8th Annual Latin GRAMMY(R) Nominations Spotlight Unique Collaborations and Established and Emerging Music Makers.

Juan Luis Guerra Leads with Five Nominations; Calle 13 and Ricky Martin Garner Four Nods Each

Miguel Bose, Franco De Vita, Carlos Jean, Kevin Johansen, Orishas and Zoe among Those Who Received Three Nominations

Pepe Aguilar, Aterciopelados, Belinda, Beyonce, Cristian Castro, Gustavo Cerati, Conjunto Primavera, Chick Corea, Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, Fergie, Vicente Fernandez, Intocable, La Quinta Estacion, Mana, Manu Chao, Ojos De Brujo, Laura Pausini, Paulina Rubio, Arturo Sandoval, Gustavo Santaolalla, Alejandro Sanz, Shakira, Caetano Veloso, and will.i.am Also among Those Nominated

8th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards Airs Nov. 8 on Univision Network Live from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas

MIAMI -- The 8th Annual Latin GRAMMY([R]) Awards nominations were announced today at a press conference attended by national and international media at Mansion in South Beach. Artists reading nominations this morning included Willy Chirino, Elvis Crespo, Juan Luis Guerra, Ivy Queen, Kinky, Fanny Lu, Daniela Mercury, Pablo Montero, and Emilio Regueira of Rabanes. In a year that recognized an array of artists and creative professionals across numerous styles, the nominations celebrate established and emerging artists and spotlight creative collaborations. The 8th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, set for Nov. 8 at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, will be broadcast live on the Univision Network from 8 - 11 p.m. ET/PT.

Dominican Republic singer/songwriter Juan Luis Guerra leads the nominations with five; Calle 13 and Ricky Martin garnered four nods apiece; Miguel Bose, Franco De Vita, Carlos Jean, Kevin Johansen, Orishas and Zoe are among those who earned three nods each; Aterciopelados, Belinda, Bob Clearmountain, Daddy Yankee, Kinky, Ivete Sangalo, Tommy Torres, and Caetano Veloso each received two nominations. And a contingent of diverse music makers -- including Pepe Aguilar, Beyonce, Cristian Castro, Chick Corea, Don Omar, Jorge Drexler, Fergie, Ibrahim Ferrer, Bela Fleck, Amaury Gutierrez, Intocable, La Quinta Estacion, Mana, Manu Chao, Pablo Montero, Ojos De Brujo, Laura Pausini, Paulina Rubio, Arturo Sandoval, Gustavo Santaolalla, Alejandro Sanz, Shakira, and will.i.am -- each earned nominations.

"In this, our eighth year, we received more than 5,000 entries and the nominations continue to reflect a dynamic and vibrant worldwide Latin music community of artists, producers, engineers, songwriters and everyone involved in the recording process," said Gabriel Abaroa, President of The Latin Recording Academy([R]). "The spotlight shines on established artists and creative professionals as well as emerging talent who are taking Latin music to new heights. It's encouraging to see so many albums, songs, and music makers getting due recognition from their peers, and it's exciting to see unique collaborations breaking new ground in music. The world will be watching on Nov. 8 and it won't be disappointed."

Guerra's five nominations include: Album Of The Year and Best Merengue Album for La Llave De Mi Corazon and Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year, and Best Tropical Song for the title track.

Earning four nods each are: Puerto Rican duo Calle 13 for Album Of The Year and Best Urban Music Album for Residente O Visitante, Best Short Form Music Video for "Hay Un Son," and Best Urban Song for "Pal Norte;" and fellow Puerto Rican and international superstar Ricky Martin for Album Of The Year, Best Male Pop Vocal Album and Best Long Form Music Video for MTV Unplugged, and Record Of The Year for "Tu Recuerdo" (with La Mari De Chambao and Tommy Torres).

Among those who earned three nominations apiece are: Miguel Bose for Record Of The Year ("Nena," with Paulina Rubio), and Album Of The Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Album (Papito); Franco De Vita for Song Of The Year ("Tengo"), and Best Male Pop Vocal Album and Best Long Form Music Video (Mil Y Una Historias En Vivo); producer Carlos Jean for Record Of The Year ("Nena" by Miguel Bose with Paulina Rubio), Album Of The Year (for Papito by Miguel Bose with Various Artists), and Producer Of The Year; Kevin Johansen for Best Alternative Music Album (Logo), and Best Alternative Song and Best Short Form Music Video ("Anoche Sone Contigo"); Orishas for Best Urban Music Album (Antidiotico), and Best Urban Song and Best Short Form Music Video ("Hay Un Son"); and Zoe for Best Alternative Music Album (Memo Rex Commander Y El Corazon Atomico De La Via Lactea), Best Alternative Song (with Leon Larregui for "No Me Destruyas"), and Producer Of The Year.

In a year featuring unique collaborations, the Record Of The Year category recognizes Beyonce's and Shakira's "Bello Embustero (Beautiful Liar)," Miguel Bose and Paulina Rubio for "Nena," and Ricky Martin, La Mari De Chambao and Tommy Torres for "Tu Recuerdo." Best Urban Song features Daddy Yankee and The Black Eyed Peas' Fergie and will.i.am teaming up for "Impacto (Remix)," and Best Instrumental Album includes Chick Corea's and Bela Fleck's The Enchantment.

Two new categories have been added to the Latin GRAMMYs, both songwriters' awards. Joining Calle 13 in the Best Urban Song category are Mathieu & Orishas for "Hay Un Son" (performed by Orishas); Sebastian Rocca & Michael Stuart for "Mi Tumbao" (performed by Tres Coronas featuring Michael Stuart); and William Omar Landron (Don Omar) & Eliel Lind for "No Se De Ella 'My Space'" (performed by Don Omar with Wisin y Yandel). Nominated with Kevin Johansen, Leon Larregui and Zoe in the Best Alternative Song category are Manu Chao for "Calle" (Manu Chao); Hector Buitrago & Andrea Echeverri (Aterciopelados) for "Complemento" (Aterciopelados); and Gabriel Fernandez Capello (Vicentico) for "El Arbol De La Plaza" (Vicentico).

The 8th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards will feature 49 categories and will be supported on radio via Univision Radio (the official Spanish-language radio network of the Latin GRAMMY Awards), and highlighted on the Internet by Univision Online (the official online partner of the Latin GRAMMY Awards) at latingrammy.univision.com. For more information, a complete list of nominees, and media credentialing instructions, please visit www.grammy.com. A limited amount of tickets will be available to the general public and may be purchased at the Mandalay Bay Events Center Box Office (702.632.7580; www.mandalaybay.com) or through Ticketmaster (702.474.4000; www.ticketmaster.com) beginning Thursday, Sept. 13, 10 a.m. PT.

The Latin Recording Academy is an international, membership-based organization comprised of Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking recording artists, musicians, songwriters, producers and other creative and technical recording professionals. The organization is dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for Latin music and its makers. In addition to producing the Latin GRAMMY Awards to honor excellence in the recorded arts and sciences, The Latin Recording Academy provides educational and outreach programs for the Latin music community. For more information about The Latin Recording Academy, please visit www.grammy.com.