Snubs & Surprises at 2024 Latin Grammy Awards

Venezuelan group Rawayana won the Latin Grammy for best pop song for “Feriado,” beating out Kali Uchis and Peso Pluma’s “Igual Que Un Ángel,” which, for many, was the clear favorite. While some may qualify this as a snub for Kali and Peso given the song’s commercial success (it topped the Hot Latin Songs chart earlier this year), we’re taking it as a pleasant surprise. After all, “Feriado” is a breezy cool song and it’s a long overdue Latin Grammy win for Rawayana.

This could’ve easily fallen under surprise, given that Luis Fonsi’s El Viaje was so deserving of the best pop vocal album award as well. But Kali Uchis was considered the front runner in this category with Orquídeas. The critically and commercially acclaimed LP scored the Colombian American her first No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart. The set was also up for album of the year, where it also lost to Juan Luis Guerra’s EP Radio Güira.

Of course everything the great Juan Luis Guerra creates is a masterpiece and “MAMBO 23” is no exception. The fast-paced mambo with merengue flairs won record of the year. It was a tough category, to say the least. The song was up against strong contenders, like Karol G’s “Mi Ex Tenía Razón” and Kali Uchis and Peso Pluma’s “Igual Que Un Ángel.”

Best new artist was perhaps the hardest category to predict. Any of the nominees could’ve easily taken the award home. Colombian singer-songwriter was victorious and won over Latin Mafia, Íñigo Quintero and Darumas, among other nominees. Like last year’s best new artist winner, Joaquina, Ela Taubert is a graduate of producer Julio Reyes Copello’s Art House Academy.

It’s a surprise that isn’t really a surprise. It’s known that Jorge Drexler is a Grammy darling, and when one of his songs is nominated at the Latin Grammys, it’s almost certified it’ll win. His song “Derrumbe,” up for song of the year, was no exception. The track not only won song of the year but also best singer-songwriter song. Even Drexler, who dedicated the win to his father, who passed 11 days ago, sounded surprised in his acceptance speech. “How can a sad, small song be among so many people I admire? Thank you Latin Recording Academy for taking away the imposter syndrome,” he expressed.

Shakira’s comeback album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, was completely overlooked at the Latin Grammys. Up for album of the year, the set — home to hits like “TQG,” her Bizarrap-produced music session and “Te Felicito” — it lost to Juan Luis Guerra’s EP Radio Güira. Guerra also won record of the year for “MAMBO 23.” Shakira was a front runner in this category, alongside Karol G, who was up for Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season) and Carín León’s Boca Chueca, Vol. 1. Her loss is resounding, given the album’s significance, her first in seven years, and that the album led to a U.S. stadium tour. Shakira did not attend the 2024 Latin Grammys.