The Latin Recording Academy has announced that iconic Spanish singer and performer Raphael will be honored as the 2025 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year. Celebrated for his impactful career, which spans more than six decades and has transcended borders and languages, Raphael will be recognized at a special gala on Wednesday, Nov. 12, in Las Vegas during Latin GRAMMY Week, ahead of the 2025 Latin GRAMMYs. The gala will feature a heartfelt tribute concert, where a lineup of renowned singers and friends will perform renditions of Raphael's legendary repertoire.

"We feel tremendously proud to pay this well-deserved tribute to Raphael for an exemplary artistic career that has transcended borders and languages," Latin Recording Academy CEO Manuel Abud said in a statement. "His unmistakable style, resilience, and constant reinvention have kept him relevant throughout the decades, making him a source of inspiration for new generations of Latin music creators."

"I feel deeply grateful to The Latin Recording Academy for this recognition that I have dreamed of receiving for many years. Being named Person of the Year thrills me immensely; it's the best way to celebrate so many years of dedication and love for music," Raphael said in a statement in response to the honor. "Thank you to the audiences that have always stood by my side, to my dear colleagues, and the entire music industry. It's an honor I will always carry in my heart. I look forward to reuniting with everyone in November to celebrate together and give back all that affection through songs. A huge hug and my most sincere gratitude."

The Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year celebration is a marquee event of the annual Latin GRAMMY Week, a weeklong celebration featuring special events, including the Special Awards Ceremony, Leading Ladies of Entertainment, Latin GRAMMY In The Schools, Nominee Reception, Best New Artist Showcase, Person of the Year Gala, and Premiere Ceremony, leading up to the annual Latin GRAMMY Awards. Ahead of the 2025 Latin GRAMMYs, Latin GRAMMY Week will once again feature a full slate of celebrations throughout Las Vegas. More details on Latin GRAMMY Week 2025 will be announced in the coming months.

The 2025 Latin GRAMMYs, officially known as the 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, will be held on Thursday, Nov. 13, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Nominations for the 2025 Latin GRAMMYs will be announced Wednesday, Sept. 17, and streamed across the Latin Recording Academy's social channels.

At the 2025 Latin GRAMMYs, the Latin Recording Academy will debut a new field and two new categories: Best Music For Visual Media, held within the new Visual Media field, and Best Roots Song, held within the previously established Traditional field.

Learn more about Raphael:

Born Rafael Martos in Linares, Spain, in 1943, Raphael's passion for music emerged early. Raised in Madrid, he won the Best Child Voice in Europe award at the prestigious Salzburg Festival at just nine years old. He rose to international fame after representing Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest with "Yo Soy Aquél" (1966) and "Hablemos Del Amor" (1967), and later appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1970, among many other major programs.

His musical success was paralleled by a celebrated film career, with appearances in films such as Al Ponerse El Sol (1967), El Golfo (1969), and Mi Gran Noche (2015). Known for his extraordinary voice and distinctive style, Raphael helped pioneer the internationalization of melodic Spanish songs, performing hits like "Digan Lo Que Digan," "Qué Sabe Nadie," and "Escándalo," many written by renowned songwriters Manuel Alejandro and José Luis Perales. He has graced iconic stages including Madison Square Garden, the Olympia in Paris, and the National Auditorium in Mexico.

In recent years, Raphael released Victoria and his latest album Ayer...Aún, which features a posthumous duet with one of his musical idols Édith Piaf. He was also the subject of the documentary Raphaelismo, offering an intimate look at his life and career. After successfully overcoming a brain lymphoma diagnosis in late 2024, Raphael announced his return to the stage with Raphaelísimo, a tour that will take him across Spain and Latin America. At 82, he continues to perform to sold-out theaters, arenas, and stadiums, inspiring new generations of music creators worldwide.

Learn more about the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year:

The Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year honors musicians and their artistic achievements in the Latin music industry, as well as their humanitarian efforts. The past honorees are Carlos Vives (2024), Laura Pausini (2023), Marco Antonio Solís (2022), Rubén Blades (2021), Juanes (2019), Maná (2018), Alejandro Sanz (2017), Marc Anthony (2016), Roberto Carlos (2015), Joan Manuel Serrat (2014), Miguel Bosé (2013), Caetano Veloso (2012), Shakira (2011), Plácido Domingo (2010), Juan Gabriel (2009), Gloria Estefan (2008), Juan Luis Guerra (2007), Ricky Martin (2006), José José (2005), Carlos Santana (2004), Gilberto Gil (2003), Vicente Fernández (2002), Julio Iglesias (2001) and Emilio Estefan (2000).

Net proceeds from the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year gala benefit the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation, which advances music education and cultural preservation.

During her acceptance speech at the 2026 Grammys, Laufey delivered one of the most inspiring calls to action in Grammy history. Accepting the Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for A Matter Of Time, the Icelandic singer/songwriter gave a massive thanks to all the music educators around the world.

"I owe everything to my music education, to my arts education," she passionately said from the Grammy stage. "We cannot cut arts funding. It's so important. What you all do here is so important."

Much like Laufey, the Grammy organization strongly champions the power of music education and professional development. To mark Music In Our Schools Month this March, the organization that provides year-round learning, networking, and professional development is spotlighting the life-changing impact of music learning, honoring music educators, and elevating the next generation of creators and industry professionals through curated programs and immersive initiatives. The organization's commitment to music education supports the entire music ecosystem — from classroom to career — and ensures emerging leaders are prepared to shape the future of music.

"For me, both music education and professional development are the same: It all points to continuing education," Dr. Chelsey Green, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Recording Academy, told the Grammy organization in an exclusive interview for the Gramophone newsletter. "Staying on top of your development is the holistic education needed to be as rounded and healthy as an artist as you can, especially as so many independent artists are emerging and sustaining their careers independently."

Here are six essential ways the Grammy organization and its affiliates support working professionals and emerging artists and leaders through year-round music education and professional development.

Investing In The Next Generation Through Mentorship & Career Access

The Grammy organization provides access to mentorship programs, internships, workshops, scholarships, and networking opportunities to ensure that music's next biggest stars and industry leaders are equipped with the tools, knowledge, and networks they need to thrive.

Grammy U & The Grammy U Mentorship Program

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Grammy U is the Grammy organization's premier membership program for the emerging music community, designed to help aspiring creators and professionals launch their careers. One of its flagship initiatives, the annual Grammy U Mentorship Program Presented by Amazon Music connects eligible Grammy U members with Recording Academy members for a six-month mentorship session, during which participants build relationships that often extend well beyond the program, with some mentees landing their first industry roles through the Grammy U Mentorship Program.

In celebration of Music In Our Schools Month, the Grammy U Mentorship Program will continue to host virtual programming for mentees this month, as well as Grammy U Mentorship Mixers across Chapters nationwide.

Leading Ladies of Entertainment Mentorship Program & Symposium

Created by the Latin Recording Academy in 2016, the Leading Ladies of Entertainment initiative bridges the gender gap in the music industry by honoring influential women and empowering future leaders. Paying-it-forward and forging opportunities for future generations is a core pillar of this initiative, and in 2021, the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation established its Mentorship Program, where  past honorees and industry professionals provide personalized guidance to selected mentees over three months, offering insights into entrepreneurship, branding, career navigation, and leadership. Applications for the fifth cohort of the Leading Ladies of Entertainment Mentorship Program are open now through Monday, April 6.

In March 2026, the initiative launched its inaugural Leading Ladies of Entertainment Symposium, an inspiring, all-day gathering focused on mentorship, leadership, networking, and the advancement of women in music.

Opening Doors Through Scholarships & Financial Support

The Grammy organization actively works to remove barriers to opportunity via its various scholarship programs, which ensure talented students can pursue their dreams without financial limitations standing in the way.

Your Future Is Now

Presented by Amazon Music and the Recording Academy's Black Music Collective (BMC), the Your Future Is Now scholarship program awards scholarships and hands-on, immersive professional development experiences to students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The program will return for its fifth year in 2026.

Quinn Coleman Memorial Scholarship

Established in 2021 in honor of late music executive and DJ Quinn Coleman, the Quinn Coleman Memorial Scholarship, presented by the Grammy organization and Grammy Museum, provides professional development and resources that prepare students for full-time careers in music; resources include scholarships, stipends, wellness seminars, and internship opportunities at the Recording Academy or Latin Recording Academy.

Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation Scholarships

The Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation is a global champion of music education and empowers communities through Latin music and culture. For over a decade, the Foundation has fostered the next generation of Latin music creators through scholarships, education programs and grants that advance Latin music, such as:

• The Prodigy Scholarship, also known as the 2026 Noel Schajris Scholarship, which offers financial support toward a bachelor's degree at Berklee College of Music for the 2026 fall semester

• Gifted Tuition Scholarships awarded to students to cover tuition and housing costs, as well as wrap-around services provided by the Foundation, toward a four-year bachelor's degree at the institution of their choice

• Several Tuition Assistance Scholarships, which offer financial support to students pursuing or starting a degree in music in the 2026 fall semester

Learn more about and apply to the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation scholarship programs.

Immersive Learning: Real-World Industry Experiences

Professional development comes alive when students and rising professionals step into real music spaces and attain real-world experiences from working artists and executives. Here are a few examples the Grammy organization provides:

Grammy Camp

The music industry's only summer camp dedicated to delivering direct, real-world insight from working music makers, Grammy Camp is a national summer program for high school students. Led by Grammy winners, Grammy nominees, and music industry professionals, the program provides hands-on training and insider access across multiple disciplines — from performance and songwriting to production and music business.

Presented by the Grammy Museum, Grammy Camp is expanding to four U.S. cities for the 2026 summer season: Nashville, Miami, Los Angeles, and New York City.

Grammy In The Schools

The Grammy Museum's Grammy In The Schools program is a regional music industry career day, presented in partnership with a local Recording Academy Chapter, that provides insight to high school students about diverse career options in the music industry and direction on how to prepare for them.

The Grammy In The Schools Music Industry Career Day program connects high school students with Grammy winners, Grammy nominees, and working professionals across disciplines, offering candid conversations about what it takes to build a sustainable career in music. The program also features keynote panels as well as hands-on, interactive workshops where students can learn about producing a track, writing a song, and navigating the industry.

For Music In Our Schools Month, Grammy In The Schools 2026, in partnership with the Recording Academy's New York Chapter, heads to New Haven, Connecticut, this month for a day of hands-on learning and interactive sessions.

Professional Development & Networking At Every Stage

The Grammy organization prioritizes professional development for its members, as well as the creative community and the music industry at large, throughout the year, providing hands-on access to career pathways across the industry and helping emerging professionals build the networks and skills that shape long-term careers.

The Los Angeles Chapter's NEXT Class program, founded in 2014, provides real-life experiences and mentorship and networking opportunities for emerging Recording Academy members as they begin their paths as future leaders of the music industry.

The monthly Level Up series, one of the Grammy organization's many exclusive membership programs, engages Recording Academy members through purposeful programming focused on professional development and member networking. For Music In Our Schools Month, the Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. Chapters will collaboratively host a special edition of Level Up featuring Education Committee Members discussing music and health spaces.

In 2024, the Grammy organization established the Music Education & Professional Development Committee (MEPD), a hub to centralize its efforts and facilitate collaboration regarding education and professional development initiatives across the Recording Academy and its affiliates. Currently led by Co-Chairs and industry executives Nikisha Bailey and Riggs Morales, the MEPD Committee amplifies the organization's mentorship and education initiatives for its collective +29,000 members across its Chapters, Wings and affiliates, including Grammy U, the Grammy Museum, MusiCares, the Latin Recording Academy, and the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation. The MEPD Committee includes Recording Academy members from across the country and activates locally at each of the Academy's 12 Chapters and on a national level.

Honoring The Educators Who Inspire The Next Generation

Every year, the Grammy organization proudly celebrates music educators through awards that spotlight the changemakers shaping the future of music and ensuring the impact and longevity of music education in the classroom.

Music Educator Award

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Presented by the Recording Academy and the Grammy Museum, the Music Educator Award honors current educators who have made a significant contribution to music education while demonstrating a deep commitment to ensuring music education remains a vital part of school communities.

Jennifer Jimenez, of South Miami Senior High School in Miami, Florida, received the 2026 Music Educator Award; she was honored at the annual Special Merit Awards ceremony in January during Grammy Week 2026.

Applications for the 2027 Music Educator Award are now open. Nominations are due March 15, 2026. Applications are due March 31, 2026.

Latin Music Educator Award

In 2025, the Latin Recording Academy, in partnership with the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation, launched the Latin Music Educator Award to honor educators from the global music community who are making a significant impact by incorporating Latin music into their curriculum.

Luciana Ortega, of the Instituto Santa María de San Carlos in Chile, was honored with the inaugural Latin Music Educator Award during Latin Grammy Week 2025 last November.

The Impact Of Music Education: By The Numbers

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The Grammy organization's commitment to music education and professional development is reflected not only in its programs, but in the thousands of lives they impact every year. Here's a look at the organization's impact on music education and professional development by the numbers:

Grammy Museum (in the last year alone)

• 18,000: Number of K-12 students who attended a workshop, field trip, or program at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles

• +38,000: Number of students and teachers who were impacted by 446 music education programs and initiatives at the Grammy Museum and across the country

• $200,000: The amount awarded in grants for music research and sound preservation by the Grammy Museum

• In 2025, the Grammy Museum announced free youth admission (17 and under), generously underwritten by the Stengaard Gross Family Education Initiative

Grammy U

• +8,000: The amount of Grammy U members worldwide

• +2,000: Participants in the current Grammy U Mentorship Program Presented by Amazon Music

• +130: Programs in 2025

• 700: Schools with members represented in Grammy U

Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation

• +$15 million: The amount the Foundation has awarded to students, schools, music programs, musicologists, and researchers from around the world to date

• New programs launched by the Foundation in 2025

  • Leading Ladies of Entertainment Fireside Chat  

  • Emerging Talent Spotlight  

  • Latin Grammy In The Schools Learning Session and After School

This month, the Recording Academy reached a groundbreaking milestone with the official launch of Crear Música, the newest wing of the Academy's DREAM (Diversity Reimagined by Engaging All Music-People) Network, which uplifts and connects Latin creators across the music industry.

Held at CHICA at the Venetian Resort Las Vegas during Latin GRAMMY Week 2025, the launch event marked a landmark celebration that brought together artists, executives, community leaders, and Latin GRAMMY nominees for a morning that blended connection, conversation, and live performance all centered on one idea: music as a bridge between cultures.

Part of the Recording Academy's DREAM Network, an inclusive network of member resource groups spotlighting the contributions and initiatives of creators and professionals from diverse cultural backgrounds, Crear Música reflects the Academy's ongoing commitment to inclusion and cultural representation. Developed in partnership with the Recording Academy's Los Angeles Chapter, the Latin Recording Academy, and SESAC Latina, the program underscored a shared goal: expanding opportunity, access, and visibility for Latin creators across the global music landscape.

During his opening remarks, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. spoke about the importance of this collaboration — ensuring that Latin music is not only celebrated during GRAMMY season, but supported year-round through meaningful engagement and equitable opportunity.

"Our goal has always been to make sure the Academy reflects the world of music it represents," Mason jr. said in his speech. "That means amplifying Latin creators, building bridges with our partners at the Latin Recording Academy, and continuing to grow a membership that's as diverse and dynamic as the music itself."

Recording Academy staffers and guests attend the Crear Música: Elevating Culture, Empowering Community event on Nov. 12, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada | Photo: Monica Schipper/Getty Images for The Latin Recording Academy

Event guests enjoyed a Latin-inspired menu curated by Chef Lorena García, whose culinary artistry at CHICA reflected the same vibrancy and storytelling spirit celebrated on stage. Chef Lorena also shared heartfelt remarks about the power of art. She spoke about the deep connection between music and cooking, two creative languages that tell stories. Welcoming nominees and guests with warmth, she reminded the room, "Esta es tu casa y este es tu día" ("This is your home and this is your day"), emphasizing that music "connects us all as Latinos — as artists and as dreamers."

The program featured a moving performance by Nic, whose soulful set embodied the heart of Crear Música: authenticity, emotion, and cultural pride. Her performance transformed the room into a shared space of reflection and joy, reminding attendees that music remains one of the world's most powerful storytellers.

Nic performs at the Crear Música: Elevating Culture, Empowering Community event on Nov. 12, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada | Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for The Latin Recording Academy

Before the performance, Qiana Conley, Senior Executive Director of the Recording Academy's Los Angeles Chapter, delivered remarks on the importance of mentorship, collaboration, and the Chapter's role in bridging the Recording Academy and Latin Recording Academy communities, particularly through dual membership and local engagement.

"Crear Música is more than a celebration, it's a commitment," Conley said. "For the first time, all Latin Recording Academy Voting Members were invited to join the Recording Academy, an important step toward a more inclusive and representative membership body."

A Commitment To The Future

As one of the eight DREAM Network groups, Crear Música serves as the Recording Academy's dedicated hub for Latin creators. Its mission is to strengthen ties between the Recording Academy and Latin Recording Academy, build professional pathways, empower and elevate Latin voices in music culture, and celebrate the diversity and excellence that define Latin music today.

The Crear Música event signaled a new chapter, one in which visibility meets action and cultural celebration becomes a sustained commitment.

"This is just the beginning," Ricky Lyon, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) for the Recording Academy, said in his opening remarks. "We're building something that lasts far beyond Latin GRAMMY Week — a year-round movement that ensures every creator feels seen, supported, and part of the story."

Recording Academy staffers and guests attend the Crear Música: Elevating Culture, Empowering Community event on Nov. 12, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada | Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for The Latin Recording Academy

About Crear Música

Part of the Recording Academy's DREAM Network (Diversity Reimagined by Engaging All Music-People), Crear Música is a community-based initiative designed to connect and empower Latin creators and professionals across the industry through opportunity, mentorship, and storytelling that reflects the depth and impact of Latin music worldwide.

About The DREAM Network

The DREAM Network is the Recording Academy's inclusion engine, designed to amplify underrepresented voices, expand access, and build equity across the music ecosystem. Through eight community networks and emerging leadership programs, the DREAM Network ensures that every creator has space to be seen, heard, and supported. The DREAM Network is composed of eight priority resource groups:

• Women in the Mix: To build a community for all women and increase representation within the Recording Academy and in the music industry.

• Black Music Collective: Dedicated to the inclusion, recognition, and advancement of Black music and its creators and professionals.

• GRAMMYs Next Gen: Supports and empowers the next generation of music creators and professionals.

• Academy Proud: Positions the GRAMMY organization as the LGBTQIA+ inclusion leader for our members and the music community at large.

• Gold Music Alliance: Fosters meaningful connections and elevates the impact of Pan-Asian members and allies within the GRAMMY organization and the music industry.

• Crear Música: Celebrates the Latino culture, develops members, and positively impacts the music community.

• Indigenous Peoples Network: Develops a global community contributing to the preservation and honoring of Indigenous peoples and their traditions in music.

• RAA+D (Recording Academy Accessibility and Disability): A commitment beyond compliance by achieving true accessibility for everyone in our music community.

Learn more about Crear Música and the Recording Academy's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, recent DEI achievements, and year-round work to support artists, creators and music professionals of all backgrounds.

Bad Bunny finally conquered the coveted Album Of The Year category at the 2025 Latin GRAMMYS — and did so with his most political album to date.

DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS earned the Puerto Rican singer his fifth and final win of the night, bringing Benito to a career total of 17. Following the Biggest Night in Latin Music, Bad Bunny is now one of the most-awarded artists in Latin GRAMMYS history.

On DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS ("I Should Have Taken More Photos"), the artist born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio pays tribute to his native Puerto Rico — not only through an array of genres, such as salsa, but also through the figure of the jíbaro, a Puerto Rican cultural symbol.

"I want to dedicate this award to all the children and young people of Latin America, and especially those from Puerto Rico," said Bad Bunny upon receiving the award, also dedicating the Latin GRAMMY to a new generation of Puerto Rican artists such as Rai Nao, Dei V, Omar Courtz, Chuwi, among others.

"Never stop dreaming and being yourselves; never forget where you come from. There are many ways to serve your country; we chose music," he added.

The LP includes tracks like the namesake "DtMF," a deeply nostalgic viral hit that resonated not only among Puerto Ricans but also throughout Latin America. The song also received the Latin GRAMMY for Best Urban/Urban Fusion Performance and Best Urban Song. 

Bad Bunny arrived at the 2025 Latin GRAMMYS as the artist with the most nominations of the night, with 12 categories. He also took home the award for Best Reggaeton Performance for "Voy a Llevarte Pa' PR." In between his wins, Benito performed "WELTiTA" with Chuwi — another song from DeBÍ TiRAR.

Other nominees included Rauw Alejandro (Cosa Nuestra), CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso (PAPOTA), Gloria Estefan (Raíces), Vicente García (Puñito De Yocahú), Joaquina (al romper la burbuja), Natalia Lafourcade (Cancionera), Carín León (Palabra de To's – Seca), Liniker (CAJU), Elena Rose (En las Nubes – Con Mis Panas) and Alejandro Sanz (¿Y Ahora Qué?).

Alejandro Sanz didn't just add to his Latin GRAMMY count at the 2025 Latin GRAMMYS — he extended his reign of a major category.

The legendary Spanish singer/songwriter took home his eighth Record Of The Year trophy, for "Palmeras en el jardín." He leads the category with the most career wins, also claiming the honor in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2019, and 2020.

During this year's Record Of The Year acceptance speech, the Spanish singer celebrated the power of music, while also addressing the elephant in the room with a smile: "Music gives us life. Thank you so much to everyone… Benito, I robbed you, I'm so sorry. Karol, I'm sorry."

Of course, he was referring to his fellow Record Of The Year nominees Bad Bunny and Karol G; the former had two songs in the category, "BAILE INoLVIDABLE" and "DtMF," while Karol G's Song Of The Year-winning "Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido" was also nominated. (The other nominees were Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso's "EL DÍA DEL AMIGO" and "#TETAS"; Jorge Drexler and Conociendo Rusia's "Desastres Fabulosos"; Natalia Lafourcade's "Cancionera"; Liniker, Amaro Freitas and AnaVitória's "Ao Teu Lado"; and Zoe Gotusso's "Lara.")

"Palmeras en el jardín" is classic Sanz — a heartfelt, dramatic power ballad. It's about wanting to do everything you can to try to make your love happy, even if that means planting palm trees in the garden, as the title implies, to remind them of their home. The track is a nod to his ex-partner, Cuban multimedia artist Rachel Valdés.

"When I made it, I hesitated about whether to release it … but then I said, this is who I am," Sanz said of the song at Billboard Latin Music Week in October. "In the last year, I've learned not to be afraid of that. To say, well, there are much worse things in life than showing that you have a heart."

"Palmeras en el jardín" is the opening track to Sanz's 2025 EP, ¿Y ahora qué?, which also earned the crooner a Latin GRAMMY for Best Contemporary Pop Album. The now 24-time Latin GRAMMY winner brought another tender ¿Y ahora qué? track, "El vino de tu boca," to life with a dynamic performance, during which he debuted an upbeat new flamenco-guitar-infused song, "Las Guapas," from his upcoming album.