Flex gets 13 nominations for Latin music awards; Santana to receive lifetime achievement award

Flex tops Latin music award nominations with 13

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Panamanian reggaeton sensation Flex topped the list of finalists for the 2009 Billboard Latin Music Awards with 13 nominations, including Latin album of the year, hot Latin song of the year and tropical airplay song of the year.

Spanish crossover artist Enrique Iglesias is up for 10 awards, while Mexican singer Jenni Rivera was nominated for seven, tying with fellow Mexican singer Vicente Fernandez.

Bachata music group Aventura followed behind this year with six nominations.

Mexican guitarist Carlos Santana, whose rock, salsa and jazz fusion has reinvented the musical culture for more than 40 years, will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award.

The awards ceremony will be held Thursday night at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Fla.

Other special award winners include Spirit of Hope recipient Daddy Yankee and Hall of Fame inductee Raul Alarcon, Sr., founder of the Spanish Broadcasting System Radio Network. He’s being recognized for his contributions to the Latin radio industry in the United States.

The event will be hosted by television personality Alan Tacher and Telemundo novela actress Aylin Mujico. Among the presenters at the show, which will broadcast live on Telemundo, are Cuban-American model and actor JenCarlos Canela, 2008 Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza and Puerto Rican salsa singer Jerry Rivera.

The Billboard Latin Music Awards honor the most popular albums, songs and performers in Latin music. This is determined by sales and radio airplay data during a one-year period.

Juanes, Shakira, Mana, Gloria Estefan and Ruben Blades are among the nominees in various categories.

On the Net:

www.billboardevents.com/billboardevents/latin/index.jsp