Rosalía and Milo J Lead Major Wins at 27th Annual Latin Grammy Awards

Rosalía and Milo J dominated the 27th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards in Las Vegas on Thursday.

The ceremony at the MGM Grand Garden Arena showed folk-driven sounds and alternative pop challenging the long-standing dominance of reggaeton and polished mainstream productions. While the genre’s heavyweights remained present, the night belonged to a new generation of artists who are diversifying the sonic profile of Latin music on a global stage.

According to NPR, the evening was defined by several major sweeps and unexpected moments, including a surprise appearance by Janet Jackson and a tribute to reggaeton pioneer Daddy Yankee. The awards showed tension between the commercial juggernauts of urban music and a rising tide of folk and alternative influences.

The rise of folk and alternative sounds

Milo J, a 20-year-old Argentine vocalist, emerged as a central figure of the night. He secured Record of the Year for his single “Niño,” a win that signals a growing appetite for folk-powered compositions within a market often saturated by electronic beats.

His success extended across multiple categories, as he also took home awards for Best Folk Album for La Vida Era Más Corta, Best Urban/Urban Fusion performance, and Best Recording Package.

Spanish artist Rosalía continued her streak of critical and commercial dominance. She swept several top categories, winning Album of the Year and Best Alternative Album for LUX. Her wins also included Song of the Year, Best Pop Song, and Best Short Form Music Video. Her opening performance, a medley of tracks from LUX featuring elaborate dancing and stage design, set a high bar for the evening’s production values.

The awards also recognized the strength of Colombian urban music through Karol G, who earned multiple honors, specifically in the Best Urban Music Album and Best Reggaeton Performance categories. This overlap of winners suggests that while folk and alternative styles are gaining ground, the established urban sounds are not losing their grip on the industry’s core.

Rosalía and Milo J triumph at the Latin Grammys — AFP Español

Artist	Key Award(s) Won	Genre/Style
Milo J	Record of the Year, Best Folk Album	Argentine Folk
Rosalía	Album of the Year, Song of the Year	Alternative/Pop
Karol G	Best Urban Music Album	Reggaeton/Urban
Bobby Pulido	Best Tejano Album	Tejano

A legacy of resistance and tribute

The most emotional segment of the ceremony centered on Daddy Yankee, who received the Academy’s Person of the Year award. In a moment that caught the audience by surprise, Janet Jackson appeared unannounced to present the honor to the Puerto Rican producer and vocalist.

During his acceptance speech, Daddy Yankee provided historical context for the genre’s struggle for legitimacy. He reminded the audience that during the early years of reggaeton, the Puerto Rican government attempted to criminalize the music, labeling the musicians as criminals with no future.

His performance later in the night served as a visual timeline of that journey, moving from his beginnings as a mixtape phenomenon to his global breakthrough with “Despacito.”

The night also looked backward to honor the roots of Latin music through various tributes. A star-studded homage was paid to the Mexican composer José Alfredo Jiménez, utilizing a blend of mariachi and a three-piece rock band.

The legacy of salsa pioneer Willie Colón was celebrated through a posthumous performance by Nathy Peluso, Luis Figueroa, and Colón's son, Miguel Colón, who were supported by Colón's original 13-piece salsa band.

The intersection of music and civic identity was further evidenced by the success of Tejano musician Bobby Pulido. Having won the race for Texas’ 15th congressional district just last Tuesday, Pulido picked up his third Latin Grammy during the ceremony for Best Tejano Album.

As the industry continues to expand, the question remains whether the success of artists like Milo J and Rosalía represents a permanent pivot toward genre fluidity or a temporary diversification of the Latin music mainstream.

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