The people behind the lyrics of this year's biggest songs will be recognized at the 24th Latin GRAMMY Awards. For the first time, the Songwriter Of The Year category was created to put a spotlight on Latin music's composers.

The Latin Recording Academy is highlighting the wordsmiths of Latin music with the Songwriter Of The Year category. To be eligible for the new category, songwriters must have written or co-written six songs during the eligibility period without also being involved as an artist, producer, or engineer. 

The six nominees this year hail from the U.S., Latin America and Spain. Mexican American producer Edgar Barrera, who is the most-nominated person of the year with 13 nods, had a hand in writing hits like Manuel Turizo's "La Bachata" and Grupo Frontera and Bad Bunny's genre-bending collaboration "Un x100to." Colombian songwriter Kevyn "Keityn" Mauricio Cruz — who co-penned Karol G and Shakira's girl power anthem "TQG," as well as Bizarrap's global smash "Shakira: BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 53" — follows with seven nominations. 

Venezuelan American singer Elena Rose and Colombian musician Felipe González Abad ( also known as Nabález) are two nominees who perform and compose music. Barrera, Spanish songwriter Manuel Lorente Freire (a.k.a. Spread LOF), and Mexican singer/songwriter Horacio Palencia declined to be part of this roundtable interview. In honor of the new category, GRAMMY.com caught up with Cruz, Rose, and Abad about the work of Latin songwriters and the importance of this recognition.

How do you feel about being nominated for the first ever Songwriter Of The Year award?

Felipe "Nabález" González Abad: It is such an honor. Since I was a little kid, I’ve always had a lot of respect for songwriting and songwriters. Being a part of this first-ever category means the world because I want to keep doing this for the rest of my life. I’d love to still be a songwriter when I’m 70 years old! . It feels kind of surreal that I get to be nominated with songwriters that I follow and always have as a reference when I write songs. 

Kevyn "Keityn" Mauricio Cruz: I'm grateful and happy to be nominated seven times at the 2023 Latin GRAMMY Awards, and in this special occasion for Songwriter Of The Year, which is the first time this category exists. I feel blessed. I already feel like a winner with this nomination. To be nominated with Edgar, Manuel, and a lot of people who are friends of mine, I love it!

Elena Rose: It's a profound honor to be nominated alongside such talented individuals whom I deeply admire and respect. I'm so grateful to the Latin Recording Academy for recognizing and creating a space for those of us behind the songs. To be acknowledged in this manner, especially as a Latina woman, reinforces the belief that dreams are within reach.

Why is it important to you that this category now exists?

González Abad: Music isn’t meant to be made by a single person. You can have the ability to produce, to write, sing, even do your own marketing strategy but sooner or later you have to have a team. We songwriters are at the beginning of that "creativity chain" and we’re the first players of that musical team where the music game begins. 

A beautiful studio production without a great song won’t transcend as much. Without good songs, there’s simply no music industry. Having a songwriter category is one of the best ways to deliver this message and to have a space where songwriters are heard and awarded.

Mauricio Cruz: Because I feel like we're equally as important as the singer and the producer. All three of those components make a song. The lyrics are like the soul of the song. Before our work wasn't seen as that important. Now it's time to put importance on the recognition that a songwriter deserves.

Rose: This award sheds light on the multifaceted roles within the industry that often go unnoticed. It's a misconception that one can only be at the forefront as an artist. Each of us can carve our niche, and my aspiration is to inspire young girls to venture beyond the conventional. This recognition is not just for me, but a testament to the resilient women before me who paved the way. It's a tribute to those who ensured that doors would be open for the next generation.

How would you describe the experience of hearing the words you write come to life as songs?

González Abad: It’s a feeling of great responsibility. You have to be careful about what you mean and actually convey in your lyrics because not only might an artist you grew up listening to sing it, but also probably 30,000 people in a large venue! It also feels amazing, powerful, and it really feels like you’re putting your part in the history of music. Whenever I see a crowd singing something I wrote, I always think back to being in the studio when I was writing that part, and it is very inspiring.

Mauricio Cruz: Karol G is someone who has believed in me since day one. The day I arrived in Medellín with [my manager] Juan Camilo Vargas, who is a friend of Karol's, he showed her my work and she loved it. Every time we get together, the magic between me, her, and [her producer] Ovy on the Drums, leads to something great. They're like family. With Shakira as well, it's been amazing. I've learned a lot from her. She's on another level and has a different way of writing lyrics. She's another person with whom I share a beautiful friendship with. 

Rose: Every time I get on an Uber in a different country that's not my homeland, or when I'm somewhere else and hear one of those songs, they often feel like messages from God, signaling that everything is OK. Even if it's a tune written by a friend of mine, it feels like a sign that I'm on the right track, fulfilling my purpose. It reminds me to remain grateful and that our hard work has a deeper purpose.

How would you describe your songwriting process when you're working with an artist?

Mauricio Cruz: I always try to work off of the vibe. I always try to find a way for there to be a good environment for us to work in, so beautiful things can come out of it. So that it doesn't feel forced. Because of that, me and the artists have a good connection. I always try to be a good person, not only a good songwriter, and that leads to great things. 

González Abad: Empathy! It starts with being kind, having respect for one another, connecting on a social level before seeking inspiration. Literally, good vibes. You can later on write the saddest song in the world, but if there’s no connection before, I doubt a good song will come out. 

After that’s done, there’s always somebody that has an idea, a potential title, a life-changing experience, a heartbreak, a romantic feeling, a hook, a melody, the beginning of a verse, or probably just has the idea of doing something similar they heard on a song they or I liked. Then, it’s just a matter of getting some melodies in, connecting with the lyrics and putting the song together.

Rose: My songwriting process is deeply spiritual and authentic. Before diving into the songwriting, I prioritize establishing a genuine connection. I always begin by speaking with the artist, trying to understand where they are emotionally and mentally. It's important for me to remind them of their unique greatness and to assure them that our collaboration is purposeful. 

For me, the session serves as a sacred space for venting, healing, and infusing intention into our shared narrative. My role, as I see it, is to be there for them, offering reassurance, comfort, and a haven during our time together. My primary goal is to translate their emotions into words and music, serving their needs in the duration of our session.

What is your advice for people that want to get into songwriting?

González Abad: Be honest. Music is for the fans but you as a creator, you are the first fan your song has to have! So be a fan of your work. Always ask yourself, If I don’t like this or if I’m not really feeling this or the path, how can I expect somebody else to vibe with this? This does not mean you can never be in uncomfortable sessions or positions as a songwriter in the studio — discomfort throughout the process is great! But the result has to always sit well at the end for you as a creator. 

Also, understand that delivering your ideas to your co-writers in the studio is just as important as listening to their ideas, melodies, hooks or lyrics. Don’t be that person that never listens. Silence is always key! Be comfortable around silence, awkward and quiet moments. Read the room.

Mauricio Cruz: Don't try to be like anyone else. It's fine to be inspired by other people, but be yourself. Progress doesn't happen in a straight line. Try to embrace what makes you standout. 

Rose: My advice to everyone is to always be mindful of the people you keep around you. Never be in a room where you feel you're the most accomplished. If you find you're the best in that room, you're in the wrong one. Remember, silence can also be music, so listen more and observe. What you have to offer is special and given to you by God. Stay confident and believe you've got this.

What can we expect from next that you can tell us?

González Abad: I am currently exploring a lot. Playing with regional music, electronic music, cumbia, and ballads. Latin music is at a very high peak but there is still so much we can do as songwriters and producers. So, expect a lot of new cumbia songs, even new styles of '90s pop ballads, and even electronic dance music with Latin artists.

Mauricio Cruz: There's more songs coming. Next year, I'll be coming back even stronger. I'm working on a project with Edgar that I can't talk too much about yet. There's big things coming with him. What we've worked on together before is incredible, but what's on the way is even bigger. 

Rose: I'm currently pouring my heart and soul into my debut album, with a strong emphasis on my journey as an artist. The beauty of having been a songwriter for other artists is that they've become my guides and mentors. Their experiences and guidance have not only shown me the essence of being a contemporary artist but also made me realize that I have my own unique voice that needs to be heard.

What do you see for the future of songwriters in Latin music?

González Abad: Practicality. I love when songwriting is taken to a very human level where everybody can understand the lyrics to a song, no matter the genre. If you look at a beautiful bolero, the lyrics are very poetic to us in 2023, but nowadays lyrics are very practical. There could be a chorus with something I can text my girlfriend on a Friday night. Straight to the point. I love that. Also, AI is a big topic nowadays but I’m not afraid of AI replacing songwriters. I don’t think it’ll happen.

Mauricio Cruz: I believe we're going to get to a point where we're more respected. The songwriters of today are working hard so that tomorrow our very important craft is more respected. There's nothing more beautiful than leaving a legacy that marks a before and after in this way to make it easier for the next songwriters coming up.

Rose: Looking ahead with love, as I often do, I see many beautiful things unfolding both for the creatives and within the industry. I sense a growing respect for songwriting, recognizing it as a potent medium for dream fulfillment. I hope it continues to serve as a platform for powerful messages that can transform lives. Every word we pen as songwriters holds immense power, and the world is in dire need of positive and impactful messages. I'm optimistic about the direction we're headed.

2023 Latin GRAMMYs: See The Complete Nominations List

Three of the most distinctive and powerful female voices in Latin pop joined forces on the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs stage in Miami on Nov. 14 for a medley of their nominated songs.

First to perform was Columbian-American artist Kali Uchis, with her bolero-inspired song "Te Mata" from her chart-topping Spanish-language album Orquídeas. Nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album, Uchis also boasts nods for Best Pop Song and Record Of The Year for her track "Igual Que Un Ángel," featuring Mexican rapper Peso Pluma, and for Best Reggaeton Performance for "Labios Mordidos," featuring Karol G. This year's Latin GRAMMY nominations mark her first since her 2017 nomination for Record Of The Year for the song "Ratico," with Juanes. 

Dressed in a strapless, corset-style white satin gown, orchids fittingly adorning her mic stand, Uchis embodied old-school glamor and cool as she crooned the downtempo ballad. 

Next, alone on stage in a floor-sweeping white gown of her own, dance-pop singer/songwriter Elena Rose introduced a different kind of nostalgia with a performance of her upbeat hit "Caracas En El 2000," originally featuring Danny Ocean and Jerry Di. The single, an innocent and breezy ode to her Venezuelan roots, has amassed over 22 million views on YouTube and earned a nomination for Song Of The Year in addition to nominations this year for Best Pop/Rock Song for "Blanco y Negro" and Best Regional Song for "Por El Contrario." 

Known for her behind-the-scenes writing for stars like Bad Bunny and Selena Gomez, Rose has become a rising artist in her own right. Along with her Song Of The Year nomination, she earned nods for Best Pop/Rock Song and Best Regional Song, bringing her career Latin GRAMMY nominations total to nine.

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Last but not least, Argentine pop sensation Emilia captivated the audience with a portion of her hit "No Se Ve," a standout from her Y2K-aesthetic 2023 album .mp3, which is nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album alongside Kali Uchis. In rhinestones and ultra-mini skirts, Emilia and her crew of dancers appropriately evoked the early '00s with a faithfulness that would give anyone flashbacks.

Emilia broke into the Argentine music scene with her 2022 debut, Tú Crees En Mí?, a trap and reggaeton-heavy album featuring hits like "Cuatro Viente" and "Intoxicao." With its follow-up, .mp3, she shifted to Latin pop with '90s and 2000s influences, teaming up with Tini and selling out dates across Argentina, Uruguay and Spain for her upcoming tour. 

Check out the complete list of winners and nominees at the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs.

The 2025 GRAMMY nominations are here! One of the first categories announced on Nov. 8 was Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical, wth Jessi Alexander, Amy Allen, Edgar Barrera, Jessie Jo Dillon and RAYE each scoring a nomination to round out this year's crop of nominees.

Last year, Theron Thomas took home the golden gramophone for his work writing with the likes of Tyla, Chlöe, Lil Durk, Cordae, and more. Last year also marked the award for songwriting being moved to the General Field after being introduced as a new Category in 2023.

This year's nominees represent songwriting excellence across a wide array of genres, using their talents to pen acclaimed and fan-loved songs in the realms of pop, Latin, R&B, Afrobeats, and beyond. They've helped superstars like Beyoncé and Post Malone make their mark on country music, helped introduce a new generation of pop stars into the zeitgeist, and two nominees even pulled double duty by penning hits for their contemporaries on top of releasing their own albums.

Check out the nominees below and read the full 2025 GRAMMYs nominations list ahead of Music's Biggest Night on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025.

Jessi Alexander

Jessi Alexander began her career in Nashville as a country artist, releasing her major label debut, Honeysuckle Sweet, via Columbia Records in 2005. Since then, she's released two more solo albums — 2014's Down Home and 2020's Decatur County Red — independently while racking up hits as a songwriter.

In 2009, she wrote Miley Cyrus' watershed power ballad "The Climb" with collaborator Jon Mabe, and five years later earned dual nominations for Best Country Song at the 2014 GRAMMYs for penning Lee Brice's "I Drive Your Truck" and Blake Shelton's "Mine Would Be You" — both of which reached the Top 10 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart and went No. 1 at country radio.

Throughout 2024, Alexander has been a trusted co-writer for many a country superstar, co-writing Dustin Lynch and Jelly Roll's hit duet "Chevrolet" and working with Luke Combs across multiple projects including his fifth album, Fathers & Sons ("Remember Him That Way," "All I Ever Do Is Leave"). She's also a co-writer on Combs' "Ain't No Love in Oklahoma," the seven-time GRAMMY nominee's contribution to Twisters: The Album that earned Alexander another GRAMMY nomination this year, for Best Song Written For Visual Media. 

What's more, Alexander crossed paths with fellow Songwriter Of The Year nominee Jessie Jo Dillon on Megan Moroney's sophomore album, Am I Okay? The two women wrote multiple tracks together on the studio set, including "No Caller ID," "Noah" and bonus cut "Bless Your Heart."

Amy Allen

Amy Allen's name has been synonymous with top-tier pop music for more than half a decade, ever since she started writing chart-topping hits with Halsey ("Without You"), Selena Gomez ("Back to You") and Harry Styles ("Adore You") at the end of the 2010s.

This year marks Allen's second nomination for Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical. The small-town Maine native and Berkelee College of Music graduate was one of the inaugural nominees in the category in 2023 — the same year she took home her first GRAMMY when Styles' Harry's House won Album Of The Year. 

Allen's career as a go-to pop songwriter reached new heights in 2024. She's been a longtime collaborator of Sabrina Carpenter, and helped the doe-eyed pop chanteuse pen every track on her No. 1 (and now GRAMMY-nominated) album Short n' Sweet, including smash singles "Espresso," "Please Please Please" and "Taste." ("Amy is a once-in-a-lifetime writer and friend — it all comes to her very naturally and effortlessly," Carpenter recently gushed to Variety in a May profile of Allen. "She's super versatile: She can wear any hat and yet it still feels authentic. I've learned a lot from her and admire what an incredible collaborator she is.")

In addition to her meteoric partnership with Carpenter, Allen has also played a role in Tate McRae's career as a pop superstar on the rise, penning "run for the hills" as well as last year's breakout hit "greedy." 

Earlier this fall, Allen also released her own self-titled debut solo album, Amy Allen. Her additional nominations at the 2025 GRAMMY Awards include nods for Song Of The Year for "Please, Please, Please," Album Of The Year and Pop Vocal Album for Short n' Sweet, and Best Song Written For Visual Media for *NSYNC's "Better Place" from the animated feature Trolls Band Together.

Edgar Barrera

With this year's nod, Edgar Barrera scores his second consecutive nomination for Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical after also being included in last year's pack of nominees. Also known under his moniker Edge, the songwriter remains a tectonic force in Latin music's ever-important place in the mainstream. As of 2023, Barrera has racked up 23 wins at the Latin GRAMMYs and once again leads this year's nominations with nine more nods at the upcoming Nov. 14 ceremony.

In the year since his first nomination in the Category, Barrera has penned Spanish-language hits for Shakira & Grupo Frontera ("(Entre Paréntesis)"), Camilo ("No Se Vale"), Karol G ("Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido"), Peso Pluma and Kenia Os ("Tommy & Pamela") and more. He's also contributed to multiple crossover duets on Carín León's 2024 album Boca Chueca, Vol. 1 with Kane Brown ("The One (Pero No Como Yo)") and Leon Bridges ("It Was Always You (Siempre Fuiste Tú)," 

This summer, Barrera added R&B to his sizable resume by working with Khalid on the crooner's long-awaited third studio album. The song Barrera co-wrote, "Sincere," ultimately became the LP's title track, with Khalid telling Apple Music's Zane Lowe, "It was a very difficult process in naming this album, because I had to find one name that fully…summed up what I felt in this music.

"And when I thought of the music," Khalid continued, "I thought of it as my most vulnerable in a while… How do I view myself as an artist? What artist do I want to be? And that's what this album is: it's sincere."

Jessie Jo Dillon

Jessie Jo Dillon joins Edgar Barrera as the other songwriter in this year's pack to earn back-to-back nominations for Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical.

As the daughter of fellow songwriter Dean Dillon, the country progeny has music running through her veins. And much like how her father helped provide the soundtrack of '90s country through his work with George Strait, Toby Keith, Pam Tillis, and Kenny Chesney, the younger Dillon has had a hand in crafting the sound of modern country by penning tracks with Keith Urban ("Messed Up As Me"), Morgan Wallen ("Lies Lies Lies") and Kelsea Ballerini ("Sorry Mom").

This year, she also helped Megan Moroney land her first Top 10 album on the Billboard 200 with the singer's sophomore studio effort Am I Okay? — co-writing the title track and three other songs on the standard version and another on the recently released deluxe edition — and worked with her dad to co-write "Two Hearts," a bonus track on Post Malone's GRAMMY-nominated swerve into country, F-1 Trillion.

RAYE

It's a fairly safe assertion to say that RAYE was already enjoying a banner year before the 2025 GRAMMY nominations were revealed. The British soul singer broke out in 2023 with her debut solo album, My 21st Century Blues, with the independently released LP winning British Album Of The Year at the 2024 BRIT Awards. (RAYE also broke the record for most wins by an artist in a single year by taking home five other awards during the ceremony, including British Artist Of The Year and Song Of The Year for her viral single "Escapism."

However, the artist born Rachel Keen hasn't just focused on her own explosive career — in 2023, she collaborated with Hans Zimmer on sweeping single "Mother Nature" for the popular BBC nature series "Planet Earth 3," narrated by Sir David Attenborough, and translated her talent to the world of Afrobeats by co-writing NEIKED's "You're Hired" featuring Ayra Starr. 

More recently, RAYE has lent her sharp, emotional songcraft to high-profile projects by superstars like Beyoncé ("RIIVERDANCE") and Jennifer Lopez ("Dear Ben, Pt II"), as well as working with the likes of Halle ("Because I Love You") and Rita Ora ("Ask & You Shall Receive"). 

In addition to her nod for Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical, RAYE is one of eight rising voices who make up this year's crop of Best New Artist nominees — thereby becoming the first artist in GRAMMYs history to be nominated in both categories. She also earned a third nomination this year for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, for her contributions to Lucky Daye's Algorithm.

The Latin Recording Academy has announced its first roster of performers for the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs, officially known as the 25th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards. The lineup includes current nominees David Bisbal, Alejandro Fernández, Luis Fonsi, Juan Luis Guerra, Carín León, Elena Rose and Ela Taubert, as well as the 2024 Person of the Year honoree Carlos Vives.

David Bisbal earned a nomination for Best Pop Song, while Alejandro Fernández scored a nomination for Best Ranchero/Mariachi Album. Luis Fonsi received a nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album, and Juan Luis Guerra earned five nominations including Record of the Year, Best Tropical Song, Album of the Year, Best Merengue/Bachata Album and Producer of the Year. Carín León garnered four nominations including Record of the Year and Song of the Year, as well as Album of the Year and Best Contemporary Mexican Music Album. Elena Rose nabbed three nominations for Song of the Year, Best Pop/Rock Song and Best Regional Song, while Ela Taubert was nominated for Best New Artist. Also set to perform is the 2024 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year honoree, Latin GRAMMY and GRAMMY winner Carlos Vives, who will be recognized for his more than three-decade career as a multifaceted singer and composer at a special star-studded gala the evening prior. 

Read More: 2023 Latin GRAMMYs: See The Complete Nominations List

The 2024 Latin GRAMMYs mark the 25th anniversary of the Latin GRAMMY Awards, and will air live Thursday, Nov. 14, from Miami. The three-hour telecast, produced by TelevisaUnivision, will air live on Univision, Galavisión and ViX beginning at 8 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. CT).

Preceding the telecast will be the Latin GRAMMY Premiere Ceremony, a long-established evening full of unforgettable performances and heartfelt acceptance speeches, where the winners in most categories will be announced.

For Karol G, 2023 was a watershed year. Her fourth album, Mañana Será Bonito, peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 200 and took home the golden gramophone for Album Of The Year at the Latin GRAMMYs. Her many milestones also included a Rolling Stone cover, and signing with Interscope. At the 2024 GRAMMYs, Mañana Será Bonito is nominated for Best Música Urbana Album. 

The Colombian singer and songwriter was suddenly everywhere in 2023, but this moment is the culmination of a long, steady rise. Karol G has been on the scene for some time, and changing it for the better just by being who she is: an extremely talented woman making waves in a genre still dominated by men.  

Karol G has been a pivotal figure in the world of urbano since 2017, when she collaborated with Bad Bunny on the Latin trap single "Ahora Me Llama." It was a transformative moment for both artists, whose careers took off precipitously after its release. The track led Ms. G’s aptly titled debut album, Unstoppable, which went multi-platinum and peaked at No. 2 on both the U.S. Top Latin Albums and U.S. Latin Rhythm Albums charts. At the 2018 Latin GRAMMYs, Karol was awarded Best New Artist. 

Although she came out of the gate in an unstoppable fashion, Karol G's chart-topping debut was the result of years of touring and recording. The artist born Carolina Giraldo Navarro was no overnight success.

She started singing as a teenager growing up in Medellín and, after signing to Colombia's Flamingo Records, chose the name Karol G and began releasing music. Early on, she flew to Miami for a meeting with Universal Records, but they chose not to sign her on the basis that a woman would not be successful making reggaeton — a severe miscalculation, that belies female pioneers and a blossoming roster of contemporary acts. 

Thankfully, she ignored them. A year after "Ahora Me Llama" and Unstoppable, Karol G won her first Latin GRAMMY. 

The star’s determination makes her a role model, but Karol G's career has also been defined by an inspiring integrity around her principles and artistic vision. By now, it is a well-known anecdote that she turned down the song "Sin Pijama" because it references marijuana use. Karol does not smoke, so the lyrics would not have been authentic to her as a person, or as an artist. 

This authenticity has doubtless been key to Karol G's success. Rather than try to fit an established mold, she brings a uniquely sunny swagger and sporty style to reggaeton. She projects a powerful and feminine energy, and her music often expresses a healthy sense of sexual independence and self-empowerment. This is an intentional part of her message, especially to her female fans.

"They teach us it’s wrong to celebrate ourselves for something we have," she told Rolling Stone of her musical messaging. "And it’s not. We have to be the first ones to give ourselves credit."

Like early collaborator Bad Bunny, Karol G is able to reach a global audience without having to change the language she sings in, her genre of choice, or her messages. Case in point: One of her 2023 accomplishments was becoming the first Latina to headline a global stadium tour, and the highest-grossing Latin touring artist of the year.

She also became the first Latina to headline Lollapalooza and, in between record-breaking tour dates, saw her song "WATATI" featured on Barbie The Album. (The soundtrack is nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media at the 66th GRAMMY Awards.)

In November, she closed out her big year with a sweep of the Latin GRAMMYs: Mañana Será Bonito received the award for Best Música Urbana Album and Album Of The Year; her Shakira collab "TQG" took home the golden gramophone for Best Urban Fusion/Performance. When she accepted her award for Best Música Urbana Album, Karol exclaimed, "How cool is it for a woman to win this?" 

Karol G’s wins made up a large part of an awards ceremony where women won big:  Shakira won Song Of The Year for her collaboration with Bizzarap, while Natalia Lafourcade won Record Of The Year and Joaquina took home Best New Artist. This was the first year that women won in all the general categories — something that suggests progress for the Latin music industry. The last time a woman won the Latin GRAMMY for Best Música Urbana Album was in 2013, when Spanish rapper Mala Rodríguez took home the award for Bruja. 

Watching the Latin GRAMMYs this year, it was easy to forget that women still have a long way to go to achieve parity with their male counterparts in the music industry. If you lost sight of that, the year-end Latin charts would bring you back to reality: Of the top 50 tracks on the Hot Latin Songs chart, 11 primarily featured women, but six of those tracks belonged to Karol G. Karol’s presence matters and she knows it. 

Karol G brings a powerful feminine energy to reggaeton and Latin trap, but also an unapologetic feminism. While this is explicit in her music, it's also clear in the creative partnerships she makes. She’s had many high profile collaborations with male artists, but just as many with a diverse roster of female artists from reggaeton OG Ivy Queen ("Leyendas") to Latin fusion pop singer Kali Uchis ("Me Tengo Que Ir," "Labios Mordidos"). In an arena so dominated by male artists, each collaboration with another woman is meaningful, but her collaborations with rising artists, such as Young Miko — who appears on the song "Dispo" from Karol’s Bichota Season — truly make a difference. 

Artists like Karol G increase the range of possibilities for artists in their wake, and for anyone in the music industry who flouts narrow expectations. Karol G knows that her victories have larger implications, and this eye toward the future has helped her reach unprecedented heights. "I understand how hard it is [for women to break through] because of how hard it was for me,"she recently told Billboard.

It wasn't easy for Karol G to get where she is today, but she has been opening doors for others — women, artists in reggaeton, artists in urbano and others —  every step of the way. From here on, the title of her album is ringing more and more prescient, and that’s mas bonito.  

2024 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Full Nominees List