LAS VEGAS: Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny was the big winner at Thursday night’s Latin Grammy Awards, taking home five trophies, including the prestigious Album of the Year for his acclaimed project Debí Tirar Más Fotos. The album celebrates Puerto Rico’s musical heritage and sets the stage for him to perform at next year’s Super Bowl halftime show.
Dedicating the award to “all the youth of Latin America,” Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, said, “There are many ways of being patriotic and defending our homelands. We chose music.”
The charismatic Argentine duo Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso also won five awards, while other notable winners included Alejandro Sanz, Gloria Estefan, and Karol G, who is set to headline next year’s Coachella Festival.
The Latin music industry continues to grow rapidly, generating a record $1.4 billion in 2024, representing 8.1% of total U.S. music revenue, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. The organization noted that Latin music is shaping culture faster than any other genre.
Bad Bunny has been at the forefront of this movement. Between 2020 and 2022, he was the most-streamed artist in the world for three consecutive years. Debí Tirar Más Fotos—his sixth album—blends live instrumentation with reggaetón rhythms and traditional Puerto Rican styles such as plena, creating a sound that resonates globally.
