Lovato: The Top-Ranking Latweeno on Billboard.com’s 21 Under 21

Billboard.com is back with its list of this year’s hottest minors in music, with five Latweeno artists/groups making the cut… And Demi Lovato isn’t only the highest ranking Hispanic artist, she’s also the top-ranking female…

The 20-year-old part Mexican singer/actress, who ranked at No. 7 last year, moved up four spots on Billboard.com’s latest 21 Under 21 installment, which ranks the most powerful minors in music.

Here’s a look at the Latweenos making the grade this year:

No. 3: Demi Lovato
Following the personal problems that threatened to derail her career two years ago, Lovato has come back Unbroken, which happens to be name of the album she released last year. It’s an album that’s still garnering attention. The album’s first track Skyscraper” recently picked up an MTV Video Music Award, while follow up single “Give Your Heart a Break” has resulted in Lovato’s first-ever No. 1 on the Billboard charts.

But that’s not all… Lovato scored a high-profile primetime television gig by joining Fox’s The X Factor, where she’s currently judging other aspiring artists alongside Simon Cowell and Britney Spears.

Throw in a popular summer tour with Hot Chelle Rae and hosting gigs at the Teen Choice Awards and MTV’s live New Year’s Eve Special, and 2012 is proving to be the year the former Disney Channel star is reaching new heights in her already impressive career.

Scotty McCreery

No. 4: Scotty McCreery
Scotty McCreery is holding steady on the 21 Under 21 list, coming in at No. 4 once again. That’s probably because the 18-year-old part-Puerto Rican country singer’s career has been going full steam ahead since he won American Idol in 2011. McCreery, who graduated from high school this year, saw his debut album Clear as Day reach No. 1 on the Billboard charts.

Even though he hasn’t placed a single in the top 10 on the country charts, McCreery has developed a very loyal fan base at a young age. Clear as Day helped him claim prizes from the American Country Awards, the Academy of Country Music Awards and the CMT Music Awards.

McCreery even toured with Brad Paisley and performed on the CW’s Hart of Dixie.

McCreery is following up his debut album, which was certified platinum, with a holiday set, Christmas with Scotty McCreery, will hit stores on October 16.

No. 6: Selena Gomez
She may have dropped three spots on the 21 Under 21 list, to No. 6, but Selena Gomez has not fallen off the radar. In the last year, she’s released another hugely popular album (When the Sun Goes Down), which spawned the hit singles “Who Says” and “Love You Like a Love Song,” which earned Gomez her first-ever MTV Video Music Award nod. And the 20-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress performed the album’s third single, Hit The Lights, on Dancing with the Stars.

And Gomez has broadened her appeal while taking a break from recording music. This spring, she launched a brand new fragrance and focused on her film career. Her voice will be heard in the animated film Hotel Transylvania, and she’s set to appear in two films that could help shatter her Disney image: Spring Breakers with James Franco and the crime drama Getaway.

And she’s currently dating the No. 1 on the 21 Under 21 list, Justin Bieber, which has resulted in countless tabloid placements. Selena Gomez and the Scene will hopefully be back soon, but in the meantime, she continues to leave her indelible imprint on pop culture.

3BallMTY

No. 17: 3BallMTY
3BallMTY may not be huge in the United States, but they could be very soon. The Mexican DJ collective, comprised of 19-year-old Erick Rincón, 19-year-old Alberto Presenda (DJ Otto) and 20-year-old Sergio Zavala (DJ Sheeqo Beat), have managed to turn their hobby into a huge business that’s reached a global audience thanks to their signature “tribal guarachero” sound. They’ve achieved success via radio airplay and synch deals with brands like Pepsi. And they recently dominated the list of finalists for the upcoming Billboard Mexican Music Awards. Despite their newfound fame, 3BallMTY has kept a cool and down-to-earth attitude about the group’s ascent in the music business. This past summer they opened up for Justin Bieber in a special concert at the famous Zócalo, the main square in the heart of historic Mexico City in front of about 200,000 music fans. “It was a bit nerve-wrecking,” says Rincón, “but once we were out on stage it was an amazing experience that we will never forget.”

Victoria Justice

No. 21: Victoria Justice
Victoria Justice has taken a tumble on the 21 Under 21 list, dropping from No. 10 to No. 21. But that has nothing to do with the 19-year-old half-Puerto Rican singer/actress’ talent. The star of had a relatively quiet recording year. She’s the breakout star of the Nickelodeon hit show, even while co-stars like Ariana Grande are seeing their stock rise. The release of the show’s latest soundtrack, Victorious 2.0, coincided with the release of Justice’s recent solo single, “Make It In America,” and in August Justice embarked on her first solo tour in support of the pop tune.

With Victorious ending it’s run on cable, Justice will be setting her sights elsewhere. She has a new film Fun Size coming out this October; and she plans to release a solo album shortly after that.

Click here to see this year’s complete list of music’s hottest minors.

Lovato Wins Her First-Ever MTV VMA Award

It’s turning out to be a banner year for Demi Lovato

The 20-year-old part-Mexican American singer, who will make her debut as a new The X Factor judge next week, has picked up her first-ever Moonman.

Demi Lovato

During the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards, Lovato’s “Skyscraper” clip won the award for Best Video With a Message. Lovato beat out Rise Against’s “Ballad of Hollis Brown,” Kelly Clarkson’s “Dark Side,” Gym Class Heroes’ “The Fighter,” K’Naan and Nelly Furtado’s “Is Anybody Out There?” and Lil Wayne’s “How to Love” for the award.

Lovato was presented with the award during the 2012 MTV VMA PreShow, which featured the former Disney Channel star performing her hit single “Give Your Heart a Break.”

Later Lovato and Rita Ora appeared on stage together during the main ceremony to present the award for Best Male Video.

The awards show took place on September 6 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The winners were chosen by the public through online voting.

Here’s the complete list of winners:

Best Video With a Message
Demi Lovato, “Skyscraper” — WINNER
Rise Against, “Ballad of Hollis Brown”
Kelly Clarkson, “Dark Side”
Gym Class Heroes, “The Fighter”
K’Naan feat. Nelly Furtado, “Is Anybody Out There?”
Lil Wayne, “How to Love”

Best Electronic Dance Music Video
Duck Sauce, “Big Bad Wolf”
Calvin Harris, “Feel So Close” — WINNER
Skrillex, “First of the Year (Equinox)”
Martin Solveig, “The Night Out”
Avicii, “Le7els”

Most Share-Worthy Video
One Direction, “What Makes You Beautiful” — WINNER
Just Bieber, “Boyfriend”
Beyonce, “Countdown”
Carly Rae Jepsen, “Call Me Maybe”
Gotye, “Somebody That I Used to Know”

Best Pop Video
One Direction, “What Makes You Beautiful” — WINNER
Fun. feat. Janelle Monae, “We Are Young”
Rihanna, “We Found Love”
Justin Bieber, “Boyfriend”
Maroon 5 feat. Wiz Khalifa, “Payphone”

Best Male Video
Justin Bieber, “Boyfriend”
Frank Ocean, “Swim Good”
Drake feat. Rihanna, “Take Care”
Chris Brown, “Turn Up the Music” — WINNER
Usher, “Climax”

Best Hip-Hop Video
Childish Gambino, “Heartbeat”
Drake feat. Lil Wayne, “HYFR” — WINNER
Kanye West feat. Pusha T, Big Sean & 2 Chainz, “Mercy”
Watch the Throne, “Paris”
Nicki Minaj feat. 2 Chainz, “Beez in the Trap”

Best Female Video
Rihanna, “We Found Love”
Katy Perry, “Part of Me”
Beyoncé, “Love on Top”
Nicki Minaj, “Starships” — WINNER
Selena Gomez & The Scene, “Love You Like a Love Song”

Best Rock Video
Coldplay, “Paradise” — WINNER
The Black Keys, “Lonely Boy”
Linkin Park, “Burn It Down”
Jack White, “Sixteen Saltines”
Imagine Dragons, “It’s Time”

Best New Artist
Fun. feat. Janelle Monae, “We Are Young”
Carly Rae Jepsen, “Call Me Maybe”
Frank Ocean, “Swim Good”
One Direction, “What Makes You Beautiful” — WINNER
The Wanted, “Glad You Came”

Video of the Year
Katy Perry, “Wide Awake”
Gotye, “Somebody That I Used To Know”
Rihanna, “We Found Love” — WINNER
Drake feat. Rihanna, “Take Care”
M.I.A., “Bad Girls”

Gomez Receives First-Ever MTV VMA Award Nomination

Love You Like a Love Song” is one Selena Gomez’s greatest hits, with James Franco even singing along to the track… And, now the inescapable hit is getting a little love from MTV

Selena Gomez

The 20-year-old half-Mexican American singer has received her first-ever MTV VMA award nomination for Best Female Video for “Love You Like a Love Song,” which peaked at number 22 on Billboard Hot 100 and has sold more than two million copies.

Gomez’s high-style video—which finds her in an underground Japanese karaoke club and magically mixes elements of reality and fantasy—will face stiff competition from Rihanna’s “We Found Love,”
Katy Perry’s “Part of Me,”
Beyoncé’s “Love on Top”
and Nicki Minaj’s “Starships.”

Gomez’s one-time BFF Demi Lovato has been nominated in the Best Video With a Message category for her anthem “Skyscraper.” She’ll face off against Rise Against’s “Ballad of Hollis Brown,”
 Kelly Clarkson’s “Dark Side,”
Gym Class Heroes’ “The Fighter,K’Naan and Nelly Furtado’s “Is Anybody Out There?” and
 Lil Wayne’s “How to Love

Meantime, Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull’s “Dance Again” video has been nominated for Best Choreography. Other nominees in the category include:
 Chris Brown’s “Turn Up the Music,”
Rihanna’s “Where Have You Been,”
Beyoncé’s “Countdown”
and Avicii’s “Le7els

This year’s MTV VMA Awards ceremony will take place on September 6 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Lovato Singing at the Latin Grammys…

She sang the national anthem for an international audience at this year’s World Series… And, now Demi Lovato is set to perform in front of Latin music superstars.

The Latin Recording Academy has confirmed that the 19-year-old part-Mexican singer/actress will perform at the 12th Annual Latin Grammy Awards.

Demi Lovato to perform at the Latin Grammys

There’s no official word on what song Lovato will sing at this year’s awards show—which will take place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on November 10—or if she’ll tackle singing in Spanish.

Earlier this year, Lovato performed her hit “Skyscraper” in English and Spanish at the ALMA Awards—even though she doesn’t speak Spanish.

Meanwhile, other confirmed performers include Pablo Alborán; Alex, Jorge Y Lena; Intocable; Los Tigres Del Norte with Paulina Rubio; Black Eyed PeasTaboo; and Wisin Y Yandel.

Hip-hop duo Calle 13 lead the pack of nominees this year with a record-breaking 10 nods, including Album of the Year, Best Urban Music Album for Entren Los Que Quieran, and Song Of The Year for Latinoamérica.”

The Latin Grammy Awards will be broadcast live on Univision at 8:00 pm. ET.