February 3, 2025
Statement from Brenda Victoria Castillo, President & CEO of the National Hispanic Media Coalition, on the 2025 GRAMMY Awards
As the 2025 GRAMMY Awards celebrated the best in music, the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) reaffirms the importance of recognizing and honoring the invaluable contributions of diverse artists and cultures across all genres. Latin music continues to shape the global music landscape, breaking records, inspiring cultural movements, and amplifying the diverse voices of our community. This year’s ceremony also focused on the importance of community, supporting those impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires and continuing to show the resilience and strength of the city and its surrounding county in the Palisades, Pasadena, and Altadena communities.
We congratulate music legend Shakira on her GRAMMY win in the Best Latin Pop Album category for Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, and Mexican singer-songwriter Carín León on his win in the Best Música Mexicana Album (Including Tejano) category for Boca Chueca, Vol. 1. Puerto Rican rapper and singer Residente received a GRAMMY for his album Las Letras Ya No Importan in the Best Música Urbana category, and the Venezuelan band Rawayana won the Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album category for their album, ¿Quién Trae Las Cornetas?. We also congratulate Tony Succar and Mimy Succar for their win in the Best Tropical Latin Album category for Alma, Corazón y Salsa (Live at Gran Teatro Nacional) as well as Luques Curtis, Zaccai Curtis, Willie Martinez, Camilo Molina & Reinaldo de Jesus for their win in the Best Latin Jazz Album category for Cubop Lives! Among the night's winners was NHMC Careers in Entertainment Guest Speakers Singer, Jessie Reyez and Producer, Jermi Thomas for their rendition of Bob Marley's Is This Love. Jessie and Jermi's rendition is a featured song on the soundtrack of Bob Marley: One Love - Music Inspired by the Film (Deluxe), which won for Best Reggae Album.
As winners took the stage at this year’s ceremony, artists like Chappell Roan, Shakira, Doechii, and Lady Gaga used their acceptance speeches to uplift marginalized communities across the country. They shined a light on the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants, and Black women - who shape our communities and deserve the same visibility, dignity, and rights as everyone else.
As the 2025 Dr. Dre Global Impact Award recipient, Alicia Keys spoke truth to power in her acceptance speech and shared, “This is not the time to shut down the diversity of voices. We’ve seen on this stage talented, hardworking people from different backgrounds with different points of view, and it changes the game. DEI is not a threat, it’s a gift.”
As diversity and inclusion efforts face pushback, we call for true equity, echoing the sentiments of Alicia Keys, and ensuring marginalized artists, executives, and creatives receive year-round investment, not just recognition during award season. People of color drive the economy, and inclusive environments unlock diverse talent and creativity.
Yours in the Movement,
Brenda Victoria Castillo
President & CEO
National Hispanic Media Coalition
