Estefan, Estefano Are Top BMI Latin Writers

04/23/2005 7:17 PM, Reuters
Leila Cobo

Two Miami-based songwriters and producers, Emilio Estefan Jr. and Estefano, tied for the songwriter of the year award at the 12th annual BMI Latin Awards.

This is the fourth consecutive win for Estefano and his sixth songwriter award since 1995. It is a record for the BMI Latin Awards, which honor the writers and publishers of the most performed songs on U.S. radio and TV.

Estefano and Estefan reaped their awards by virtue of writing for a wide range of acts who received heavy airplay. Estefan's co-writing credits include Cristian Castro's "No Hace Falta," Shalim's "Se Me Olvido Tu Nombre" and Victor Manuelle's "Tengo Ganas."

Estefano's tracks included Marc Anthony's "Ahora Quien" and Ricky Martin)'s "Y Todo Queda En Nada." He plans to release a solo album later this year on Universal Music Latino.

Coincidentally, Estefano once worked for Estefan when he first arrived in Miami from Colombia.

Other big winners during the April 21 ceremony, which took place in Las Vegas, were singer-songwriter Juanes, who won the award for song of the year for "Fotografia," a duet recorded with Nelly Furtado, and Ser-Ca Publishing, which took home the publisher-of-the-year prize.

Although Estefano and Estefan are primarily pop purveyors, Ser-Ca was recognized for a catalog mainly focused on regional Mexican music, the top-selling Latin genre in the United States.

Ser-Ca, founded 40 years ago in Monterrey, Mexico, by Servando Cano, had six titles on BMI's Latin song list, including three by Norteno/Tejano group Intocable, a top-seller and radio favorite. They include "A Donde Estabas?," penned by Jose Roberto Martinez, and "Soy Un Novato," penned by Luis "Louie" Padilla.

The BMI gala also paid tribute to Carlos Santana, as the BMI Icon recipient for his "unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers." Santana is the first songwriter to receive the BMI Icon honor at the BMI Latin Awards. Past honorees include James Brown, Brian Wilson), Dolly Parton and Van Morrison).

BMI honored 50 songs, based on their performance on radio and TV as detected by a BMI sample survey. The award eligibility period runs from July 2003 through June 2004.

For a complete list of winners, go to billboard.com/awards.

Reuters/Billboard