Achievement Award" in honor of their 40 years' artistic career. Ana Gabriel received the "Star Award", in recognition of her contributions to Latin music, and Colombian star Shakira debuted the "Viewer's Choice Award", presented by Telemundo. Billboard Latin Music Awards 2002 grand gala, featuring top Latin artist performances, will air this Sunday, May 12th at 7PM ET/PT on Telemundo. The broadcast will begin with a pre-show of the red carpet arrivals, followed by the Awards and ending with an explosive after party.

The Billboard Latin Music Awards honor the most popular albums, songs, and performers in Latin music, as determined by the actual sales and radio airplay data that informs Billboard's weekly charts. Finalists, and the eventual winners, reflect performance of new recordings on Billboard's sales charts, including Top Latin Albums, and radio charts, including Hot Latin Tracks, during a one-year period from the issue dated February 17, 2001 through this year's February 9 issue. Based on sales data compiled by SoundScan and radio information monitored by Broadcast Data Systems, Billboard's charts are the world's most authoritative music charts, with album categories confined to titles that did not chart before Billboard's Nov. 18, 2000 issue.

Winners of the Billboard Latin Music Awards 2002: -------------------------------------------------

Hot Latin Track of The Year: "Abrazame muy Fuerte", Juan Gabriel (BMG Latin)

Hot Latin Track of The Year, Vocal Duo: "No Vale La Pena", Nydia con Juan Gabriel (Hollywood)

Hot Latin Track, Artist of The Year: Cristian (BMG Latin)

Songwriter of The Year: Juan Gabriel

Producer of The Year: Bebu Silvetti

Pop Album of The Year, Male: "Mis Romances", Luis Miguel (Warner Latina)

Pop Album of The Year, Female: "Mi Corazon", Jaci Velasquez (Sony Discos)

Pop Album of The Year, Group: "Shhh!" A. B. Quintanilla Y Los Kumbia Kings (EMI Latin)

Pop Album of The Year, New Artist:

"Proxima Estacion...Esperanza", Manu Chao (Virgin)

Latin Pop Airplay Track of The Year: "Abrazame Muy Fuerte", Juan Gabriel (BMG Latin)

Top Latin Album, Artist of The Year: Marc Anthony (Sony Discos)

Latin Rock Album of The Year: "Proxima Estacion...Esperanza", Manu Chao (Virgin)

Tropical/Salsa Album of The Year, Male: "Libre", Marc Anthony (Sony Discos)

Tropical/Salsa Album of The Year, Female: "Yo Por Ti", Olga Tanon (Warner Latina)

Tropical/Salsa Album of The Year, Group: "Coleccion Romantica", Juan Luis Guerra y 4.40 (Karen/Universal Latino)

Tropical/Salsa Album of The Year, New Artist: "Yo Si Me Enamore", Huey Dunbar (Sony Discos)

Tropical/Salsa Airplay Track of The Year: "Me Da Lo Mismo", Victor Manuelle (Sony Discos)

Regional Mexican Album of The Year, Male: "Despreciado", Lupillo Rivera (Sony Discos)

Regional Mexican Album of The Year, Male Group: "Ansia de Amar", Conjunto Primavera (Fonovisa)

Regional Mexican Album of The Year, Female Group or Female Solo Artist: "Soy Lo Prohibido", Alicia Villareal (Universal Latino)

Regional Mexican Album of The Year, New Artist: "Despreciado", Lupillo Rivera (Sony Discos)

Regional Mexican, Airplay Track of The Year: "Y Llegaste Tu", Banda El Recodo (Fonovisa)

Latin Greatest Hits Album of The Year: "Historia De Un Idolo Vol. 1", Vicente Fernandez (Sony Discos)

Latin Compilation Album of The Year: "No. 1: Un Ano de Exitos", varios artistas (Sony Discos/Warner Latina)