By: Veronica Villafañe
Univision is celebrating music legends and its own longevity in the music awards space this year during the 2018 Premio Lo Nuestro a la Música Latina. Marking its 30th anniversary, the show will feature some of the greatest artists in Latin music and special tributes to icons who have paved the way for new artists.
Univision today confirmed Pitbull, Daddy Yankee, Laura Pausini, Leslie Grace, Il Volo, Pepe Aguilar, Los Tigres del Norte and Victor Manuelle are among the many artists that will perform live next Thursday, February 22 from the American Airlines arena at 8 p.m. ET/PT (6 p.m. CT).
At 30 years, the live event is the longest-running music awards show on Spanish-language television in the United States. To highlight the milestone, Univision is changing its tune for the 2018 edition. Just for this year, the network won’t have nominations and awards. Instead, it will dedicate the entire program to honoring Latin music legends with special tributes, musical duos and on-stage artist reunions, showcasing the evolution of Latin music.
“We wanted to celebrate our pride in having this awards show for so many years on American television, transforming the event to open doors to different voices and artists that have been part of Premio lo Nuestro during the past three decades… and not just to those who were nominated for having a great year,” explains Univision President of Music Jorge “Pepo” Ferradas. “We’re recognizing the value and contributions of artists of the past and present to the growth of Latin music and paving the way for new artists.”
The gala will re-imagine historical moments and relive the legacy of Latino music in the context of today’s cutting-edge sounds, “spotlighting a new generation of talent making history in new genres… having artists we consider to be key to the future of Latin music on stage,” says Ferradas.
The star-studded gala will open with a performance produced by 18-time Grammy and Latin Grammy award-winning producer Sergio George, who has worked with icons such as Celia Cruz, La India, Marc Anthony, and will bring together several artists to the stage for what Univision is calling “an epic musical experience blending diverse sounds, styles and rhythm that will represent generations, genres and cultures in one musical explosion.”
During the three-hour extravaganza, PLN will pay special tribute to Grammy award-winning power couple Gloria and Emilio Estefan for their career achievements and contributions to the music industry, with surprise guests performing their songs. Merengue icon Olga Tañón will be recognized for her distinguished musical career, which includes 30 PLN awards – the most given to any artist during the show’s history.
Pop/ballad singer-songwriter Ricardo Montaner, who appeared in PLN’s first broadcast, will sing some of his biggest hits. Chart-topper and eight-time PLN award-winner J Balvin will debut his latest hit “Machika” on TV and Mexican singer Alejandro Fernández returns to PLN to perform a new song.
Among the younger chart-topping artists scheduled to perform: Maluma, Bad Bunny and Ozuna – all in their early to mid twenties – as well as banda up-and-comer Victoria “La Mala.”
The show will be co-hosted by singer Laura Pausini, beauty queen Alejandra Espinoza and Lili Estefan. For the first time, the network will simulcast the show on Univision.com and the Univision Now app.
Source: Forbes
