J Balvin, Shakira, Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, Ozuna & Maluma Lead 2018 Billboard Latin Music Awards Finalists

J. Balvin performs onstage during Calibash Los Angeles 2018 at Staples Center on Jan. 20, 2018 in Los Angeles. 

Capping off the most international year for Latin music in recent memory, J Balvin, Shakira, Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, Malumaand Ozuna lead the list of finalists for the 2018 Billboard Latin Music Awards, which air live April 26 on Telemundo.

Colombian stars Balvin and Shakira lead with 12 nominations each, followed by Fonsi, Yankee, Maluma and Ozuna with 10 each. And in an unprecedented turn, three non-Latin acts follow with a number of nods: Justin Bieber with eight, Beyoncéwith seven and Willy William with six. The numbers underscore just how far Latin music has reached in the past 12 months, garnering record streams at a global level and prompting major superstars to reach out and collaborate with Latin stars.

Balvin’s nods come largely from the success of “Mi Gente,” a triumph of global collaboration. The song, originally recorded by French artist Willy William, was redone by Balvin in Spanish, featuring William, and then was remixed yet again in a bilingual version featuring Beyoncé. It's up for Hot Latin Song of the year and airplay song of the year, among other nods, while Balvin is up for artist of the year and Hot Latin Songs artist of the year, male. Balvin’s album, Energía, is also up for Top Latin Album of the year. 

Balvin’s country-mate and global superstar Shakira will compete head-to-head with him in the social artist of the year and Hot Latin Song vocal event category, where she’s up for “Chantaje,” featuring Maluma. “Chantaje” is also up for digital song of the year and streaming song of the year, while Shakira’s El Dorado is up for Top Latin Album of the year. 

“Chantaje” is not the only song that propels fellow Colombian Maluma to 10 nominations: Aside from being up for social artist of the year, his hit “Felices Los 4” is a contender in five categories, including Hot Latin Song of the year, airplay song of the year, digital song of the year and streaming song of the year. In the last two categories, Maluma competes against himself with Shakira’s “Chantaje.”

Then there’s Ozuna. The Puerto Rican phenom is up for artist of the year, supported by his successful debut album, Odisea, up for Top Latin Album of the year and rhythm album of the year. In turn, his plethora of hits propelled him to a nod for Hot Latin Songs artist of the year, while his feature alongside Wisin in “Escapate Conmigo” is up for four awards, including Hot Latin Song of the year. 

Which leads us to “Despacito.” Thanks largely to the hit collab, Fonsi and Daddy Yankee are up for 10 awards each, while Bieber is up for eight. “Despacito,” like “Mi Gente,” is up for six awards: Hot Latin Song of the year; Hot Latin Song of the year, vocal event; airplay song of the year; digital song of the year; streaming song of the year; and Latin pop song of the year. And in a twist, the songwriter of the year category is completely dominated by “Despacito,” with every single finalist -- Daddy Yankee, Erika Ender, Luis Fonsi, Justin Bieber, Marty James Garton and Poo Bear -- a co-writer on the song.

Fonsi and Yankee are also both up for artist of the year. 

The Billboard Latin Music Awards will air live April 26 from Las Vegas on the Telemundo network. The awards honor the most popular albums, songs and performers in Latin music, as determined by the sales, radio airplay, streaming and social data that informs Billboard's weekly charts during a one-year period from the issue dated Feb. 4, 2017, through this year's Jan. 27, 2018, issue. The awards are the culmination of the Billboard Latin Music Conference, which takes place April 23-26 at The Venetian in Las Vegas. For more information and registration, head here.

ARTIST CATEGORIES

Artist of the Year:
J Balvin
Daddy Yankee
Luis Fonsi
Ozuna

Artist of the Year, New: 
Alta Consigna 
Bad Bunny 
El Fantasma y Banda Populares del Llano 
Christian Nodal 

Tour of the Year:
Marc Anthony
Ricardo Arjona
Enrique Iglesias & Pitbull
Marco Antonio Solis

Social Artist of the Year:
J Balvin 
Jennifer Lopez 
Maluma 
Shakira 

Crossover Artist of the Year:
Beyonce 
Justin Bieber 
Little Mix 
Ed Sheeran 

SONG CATEGORIES

Hot Latin Song of the Year:
J Balvin & Willy William Featuring Beyonce, “Mi Gente” 
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber, “Despacito” 
Maluma, “Felices Los 4” 
Wisin Featuring Ozuna, “Escapate Conmigo” 

Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event:
J Balvin & Willy William Featuring Beyonce, “Mi Gente” 
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber, “Despacito” 
Shakira Featuring Maluma, “Chantaje” 
Wisin Featuring Ozuna, “Escapate Conmigo” 

Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Male:
J Balvin 
Daddy Yankee 
Luis Fonsi 
Ozuna 

Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Female:
Becky G 
Jennifer Lopez 
Natti Natasha 
Shakira 

Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Banda Sinaloense MS De Sergio Lizarraga 
Calibre 50 
CNCO 
Zion & Lennox 

Hot Latin Songs Label of the Year:
Sony Music Latin 
Universal Music Latin Entertainment 
VP Entertainment 
Warner Latina 

Hot Latin Songs Imprint of the Year
Def Jam
Raymond Braun
Schoolboy
Sony Music Latin 

Airplay Song of the Year
J Balvin & Willy William Featuring Beyonce, “Mi Gente” 
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber, “Despacito” 
Maluma, “Felices Los 4” 
Wisin Featuring Ozuna, “Escapate Conmigo” 

Airplay Label of the Year:
DEL 
Sony Music Latin 
Universal Music Latin Entertainment 
Warner Latina 

Airplay Imprint of the Year:
Fonovisa 
Sony Music Latin 
Universal Music Latino 
WK 

Digital Song of the Year:
J Balvin & Willy William Featuring Beyonce, “Mi Gente” 
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber, “Despacito” 
Maluma, “Felices Los 4” 
Shakira Featuring Maluma, “Chantaje” 

Streaming Song of the Year:
J Balvin & Willy William Featuring Beyonce, “Mi Gente” 
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber, “Despacito” 
Maluma, “Felices Los 4” 
Shakira Featuring Maluma, “Chantaje” 

ALBUM CATEGORIES

Top Latin Album of the Year:
J Balvin, “Energia” 
Nicky Jam, “Fenix” 
Ozuna, “Odisea” 
Shakira, “El Dorado” 

Top Latin Compilation Album of the Year:
“Dance Latin #1 Hits 2.0: Los Exitos Del Momento” 
“Mexillennials: Los Exitos De Una Nueva Generacion” 
“Summer Latin Hits 2017” 
“Trap Capos: Season 1” 

Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Male:
J Balvin 
Romeo Santos 
Nicky Jam 
Ozuna 

Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Female:
Alejandra Guzman 
Karol G 
Shakira 
Gloria Trevi 

Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizarraga 
Calibre 50 
CNCO 
Los Plebes Del Rancho de Ariel Camacho 

Top Latin Albums Label of the Year:
Lizos 
Sony Music Latin 
Universal Music Latin Entertainment 
Warner Latina 

Top Latin Albums Imprint of the Year:
Capitol Latin 
DEL 
Sony Music Latin 
Universal Music Latino 

LATIN POP CATEGORIES

Latin Pop Artist of the Year, Solo
Luis Fonsi 
Enrique Iglesias 
Juanes 
Shakira 

Latin Pop Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
CNCO 
Jesse & Joy 
Mana 
Reik 

Latin Pop Song of the Year
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber, “Despacito” 
Enrique Iglesias Featuring Descemer Bueno, Zion & Lennox, “Subeme La Radio” 
Shakira Featuring Maluma, “Chantaje” 
Shakira, “Me Enamore” 

Latin Pop Airplay Label of the Year
Pina 
Sony Music Latin 
Universal Music Latin Entertainment 
Warner Latina 

Latin Pop Airplay Imprint of the Year
Sony Music Latin 
Universal Music Latino 
Warner Latina 
WK 

Latin Pop Album of the Year:
Ricardo Arjona “Circo Soledad” 
CNCO “Primera Cita” 
Juanes “Mis Planes Son Amarte” 
Shakira “El Dorado” 

Latin Pop Albums Label of the Year:
Sony Music Latin 
Universal Latin Music Entertainment 
Warner Bros. 
Warner Latina 

Latin Pop Albums Imprint of the Year:
Fonovisa 
Sony Music Latin 
Universal Music Latino 
Warner Latina 

TROPICAL CATEGORIES

Tropical Artist of the Year, Solo:
Marc Anthony 
Nacho 
Prince Royce 
Romeo Santos 

Tropical Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Chiquito Team Band
Gente de Zona 
Pirulo y La Tribu 
La Sonora Dinamita

Tropical Song of the Year:
Nacho “Bailame” 
Prince Royce & Shakira “Déjà Vu” 
Romeo Santos “Heroe Favorito” 
Romeo Santos “Imitadora” 

Tropical Songs Airplay Label of the Year
D.A.M. 
Sony Music Latin 
Universal Music Latin Entertainment 
Warner Latina 

Tropical Songs Airplay Imprint of the Year
Machete 
Magnus 
Sony Music Latin 
Universal Music Latino 

Tropical Album of the Year:
Prince Royce “Five”
La Sonora Dinamita “Juntos Por La Sonora” 
Romeo Santos “Golden” 
Carlos Vives “Vives” 

Tropical Albums Label of the Year:
The Orchard 
Sony Music Latin 
Universal Music Latin Entertainment 
World Circuit 

Tropical Albums Imprint of the Year:
Magnus 
The Orchard 
Sony Music Latin 
Top Stop 

REGIONAL MEXICAN CATEGORIES

Regional Mexican Artist of the Year, Solo:
Regulo Caro 
Christian Nodal 
Alfredo Olivas
Gerardo Ortiz 

Regional Mexican Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizarraga 
Calibre 50 
Ulices Chaidez y Sus Plebes 
Los Plebes Del Rancho de Ariel Camacho 

Regional Mexican Song of the Year:
Calibre 50 “Corrido de Juanito” 
Calibre 50 “Siempre Te Voy A Querer” 
Christian Nodal “Adios Amor” 
Christian Nodal Featuring David Bisbal “Probablemente” 

Regional Mexican Airplay Label of the Year
DEL 
Lizos 
Sony Music Latin 
Universal Music Latin Entertainment 

Regional Mexican Airplay Imprint of the Year
Andaluz 
Disa 
DEL 
Fonovisa 

Regional Mexican Album of the Year:
Banda Sinaloense MD de Sergio Lizarraga, La Mejor Version De Mi 
Ulices Chaidez y Sus Plebes “Andamos En El Ruedo” 
Christian Nodal “Me Deje Llevar” 
Gerardo Ortiz “Comere Callado, Vol. 1: Con Norteno, Tuba y Guitarras”

Regional Mexican Albums Label of the Year:
DEL 
Lizos 
Sony Music Latin 
Universal Music Latin Entertainment 

Regional Mexican Albums Imprint of the Year:
DEL 
Disa 
Fonovisa 
Lizos 

LATIN RHYTHM CATEGORIES

Latin Rhythm Artist of the Year, Solo:
J Balvin 
Daddy Yankee 
Nicky Jam 
Ozuna 

Latin Rhythm Artist of the Year, Duo or Group:
Jowell & Randy 
Plan B 
Play-N-Skillz 
Zion & Lennox 

Latin Rhythm Song of the Year:
J Balvin & Willy William Featuring Beyonce, “Mi Gente” 
Maluma, “Felices Los 4” 
Nicky Jam, “El Amante” 
Wisin Featuring Ozuna “Escapate Conmigo” 

Latin Rhythm Airplay Label of the Year
Pina 
Sony Music Latin 
Universal Music Latin Entertainment 
Warner Latina 

Latin Rhythm Airplay Imprint of the Year
La Industria 
Sony Music Latin 
Universal Music Latino 
WK 

Latin Rhythm Album of the Year:
Nicky Jam “Fenix” 
Ozuna “Odisea” 
Yandel “#Update” 
Zion & Lennox “Motivan2”

Latin Rhythm Albums Label of the Year:
El Cartel 
Sony Music Latin 
Universal Music Latin Entertainment 
Warner Latina 

Latin Rhythm Albums Imprint of the Year:
Capitol Latin 
La Industria 
Sony Music Latin 
Universal Music Latino 

WRITER/PRODUCER/PUBLISHER CATEGORIES

Songwriter of the Year:
Justin Bieber
Daddy Yankee
Erika Ender
Luis Fonsi
Marty James Garton
Poo Bear

Publisher of the Year:
BMG Gold Songs,ASCAP
Sony/ATV Discos Music Publishing LLC,ASCAP
Sony/ATV Latin Music Publishing, LLC,BMI
Universal Musica, Inc.,ASCAP

Publishing Corporation of the Year:
BMG
Sony/ATV Music
Universal Music
Warner/Chappell Music

Producer of the Year:
Chris Jeday
Mauricio Rengifo & Andres Torres
Saga Whiteblack
Wisin