Latin Grammy's Official Sponsors!

THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY^®ANNOUNCES
OFFICIAL SPONSORS FOR THE
12TH ANNUAL LATIN GRAMMY^® AWARDS

 

The Latin Recording Academy^® (www.latingrammy.com) proudly announced its official sponsors for the 12th Annual Latin GRAMMY^® Awards. Heineken,7UP, Delta Air Lines, Walmart,McDonald's^®, Procter & Gamble's Orgullosa brand,CoverGirl, and Allstate have all signed on to support and promote this year's Latin GRAMMY Awards in Las Vegas. Additionally, PEOPLE en Español,Univision Radio and PRISA Digital have signed on as media partners. The Biggest Night in Latin Music will once again be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011. The show will be broadcast live on the Univision Network from 8 – 11 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. Central).

"The Latin Recording Academy is thrilled to have so many strong partners join us as we celebrate the Biggest Night in Latin Music," said Latin Recording Academy President/CEO Gabriel Abaroa Jr. "We are proud to align ourselves with such a stellar roster of brands that will assist us in spreading the excitement of the Latin GRAMMYs across the country. We thank our sponsors for their support and look forward to another exciting and successful Latin GRAMMY season."

For the past eleven years, Heineken has shown its great support of the Latin GRAMMY Awards and has returned this year as the official beer and malt beverage sponsor. New this year, and kicking off the pre-show activities for fans at home, is "La Experiencia Heineken," which brings viewers a special performance by Daddy Yankee. The emblematic Heineken green carpet will also be rolled out to welcome the evening's guests. Additionally, Heineken is a proud partner of the 2011 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year tribute honoring Shakira, and the presenting sponsor of the official Latin GRAMMY After-Party.Local fans are invited to the "Heineken House of Music", an audio and visual multi-sensory Latin music experience with live performances by some of today's most promising talent, open at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casinofrom Nov. 8 – 10.

7UP has returned as the official beverage sponsor of the Latin GRAMMY Awards and surrounding events. 7UP is bringing their refreshing products to the public at the Latin GRAMMY Street Parties and Latin GRAMMY Acoustic Sessions, The Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year tribute gala, and the official Latin GRAMMY After-Party. 7UP will also provide beverages and gifts to lucky fans who are part of the "green carpet" bleachers at the Latin GRAMMY Awards.

Delta Air Lines is proud to be the official airline sponsor of The Latin Recording Academy, Latin GRAMMYs and The Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year tribute dinner. Delta passengers and members of Delta's SkyMiles frequent flier program from Costa Rica, Venezuela, Colombia, and Guatemala won trips to see the Latin GRAMMYs live in Las Vegas through a variety of sweepstakes and radio promotions. With its leading global network, Delta offers service to 46 destinations in Latin America with nearly 400 weekly flights.

Walmart,which has supported the Latin GRAMMYs in the past, has returned as the official retail partner of the Latin GRAMMY Awards, and joins the Latin GRAMMY Street Parties as official sponsor with its Walmart Pavillion in Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas and Miami. Walmart's lucky fans will be able to sit in its Latin GRAMMYs green carpet bleacher section, where they will have the opportunity to see all the biggest stars in Latin music arrive for the premiere night in Latin music.

McDonald's^® has returned for the fourth consecutive year, bringing its Latin GRAMMY sponsorship alive through its support of the Latin GRAMMY Street Partiesand The Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year tribute. Once again, McDonald's gave its customers the opportunity to attend this year's Latin GRAMMY Awards in Las Vegas, giving them the opportunity to experience Latin Music's Biggest night firsthand.

This year, the Latin GRAMMY Awards are happy to count The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) among its roster of sponsors. Representing P&G at the Latin GRAMMY Awards will be beauty brand CoverGirl, the official cosmetics sponsorand the make-up brand of choice used by artists on the live telecast, Pre-Telecast and Person of the Year gala; and "Orgullosa," P&G's new multi-brand initiative created to celebrate, empower and fuel Latina's accomplishments and dreams. Orgullosa was introduced during Hispanic Heritage month with the unveiling of "Tengo la Falda Bien Puesta," an original song composed by Latin GRAMMY Award-winning songwriter and current nominee, Yoel Henriquez. In honor of the initiative, P&G will be bringing 10 lucky fans who won the "La Falda Bien Puesta" sweepstakes to the Latin GRAMMYs.

Allstate once againreturns as a proud sponsor of the Latin GRAMMYs. This year, partnering with Univison, Allstate will bring an "unlucky" winner to the live telecast and experience all of the excitement firsthand. They will be guests of Allstate and a date of Mala Suerte — known from the company's Spanish language ad campaign — and will walk the green carpet together. The contest winner will enjoy a few days of fun and hopefully no chaos will arise. To enter, fans can visit Univision.com and enter keyword "Allstate," or go to the Facebook page "Soy La Mala Suerte."

The Latin Recording Academy and leading Spanish-language magazine PEOPLE En Español will once again host the biggest celebrities in Latin music at an exclusive "Celebrity Lounge" at the official Latin GRAMMY After-Party. This private invitation-only lounge within the official after-party will continue to bring the glamour and excitement of the Latin GRAMMY Awards to the official after-party.

Univision Radio, the leading Hispanic radio network in the country, will broadcast Latin GRAMMY programming, promotions, news and events throughout the United States including exclusive interviews from rehearsals backstage at the Latin GRAMMYs.

New digital partner PRISA Digital is supporting The Latin Recording Academy by developing Latin GRAMMY En Vivo. This live online coverage of the Special Merit Awards presentation, Latin GRAMMY Pre-Telecast awards, and green carpet arrivals, will be hosted on www.latingrammy.com for Latin music fans worldwide. Latin GRAMMY En Vivo will begin its live stream at 1:30 p.m. PT on Wednesday, Nov. 9.

For more information on all of The Latin Recording Academy's sponsors please log on to: www.heineken.com, www.7UP.com, www.meencanta.com, www.delta.com, www.walmart.com, www.pg.com, www.allstate.com, www.peopleenespanol.com,www.univision.com, www.prisadigital.com.

The Latin Recording Academy is an international, membership-based organization comprised of Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking recording artists, musicians, songwriters, producers and other creative and technical recording professionals. The organization is dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for Latin music and its makers. In addition to producing the Latin GRAMMY Awards to honor excellence in the recorded arts and sciences, The Latin Recording Academy provides educational and outreach programs for the Latin music community. For more information about The Latin Recording Academy, please visit www.latingrammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, join the organization's social networks as a Twitter follower at www.twitter.com/latingrammys, and a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/latingrammys.

Shakira To Receive Grammy Honor!

Three-time current Latin GRAMMY^® nominee, seven-time Latin GRAMMY winner, two-time GRAMMY^® winner, and international superstar and philanthropist Shakira will be the 2011 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year, it was announced today by The Latin Recording Academy^® (www.latingrammy.com).

Shakira, who is currently nominated for three Latin GRAMMY Awards, including Album Of The Year, will be honored for her renowned artistic and philanthropic contributions at a tribute dinner and star-studded concert on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Songs from Shakira's still growing catalog will be performed by notable artists and friends of the honoree. A major portion of the net proceeds from the gala will benefit Shakira's Pies Descalzos Foundation as well as The Latin Recording Academy's Latin GRAMMY in the Schools educational efforts. The celebration will precede the 12th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas and will be broadcast live on the Univision Network on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central. For breaking news and exclusive content, join The Latin Academy's social networks as a Twitter follower at www.twitter.com/latingrammys, and a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/latingrammys.

"I am elated on behalf of The Latin Recording Academy and its Board of Trustees that the much admired Shakira — whose incredible talent and artistic integrity are equaled only by her commitment and dedication to philanthropy and selflessly helping those in need — has been elected the 2011 Latin Recording Academy's Peron of the Year," said Gabriel Abaroa Jr., President/CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. "We are honored to pay homage to this dynamic, socially conscious woman whose illustrious career has touched so many people around the world, both musically and personally."

"It is truly an honor to be in the company of some of the greatest artists and legends of Latin Music," said Shakira about this one-of-a-kind distinction.

Born in Colombia, Shakira showed early talent in school as a live performer, demonstrating her vocal ability already combining rock, Latin and Mediterranean influences with her own original twist on belly dancing. As a singer/songwriter, dancer, producer and musician, she emerged on the international music scene in the early '90s. In 1996, Shakira released Pies Descalzos, featuring the hit singles "Estoy Aqui" and "Se Quiere…Se Mata" both topping the Billboard Latin Pop Airplay chart. Her next album, Dónde Están Los Ladrones?proved an even bigger success. Following was the release of her first live album in 2000, Shakira: MTV Unplugged, which spawned her first GRAMMY Award^® for Best Latin Pop Album. At the inaugural Latin GRAMMY Awards ceremony in 2000, Shakira received her first two Latin GRAMMY Awards. Without skipping a beat, she released her first crossover album, Laundry Service, in 2001, which became the most successful album of her career to date. Her next, Fijacíon Oral Vol. 1, in 2005, featured the hit single "La Tortura" with singer/songwriter and musician Alejandro Sanz. The album and single earned her four Latin GRAMMY Awards. Shortly thereafter, she released Oral Fixation Vol. 2, which included the worldwide hit "Hips Don't Lie" in collaboration with musician/producer Wyclef Jean. In 2009, she released She Wolf and quickly following on the heels of that project she released Sale e Sol in 2010. In addition to her busy recording schedule, Shakira has taken the world by storm with many successful global concert tours.

Shakira's numerous philanthropic efforts began at age 18when she founded the Pies Descalzos Foundation, a charity providing special schools for underprivileged children throughout Colombia. She is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, chosen for her involvement in global issues and her deep commitment to helping children. As an advocate for universal education, she served as Honorary Chairperson for the Global Campaign for Education, generating awareness for the U.S. Education for All Act in 2007. She has performed at many benefit concerts, and at the 2007 Clinton Global Initiative, Shakira received a commitment of $40 million from the Spanish government to help the victims of natural disasters. An additional $5 million was to be donated to four Latin American countries, to be spent on education and health. In its December 2008/January 2009 issue, People En Español announced Shakira as the "Humanitarian of the Year" as part of its Las Estrellas del Año (Stars of the Year) awards. On her 32nd birthday, Shakira opened a new $6 million school in her hometown of Barranquilla, Colombia, which she sponsored along with her Pies Descalzos Foundation.

Shakira will have the distinction of becoming the youngest artist to receive the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year honoree. She joins a list of artists that includes Plácido Domingo, Carlos Santana Gloria Estefan, Gilberto Gil, Julio Iglesias, and Ricky Martin, among others.

For information on purchasing tickets or tables to the 2011 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year tribute to Shakira, please contact The Latin Recording Academy ticketing office at 310.314.8281 or ticketing@grammy.com.

The Latin Recording Academyis an international, membership-based organization comprised of Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking recording artists, musicians, songwriters, producers and other creative and technical recording professionals. The organization is dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for Latin music and its makers. In addition to producing the Latin GRAMMY Awards to honor excellence in the recorded arts and sciences, The Latin Recording Academy provides educational and outreach programs for the Latin music community. For more information about The Latin Recording Academy, please visit www.latingrammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, join the organization's social networks as a Twitter follower at www.twitter.com/latingrammys, and a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/latingrammys.

About Shakira's Philanthropy
The mission of Shakira's foundations (Fundación Pies Descalzos in Columbia, Barefoot Foundation in the United States) is to ensure that every child can exercise his or her right to a quality education through advocacy and direct programming worldwide. More than 5,000 students receive nutritious meals, education and psychological support services, ultimately benefiting 30,000 vulnerable children, their families and community members who have all been affected by population displacement. Additionally, across Latin America, Shakira helped form ALAS (América Latina en Acción Solidaria), which is a coalition of artists and business leaders who are urging governments and philanthropists to increase their spending on early childhood development. Early childhood development programs ensure that young children have the basic healthcare, stimulation and nutrition needed to grow and enter school ready to learn. For more information on Shakira's philanthropy efforts and Foundation, please visit www.shakira.com.

Latin Grammy Awards, 2011

PEPE AGUILAR, DESMOND CHILD, REYLI, AND LOS TUCANES DE TIJUANA
ADDED AS PRESENTERS TO ANNOUNCE NOMINATIONS FOR THE 12TH ANNUAL LATIN GRAMMY^® AWARDS 

Two-time Latin GRAMMY^®winner Pepe Aguilar; from Latin pop trio Alex, Jorge y Lena, Lena Burke and Jorge Villamizar; two-time GRAMMY^® and 10 time Latin GRAMMY-winning Urban/hip-hop duo Calle 13; Latin GRAMMY-winning music producer Desmond Child; singer/songwriter Myriam Hernández; pop singer Merche; Norteño band Los Tucanes de Tijuana; pop singer Reyli; and from alternative rock band Zoé, Angel Mosqueda and Rodrigo Guardiola will help announce nominations for the 12th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards. Gabriel Abaroa Jr., President/CEO of The Latin Recording Academy^®, and Univision personality Giselle Blondet as well as key members of the music industry and cultural community will be in attendance.
 
The 12th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards will be broadcast live on the Univision Network from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on Nov. 10 (8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central). For more information, please visit www.latingrammy.com.