It was fun to watch the 15th Annual Award show ! Again, most of the winners are chronic , meaning they have won on several occasions.
The Latin Grammy Award for Best New Artist is an honor presented annually at the Latin Grammy Awards, a ceremony that recognizes excellence and creates a wider awareness of cultural diversity and contributions of Latin recording artists, nationally and internationally.The award is given to solo artists or groups that first establish an identity to the public as a performer and release a Spanish or Portuguese language recording during the period of eligibility;
Of interest, this year's trophy was awarded to Mariana Vega.
According to the Latin Grammy definition of Best New Artist, Mariana is not a new artist.
Mariana Vega started her music carreer in 2008, that is 6 years ago. Sonográfica, a Venezuelan music company put up her album Háblame, which was produced in 2008 by Sebastián Krys and Luis Romero; with this album she obtained Gold and Platinum Album in Venezuela.
In 2008, Mariana was awarded the best new artist price by Record Report;
In 2010, Mariana travels to México, where she is signed by Seitrack; at this time she records her first full album titled Mariana Vega, produced by Aureo Baqueiro.
During 2011, Mariana produced two new songs, Te Seguir y Pregúntale por mi, which were broadcasted throughout Venezuelan radio stations.
In 2013, she made a second álbum titled Mi Burbuja, also produced by Baqueiro and in 2014 she produced another album titled Te Busco.
Most of the Latin Grammys Best New Artist winners have a "connection" with Warner Music Mexico, and Mariana Vega, like Jesse & Joy, Alexander Acha and Gaby Moreno , is not an exception..
scans.marianavegafans.com.ve
es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariana_Vega
Lets not forget Gabriel Abaroa's little brother, Alejandro, is and has been talent manager at Warner Music Mexico for a longtime. So who is Mr Gabriel Abaroa trying to fool.
prezi.com/sv6h9y1raci2/alejandro-abaroa
Interestingly enough, Mariana is married to the executive VP and general manager of E! Entertainment Television Latin America. Influential ? I believe the answer is yes !
If Mr Abaroa wants to make it right , he should change the definition of Best new artist to:
(humor)
"The Latin Grammy Award for Best New Artist is an honor presented annually at the Latin Grammy Awards, a ceremony that recognizes that for the artist to win he or she needs to sign with Warner Music Mexico. The award is given to solo artists or groups that first establish a relationship with my brother Alejandro from Warner Music Mexico during the period of eligibility and obviously, you have to have a grandfather or husband with influences and it will work perfectly!"
Again, the Latin Grammy award show and Mr Gabriel Abaroa have a lot to explain !
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Thursday, September 25, 2014
The 15th Annual Latin Grammy Nominees
Again and again Mr Gabriel Abaroa and the Latin Academy of Recording Arts continues to select the same people which comprises artists from major record labels.
Mr Abaroa once said that nobody knew the names of the nominees and winners until the night of the show. Unfortunately, this is a lie. For example, prior to the Latin Grammys Mr Abaroa and Calle 13 were running around Puerto Rico filling their mouth with donations of nusical instruments. The perception is that they are nice people in trying to help others with these donations; the reality is another, Mr Abaroa and the Latin Academy, by doing that are "promoting" Calle 13 (for a vote ?);
another example is the trip that Mr Abaroa took to Peru in company of Jesse & Joy, the Mexican pop duo that won the 2007 Latin Grammy Award for Best New artist. Everyone know they won because their Warner Mexico Record manager is Alejandro Abaroa, brother of the President of the Academy Gabriel Abaroa. Lets not fool the public ! Most of the New artist category have been won by an artist that is or has a relationship with Warner Mexico. Do not forget Gaby Moreno, who won last year's Best New Artist, that even though she is listed under Metamorfosis Record Label. her album distribution is through Warner Mexico. For that matter, I would not doubt that again history repeats and this year's winner is Daniela Spalla.
It is funny to see that the same artists are nominated again and again. Most of the nominees are Mexicans and Columbians. The usual trend.
As it has been previously mentioned, the Academy is full of artists with leftists ideas. Lets see if Mr Abaroa has the guts to shut up Calle 13 like he did in previous years (microphone off).
I love music and I have a good ear for it, and still I do not understand what the Academy of Recording Arts love about Calle 13. Multiple nominations this year. Or is it there is a "voting pool" voting for them ? Maybe is time to consider taking the Latin Grammy Award show to Cuba, Venezuela or Bolivia. Would Mr Abaroa make the same money if the Latin Grammys were in one of these countries ? Doubt it ! Another interesting fact is that the Latin Grammys has never been given in Mexico, which is the country that has won most of the Awards. I think Mexico would be perfect for an Award show, but would Mr Abaroa make the same salary ? Doubt it !
I was very surprised to see almost no participation by Brazilian artists. It seems Mr Abaroa and the Academy has forgotten that Brazil is a huge country with very talented artists. This kind of observation has already surfaced in some internet blogs and I would not doubt that Brazilians eventually form their own Academy.
Please understand that not everything is bad about the Academy. We have :Ruben Blades,Drexler and Caetano Veloso. The rest does not make one !
Well, again what can we expect from an Academy in which his President has a salary of over $700,000USD. He does not want new innovative artists singing and presenting. He wants the oldies who he can manipulate and continue to exploit for his super salary.
Frustration is building among Academy members who thought they will be nominated .
Ask the Member of the Academy executive board who needed a beer ! I have to laugh to some extent !!!
And the winners are ??? : ask the "voting pool".......
Mr Abaroa once said that nobody knew the names of the nominees and winners until the night of the show. Unfortunately, this is a lie. For example, prior to the Latin Grammys Mr Abaroa and Calle 13 were running around Puerto Rico filling their mouth with donations of nusical instruments. The perception is that they are nice people in trying to help others with these donations; the reality is another, Mr Abaroa and the Latin Academy, by doing that are "promoting" Calle 13 (for a vote ?);
another example is the trip that Mr Abaroa took to Peru in company of Jesse & Joy, the Mexican pop duo that won the 2007 Latin Grammy Award for Best New artist. Everyone know they won because their Warner Mexico Record manager is Alejandro Abaroa, brother of the President of the Academy Gabriel Abaroa. Lets not fool the public ! Most of the New artist category have been won by an artist that is or has a relationship with Warner Mexico. Do not forget Gaby Moreno, who won last year's Best New Artist, that even though she is listed under Metamorfosis Record Label. her album distribution is through Warner Mexico. For that matter, I would not doubt that again history repeats and this year's winner is Daniela Spalla.
It is funny to see that the same artists are nominated again and again. Most of the nominees are Mexicans and Columbians. The usual trend.
As it has been previously mentioned, the Academy is full of artists with leftists ideas. Lets see if Mr Abaroa has the guts to shut up Calle 13 like he did in previous years (microphone off).
I love music and I have a good ear for it, and still I do not understand what the Academy of Recording Arts love about Calle 13. Multiple nominations this year. Or is it there is a "voting pool" voting for them ? Maybe is time to consider taking the Latin Grammy Award show to Cuba, Venezuela or Bolivia. Would Mr Abaroa make the same money if the Latin Grammys were in one of these countries ? Doubt it ! Another interesting fact is that the Latin Grammys has never been given in Mexico, which is the country that has won most of the Awards. I think Mexico would be perfect for an Award show, but would Mr Abaroa make the same salary ? Doubt it !
I was very surprised to see almost no participation by Brazilian artists. It seems Mr Abaroa and the Academy has forgotten that Brazil is a huge country with very talented artists. This kind of observation has already surfaced in some internet blogs and I would not doubt that Brazilians eventually form their own Academy.
Please understand that not everything is bad about the Academy. We have :Ruben Blades,Drexler and Caetano Veloso. The rest does not make one !
Well, again what can we expect from an Academy in which his President has a salary of over $700,000USD. He does not want new innovative artists singing and presenting. He wants the oldies who he can manipulate and continue to exploit for his super salary.
Frustration is building among Academy members who thought they will be nominated .
Ask the Member of the Academy executive board who needed a beer ! I have to laugh to some extent !!!
And the winners are ??? : ask the "voting pool".......
Saturday, September 13, 2014
The 15th Latin Grammy Award Upcoming Nominations : another fairy tale?
Certainly, the nominations to the 15th Annual Latin Grammy Award show are around the corner.
What can we expect from the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences ( LARAS) voting process ? Would the voting process be a fair one, or are they going to fall into the same bull shit as previous years ?
For sure, Mr . Gabriel Abaroa, President of the Academy most likely knows who are the nominees and probably the winners.
Lets not forget Mr Abaroa's dealings within the Academy and the music industry are somewhat obscure; Lets not forget he owns Wireless Latin Entertainment (WILAEN) , a private company that deals with music download.
http://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/ConvertTiffToPDF?storagePath=COR%5C2010%5C0107%5C65090100.tif&documentNumber=P02000000068
Even though his name appears in the above State of Florida Corporation database, subsequent amendment show his name was deleted. This occurred after he was exposed !
Lets not forget that most, if not all of the artists presenting and performing in the Latin Grammys were featured in his WILAEN page.
Lets not forget that for the 15th Annual Show, members of the Academy , in order to make the Awards "fair and truthworthy", should have listen to over 11,000 songs; Time to work, sleep and do the usual necessities are not possible when you have to listen to all those songs in order to give an honest vote.
For sure, the pre-Latin Grammy shows , will include the "usual suspects"....among others are Bisbal and Devita, and obviously Mr. Abaroa would not "dare" to leave out mediocre Juanes.
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/espanol/2014/09/10/juanes-de-vita-y-bisbal-cantaran-en-las-latin-grammy-acoustic-sessions/
I see LARAS as an organization with lack of enthusiasm. The only time there is some activity is the time preceding the Latin Grammy Award show. Most of the members of the Academy does not care about the voting process. That is why Mr Abaroa never publish the voting statistics. It would be interesting to see: what percent of all the Members vote, geographic voting (countries) and voting by individual categories.
It is time to think about innovative, alternative ways to improve the voting process. Maybe the Academy should have a website where the Members can listen to a portion of a song blindly. Meaning that the song will not have the names of the artists, composers, producers. In this fashion,
voting will be an honest way to judge a song without the influence of friendship, kickbacks or favors.
Kickbacks, favors, exchange of votes, and voting pools are common denominators within the Academy.
It is time to make progress and advance. Lets remember that LARAS still has a long way to go.
Mr Abaroa wake up !!!
What can we expect from the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences ( LARAS) voting process ? Would the voting process be a fair one, or are they going to fall into the same bull shit as previous years ?
For sure, Mr . Gabriel Abaroa, President of the Academy most likely knows who are the nominees and probably the winners.
Lets not forget Mr Abaroa's dealings within the Academy and the music industry are somewhat obscure; Lets not forget he owns Wireless Latin Entertainment (WILAEN) , a private company that deals with music download.
http://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/ConvertTiffToPDF?storagePath=COR%5C2010%5C0107%5C65090100.tif&documentNumber=P02000000068
Even though his name appears in the above State of Florida Corporation database, subsequent amendment show his name was deleted. This occurred after he was exposed !
Lets not forget that most, if not all of the artists presenting and performing in the Latin Grammys were featured in his WILAEN page.
Lets not forget that for the 15th Annual Show, members of the Academy , in order to make the Awards "fair and truthworthy", should have listen to over 11,000 songs; Time to work, sleep and do the usual necessities are not possible when you have to listen to all those songs in order to give an honest vote.
For sure, the pre-Latin Grammy shows , will include the "usual suspects"....among others are Bisbal and Devita, and obviously Mr. Abaroa would not "dare" to leave out mediocre Juanes.
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/espanol/2014/09/10/juanes-de-vita-y-bisbal-cantaran-en-las-latin-grammy-acoustic-sessions/
I see LARAS as an organization with lack of enthusiasm. The only time there is some activity is the time preceding the Latin Grammy Award show. Most of the members of the Academy does not care about the voting process. That is why Mr Abaroa never publish the voting statistics. It would be interesting to see: what percent of all the Members vote, geographic voting (countries) and voting by individual categories.
It is time to think about innovative, alternative ways to improve the voting process. Maybe the Academy should have a website where the Members can listen to a portion of a song blindly. Meaning that the song will not have the names of the artists, composers, producers. In this fashion,
voting will be an honest way to judge a song without the influence of friendship, kickbacks or favors.
Kickbacks, favors, exchange of votes, and voting pools are common denominators within the Academy.
It is time to make progress and advance. Lets remember that LARAS still has a long way to go.
Mr Abaroa wake up !!!
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
The 15th Annual Latin Grammy Award Show: what happens before the show.
Again, we are soon approaching the 15th Annual Latin Grammy Awards to be held in "Sin City", Las Vegas, Nevada.
Everyone probably asks themselves what in reality happens before the Award show. Artists and songwriters start composing the previous year, so they can submit the songs to the Award show; Interestingly, most artists start promoting their work in one way or another; songs are submitted to the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (LARAS), which recruits 100 of its members to evaluate the songs; the songs are evaluated for placement into different categories, which may not be the ones intended initially by the composer; basically, the committees will have the authority to include the songs in whichever category they think is best. Best for who? It may not be good for music, but for some competing artists,because it is easier to be nominated or win in a category with less songs; again, the committees,in part are formed by Members of the Academy who belong to specific record labels or companies. This is bad because these people will benefit their own artists by including or excluding certain songs in a determined category.
After the committees meet and determine "everything", then, the ballots are sent to the Members of the Academy; By now, Mr Gabriel Abaroa is in the process of negotiating with the major record labels which artists are going to participate. For this matter, he meets with the different record labels; as I have already mentioned, most of the artists presenting or performing in the Award show are the same year after year.
Finally, after the first voting round is over, then a second round (the nominees) is sent to the Members for a final vote. A note of interest is that the voting ballots have the voting Member's name and identification number; this is conflicting, because in my experience, no voting ballot should have the name of the person or an ID number. I say so because the Academy should have no right in knowing the voting preference of a Member.The Academy by knowing the voting trend of a Member can target that Member if the Member does not conform to the Academy voting trend; certainly, this is not an example of transparency.
Another interesting fact is that Mr. Abaroa has said multiple times that nobody knows who the winners are until the day that the envelope is opened during the night of the Awards; I think Mr. Abaroa is trying to fool everyone, but in reality it is simple. How is it possible that 95% of the Members that present or perform at the Award show are winners. They have to know in advance who the winners are!
Another important aspect before the Show is that Mr. Abaroa gives multiple press releases.
One of the most relevant ones is that "an artist cannot buy a Latin Grammy.and whoever says that is a thief", says Abaroa. (http://www.eluniversal.com/arte-y-entretenimiento/121114/gabriel-abaroa-jr-los-premios-grammy-no-se-compran) I tend to agree with Mr. Abaroa. An artist can not buy a Latin Grammy because the Awards are given on a yearly basis; on the other hand I think the question to Mr. Abaroa should have been, can you "rent" or "lease" a Latin Grammy? And the answer is "yes".
Another important aspect of this article is that Mr Abaroa states :"La cantidad de artistas que hoy en día se quejan o hablan mal del Grammy nos dignifica porque quiere decir que algo de valor debemos de tener como para que la gente hable tanto, ya sea a favor o en contra", comenta el mexicano, quien está vinculado a la Academia desde 2003.
Certainly, Gabriel has a good sense of humor. He has to realize that when somebody badmouths the Latin Grammy's it is for a reason; so far the Latin Grammy's has plenty of reasons to be criticized! A clear example is when he is asked about a preference for Mexican artists (Mr. Abaroa is Mexican): "Yo he tenido reuniones con artistas y grupos regionales mexicanos que me reclaman airadamente que por qué los echo a un lado; es decir, todo el mundo tiene su propia interpretación. No existen esas teorías avasalladoras".
Well again Mr. Abaroa, you are wrong: " Sin embargo, un gráfico elaborado por la agencia AP muestra que México es el país que más premios ha ganado desde el año 2000, específicamente 117, que representa 29,77%, un poco por encima de Brasil, otro gran mercado, con 29,52%. "
Another example is about how "pure" the Awards are. El músico y productor compara el labor de la Academia, conformada por 3.000 miembros, con lo que hace el Pulitzer en el periodismo. "No somos un grupo de cinco personas de traje a los que nos gusta la música, escuchando todas las propuestas del mundo y decidiendo cuál nos gusta... Es el reconocimiento entre colegas, que es algo muy noble e interesante", comenta.
Yes Mr. Abaroa you just said it: the Academy has 3000 Members and only a few, for the past several years are the winners. Is it because of the voting process, or because of voting has to do with kickbacks, friendship, voting exchanges, or the "voting pool"? Gabriel, do not fool yourself, the Members of the Academy do not listen to all the songs submitted!
Moreover, when talking about the "losers", Mr Abaroa says : " Entonces lo que obsequio siempre es un calendario donde pongo la foto de mi madre e incluyo unos dardos para que los avienten directamente a ella sin necesidad de pasar a través de mí". Even though Mr. Abaroa makes this comment trying to be "funny", I think that such a comment degrades his personality as a gentleman and a son.
An issue that I have criticized in previous posts is that there are too many songs submitted for competition, and that Members of the Academy do not have the time nor the energy to listen to all the songs in order to properly evaluate and give a fair and honest vote. Recent post by Mr. Abaroa agrees with my previous criticism.
http://www.latingrammy.com/en/the-latin-grammy-corner
With these comments, Mr. Abaroa has made it "crystal clear", that the voting process is not fair. Simple, the Members of the Academy can not listen to each and every song submitted! I will put emphasis on the last paragraph where he mentions "asking to our colleagues to share their discoveries..... I have learned that this behavior is forbidden by Mr. Abaroa, because it seems people are looking to get votes....
Another example of how to get votes by a Member of the Academy is as follows: a producer and manager of a Latin band from Los Angeles becomes a member of the Latin Academy of Recording Arts Executive Board. Certainly, by becoming a member of an influential board, this producer may have access to information that is not available to a "regular member" ( for example, e-mail addresses, telephone numbers and postal addresses); not only that but by just "figuring" as part of the Executive Board, he will be perceived as an influential person, and Members may vote for his "product" just based on that. Interestingly, that same Latin Band won a Latin Grammy.
I believe that The Latin Academy of Recording Arts should have frequent meetings with their Members to clarify multiple negative issues affecting the organization.
An important question I ask myself and every Member of the Academy should ask is : are the Latin Grammy's about quality or quantity?
Everyone probably asks themselves what in reality happens before the Award show. Artists and songwriters start composing the previous year, so they can submit the songs to the Award show; Interestingly, most artists start promoting their work in one way or another; songs are submitted to the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (LARAS), which recruits 100 of its members to evaluate the songs; the songs are evaluated for placement into different categories, which may not be the ones intended initially by the composer; basically, the committees will have the authority to include the songs in whichever category they think is best. Best for who? It may not be good for music, but for some competing artists,because it is easier to be nominated or win in a category with less songs; again, the committees,in part are formed by Members of the Academy who belong to specific record labels or companies. This is bad because these people will benefit their own artists by including or excluding certain songs in a determined category.
After the committees meet and determine "everything", then, the ballots are sent to the Members of the Academy; By now, Mr Gabriel Abaroa is in the process of negotiating with the major record labels which artists are going to participate. For this matter, he meets with the different record labels; as I have already mentioned, most of the artists presenting or performing in the Award show are the same year after year.
Finally, after the first voting round is over, then a second round (the nominees) is sent to the Members for a final vote. A note of interest is that the voting ballots have the voting Member's name and identification number; this is conflicting, because in my experience, no voting ballot should have the name of the person or an ID number. I say so because the Academy should have no right in knowing the voting preference of a Member.The Academy by knowing the voting trend of a Member can target that Member if the Member does not conform to the Academy voting trend; certainly, this is not an example of transparency.
Another interesting fact is that Mr. Abaroa has said multiple times that nobody knows who the winners are until the day that the envelope is opened during the night of the Awards; I think Mr. Abaroa is trying to fool everyone, but in reality it is simple. How is it possible that 95% of the Members that present or perform at the Award show are winners. They have to know in advance who the winners are!
Another important aspect before the Show is that Mr. Abaroa gives multiple press releases.
One of the most relevant ones is that "an artist cannot buy a Latin Grammy.and whoever says that is a thief", says Abaroa. (http://www.eluniversal.com/arte-y-entretenimiento/121114/gabriel-abaroa-jr-los-premios-grammy-no-se-compran) I tend to agree with Mr. Abaroa. An artist can not buy a Latin Grammy because the Awards are given on a yearly basis; on the other hand I think the question to Mr. Abaroa should have been, can you "rent" or "lease" a Latin Grammy? And the answer is "yes".
Another important aspect of this article is that Mr Abaroa states :"La cantidad de artistas que hoy en día se quejan o hablan mal del Grammy nos dignifica porque quiere decir que algo de valor debemos de tener como para que la gente hable tanto, ya sea a favor o en contra", comenta el mexicano, quien está vinculado a la Academia desde 2003.
Certainly, Gabriel has a good sense of humor. He has to realize that when somebody badmouths the Latin Grammy's it is for a reason; so far the Latin Grammy's has plenty of reasons to be criticized! A clear example is when he is asked about a preference for Mexican artists (Mr. Abaroa is Mexican): "Yo he tenido reuniones con artistas y grupos regionales mexicanos que me reclaman airadamente que por qué los echo a un lado; es decir, todo el mundo tiene su propia interpretación. No existen esas teorías avasalladoras".
Well again Mr. Abaroa, you are wrong: " Sin embargo, un gráfico elaborado por la agencia AP muestra que México es el país que más premios ha ganado desde el año 2000, específicamente 117, que representa 29,77%, un poco por encima de Brasil, otro gran mercado, con 29,52%. "
Another example is about how "pure" the Awards are. El músico y productor compara el labor de la Academia, conformada por 3.000 miembros, con lo que hace el Pulitzer en el periodismo. "No somos un grupo de cinco personas de traje a los que nos gusta la música, escuchando todas las propuestas del mundo y decidiendo cuál nos gusta... Es el reconocimiento entre colegas, que es algo muy noble e interesante", comenta.
Yes Mr. Abaroa you just said it: the Academy has 3000 Members and only a few, for the past several years are the winners. Is it because of the voting process, or because of voting has to do with kickbacks, friendship, voting exchanges, or the "voting pool"? Gabriel, do not fool yourself, the Members of the Academy do not listen to all the songs submitted!
Moreover, when talking about the "losers", Mr Abaroa says : " Entonces lo que obsequio siempre es un calendario donde pongo la foto de mi madre e incluyo unos dardos para que los avienten directamente a ella sin necesidad de pasar a través de mí". Even though Mr. Abaroa makes this comment trying to be "funny", I think that such a comment degrades his personality as a gentleman and a son.
An issue that I have criticized in previous posts is that there are too many songs submitted for competition, and that Members of the Academy do not have the time nor the energy to listen to all the songs in order to properly evaluate and give a fair and honest vote. Recent post by Mr. Abaroa agrees with my previous criticism.
THE VOTING PROCESS STARTS!
In a few more days the Latin Recording Academy voting members will receive their ballots to exercise their right to vote.
There are, still, many issues and assumptions surrounding the Latin GRAMMY voting experience. For example, every year I receive the same suggestion: Why don’t you provide the voters with access to listen each and every one of the first round entries that are registered?
The answer is either complicated (legalities, technical issues, fairness in the quality and speed of access) or very simple: Can we really listen during the first round to more than 9,000 entries before voting?
So, what’s the best way to vote?
Perhaps a good way to start is by focusing in categories such as those where our professional activity makes us real masters and true connoisseurs. We will easily recognize those works that stand out due to their quality, level of excellence and why not, for being innovators in an industry that is begging for new sounds, new lyrics, new rhythms and music.
A second way is to read as much literature as possible (available in the internet) about specific recordings and we will have the points of view of music critics around the world. This will give us a hint on what to seek using legal instruments that provide on line access to specific songs, albums or videos.
Last but not least, asking to our colleagues to share their ”discoveries” is a great way to learn about new productions and new artists who may be the next superstars. Once we have received all of the above feedback then we should do our best (reaching the impossible) to listen to our targeted selections. Then we will be ready to exercise the vote in the first round.
There are, still, many issues and assumptions surrounding the Latin GRAMMY voting experience. For example, every year I receive the same suggestion: Why don’t you provide the voters with access to listen each and every one of the first round entries that are registered?
The answer is either complicated (legalities, technical issues, fairness in the quality and speed of access) or very simple: Can we really listen during the first round to more than 9,000 entries before voting?
So, what’s the best way to vote?
Perhaps a good way to start is by focusing in categories such as those where our professional activity makes us real masters and true connoisseurs. We will easily recognize those works that stand out due to their quality, level of excellence and why not, for being innovators in an industry that is begging for new sounds, new lyrics, new rhythms and music.
A second way is to read as much literature as possible (available in the internet) about specific recordings and we will have the points of view of music critics around the world. This will give us a hint on what to seek using legal instruments that provide on line access to specific songs, albums or videos.
Last but not least, asking to our colleagues to share their ”discoveries” is a great way to learn about new productions and new artists who may be the next superstars. Once we have received all of the above feedback then we should do our best (reaching the impossible) to listen to our targeted selections. Then we will be ready to exercise the vote in the first round.
http://www.latingrammy.com/en/the-latin-grammy-corner
With these comments, Mr. Abaroa has made it "crystal clear", that the voting process is not fair. Simple, the Members of the Academy can not listen to each and every song submitted! I will put emphasis on the last paragraph where he mentions "asking to our colleagues to share their discoveries..... I have learned that this behavior is forbidden by Mr. Abaroa, because it seems people are looking to get votes....
Another example of how to get votes by a Member of the Academy is as follows: a producer and manager of a Latin band from Los Angeles becomes a member of the Latin Academy of Recording Arts Executive Board. Certainly, by becoming a member of an influential board, this producer may have access to information that is not available to a "regular member" ( for example, e-mail addresses, telephone numbers and postal addresses); not only that but by just "figuring" as part of the Executive Board, he will be perceived as an influential person, and Members may vote for his "product" just based on that. Interestingly, that same Latin Band won a Latin Grammy.
I believe that The Latin Academy of Recording Arts should have frequent meetings with their Members to clarify multiple negative issues affecting the organization.
An important question I ask myself and every Member of the Academy should ask is : are the Latin Grammy's about quality or quantity?
Thursday, December 5, 2013
The 14th Annual Latin Grammy Award show: a farce !
After you watched the 14th Annual Award show is like a "deja vu" of previous years....award show dominated by major record label artists, such as "out of tones" Juanes, Jesse & Joy and others....Most of the winners for this year's Award show are from Sony Music, a major record label.
Again we have to congratulate the Latin Academy of Recording Arts for such a tremendous farce !
It is funny to see the same artists again & again, ;performing and presenting the awards. It seems that even though the Academy has approximately 5,000 members, only 3 % of them are "liked" by the president Mr. Gabriel Abaroa. "Liked" because this small percent of artist are the ones usually performing in the past few years. This phenomenon is what I would described as "decadent period", in which Mr Abaroa, does not care about good innovative music but cares for whoever can produce him moneys. That is why months prior to the award show , Mr Abaroa meets only with major record labels to see which artists are convenient for him to present and perform; a good example is Jesse & Joy, a Mexican pop duo who won the 2007 Latin Grammy for Best New Artist. They were not "new artist" back then in 2007 but it was obvious they were awarded the Latin Grammy because their record label manager ( Warner Mexico) was the Latin Grammy president's brother, Alejandro Abaroa. This duo was not nominated to the 14th Annual show, and still participated during the festivities....another clear example is Columbian singer Juanes, which was out of the music picture for a while, and now Mr Abaroa and the Academy has tried to revive him again!
What a shame when there is new, excellent music around.... We have to give credit to Gabriel, because there are new artists that has been 'promoted' by the Academy, Let don't forget the "Best New Artist" category. This category belongs to his brother, because most of the winner of the Best New Artist category are from Warner Music Mexico, where his brother continue to work for. Come on ! do not tell me the Awards are fair ! Some of "big Members of the Academy" (musicians, composers and producers) have publicly expressed that winning a Latin Grammy is not a synonym of being successful. This comment implies that the winning of a Latin Grammy does not influence in whether an artist will be famous/successful or not.
On the other hand, there are some Members of the Academy who complain when they lose or aren't nominated. Their "ego" lives out of winning a Latin Grammy...what a joke !
As I have previously mentioned, the Latin Grammy Award show ( same as the American Grammy) are not Academies where fairness is a characteristic. These are unfair award shows. The votes by the Members are usually not for the merits of the song but because of kickbacks, friendship, and financial gain.
Another question is : do all Members of the Academy "listen" to all the songs submitted to the Award show ?
It is impossible to listen to the 9400 songs !
Again , what can we expect from an Academy in which it has been demonstrated that his president has an ownership interest in a digital music company, WILAEN. When this was discovered, the first thing Mr Abaroa did was to go and change the State of Florida corporate documents to reflect he was no longer the president of WILAEN. Remember that at one point most of the artists presenting and performing in the latin Grammys award show were featured in Mr Abaroa's WILAEN. what ? conflict of interest ? Mr Abaroa
did not know the definition of "conflict of interest" until then, when he was exposed !
What about the excessive salary, over $740,000.00 USD, he makes yearly. This is an excessive salary for a corporation that DOES NOT pay Income tax ( 'not for profit")...is this company in reality a "not for profit" company ?
Mr Gabriel Abaroa has a lot to explain...and until he clarifies all those doubts ,the academy he presides will be an exemplar of mediocrity !
After you watched the 14th Annual Award show is like a "deja vu" of previous years....award show dominated by major record label artists, such as "out of tones" Juanes, Jesse & Joy and others....Most of the winners for this year's Award show are from Sony Music, a major record label.
Again we have to congratulate the Latin Academy of Recording Arts for such a tremendous farce !
It is funny to see the same artists again & again, ;performing and presenting the awards. It seems that even though the Academy has approximately 5,000 members, only 3 % of them are "liked" by the president Mr. Gabriel Abaroa. "Liked" because this small percent of artist are the ones usually performing in the past few years. This phenomenon is what I would described as "decadent period", in which Mr Abaroa, does not care about good innovative music but cares for whoever can produce him moneys. That is why months prior to the award show , Mr Abaroa meets only with major record labels to see which artists are convenient for him to present and perform; a good example is Jesse & Joy, a Mexican pop duo who won the 2007 Latin Grammy for Best New Artist. They were not "new artist" back then in 2007 but it was obvious they were awarded the Latin Grammy because their record label manager ( Warner Mexico) was the Latin Grammy president's brother, Alejandro Abaroa. This duo was not nominated to the 14th Annual show, and still participated during the festivities....another clear example is Columbian singer Juanes, which was out of the music picture for a while, and now Mr Abaroa and the Academy has tried to revive him again!
What a shame when there is new, excellent music around.... We have to give credit to Gabriel, because there are new artists that has been 'promoted' by the Academy, Let don't forget the "Best New Artist" category. This category belongs to his brother, because most of the winner of the Best New Artist category are from Warner Music Mexico, where his brother continue to work for. Come on ! do not tell me the Awards are fair ! Some of "big Members of the Academy" (musicians, composers and producers) have publicly expressed that winning a Latin Grammy is not a synonym of being successful. This comment implies that the winning of a Latin Grammy does not influence in whether an artist will be famous/successful or not.
On the other hand, there are some Members of the Academy who complain when they lose or aren't nominated. Their "ego" lives out of winning a Latin Grammy...what a joke !
As I have previously mentioned, the Latin Grammy Award show ( same as the American Grammy) are not Academies where fairness is a characteristic. These are unfair award shows. The votes by the Members are usually not for the merits of the song but because of kickbacks, friendship, and financial gain.
Another question is : do all Members of the Academy "listen" to all the songs submitted to the Award show ?
It is impossible to listen to the 9400 songs !
Again , what can we expect from an Academy in which it has been demonstrated that his president has an ownership interest in a digital music company, WILAEN. When this was discovered, the first thing Mr Abaroa did was to go and change the State of Florida corporate documents to reflect he was no longer the president of WILAEN. Remember that at one point most of the artists presenting and performing in the latin Grammys award show were featured in Mr Abaroa's WILAEN. what ? conflict of interest ? Mr Abaroa
did not know the definition of "conflict of interest" until then, when he was exposed !
What about the excessive salary, over $740,000.00 USD, he makes yearly. This is an excessive salary for a corporation that DOES NOT pay Income tax ( 'not for profit")...is this company in reality a "not for profit" company ?
Mr Gabriel Abaroa has a lot to explain...and until he clarifies all those doubts ,the academy he presides will be an exemplar of mediocrity !
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Are the Latin Grammy's about quality or quantity ?
The Latin Grammy's 14th Award event are around the corner !!!
I am particularly so happy for the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences for the large number of songs submitted by the Members of the Academy.
Hey, 9400 songs is not an small number....considering 2012 whereas 6400 songs were submitted.
The most important question the general public and the Members of the Latin recording Academy should ask is : are the Latin Grammy's about "quality" or "quantity" ?
As I have previously stated Do you think, in all honesty, that the Members of the Academy have enough time to listen and evaluate all of the songs submitted? Or do Academy members vote based on friendship, exchange of votes, influences, monetary incentives (voting pool) or kickbacks? The Members of the Academy should vote for the merits of the songs! http://latin-grammy.blogspot.com/
I am particularly so happy for the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences for the large number of songs submitted by the Members of the Academy.
Hey, 9400 songs is not an small number....considering 2012 whereas 6400 songs were submitted.
The most important question the general public and the Members of the Latin recording Academy should ask is : are the Latin Grammy's about "quality" or "quantity" ?
As I have previously stated Do you think, in all honesty, that the Members of the Academy have enough time to listen and evaluate all of the songs submitted? Or do Academy members vote based on friendship, exchange of votes, influences, monetary incentives (voting pool) or kickbacks? The Members of the Academy should vote for the merits of the songs! http://latin-grammy.blogspot.com/
Nowadays & always, time is an important aspect of everyone's life, and that is why I raise the question of
"honesty" and "fairness" during the evaluation of songs competing in the Awards.
For example, for the sake of discussion, there are 131,487 minutes in a 4-month period; that a third of a day
(8 hours) are dedicated to sleep, 8-hrs for work, and 8-hrs for leisure; that 58,438 minutes are dedicated
to sleep, 58,438 minutes for work and 58,438 minutes for leisure; and assuming the Members are given
a period of approximately 2-weeks to evaluate the songs, then, their time required to listen to music would be approximately 80 % of their time off. Under these circumstances, it would be impossible for Members of the Academy of Recording Arts to listen to all the submitted songs. I can see Mr Gabriel Abaroa gets very excited about the number of songs submitted (this year 9400), but I would be ashamed because I will have no answer for...Mr. Abaroa, do Members listen to all the songs submitted ?
An interesting article w.eluniversal.com/arte-y-entretenimiento/121114/gabriel-abaroa-jr-los-premios-grammy-no-se-compran , demonstrates that Mexico is the country that has won most of the Latin Grammy
Awards; again this year most of the nominees are Mexican !
As a friend of mine used to say "you do not buy them...you rent them...!
Until the Academy does not change the way they select and evaluate the songs, it will continue to be an unfair Award show !
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
An open letter to Gabriel Abaroa, CEO of the Latin Grammys and President of the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
Dear Mr. Gabriel Abaroa:
It has been established that the Latin Grammy Award is a music award that the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (LARAS) uses to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry. The Latin Grammy honors music produced anywhere around the world that were recorded in either Spanish or Portuguese. The winners of the awards have to go through a nominating and voting process, in which the selections are decided by peers within the music industry which are members of the Academy.
It has been frustrating to see that most of the artists performing during the Award ceremony for the past few years have been essentially the same and that artists that belong to major record labels continue to be winners. For example, during the 12th Annual Award festivities, most of the winners were from Sony.
From the major categories, for example, General, Pop, Urban, Rock, Video, and Production, Sony won 11, Warner won 4 and EMI won 2. Why is it that independent record labels rarely win an award? It has been established that You have an interest in a private Florida Corporation that deals with the download of music, Wireless Latin Entertainment (WILAEN).
See reference: http://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/ConvertTiffToPDF?storagePath=COR%5C2010%5C0107%5C65090100.tif&documentNumber=P02000000068
(see January 7, 2010 Annual Report)
After some heated discussion throughout the Internet, your name was deleted from the corporate documents.
(Above link see last Annual Report)
It is well known that WILAEN has done business deals with Sony, EMI and Warner. Is this the reason why these 3 companies have won most of the Latin Grammys? Let’s not forget Universal, which has their Latin entertainment company for the download of music. Is that the reason why Universal did not earn many awards during the 12th Annual event?
An interesting fact is that during the 2009 Latin Grammy Award show, 16 of the artists performing or presenting were featured in your WILAEN Internet webpage. Is this a coincidence?
Another important question for you to answer is: are the Latin Grammys a fair and honest award?
Let’s begin with the “fairness”. You have graciously stated that this year there were approximately 6,000 songs submitted to the Latin Grammy award process. Do you think, in all honesty, that the Members of the Academy have enough time to listen and evaluate all of the songs submitted? Or do Academy members vote based on friendship, exchange of votes, influences, monetary incentives (voting pool) or kickbacks? The Members of the Academy should vote for the merits of the songs!
Another disturbing fact is that there are executives and employees of major record labels that sit in the
evaluating committees, to give an opinion and vote, on which category a song should be included into.
This is disturbing because it is a “conflict of interest”, as these persons will benefit their own record label and artists. It seems this practice has not changed at all and the Academy has done nothing to “purify”
this practice method. Furthermore, it has been noted that whenever an artist criticizes the Latin Grammys , the next year, the Academy will “throw” an award at the artist; like saying: “here it is, just shut up and leave us alone!”
The article Wisin & Yandel no asistiran a los premios Grammy Latino is a perfect example of this.
En medio de la promoción de su disco “Wisin y Yandel presentan la Mente Maestra”, el dúo Wisin & Yandel reveló ayer, martes, durante una conferencia de prensa que no asistirán a los premios Grammy Latino por sentir que no se les ha tratado como merecen. (Written by: Bachata Blog ).
In 2008, Puertorican artists Wisin & Yandel criticized the Latin Grammys because they did not win a Latin Grammy. http://www.wikiton.net/aun-con-la-critica-agradecen-premio-grammy-latino
Similarly, Venezuelan singer Franco de Vita voiced his discontent with The Latin Grammy organization in several occasions.
Subsequently, Franco de Vita was the winner of 2 Latin Grammys in the 12th Annual Award Show.
Furthermore, another famous Mexican artist, Thalia, has strongly criticized the Latin Grammys;
Tego Calderon, reggeatoner, also criticized The Latin Grammy awards;
La India , also strongly criticized The Latin Grammy organization;
“La Comay”, a Puerto Rican doll also criticized The Latin Grammys” for the way the award was handed to Gilberto Santarosa;
§ http://www.wapa.tv/programas/superxclusivo/critica-a-los-grammy-latinos-11-12-10_20101117105036.html
Another example of criticism of the Latin Grammys is provided by Puerto Rican singer Willy Colon, who explains in detail the relation of major record labels with The Latin Grammys;
Finally, another major criticism comes from a Mexican singer –songwriter Aleks Syntek. Interestingly, he not only strongly criticizes the Latin Grammys but the process of voting, stating that in general Mexicans have anapathy toward the Latin Grammys. He goes on to say that managers should pay the artist’s fees to become members of the Latin Academy of Recording Arts so those artists can vote for him or other Mexican artists. This is sort of insinuating the creation of a “Mexican voting pool”. Where was the President of the Academy Mr. Gabriel Abaroa when Syntek did this interview? This is not a joke!
This is the same mechanism to secure votes that has been suggested for the famous “voting pool” that already exists. It has been said that in Columbia and Venezuela, as well as other South and Central American and Caribbean countries the “voting pool” is already established.
§ http://musica.univision.com/latin-grammy/noticias/article/2007-11-01/aleks-syntek-critica-al-grammy
We have to admit that The Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, guided by you, has accomplished great things. One of them is the TV partnership you have been able to arrange to help produce the Latin Grammy show. But what’s the price? It is known that Univision actively participates
In the selection of the artists performing and hosting the show as well as the location the show will take place.
Another important thing You have been able to accomplish is to harass people who promote artists such as Moses;
Herein is an excerpt from the blog :
“So… It seems officials at The Latin Grammys have taken issue with my First Amendment rights. You may remember that several weeks ago I emailed you about a client of mine, named Vayo. He is a hard working artist who is not using any major PR machinery to help bolster votes in the Grammy Awards theater. I asked you, as one of my readers, that you consider him for several categories. Many of you emailed back that his music was phenomenal. He thanks you.
But, instead of embracing this artist’s rights activist’s desire to help a solid professional talent with some good old-fashioned, 100% American, grass roots word of mouth hyping, LARAS’ president, Gabriel Abaroa, chose instead to threaten me for tainting the “organic” voting process.
“Solicitation of votes is not condoned by us,” said Abaroa in his angry email to me. Adding, “you have gone too far.”
Really!?! I’ve gone too far?!?! Imagine that. Ironic considering that LARAS is an organization claiming to be all about helping artists express themselves. Why is the idea of an artist that does not make headlines getting on the ballot a threat to NARAS’ little brother?
Do they actually want me (and the rest of you) to swallow the propaganda that NO ONE solicits votes for the Grammys?
So… no one EVER, emails people to suggest that they consider a nominee? Ever? Managers never try to raise awareness for their clients? Really? What kind of managers are they? Producers don’t ask peers to vote for nominated artists they worked with? Really?
If LARAS is serious about this policy then perhaps they should start by automatically eliminating ANYONE who whispers about a nominee. And NARAS, their big brother, should do the same.
Certainly, Abaroa’s position is simple. Abaroa is wasting his precious time in sending an e-mail to Moses, but on the other hand, Abaroa’s peers do not need to advertise because they are already in the “inner circle”. For example, do you know how many artists from Warner Music have won the Best New Artist Category in the past 4 years ? THREE (3). Does this have to do with “inner circle” influence? Obviously! Well, guess who is Warner Music manager for new artist development? Your younger brother, Alejandro Abaroa.
Mr. Gabriel Abaroa continues with deceptive commentaries during an interview with the LA Times:
“The academy remains a relatively lean operation, however, said its president, Gabriel Abaroa. Each year, he said, its core staff of 10 people relies heavily on a group of about 350 volunteers to listen to and classify all the recordings. The more money the organization saves on overhead costs, said Abaroa, the more it can focus on promoting new talent.” http://articles.latimes.com/2009/nov/05/entertainment/et-latin-grammys5
Promoting new talent? I did not know that one of the duties of Mr Abaroa and the Academy of Recording Arts was to “promote” new talent. For the past few years, I have been able to observe the artists participating during the Award show are usually the same. To mention a few: Shakira, Paulina Rubio, Mana, Tigres del Norte, Enrique Iglesias, Gloria Trevi, Belanova, Belinda ….and so on. The great majority are Mexicans and definitely not “new talent.”
During the past, 12th Annual Award show, I noticed a few unusual circumstances. The first one was the opening of the show with Calle 13 and the National Venezuelan Band. It is well known
that Calle 13 and Gustavo Dudamel (director of the Band) are Hugo Chavez’s puppets. The general public believes that the opening of the show by these radical, leftist personalities was of bad taste. It is well known throughout Latin America, that Hugo Chavez “buys” everything he can with money. So, my question is: did Chavez, in any way, influence Calle 13’s nine Latin Grammy wins? I would not doubt it!
I think that The Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Univision should be ashamed of this situation. This is completely unacceptable. It is known that The Latin Grammy has an award show coordinating committee which deals with the choosing of the presenters and performers and that Univision has a lot of power in the selection of who participates.
In recent years, I have noticed an increased percentage of leftist nominees and winners. I doubt the Members (in general) of the Latin Academy of Recording Arts have anything to do with this because most of them suffer from apathy towards the Academy. And most of them do not vote.
Maybe that is why you were recently in Mexico trying to convince artists that belong to major record labels to become members of LARAS.
Interestingly, and even though I personally do not like Calle 13 and the genre of Regeaton, I think what Univision and the Academy did to Calle 13 was disrespectful. When Calle 13 mentioned “payola”, the TV cameras and microphones were changed to the presenters.
But again, what can we expect from Univision and The Latin Grammys. Years ago Univision had to settle a lawsuit with the Federal Government because of the “payola.”
Despite of the settlement, “payola” continues and it is known that most of the Univision entertainment programs request payment to present artists. Oh, and do not forget Mr. Abaroa’s private company Wireless Latin Entertainment, which in 2009, was featuring 16 artists that were also participating as presenters/performers during the Latin Grammy Award show. The way I see it, there are different kinds of “payolas”, not necessarily involving money, but perhaps favors and kickbacks as well.
Mr. Abaroa, the Latin Academy of Recording Arts is going through a major crises; a crises of
deception and apathy ! The Academy needs to change the process of music selection, the process of “voting” ( if voting in the Latin Grammy can in reality be called a “vote”), and most importantly the process of disclosure ( “ conflict of interest” issues- like the one you personally
have with Wireless Latin Entertainment). Unless the Academy takes critical steps to change
“modus operandi”, The Latin Grammys will continue to be tainted and cannot be considered a prestigious organization.
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