It’s a perfect 10 for Bad Bunny…
The 27-year-old Puerto Rican superstar scored 10 wins at the 2021 Billboard Latin Music Awards, including the biggest award of the night… artist of the year.
Bad Bunny, a 22-time finalist, also won songwriter of the year; Hot Latin Songs artist of the year, male; Latin Rhythm artist of the year, solo; and Top Latin Albums Artist of the year, male.
His hit song “Dákiti” featuring Jhay Cortez, won Hot Latin Song of the year; Hot Latin Song of the year, vocal event; and streaming song of the year.
And in the coveted album of the year category, Bad Bunny’s hit album YHLQMDLG won in a triple competition against his own El Ultimo Tour del Mundo and Las Que No Iban a Salir.
Bunny picked up his awards during the live show, which aired from the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Fla., on the Telemundo network and featured performances and premieres by Daddy Yankee, Rosalía, Rauw Alejandro, Natti Natasha, Carlos Vives, Myke Towers, Jhay Cortez and Nicky Jam, among others.
The Billboard Latin Music Awards, given in 56 categories, honor the most popular albums, songs and performers in Latin music as determined by Billboard’s renowned weekly charts, during the period rom the rankings dated February 1, 2020, through this year’s August 7, 2021, charts, a longer than usual period due to the pandemic.
Following Bad Bunny in number of wins was Jhay Cortez — with three for “Dákiti” — and the Black Eyed Peas, whose hit “Ritmo (Bad Boys for Life)” with J Balvin won sales song of the year, while their “Mamacita” with Ozuna and J. Rey Soul won Latin pop song of the year. The Peas were also the winners of the crossover artist of the year, thanks to their groundbreaking album Translation, where they paired up with multiple Latin acts.
Urban star Karol G swept the female awards, winning Hot Latin Songs artist of the year, female, and Top Latin Albums artist of the year, female. Fellow Colombian Maluma, along with The Weeknd, also took home two awards for “Hawái,” and Prince Royce, who continues to break ground in tropical music, won tropical song of the year with “Carita Inocente” and tropical album of the year for Alter Ego.
In the rapidly growing realm of regional Mexican music, stalwarts Band MS de Sergio Lizárraga won Hot Latin Songs artist of the year, duo or group and Regional Mexican artist, duo or group. In turn, newcomers Eslabón Armado won Top Latin Album artist of the year, duo or group, and Regional Mexican album of the year for Tu Veneno Mortal.
In a year that was full of new music, the versatile Myke Towers, who does both rap and reggaetón, won the new artist of the year award, buoyed by a string of successful hits and albums. And Tainy once again took home the producer of the year award.
The evening was punctuated by a slew of special moments. Daddy Yankee received the Billboard Hall of Fame award, becoming the first urban artist to receive the honor and underscoring nearly two decades of steady hitmaking. In turn, Yankee performed the television premiere of his new single, “Métele al Perreo.”
Rock legends Maná received the new Billboard Icon award, and premiered their new single, “Reloj Cucú,” alongside newcomer Mabel.
And regional Mexican grand dame Paquita la del Barrio’s 50-year storied career was recognized with Billboard’s Lifetime Achievement Award, accompanied by an attitude-filled performance of her vintage hit “Rata de dos patas” and “El Consejo” alongside Ana Bárbara.
Here are all the winners:
Artist of the Year: Bad Bunny
Artist of the Year, New:: Myke Towers
Crossover Artist of the Year: Black Eyed Peas
SONG CATEGORIES
Hot Latin Song of the Year: Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, “Dákiti”
Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event: Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, “Dákiti”
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Male: Bad Bunny
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Female: Karol G
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Hot Latin Songs Label of the Year: Rimas
Hot Latin Songs Imprint of the Year: Rimas
Latin Airplay Song of the Year: Maluma & The Weeknd, “Hawái”
Latín Airplay Label of the Year: Sony Music Latin
Latin Airplay Imprint of the Year: Sony Music Latin
Sales Song of the Year: Black Eyed Peas & J Balvin, “Ritmo (Bad Boys For Life)”
Streaming Streaming Song of the Year: Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, “Dákiti”
ALBUM CATEGORIES
Top Latin Album of the Year: Bad Bunny, YHLQMDLG
Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Male: Bad Bunny
Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Female: Karol G
Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Eslabon Armado
Top Latin Albums Label of the Year: Rimas
Top Latin Albums Imprint of the Year: Rimas
LATIN POP CATEGORIES
Latin Pop Artist of the Year, Solo: Shakira
Latin Pop Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Maná
Latin Pop Song of the Year: Black Eyed Peas, Ozuna & J.Rey Soul “Mamacita”
Latin Pop Airplay Label of the Year: Sony Music Latin
Latin Pop Airplay Imprint of the Year: Sony Music Latin
Latin Pop Album of the Year: Kali Uchis, Sin Miedo (Del Amor y Otros Demonios)
Latin Pop Albums Label of the Year: Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Latin Pop Albums Imprint of the Year: Universal Music Latino
TROPICAL CATEGORIES
Tropical Artist of the Year, Solo: Romeo Santos
Tropical Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Aventura
Tropical Song of the Year: Prince Royce, “Carita de Inocente”
Tropical Airplay Label of the Year: Sony Music Latin
Tropical Airplay Imprint of the Year: Sony Music Latin
Tropical Albums of the Year: Prince Royce, Alter Ego
Tropical Albums Label of the Year: Sony Music Latin
Tropical Albums Imprint of the Year: Sony Music Latin
REGIONAL MEXICAN CATEGORIES
Regional Mexican Artist of the Year, Solo: Christian Nodal
Regional Mexican Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Regional Mexican Song of the Year: Lenin Ramírez, featuring Grupo Firme, “Yo Ya No Vuelvo Contigo”
Regional Mexican Airplay Label of the Year: Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Regional Mexican Airplay Imprint of the Year: Fonovisa
Regional Mexican Album of the Year: Eslabon Armado, Tu Veneno Mortal
Regional Mexican Albums Label of the Year: Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Regional Mexican Albums Imprint of the Year: DEL
LATIN RHYTHM CATEGORIES
Latin Rhythm Artist of the Year, Solo: Bad Bunny
Latin Rhythm Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Los Legendarios
Latin Rhythm Song of the Year: Maluma & The Weeknd, “Hawái”
Latin Rhythm Airplay Label of the Year: Sony Music Latin
Latin Rhythm Airplay Imprint of the Year: Universal Music Latino
Latin Rhythm Album of the Year: Bad Bunny, YHLQMDLG
Latin Rhythm Albums Label of the Year: Rimas
Latin Rhythm Albums Imprint of the Year: Rimas
WRITERS/PRODUCERS/PUBLISHERS CATEGORIES
Songwriter of the Year: Bad Bunny
Publisher of the Year: RSM Publishing, ASCAP
Publishing Corporation of the Year: Sony Music Publishing
Producer of the Year: Tainy