The Billboard Latin Music Marketing Awards

Today I will not write about an emerging band, about an artist or a new release. I am not going to write about record labels, music publishing or the academy. However, this post relates somehow to one of the most important awards in the Latin music industry, the Billboards.

Billboard Magazine is recognized as one of the most important magazines through which an artist can get awarded in the music industry. Being on the cover of Billboard, getting to the top of their charts, and earning a Billboard award are part of the big goals with which every artist has when starting a career. The Latin Music industry is nor the exception to that rule.

Nevertheless, it is well known that talent is not enough when it comes to succeeding in the actual music industry. Connections, promotion, and a robust marketing campaign must be in that recipe as well. With the objective to recognize and award the effort of people behind the artists, Billboard created the Latin Music Marketing Awards in 2010. These new awards are scheduled as a part of the annual Billboard Latin Music Conference that takes place every year.

Emilio Estefan. Interview for the 2012 Billboard Latin Music Conference

The Latin Music Marketing Awards honor artists’ promoters and marketing teams in four categories: campaign of the year, best online/social campaign, best TV campaign, and best tour sponsoring campaign. Submissions are open to those record labels and/or advertising agencies that have developed their campaigns during the calendar year before the conference. One interesting detail about these special awards is that there is no cost to get into the nominees.  The finalists are selected by a group of experts of the music industry who will judge creativity, content and innovation.

The last Billboard Latin Music Conference took place in Miami, FL in April 2012. Within the winners one can name impressive marketing alliances such as Chino & Nacho with Coca-Cola or AT&T with Paulina Rubio. Thus, the Billboard Magazine not only recognizes musicians at the present day, but also it has expanded beyond artists. The final touch to this new but innovative event, is given by the sponsorship of two giant companies like Pepsi and State Farm. The Latin Music Marketing Awards are expected to continue growing in the next few years, increasing its categories, and honoring those people boosting careers behind the scenes.