Billboard announced its 2015 Billboard Latin Music Award finalists Monday, and leading the list are Bachata king Romeo Santos and Spanish crooner Enrique Iglesias.
After a history-making year, Santos, leads with 21 entries in 16 categories. Iglesias has 19 entries in 15 different categories, a record in the history of the awards.
According to Billboard.com, both artists have broken previous records of most finalist nods for a single year, which was previous held by Puerto Rican stars, Tito El Bambino and Don Omar.
The remaining slots held artists such as rising Colombian star J Balvin, who is a 12-time finalist in 11 categories, mainly with his hit, “6 a.m.” Farruko, who featured in the single, is a six-time finalist.
Salsero Marc Anthony and Drake are also finalists because of their collaborations with Santos’ singles “Yo Tambien,” and “Odio.”
Descemer Bueno and Gente de Zona are also up for awards due to their collaboration with Iglesias’ song, “Bailando.”
Regional Mexican music has three out of four finalists in the Artist of the Year category with Kevin Ortiz, Banda Tierra Sagrada and Remmy Valenzuela. Also, Julion Alvarez y Su Norteño Banda and Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizarraga are both up against each other in the Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year category.
Other finalists include, Shakira, Calle 13, Juan Luis Guerra, Ricardo Arjona, Prince Royce, Santana, and Alexis y Fido, to name a few.
The late Jenni Rivera is up for five awards.
The Billboard Latin Music Awards will be telecasted live on April 30 on Telemundo. A complete list of finalists can be found at www.billboard.com.
--Kelly Carrión