Ricky Martin's smash hit "Livin' La Vida Loca" and five songwriters took home top honors last night (May 1) at the 7th annual BMI Latin Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., according to The Hollywood Reporter. "Livin' La Vida Loca," co-written by Martin's former Menudo bandmate Robi "Draco" Rosa, garnered the song of the year award for the most-performed song in the BMI Latin catalogue
Five songwriters shared the songwriter of the year award, with each placing three tracks on the most-performed list: Kike Santander ("Decir Adios," "Te Vas," "Tu Amor"), Estefano ("Ciega, Sordomuda," "Dejaria Todo," "Tu "), Marco Antonio Perez ("A Mi Que Me Quedo," "Huracan," "Perdedor"), Los Tucanes de Tijuana's Mario Quintero ("Amor Platonico," "Deside Que Te Amo," "Hotel Corazon") and Latin rock star Shakira ("Ciega, Sordomuda," "Inevitable," "Tu").
Warner Music Publishing won the publisher of the year award with eight songs on the most-performed list, including "Livin' La Vida Loca."
Other multiple-award songwriters included Rosa, who also co-wrote Martin's "Perdido Sin Ti," Miguel Medonza ("Amor Maldito," "Que Mas Te Puedo Dar") and Alejandro Sanz ("Corazon Partio," "Aquello Que Me Diste").
Award winners represented the most-performed Latin tracks on U.S. radio and TV. BMI handles rights administration for some 250,000 songwriters and music publishers in various genres.
Lou Bega was among the international acts who triumphed at the Echo Awards, presented last night at Hamburg's Congress Centre. Bega won two awards, for export achievement and top rock/pop national single ("Mambo No. 5"). Buena Vista Social Club also won two, for top international group and jazz act.
Ricky Martin and Cher were honored as most successful international male and female artists, while rock/rap combo Bloodhound Gang garnered an international young talent award for their Geffen/Interscope album "Hooray For Boobies." The album debuted at No. 19 on The Billboard 200 this week.
German hip-hop label 3P was also a big winner, as its flagship acts Xavier Nadoo and Sabrina Setlur were named top national male and female artist, respectively. The label is marketed and distributed by Epic/Sony.
-- Wolfgang Spahr, Hamburg
Ricky Martin, Santana, TLC, and Backstreet Boys will perform live at the 42nd annual Grammy Awards, to be broadcast Feb. 23 on CBS from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Elton John, who will also perform on the broadcast, will receive the Grammy Legend Award in honor of his career in the music industry.
Santana earned 10 Grammy nominations, including record of the year and album of the year, for his Arista set "Supernatural." TLC earned six nominations, Backstreet Boys garnered four, and Ricky Martin chalked up three.
Beginning Feb. 18, the Grammy official website at www.grammy.com will begin webcasting artist chats, rehearsals, and backstage reports live from the Staples Center.
Marco Antonio Sol��s leads the finalists for Billboard's seventh annual Latin Music Awards, to be presented April 27 at the Jackie Gleason Theatre of Performing Arts in Miami Beach. The Mexican singer/songwriter/producer is contending in six categories, including album of the year, male, for "Trozos De Mi Alma"; Hot Latin Tracks artist of the year; and songwriter of the year.
Additionally, Sol��s will be inducted into Billboard's Latin Music Hall of Fame. Also due to receive a special award is Jorge Pinos, VP of the international department of the William Morris Agency, who will be given El Premio Billboard for broadening the exposure of Latin music to non-Latino markets.
Other top contenders include Ricky Martin, who is named in five categories, including Hot Latin Tracks artist of the year and Latin pop track of the year, male, for "Livin' La Vida Loca" and "Bella." Enrique Iglesias is up for four awards, while Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez, Elvis Crespo, and Olga Ta����n are up for three apiece.
Finalists were named based on their performances on Hot Latin Tracks and The Billboard Latin 50. The measuring period for selection ran from Jan. 30, 1999, to Jan. 29, 2000.
The Latin Music Awards show, which will be taped for a subsequent broadcast by Spanish television network Telemundo, caps Billboard's International Latin Music Conference, to be held April 25-27 at Miami's Sheraton Biscayne Bay.
-- John Lannert
