January 28, 2000
Santa Monica, Ca. — The Recording Academy will stage the 1st Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards in Los Angeles on September 15, 2000, it was announced by Academy President/CEO Michael Greene.
"We are anticipating the 1st Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards to be the world's largest and most important celebration of Latin music, while also honoring the creative achievements and diversity of this vast world of music," said Greene, who noted that the show comes as Latin music is achieving worldwide recognition on a greater scale than any other time in history. Greene also noted that for the first time, the GRAMMY Awards will be open to the public.
"We have spent the past seven years building the Latin Academy, forging strong partnerships and establishing a solid membership base which keeps growing as more members of the Latin music community embrace the mission of the Academy," Greene added. "This show is one way to salute the significant accomplishment of the music and those involved." The telecast is being positioned as an arena show, with a Los Angeles venue to be determined at a later date.
Although the inaugural Latin GRAMMY Awards will be held stateside, subsequent shows are expected to be held in various Latin countries. The 1st Annual show will boast 40 categories covering many genres and sub-genres of Latin music. More categories may be added for future shows. Nominations for the Latin GRAMMY Awards are expected to be announced in August.
"Broadcasting the Latin GRAMMY Awards reaffirms CBS's commitment to Latin Americans, to diversity, and to the very best in entertainment programming," said Leslie Moonves, President/CEO of CBS Television. "I think we are still on the ground floor of the emergence of Latin music in America, and I look forward to our contribution to the popularity of this wonderful music." CBS will also distribute the show internationally through CBS Broadcast International.
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