Rolling Stone opens debate: Shakira yes, but other artists, no?

Rolling Stone magazine has issued a harsh criticism of the 2024 Latin Grammy nominations, pointing out the preference for established artists such as Shakira, whose song ‘Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53’ has once again appeared among the nominees.

The article questions the repetition of the same song in different categories in two consecutive years, arguing that Tiësto's remix version should not justify a new nomination.

Rolling Stone points out that such practices limit the opportunities for new talent, who could have filled those spots with fresh and creative proposals, according to the Mexican daily El Universal.

The Rolling Stone article also highlights the controversy over the inclusion of big-name artists year after year. The main example is Shakira, who in 2023 won with the same song in another category, raising questions about the selection criteria.

The magazine criticises that popularity, and not quality, seems to be the main factor in determining nominations. In this way they prevent the recognition of emerging artists who deserve visibility.

Among the omitted artists Rolling Stone lists as unfairly ignored are Tainy, Álvaro Díaz and Paula Cendejas, who released albums that, according to the publication, stand out in their genres.

The lack of inclusion of genres such as rap in specific categories, and its mix with others such as reggaeton in the Urban Music category, is also a topic of discussion in the article.

The criticism extends to the fact that some artists nominated this year, such as Bad Bunny, are not traditional rappers. The magazine argues that this affects the representation of genuine rap musicians at the awards.

Rolling Stone also points out that the Latin Academy should reinvent its selection process to give more room for creativity and innovation, something they feel has been sidelined in favour of the same names.

Despite the criticism, the magazine notes that some important productions this year, such as the albums by Mon Laferte and Residente, have been recognised, although many other innovators were left out, according to El Universal. So are the Latin Grammys favouring big names over other artists?

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