Since its foundation in 1997, the [Latin Recording Academy](https://www.latingrammy.com/en) has single-handedly stood as the global authority in Latin music. Now, its mission to celebrate, honor and elevate Latin music and its creators on a worldwide scale is about to reach new international heights. 

This fall, the Latin Recording Academy will host the 2023 Latin GRAMMYs, officially known as the 24th Latin GRAMMY Awards, in Sevilla, Spain; this marks the [first-ever international Latin GRAMMYs telecast](https://www.grammy.com/news/2023-latin-grammys-sevilla-spain-24th-awards) in the history of the awards and organization. Airing on **Thursday, Nov. 16**, from the Conference and Exhibition Centre (FIBES), the 2023 Latin GRAMMYs telecast will be produced by TelevisaUnivision in collaboration with Radio Televisión Española (RTVE). Nominations for the 2023 Latin GRAMMYs will be announced **Tuesday, Sept. 19**.

For the Latin Recording Academy, this international expansion is the next step in the organization's growing global vision, which has evolved across its membership and awards process throughout the years. In March, the Latin Recording Academy [announced the addition of several new fields and categories](https://www.grammy.com/news/new-latin-grammy-categories-field-songwriter-of-the-year-singer-songwriter-song-portugese-language-urban-performance) to the Latin GRAMMY Awards process to be introduced at the upcoming 2023 Latin GRAMMY Awards; this includes the addition of the Best Portuguese-Language Urban Performance category, a move that will [bolster and celebrate the groundbreaking music](https://www.grammy.com/news/latin-grammys-2023-reasons-excited-new-categories) being created in countries like Brazil and Portugal.

"International growth is consistent with our mission. The Latin Academy, our membership, and the music we honor have always been global," Latin Recording Academy CEO Manuel Abud said in an exclusive interview by phone from Sevilla, Spain. "We have members from more than 40 countries, and we've always celebrated music in the Spanish language and the Portuguese language. Now, the only thing that is changing is that we're taking the celebration to another place, which will ultimately expand our global reach even further."

The news of the international expansion of the Latin GRAMMYs comes during an era when Latin music continues to dominate the music industry worldwide. Major artists like [Bad Bunny](https://www.grammy.com/artists/bad-bunny/243129) and [Karol G](https://www.grammy.com/artists/KAROL-G/38087) are [making GRAMMY history](https://www.grammy.com/news/how-bad-bunny-took-over-the-world-2023-grammys-un-verano-sin-ti-album-of-the-year) and [topping charts](https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/karol-g-manana-sera-bonito-debut-five-burning-questions-1235281250/) with Spanish-language music, while [Latin music revenue exceeded $1 billion](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/latin-music-revenue-exceeds-1-billion-first-time-2022-rcna79428) for the first time ever in 2022.

"We are at a time in which Latin music is really living a great moment," Abud said. "It's a global phenomenon, and as such, it is our responsibility as an Academy to really support our artists and our creators in their quest to go global. That's why we're going international, and that's why we're doing it now."

In an exclusive interview, Latin Recording Academy CEO Manuel Abud discussed the international growth of the Latin GRAMMYs, the future of the awards show, and the organization's "essential role" in the ongoing evolution of the global Latin music industry.

*This interview has been edited for clarity.* 

**2023 marks the first year that the Latin GRAMMYs will broadcast from an international location. Why is now the perfect time for this change?**

There's never a perfect time. We've been trying to go international for quite a few years now. We've explored different avenues in the past with different cities, so this is not the first time we've tried to host an international show.

In this case, the planets aligned. We got this proposal from the Junta de Andalucía, which offered a great city that had all the right infrastructure and support that was available to us.

Also, we are at a time in which Latin music is really living a great moment. It's a global phenomenon, and as such, it is our responsibility as an Academy to really support our artists and our creators in their quest to go global. That's why we're going international, and that's why we're doing it now.

**How did you decide on Spain as the host country for this momentous event?**

To be able to do something as big as the Latin GRAMMY Awards and Latin GRAMMY Week outside of the U.S., you really need a few factors to come together. First, our broadcast partners: TelevisaUnivision and Radio Televisión Española. They're a very important part of our ecosystem, and as such, they needed to be fully on board. We also need the right city with the right infrastructure and the availability of the different venues. We had all of this available in Sevilla, Spain. Our partners at TelevisaUnivision were also looking forward to bringing new elements to the show. So we took this great opportunity.

**How do you plan to integrate local music and the sounds of Spain into the upcoming 24th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards and the coinciding Latin GRAMMY Week?**

The host city of Sevilla needs to be a major character in this story that we're going to be telling. I truly believe that now that we're moving outside of Las Vegas, where we've hosted the Latin GRAMMYs for several years, we shouldn't just move from one box to another. We should have our Latin GRAMMY Awards and Latin GRAMMY Week fully reflect the energy and the spirit and the culture of Sevilla.

Now, the show will have the same essential elements as always: At the end of the day, you have to be nominated to be on the show, and we have to give awards. So that remains the same. Still, I truly believe that Sevilla is so rich in heritage, in culture, in the energy of its people, the change in the host city presents a great opportunity to refresh the show and to showcase a culture that has been so welcoming to us.

**The Latin Recording Academy, the organization behind the annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, is the global authority on Latin music. Now that you are going global with the show, how do you see this international growth and expansion further elevating this mission?**

International growth is consistent with our mission. The Latin Academy, our membership, and the music we honor have always been global. We have members from more than 40 countries, and we've always celebrated music in the Spanish language and the Portuguese language. Now, the only thing that is changing is that we're taking the celebration to another place, which will ultimately expand our global reach even further.

This also aligns with our sister organization, the Recording Academy, and [Harvey Mason jr.](https://www.grammy.com/artists/harvey-mason-jr/4668)'s \[Recording Academy CEO\] [vision of taking the Academy and the GRAMMY brand global](https://www.recordingacademy.com/news/recording-academy-ceo-harvey-mason-jr-looks-ahead-to-2023-interview).

**What benefits do you think the move of the Latin GRAMMYs will bring to Sevilla and Spain?**

We hope that this is going to bring great benefits to the local city — financially and culturally. The money and tourism that will result from this show will greatly support the local economy as well as the local music community.

There will also be a grand opportunity for impactful cultural exchange between many countries and artist communities. The show will bring our artists to the city of Sevilla to celebrate their music together. We're giving the city of Sevilla, and Spain to a larger degree, the opportunity to explore new music and to meet new artists that they probably wouldn't have met in a traditional way.

It's a cultural movement combined with business opportunities. That's precisely why we're doing this.

**You're absolutely right. The opportunities for cultural exchange between artists and between nations will be priceless.**

For us, it's the same thing. We're taking our artists and their music to other latitudes. We're making Sevilla the epicenter of Latin music during Latin GRAMMY Week, and also the gateway to Europe for Latin artists and Latin music.

**Latin music continues to grow globally on a consistent basis. How do you see the Latin music industry growing over the next few years? And what role do the Latin Recording Academy and Latin GRAMMYs play in this evolution?**

I see our organization as a catalyst for and a supporter of the Latin music industry. I'm very optimistic about the future of Latin music. And as such, the Latin Academy is committed to supporting that growth and playing an essential role in that evolution.

**I'm sure you're hyper-focused on the first international show in Spain. But do you have any thoughts on other countries or locations where you would like to see the Latin GRAMMYs go next?**

Let me take that question apart. First, we know the Latin GRAMMYs show in 2024, which will mark our 25th anniversary, is going back to the U.S. We're in final negotiations with three potential cities. I'm not going to tell you which ones they are, but I can tell you that all three cities have hosted the Latin GRAMMYs in the past.

**Fair enough.**

We're not going to go anywhere too new — we had a lot of innovation this year already. *\[Laughs.\]* So for our 25th anniversary next year, we want to bring the show back home. And then in 2025, we might go back to an international location; that still has not been determined.

**Sounds like a lot of work to produce multiple Latin GRAMMY Award shows at once.**

It is! Now, this is still not set in stone, but we want to be able to alternate. In an ideal world, we'd alternate between U.S. cities and international locations with no specific regularity. We want to stay flexible and be able to take the show around the world in alternate years. We truly believe that this is the future of the Latin Academy and Latin music as a whole. This is how we, as the Latin Academy, continue to support, celebrate, honor, and elevate Latin music and its creators on a global scale.

**I know we are six months away from the show, but can you give us any teasers, previews or sneak peeks at what we can expect at the 24th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards this November?**

Yes I can! The host city of Sevilla will be a big part of the story that we're going to be telling. A lot of big announcements are coming, too, including the nominees for the upcoming Latin GRAMMYs. Soon, we'll also announce this year's Person of the Year honoree, which will give you a small taste of the show. And then when we start announcing our Special Awards honorees, you're going to start having a better idea about the show.

It's way, way too early to even think about who's going to get nominated. But I can tell you that there's going to be great music, fantastic energy, and as always, amazing talent.

**Awesome. I'm excited.**

I'm excited too!

[2023 Latin GRAMMYs Explained: 4 Reasons To Be Excited About The New Categories & Changes](https://www.grammy.com/news/latin-grammys-2023-reasons-excited-new-categories)