LOS ANGELES, Jan. 14, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), the global leader in music rights management, will present the BMI President's Award to Carlos Vives for his outstanding achievement in songwriting and profound global influence on the entertainment industry. The 22nd annual BMI Latin Awards is slated for March 11 at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. In receiving the BMI President's Award, Carlos Vives joins an elite list of past honorees that includes Juanes, Pitbull, Kike Santander, Adam Levine, will.i.am and Taylor Swift.
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The private ceremony will be hosted by BMI President Del Bryant, BMI Vice President, Latin Music Delia Orjuela and BMI Chief Executive Officer Michael O'Neill. The ceremony will salute the songwriters and publishers of the past year's most-performed Latin songs on American radio and television in the U.S. The BMI Latin Song, Songwriter and Publisher of the Year will also be named during the ceremony.
"Carlos has become one of the most influential songwriters in the Latin Music community, whose timeless sound has had a significant impact. His longevity in the music business is a testimony to his dedication and passion for his craft, and we are very proud to celebrate his accomplishments," said Orjuela.
Carlos Vives is a GRAMMY award and seven-time Latin GRAMMY-award winning Colombian superstar, singer, composer and actor. Vives began his career in theater, which then landed him roles in television series Little Giants, as well as Latin American soap operas (telenovelas) Faraon , Tuyo es Mi Corazón , La Otra and Aventurera . However, it was Vives' role portraying composer Rafael Escalona in Escalona that dramatically shifted his career. Emerging from Escalona's success, Vives released two soundtrack albums, Escalona: Un Canto a la Vida and Escalona: Vol. 2, which secured his national success. 1993 marked a breakthrough year for Vives with the release of Clásicos de la Provincia by his band, La Provincia. With Clásicos de la Provincia , Vives started fusing Vallenato with rock, pop and other Caribbean-Colombian rhythms. Its lead single, "La Gota Fría," became a hit all over Latin America and it earned a Billboard Latin Music Award for Best Album, marking it a timeless classic. The huge success of Vallenato in Colombia and all over Latin countries proved that this masterfully created sound was destined for worldwide success.
With a career span of 20 years, including Latin GRAMMY nominations for songs such as "Fruta Fresca," "Dejame Entrar," and "Como Tu," GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY award-winning album Déjame Entrar, Latin GRAMMY award-winning albums El Rock de Mi Pueblo , Volví a Nacer and Corazón Profundo, along with sold-out tours and superior record sales, Vives' success underscores his role as one of Latin music's most beloved pioneers. Vives will soon be releasing a highly anticipated new album.
ABOUT BMI
Broadcast Music, Inc.® (BMI®) is a global leader in music rights management, serving as an advocate for the value of music. BMI represents the public performance rights in more than 8.5 million musical works created and owned by more than 600,000 songwriters, composers, and music publishers. The Company negotiates music license agreements and distributes the fees it generates as royalties to its affiliated writers and publishers when their songs are performed in public. In 1939, BMI created a groundbreaking open-door policy becoming the only performing rights organization to welcome and represent the creators of blues, jazz, country, and American roots music. Today, the musical compositions in BMI's repertoire, from chart-toppers to perennial favorites, span all genres of music and are consistently among the most-performed hits of the year. For additional information and the latest BMI news, visit www.bmi.com , follow us on Twitter @BMI or stay connected through Broadcast Music, Inc.'s Facebook page.
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MEDIA CONTACTS For BMI Marlene Meraz / Office 310.289.6325 / Cell 310.500.7177
