Houston To Host 9th Annual Latin Grammy Awards

HOUSTON, TEXAS -- The Latin Recording Academy President Gabriel Abaroa, Univision Network news anchor Barbara Bermudo, and Houston Mayor Bill White today announced that the 9th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards will be broadcast live from the Toyota Center in Houston on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008. This marks the first time Houston will host the premier international showcase of Latin music. The Latin Grammy Awards ceremony previously has been held in Miami, Los Angeles, New York and Las Vegas.

This important event - which recognizes and celebrates excellence in Latin music - will feature performances from the hottest and most prestigious names in the genre. Additional attendees at this morning's announcement included The Recording Academy President Neil Portnow, Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau Chairman Thomas Jones, Mayor Pro Tem Adrian Garcia, Toyota Center CEO Tad Brown, Lopez-Negrete Communications CEO Alex Lopez-Negrete, Blue Door Marketing CEO Daniel Barretto, Music World Entertainment CEO Mathew Knowles, and other members of the Houston business and arts communities and VIPs of the state of Texas. Nominations for this year's Latin GRAMMYs will be announced Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008.

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"As the Latin GRAMMY Awards has become a successful, dynamic, world-class entertainment show, we continue to take steps toward promoting the growth of Latin music and our telecast nationally and internationally by engaging partners whose goals are closely aligned with ours," Abaroa said. "We are thrilled to be working with the City of Houston and the Toyota Center, and we look forward to embracing its vibrant and ever-evolving Latin community. And we thank our great friends at Univision who will help to ensure that the 9th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards is once again a fantastic experience for millions of music lovers around the world."

"Houston has always held a very special place in our hearts thanks to continued support of our many loyal viewers there," said Alina Falcn, Executive Vice President and Operating Manager of the Univision Television Network. "We are extremely excited to be bringing the Latin Grammy Awards to one of our most important markets and offering the people of Houston a unique opportunity to be part of one of Univision's most highly regarded mega-events."

"Houston, one of the world's great international cities, is very excited by the opportunity to host the Latin Grammy Awards," said Mayor Bill White. "Houstonians share the passionate love of great music and appreciation for excellence that the Latin Grammys were created to recognize."

Houston, the fourth largest city in the United States (trailing New York, Los Angeles and Chicago), is a thriving arts nexus and is rich in diversity. Home to world-class museums, acclaimed galleries and internationally renowned performing arts, the city boasts first-rate shopping, top-notch restaurants and a sophisticated but very eclectic nightlife. According to the Travel Industry Association of America, Houston ranks among the nation's top 10 cities visited by Hispanic-Americans, making it an ideal location for the Latin Grammys.

Airing for the first time on Univision - and entirely in Spanish - in 2005, the Latin Grammy Awards was an unqualified ratings success. Last year's telecast, broadcast live from Las Vegas, reached 12.0 million viewers and was the No. 1 program in its time period in a number of major markets among key demos including all adults (not just Hispanics) 18-34, 18-49, and teens 12-17.

The 9th Annual Latin Grammy Awards will air live on the Univision Television Network on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central. Additionally, the telecast will be seen globally in more than 100 countries.