Music briefs

* Mexican singer and actress Lucero was named as one of the hosts of this year’s Latin Grammy Awards which will be held on November 2^nd.

* Speaking of music awards, personal favorite Julieta Venegas scored a mild upset by winning Best Solo Artist at last week’s MTV Video Music Awards Latin America 2006. Daddy Yankee, Mana, and Shakira also received awards.

* Got to love this quote on Latin pop music from Aterciopelados (image) lead singer Andrea Echeverri: “Music these days is very influenced by figures like Madonna. She has had some strong ideas but society has become a little unconscious and it needs people to question things.” Maybe Echeverri does have a point- the winner of “Latin American Idol” will be crowned tonight and Mexican bubblegum group RBD released a video promoting their (gasp!) upcoming English-language album.

* Sometimes being an international pop superstar isn’t all what it’s cracked up to be as the venue for Shakira’s concert in Venezuela next month was moved based on complaints from local residents.

* Peruvian Susana Baca takes pride in her African heritage and feels that she is a champion of “dark skinned (Peruvians) who are the poorest in my country” inasmuch as she doesn’t believe that she’s a purely political musician.

* Several executives for music giant EMI’s Brazilian division have been suspended due to their role in a major accounting fraud scandal affecting the music industry in Brazil.

Links- Voy Musica (Brazil), New York Newsday, Reuters, VivirLatino (blog), Contact Music, San Jose Mercury News (U.S.), People’s Daily Online (China), Seattle Times (U.S.), Times Online (U.K.)

Image- New York Press

Tags- music, Latin America