Gente de Zona won multiple awards, with Nicky Jam
and Calibre 50 also taking home trophies
SESAC Latina-affiliated artists Nicky Jam, Calibre 50 and Gente de Zona took home trophies at the 2017 edition of the Premio Lo Nuestro awards, which took place Feb. 23 and broadcast live on Univision. In addition, other artists performed songs written by members of SESAC, the music industry’s most progressive performing-rights organization.
Cuban duo Gente de Zona, who has electrified both the Latin and the world-music scenes with its tropical fusions, was honored with three accolades. The duo emerged victorious in the categories of Group or Duo of the Year; Album of the Year (overall);and Album of the Year – Tropical.
Meanwhile, the Latin urban-music pioneer Nicky Jam won Song of the Year – Urban for his Billboard multi-chart topper “Hasta El Amanecer” (Until Dawn), one of the biggest hits of 2016 which remains in heavy rotation on many radio stations.
Reaffirming its status as a leader of the norteño-banda genre, the Mexican foursome Calibre 50 won in the highly competitive category of Duo or Group of the Year – Regional Mexican.
Another SESAC Latina winner was producer Bigram “DVLP” John Zayas for his creative contributions to the Collaboration of the Year – Urban winning song “Ay Mi Dios,” recorded by Chino ft. Pitbull, Yandel & Chacal.
Premio Lo Nuestro also dazzled its audience with live performances, including several songs written by SESAC Latina-affiliated artists. Banda MS performed “Tengo Que Colgar” (I Have to Hang Up), written by Edén Muñoz, the lead singer, accordionist and main songwriter of Calibre 50. The young bachata superstar Prince Royce sang “Moneda” (Coin), co-written by the Spanish singer-songwriter Alejandro Jaén.
Serving as the program’s host, the legendary Mexican diva Lucero also took a turn as performer, singing “Hasta Que Amanezca” (Until the Sun Rises), made famous by the late Joan Sebastian. Featuring brass banda accompaniment, this song is included on her new album Enamorada Con Banda (In Love With Banda), produced by SESAC Latina’s award-winning songwriter Luciano Luna, who Lucero and many others have declared to be a genius of his genre.
One of the high points of the Premio Lo Nuestro telecast was the performance by the iconic Ricky Martin of his latest hit, the reggaetón jam “Vente Pa’Cá” (Come Here), written by SESAC composers: Anne Judith Stokke Wik, Ronny Vidar Svendsen, Nermin Harambasic, of Scandinavia; and Justin Stein of the United States.
