CHICAGO (AP) — For Luis Martinez, competing in lowriding bike and car competitions is about more than glory and bragging rights. The lowrider clubs in the Chicago area have become like one big family and a source of mutual support.
“It just starts with the metal,” said Martinez, who got his introduction to lowrider culture when his mother took him to a flea market. He had his first bike when he was 12.
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A mural depicting a Mexican American woman is pictured at Lincoln Park during a lowrider exhibition for its 20th anniversary in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
Kenneth Santillan, of San Antonio, Texas sits at the steering wheel of a 1993 Nissan Hardbody at a lowrider exhibition during the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
A family visits a vintage car during a lowrider exhibition for the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
A family looks at vintage cars during a lowrider exhibition for the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
Santos Gonzalez sits between a 1939 and a 1949 Chevy vintage cars during a lowrider exhibition for the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
A gold lowrider car is on display at the Slow & Low Chicago Lowrider Festival, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, at Navy Pier in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
A Day of the Dead altar is placed next to a lowrider car on display at the Slow & Low Chicago Lowrider Festival, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, at Navy Pier in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Daniel Marquez, 7. is reflected in the mirror of his chrome lowrider bike, built by himself and family friends in memory of his late father Alberto, a longtime member of lowrider car clubs, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at his home in Frankfort, Ill. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
A detail of 7-year-old Daniel Marquez's chrome lowrider bike, built by Daniel and family friends in memory of his late father Alberto, a longtime member of lowrider car clubs, can be seen Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at his home in Frankfort, Ill. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
A sash paying tribute to the late Alberto Marquez adorns a Uso Car Club plaque attached to a custom chrome lowrider bike built by his 7-year-old son Daniel and family friends Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at his home in Frankfort, Ill. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
A photo of baby Daniel Marquez, now seven years old, sitting on his late father Alberto's lap inside their 1963 Chevy Impala lowrider car, is displayed with a custom chrome lowrider bike built by Daniel and family friends Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at his home in Frankfort, Ill. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
A detail of the lowrider bike custom-built by Luis Martinez, 29, a member of the Uso Chicago Car Club, can be seen Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Mishawaka, Ind. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
A detail of the lowrider bike custom-built by Luis Martinez, 29, a member of the Uso Chicago Car Club, can be seen Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Mishawaka, Ind. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
A detail of the lowrider bike custom-built by Luis Martinez, 29, a member of the Uso Chicago Car Club, can be seen Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Mishawaka, Ind. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Daniel Marquez, 7, sits inside his late father Alberto's 1963 Chevy Impala lowrider car Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Frankfort, Ill. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Luis Martinez, 29, a member of the Uso Chicago Car Club, cleans his custom-built lowrider bike Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Mishawaka, Ind. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
University of San Diego professor Alberto Lopez Pulido waves from his mobile classroom bus while attending a lowrider exhibition for the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
Wearing Zoot suits of the Mexican American subculture known as Pachucos, Cisco and Güera Martinez pose for a photo while attending a lowrider exhibition during the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
Hugo Cardenas, wearing a Zoot suit of the Mexican American subculture known as Pachucos, dances while attending a lowrider exhibition during the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
A folklorico ballet dancer performs during a lowrider exhibition for the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
University of San Diego professor Alberto Lopez Pulido smiles while speaking with attendees of a lowrider exhibition during the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
Hugo Cardenas and Araceli Martinez, wearing Zoot suits of the Mexican American subculture known as Pachucos, dance while attending a lowrider exhibition during the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
A detail of the lowrider bike custom-built by Luis Martinez, 29, a member of the Uso Chicago Car Club who was born in Mexico, can be seen Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Mishawaka, Ind. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Details of the lowrider bike custom-built by Luis Martinez, 29, a member of the Uso Chicago Car Club, can be seen Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Mishawaka, Ind. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Luis Martinez, 29, a member of the Uso Chicago Car Club, sits on his custom-built lowrider bike Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Mishawaka, Ind. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
A detail of 7-year-old Daniel Marquez's chrome lowrider bike, built by Daniel and family friends in memory of his late father Alberto, a longtime member of lowrider car clubs, can be seen Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at his home in Frankfort, Ill. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Seven-year-old Daniel Marquez sits on his chrome lowrider bike, custom-built by himself and family friends in memory of his late father Alberto, a longtime member of lowrider car clubs, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at his home in Frankfort, Ill. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
The decorated interior of a Monte Carlo vintage car is pictured during a lowrider exhibition for the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
Vintage cars are pictured during a lowrider exhibition for the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
An orange lowrider car is on display at the Slow & Low Chicago Lowrider Festival, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, at Navy Pier in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
A lowrider car is on display at the Slow & Low Chicago Lowrider Festival, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, at Navy Pier in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
American and Mexican flags decorate a vintage car during a lowrider exhibition for the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
The decorated interior of a vintage car is pictured during a lowrider exhibition for the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
A Chevrolet vintage car is pictured during a lowrider exhibition for the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
Wearing Zoot suits of the Mexican American subculture known as Pachucos, Paula, Jacob, center, and Junior Hernandez pose for a photo while attending a lowrider exhibition during the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
Attendees of a lowrider exhibition, wearing Zoot suits of the Mexican American subculture known as Pachucos, pose for a photo on a vintage car during the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
“To me, it’s about expressing my art and what I can do with my own hands,” Martinez told The Associated Press as he polished a shiny red bike at his home in Mishawaka, Indiana.
A movement of expression with origins in Mexican American and Chicano communities, lowriding is an aspect of Latino history in the U.S. in which people show their pride, honor family and uplift culture. But misrepresentation of the culture in entertainment and media has often associated the lowriding’s “low and slow” motto with gang culture.
Still, decades since its emergence, and as the Hispanic U.S. population increases, lowriding has experienced a boom, as evidenced by an increase in car shows and conventions nationwide.
Lowriding involves the customization of a vehicle — from the tires to the sound system — with vivid designs and colors. Unlike hot rods or muscle cars, which are often modified to have big tires and move at high speeds, the lowrider community modified the cars and bikes to go “low and slow,” said Alberto Pulido, the chair of the Ethnic Studies department at the University of San Diego.
“It was a way to speak to an identity, a presence and it was done with few resources,” said Pulido, who also directed the award-winning documentary, “Lowriding: Everything Comes From the Streets.”
“Our community didn’t have a lot of money,” he said. “They might have had a little bit expendable income to buy a car but then they were kind of on their own to create their vehicles. We call that Chicano ingenuity.”
According to Pulido, lowriding originated in the Southwest, although there are disputes about where exactly it first appeared. Pulido said lowriders in Los Angeles would like to make the claim they were the first, while those in San Diego want their undeniable influence in the culture acknowledged.
The culture can be traced to post-World War II, when veterans were coming home with an expendable income. And with the growth of highways and freeways in California, people wanted to modify their vehicles, Pulido said.
Today, conventions attract enthusiasts from all over the U.S. Last month, what was once a small showcase with only 40 lowriders at Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, grew to over 300 lowriders from clubs across the U.S.
Hector Gonzalez, of the Lincoln Park Conservation Committee, said the car clubs help members travel to all the showcases in the nation. In the ’70s and ’80s, lowrider clubs became a representation of the community and offered mutual aid such as ride-sharing and food donations when the local government could not or would not, Gonzalez said.
“It is something that gets passed on from generation to generation,” said Gonzalez, who, like most lowriders, was introduced to the community with a bike at the young age of 13. He has passed on his love for lowriding to his own children, nephews and cousins
“Kids grow up seeing the cars, they pick it up and they carry on the tradition,” Gonzalez said.
Lauren Pacheco, co-founder and co-curator of the Slow and Low Chicago Low Rider Festival, described lowriding as a global, multibillion-dollar phenomenon of self-expression and innovation.
“It’s a marvel of mechanical innovation,” Pacheco said. “It is the beautiful artistry in the creative practice of muralism, storytelling and upholstery.”
Within the last decade, lowrider conventions have grown so much that they’ve made their way to Japan. In Nagoya, Japanese lowriders have modified their cars, created clubs and even come to events at Chicano Park in San Diego.
Appreciation for lowriding has increased in recent years, enthusiasts say. But that was not always the case.
In the beginning, lowriding was associated with harmful stereotypes about Latinos as gangsters, Pulido said. Because the culture involved predominantly Latino participants, lowriding became racialized and that overshadowed the artistic and community service aspects of the movement.
The 1979 thriller-drama “Boulevard Nights” also helped to perpetuate the lowriders as gangsters trope. The film’s main character, Raymond Avila, played by Richard Yñiguez tried to avoid getting lured into the violent street gangs of East Los Angeles. Lowriding vehicles and the lowrider “cholo” aesthetic was featured throughout the film.
While the perception of lowriding has since gotten better, Pulido said he has been to lowriding car shows where police immediately show up.
Martinez, the Indiana lowrider, said lowriding misconceptions grew in the Chicago area because the community members were tattooed in ways often associated with gang affiliation. Pacheco said the Chicago festival works to dispel those misconceptions.
“We really try not to create a space that glamorizes or romanticizes gang culture,” she said. “It’s really a celebration of creativity and innovation and family.”
Gonzalez, the Texas lowriding showcase organizer, said the culture’s focus on wheels, hydraulic systems and accessories, has helped lowriding become a booming industry.
In El Paso, people have opened small businesses orientated to the lowriding community. In the last couple of years, at least 25 new businesses opened, including body shops, upholstery shops and apparel shops, Gonzalez said.
“It has become a mainstream business,” he said. “Back in the 70s and 80s, it was more of a local thing. Everybody helping each other do things on their own. Now there’s just all kinds of opportunities to purchase things and have things done to your vehicle.”
Originally from Dallas, Texas, Martinez said he would buy the parts he needed from a man in his neighborhood, who would buy in bulk from Lowrider magazine. He said the unfortunate thing about lowriding becoming so big is parts are now mass produced from China instead of being Mexican made.
But lowriding is not just about the often pricey task of modifying cars, Pulido said. It is about building a community that is always there for each other, throughout generations, he said.
“We have grandparents that are lowriders and then their kids and their grandkids are in tune already,” Pulido said.
It's a legacy that Sonia Gomez wants for her 8-year-old son, Daniel Marquez. His late father, Alberto Marquez, had been a member of a Chicago area lowrider club. Too young to drive the car left to him by his father, Daniel has a lowriding bike that is more of a memorial to his dad.
“The bike is what he’s doing to build it up,” Gomez said.
The family will do an ofrenda, a display often associated with Mexican Dia de los Muertos celebrations, when local lowriding festivals are held. As part of the ofrenda, Daniel takes an image he has with his father on a lowriding bike and places it next to his actual bike, which he named “Wishing on a Star.”
“We would either go on a (lowriding) cruise with my uncle, or we would go to actual car shows,” Daniel recently recalled, while sitting at the driver's seat of his dad's lowriding car parked in the driveway of their home in Frankfort, Illinois.
“My mom would be there,” he said pointing to the passenger seat. “And I'd be back there all squished.”
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A mural depicting a Mexican American woman is pictured at Lincoln Park during a lowrider exhibition for its 20th anniversary in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
Kenneth Santillan, of San Antonio, Texas sits at the steering wheel of a 1993 Nissan Hardbody at a lowrider exhibition during the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
A family visits a vintage car during a lowrider exhibition for the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
A family looks at vintage cars during a lowrider exhibition for the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
Santos Gonzalez sits between a 1939 and a 1949 Chevy vintage cars during a lowrider exhibition for the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
A gold lowrider car is on display at the Slow & Low Chicago Lowrider Festival, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, at Navy Pier in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
A Day of the Dead altar is placed next to a lowrider car on display at the Slow & Low Chicago Lowrider Festival, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, at Navy Pier in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Daniel Marquez, 7. is reflected in the mirror of his chrome lowrider bike, built by himself and family friends in memory of his late father Alberto, a longtime member of lowrider car clubs, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at his home in Frankfort, Ill. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
A detail of 7-year-old Daniel Marquez's chrome lowrider bike, built by Daniel and family friends in memory of his late father Alberto, a longtime member of lowrider car clubs, can be seen Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at his home in Frankfort, Ill. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
A sash paying tribute to the late Alberto Marquez adorns a Uso Car Club plaque attached to a custom chrome lowrider bike built by his 7-year-old son Daniel and family friends Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at his home in Frankfort, Ill. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
A photo of baby Daniel Marquez, now seven years old, sitting on his late father Alberto's lap inside their 1963 Chevy Impala lowrider car, is displayed with a custom chrome lowrider bike built by Daniel and family friends Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at his home in Frankfort, Ill. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
A detail of the lowrider bike custom-built by Luis Martinez, 29, a member of the Uso Chicago Car Club, can be seen Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Mishawaka, Ind. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
A detail of the lowrider bike custom-built by Luis Martinez, 29, a member of the Uso Chicago Car Club, can be seen Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Mishawaka, Ind. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
A detail of the lowrider bike custom-built by Luis Martinez, 29, a member of the Uso Chicago Car Club, can be seen Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Mishawaka, Ind. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Daniel Marquez, 7, sits inside his late father Alberto's 1963 Chevy Impala lowrider car Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Frankfort, Ill. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Luis Martinez, 29, a member of the Uso Chicago Car Club, cleans his custom-built lowrider bike Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Mishawaka, Ind. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
University of San Diego professor Alberto Lopez Pulido waves from his mobile classroom bus while attending a lowrider exhibition for the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
Wearing Zoot suits of the Mexican American subculture known as Pachucos, Cisco and Güera Martinez pose for a photo while attending a lowrider exhibition during the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
Hugo Cardenas, wearing a Zoot suit of the Mexican American subculture known as Pachucos, dances while attending a lowrider exhibition during the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
A folklorico ballet dancer performs during a lowrider exhibition for the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
University of San Diego professor Alberto Lopez Pulido smiles while speaking with attendees of a lowrider exhibition during the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
Hugo Cardenas and Araceli Martinez, wearing Zoot suits of the Mexican American subculture known as Pachucos, dance while attending a lowrider exhibition during the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
A detail of the lowrider bike custom-built by Luis Martinez, 29, a member of the Uso Chicago Car Club who was born in Mexico, can be seen Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Mishawaka, Ind. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Details of the lowrider bike custom-built by Luis Martinez, 29, a member of the Uso Chicago Car Club, can be seen Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Mishawaka, Ind. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Luis Martinez, 29, a member of the Uso Chicago Car Club, sits on his custom-built lowrider bike Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Mishawaka, Ind. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
A detail of 7-year-old Daniel Marquez's chrome lowrider bike, built by Daniel and family friends in memory of his late father Alberto, a longtime member of lowrider car clubs, can be seen Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at his home in Frankfort, Ill. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Seven-year-old Daniel Marquez sits on his chrome lowrider bike, custom-built by himself and family friends in memory of his late father Alberto, a longtime member of lowrider car clubs, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at his home in Frankfort, Ill. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
The decorated interior of a Monte Carlo vintage car is pictured during a lowrider exhibition for the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
Vintage cars are pictured during a lowrider exhibition for the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
An orange lowrider car is on display at the Slow & Low Chicago Lowrider Festival, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, at Navy Pier in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
A lowrider car is on display at the Slow & Low Chicago Lowrider Festival, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, at Navy Pier in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
American and Mexican flags decorate a vintage car during a lowrider exhibition for the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
The decorated interior of a vintage car is pictured during a lowrider exhibition for the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
A Chevrolet vintage car is pictured during a lowrider exhibition for the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
Wearing Zoot suits of the Mexican American subculture known as Pachucos, Paula, Jacob, center, and Junior Hernandez pose for a photo while attending a lowrider exhibition during the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
Attendees of a lowrider exhibition, wearing Zoot suits of the Mexican American subculture known as Pachucos, pose for a photo on a vintage car during the 20th anniversary of Lincoln Park in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrés Leighton)
The 2024 Latin Grammy Awards are here and back in Miami. It's a big year: the award show is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and Latin music genres have never been bigger globally. So, what should you expect?
Édgar Barrera — the producer and songwriter known for his work with such artists as Madonna, Karol G, Peso Pluma, Shakira, Grupo Frontera and beyond — leads the 2024 Latin Grammy nominations for a second year in a row. This year, he’s up for nine awards; last year he received 13 nominations and won three.
Barrera is nominated for producer, songwriter, record and album of the year. He’s also nominated twice in the best Regional Mexican song category, and three times in the song of the year category, for his work on Shakira and Grupo Frontera’s “Entre Paréntesis”, Karol G’s “Mi Ex Tenía Razón,” and Maluma and Carin León’s “Según Quién.”
Just behind Barrera are some of his collaborators, like Karol G and Bad Bunny. Those giants of reggaetón and beyond are tied with eight nominations each.
Colombian songwriter Keityn has six nods.
The Latin Grammys will begin at 8 p.m. Eastern and are being held at the Kaseya Center in Miami.
Performers at this year’s bash include Barrera, Residente, Myke Towers, DJ Khaled, Jon Bon Jovi, Joe Jonas, Anitta, Becky G, Eladio Carrión, Grupo Frontera, Kali Uchis, Pitbull, Luis Fonsi, Juan Luis Guerra, Carín León and many more.
The 2024 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year recipient, Carlos Vives, will also perform. Past winners include Juanes, Laura Pausini, Marco Antonio Solís, Rubén Blades and more.
There are also two new categories this year: best Latin electronic music performance, housed within the new electronic music field, and best contemporary Mexican music album.
The three-hour 25th annual Latin Grammy Awards telecast will air live on Univision, UniMás, Galavisión and ViX.
Carin Leon arrives at the Latin Grammys Person of the Year award ceremony, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Miami Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Carlos Vives, the Latin Grammys Person of the Year, poses with CEO Manuel Abud, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Miami Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
FILE - Producer and songwriter Edgar Barrera arrives at the 23rd Annual Latin Grammy Awards at the Mandalay Bay Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, Nov. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
FILE - Carlos Vives poses in the press room with his Latin Grammy gramophone-shaped trophies awarded for best pop/rock and best contemporary tropical album, at the 23rd Annual Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas, Nov. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
FILE - Karol G poses with her Latin Grammy gramophone-shaped trophies for best urban album; album of the year; and best urban fusion/performance, during the 24th Annual Latin Grammy Awards ceremony, in Seville, Spain, Nov. 16, 2023. (Photo by Jose Breton/Invision/AP File)
FILE - Shakira performs during the 24th Annual Latin Grammy Awards ceremony, in Seville, Spain, Nov. 16, 2023. (Photo by Jose Breton/Invision/AP File)