The 9th Lo Nuestro Awards ceremony, presented by Univision honoring the best Latin music of 1996 and 1997 took place on May 8, 1997, at a live presentation held at the James L. Knight Center in Miami, Florida. The ceremony was broadcast in United States and Latin America by Univision.

During the ceremony, nineteen categories were presented. Winners were announced at the live event and included Spanish singer Enrique Iglesias receiving three awards, and Colombian singer Shakira, Mexican group Límite, Dominican band Ilegales, each receiving two awards. Among its honors, Iglesias won the award for "Pop Album of the Year," Los Tigres del Norte earned the award for "Regional Mexican Album of the Year," and Marc Anthony won the award for "Tropical/Salsa Album of the Year." Mexican group Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán received the Excellence Award and a special tribute was given to singer-songwriter Juan Gabriel.

Background In 1989, the Lo Nuestro Awards were established by Univision, to recognize the most talented performers of Latin music. The nominees and winners were selected by a voting poll conducted among program directors of Spanish-language radio stations in the United States. The categories included are for the Pop, Tropical/Salsa, Regional Mexican and Music Video. The trophy awarded is shaped like a treble clef. The 9th Lo Nuestro Awards ceremony was held on May 8, 1997, in a live presentation held at the James L. Knight Center in Miami, Florida. The ceremony was broadcast in United States and Latin America by Univision.

Winners and nominees

Winners were announced before the live audience during the ceremony. Mexican singer-songwriter Marco Antonio Solís was the most nominated performer, with five nominations which resulted in one win for "Regional Mexican Male Artist of the Year"; the rest of Solís' nominations were awarded to Spanish singer Enrique Iglesias ("Pop Album of the Year", "Pop Male Artist of the Year", and "Pop Song of the Year"). Iglesias was awarded "Pop Song of the Year" and "Pop Album of the Year" the year before with his debut album and with "Si Tu Te Vas", respectively. Colombian singer Shakira, the most nominated female performer with five nominations, received two awards: "Pop Female Artist" and "Pop New Artist". Three songs nominated for Pop Song of the Year reached number-one at the Billboard Top Latin Songs chart (both Iglesias "Experiencia Religiosa" and "Por Amarte", and "¡Basta Ya!" by Puerto-Rican singer Olga Tañón). Italian performer Eros Ramazzotti earned the accolade for Best Music Video for "La Aurora".

Dominican band Ilegales and American singer Marc Anthony dominated the Tropical/Salsa field earning two awards each, Ilegales won for "Song of the Year" with "La Morena" and "Group of the Year"; while Anthony received "Album of the Year" and "Male Singer of the Year". In the Regional Mexican field, Límite received two awards, while performers Grupo Mojado, Los Tigres del Norte, and Ana Bárbara each earned one accolade.

+ Winners and nominees of the 9th Annual Lo Nuestro Awards (winners listed first) Pop Album of the Year Pop Song of the YearEnrique Iglesias – Vivir Luis Miguel – Nada Es Igual... Shakira – Pies Descalzos Marco Antonio Solís – En Pleno Vuelo Olga Tañón – Nuevos SenderosEnrique Iglesias – "Experiencia Religiosa" (written by Cheín García-Alonso) Enrique Iglesias – "Por Amarte" (written by Iglesias and Roberto Morales) Amanda Miguel – "Amame Una Vez Más" (written by Miguel, Diego Verdaguer and Anahi) Shakira – "Estoy Aquí" (written by Shakira and Luis Fernando Ochoa) Olga Tañón – "¡Basta Ya!" (written by Marco Antonio Solís) Male Artist of the Year, Pop Female Artist of the Year, PopEnrique Iglesias Cristian Luis Miguel Marco Antonio SolísShakira Laura Pausini Olga Tañón Thalía Pop Group of the Year New Pop Artist of the YearManá Barrio Boyzz Donato y Estéfano MestizzoShakira David Fey Gemini Regional Mexican Album of the Year Regional Mexican Song of the YearLos Tigres del Norte – Unidos Para Siempre Ana Bárbara – Ay Amor La Mafia – Un Millón de Rosas Pedro Fernández – Pedro Fernández Los Mismos – Juntos Para SiempreGrupo Mojado – "Piensa en Mi" (written by Barrientos y Lozano) Límite – "El Principe" (written by Juan Francisco Alazán) La Mafia – "Un Millón de Rosas" (written by Armando Larrinaga) Marco Antonio Solís – "Que Pena Me Das" (written by Solís) Los Tigres del Norte – "El Circo" (written by Jesse Armenta) Male Artist of the Year, Regional Mexican Female Artist of the Year, Regional MexicanMarco Antonio Solís Alejandro Fernández Pedro Fernández Juan GabrielAna Bárbara Graciela Beltrán Laura Flores Nydia Rojas Regional Mexican Group of the Year New Regional Mexican Artist of the YearLímite Bronco La Mafia Los MismosLímite Angeles Azules Jennifer y los Jetz Bobby Pulido Tropical/Salsa Album of the Year Tropical/Salsa Song of the YearMarc Anthony – Todo a Su Tiempo La Makina – La Makina Manny Manuel – Auténtico Gilberto Santa Rosa – Esencia Jerry Rivera – FrescoIlegales – "La Morena" (written by Vladimir Dotel) La Makina – "Mi Reina" (written by Orlando Santana) Marc Anthony – "Llegaste a Mi" (written by Omar Alfanno) Marc Anthony – "Hasta Ayer" (written by Manny Delgado) Jerry Rivera – "Loco de Amor" (written by Mari Laruet) Male Artist of the Year, Tropical/Salsa Female Artist of the Year, Tropical/SalsaMarc Anthony Kinito Méndez Jerry Rivera Gilberto Santa Rosa Sergio VargasJailene Cintrón Brenda K. Starr Gisselle Jessica Tropical/Salsa Group of the Year New Tropical/Salsa Artist of the YearIlegales Los Hermanos Rosario El Gran Combo Grupo ManíaGrupo Manía Luis Damón DLG La Makina Video of the YearEros Ramazzotti – "La Aurora" Café Tacuba – "Como Te Extraño" Chayanne – "Volver a Nacer" Luis Miguel – "Dame" Laura Pausini – "Las Cosas Que Vives" Daniela Romo – "Mátame" Shakira – "Pies Descalzos, Sueños Blancos" Álvaro Torres – "Stress" Diego Torres – "Sé Que Ya No Volverás" Zucchero – "Menta y Romero"

Special awards Lo Nuestro Excellence Award: Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán Special Tribute: Juan Gabriel

See also 1996 in Latin music 1997 in Latin music Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album

References