Tito 'El Bambino,' Wisin y Yandel top 2010 Billboard awards list of finalists

Puerto Rican alt-urban reggaetoneros Tito "El Bambino" and Wisin & Yandel lead the list of contenders for the 2010 Billboard Latin Music awards, with 18 and 14 nominations respectively, the Spanish television network Telemundo announced on Thursday.

For his part, “El Bambino” has achieved great success with his latest album “El Patron” and his smash hit “El Amor," while the powerhouse duo has conquered the international reggaeton arena with its chart-topping album "La Revolución" and the fiery track "Abusadora."

Meanwhile, Aventura, Espinoza Paz, Luis Fonsi, Banda El Recodo, La Arrolladora Banda El Limon, Shakira, Fernández, Don Omar, El Trono de Mexico, Paulina Rubio, La Quinta Estacion, Ricardo Arjona, Luis Enrique and Gilberto Santa Rosa are among other finalists competing in multiple categories.

Latin music world's spotlight will shine big and bright on Puerto Rico for nearly a week in the 21st edition of the Billboard Latin Music Award, to be held April 29 at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in Hato Rey for the first time ever.

The awards show, one of Latin music industry's premiere events, will air live on Telemundo, both in the United States and internationally, with a reach of millions of TV viewers in 50 countries.

“The celebration of the Billboard Latin Music Awards is significant for Puerto Rico, since it shows that companies of unquestionable prestige have full confidence in the offering of Puerto Rico as a host of important events like this one,” the Puerto Rico Tourism Company Director Jaime A. López told the Latin Music Examiner in November during a press conference held at the entertainment venue to announce the show.

“All the activities related to the event project to generate 12,000 hotel nights to create a direct impact of $8.6 million, plus the multiplying effect that they will have in sales and other activities related to them,” he added.

López, who added that the Puerto Rico Tourism Company will invest $2.2 million in the event, estimated that all combined the total amount of money generated could reach the $12 million mark.

The organizers also announced that Mexican television personality Alan Tacher will be one of the hosts of the event. His female counterpart is yet to be announced.

As is a tradition, the Billboard Latin Music Awards — which honors the brightest stars in the industry in 50 different categories — are the culmination of the Billboard Latin Music Conference, a four-day event that gathers a who's who list of Latin music professionals, to be held at the Condado Plaza hotel in San Juan, beginning April 26.

Among its highlights are the Billboard Bash, a pre-awards show featuring live performances by top and up-and-coming acts, showcases and Star Q&A, a one-on-one interview conducted by Billboard’s executive director of Latin content, Leila Cobo.

Other finalists — up for five awards — are Shakira, El Trono de Mexico, Fernández and Don
Omar, and battling it out for four prizes are Rubio, Nelly Furtado, La Quinta Estacion, Ricardo Arjona, Luis Enrique and Santa Rosa.

Among those up for three awards are Larry Hernández, Alicia Keys, Marisela and Daddy Yankee, while Ednita Nazario, Jenni Rivera, Enrique Iglesias, Reik, Grupo Mania, Hector Acosta, Pitbull, Alexis & Fido, Flex, El Compa Chuy, Joan Sebastian, Fanny Lu, Flo Rida, Lady Gaga, and Alejandro Fernández are finalists for two awards each.