Enrique Iglesias, Maldita Nerea, Dani Martín, Carlos Jean and Juan Magán among the frontrunners for the 40 Principales Awards

Enrique Iglesias has topped the list of nominees for the 2011 40 Principales Awards with four nominations, followed by Carlos Jean, Dani Martín, Juan Magán and Maldita Nerea, all nominated in three categories each. Hot on their heels, with two nominations each, are El Pescao, La Oreja de Van Gogh, Melendi, Pablo Alborán and Virginia Labuat. Completing the list of nominees are Dani Moreno, Huecco, La Musicalité, Marta Sánchez, Pignoise, Ragdog and The Monomes with one nomination. In the international category Mana lead the pack with four nominations in total (including a nomination for Best National Performer in Mexico), followed by Shakira with three. Carlos Baute, Don Omar, Pitbull and Rihanna are tied with two nominations each, while Alexandra Stan, Britney Spears, Bruno Mars, Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry, LMFAO and Ricky Martin have one each
 
Voting opens at midnight (00:00), October 15, 2011 and closes at 23:59 on December 2, 2011 at www.los40.com.
 
The 40 Principales Awards 2011 will be handed out at a gala ceremony to be held on December 9 at the Palacio de Deportes in Madrid. The Awards' main sponsor is Ballantine's, which once again is showing its commitment to the very best of national and international music. Net profits from the sale of tickets for the gala will go to the aid project in the Horn of Africa, Emergencia en el Cuerno de África, run by the NGO Acción Contra el Hambre (Action Against Hunger)
 
40 Principales and Ballantine's have this morning announced the nominees for the 19 categories of the 40 Principales Awards 2011. The announcement was made at the newly opened 40 Café, with the participation of Jordi Finazzi, general manager of PRISA Musica, Jaume Baro, Director of Programming and Content at PRISA Radio, and Juan Carlos Chaves, Director of Brand and Business at PRISA Radio. All three speakers stressed that these awards are the only of their kind in Spain and the Americas to be directly voted by the public.
 
They were joined at the event was by performers Carlos Jean, Dani Martin, El Pescao, Huecco, Juan Magan,La Musicalité, La Oreja de Van Gogh, Maldita Nerea, Malu, Pignoise, Ragdog, The Monomes and Virginia Labuat.
 
The representatives from 40 Principales explained that the nominees had been selected from among performers and their work broadcast on the radio network at least once between October 15, 2010 and September 30, 2011. The list of nominees was selected using three criteria: airtime on 40 Principales, the results of market research studies conducted by the network and sales figures.
 
The 40 Principales Awards are organized into 4 sections: National (Spain), National (the Americas), International in the Spanish language, and International in another language. This year also saw the launch of a new category, the award for Best Dance-Pop Project, to recognize the importance of this musical trend. The nominees are Dani Moreno (feat. Jacki Sagana), Carlos Jean (feat. Nana), Juan Magán (feat. Pitbull & "El Cata"), Marta Sánchez (feat. D-Mol) and Enrique Iglesias (feat. Ludacris & DJ Frank E).
 
In the National section, Enrique Iglesias leads the list with four nominations, followed by Carlos Jean, Dani Martín, Juan Magan and Maldita Nerea, with three each. Enrique Iglesias is nominated for Best Solo Artist, Best Video Clip, Best Dance-Pop Project and Best Song. Carlos Jean nominated for Best New Act, Best Dance-Pop Project and Best Song. Dani Martin is nominated for Best Artist, Best Festival or Concert Tour and Best Album. Juan Magan for Best New Act, Best Dance-Pop Project and Best Song. And the group Maldita Nerea, which is nominated for Best Group, Best Festival or Concert Tour and Best Album.
 
The list of nominees in the National section continues with two nominations for the El Pescao for Best Artist and Best Festival or Concert Tour. La Oreja de Van Gogh for Best Group and Best Album. Pablo Alborán for Breakthrough Artist and Best Album. Virginia Labuat for Breakthrough Artist  and Video Clip. Melendi is nominated for Best Festival or Concert Tour and Best Album.
 
With one nomination each are Dani Moreno, The Monomes, Ragdog, Huecco, Pignoise, La Musicalité and Marta Sánchez. The 40 Principales Awards also honor new talent: Pablo Alborán, The Monomes, Virginia Labuat, Juan Magán and Carlos Jean have been nominated this year.
 
In the international section, Maná can boast four nominations (Best Festival or Concert Tour, Best Group and Best Song  for "Lluvia al Corazón"), as well as Best National Artist in Mexico. Shakira has three nominations (Artist and two for Best Song for "Rabiosa" and "Loca"). competing for Best Song  and Best International Artist in Spanish  are Don Omar ("Danza Kuduro") and Carlos Baute ("Quién Te Quiere Como Yo"). And Ricky Martin is nominated for Best Artist.
 
In the international non-Spanish Language section are Pitbull (Best New Artist and Best Song for "Give Me Everything" and NEYO) and Rihanna (Best New Artist and Best Song for ' S & M '). Also competing for Best Artist are Britney Spears, Katy Perry and Bruno Mars. Rounding out the list in the non-Spanish Language category with their nominations for Best Song are LMFAO ("Party Rock Anthem") Jennifer Lopez ("On the Floor" up agaist Pitbull) and Alexandra Stan ("Mr. Saxobeat").
 
In the National category (Latin America) the nominees are: Argentina (Miranda, El Original, Axel, Dread Mara I, Tan Bionica), Chile (Los Bunkers, MC Billeta, Eyci and Cody, Fran Valenzuela, Los Vasquez), Colombia (The Mills, J Blavin, Pasabordo, Iggy D, Cali and Dandee), Costa Rica (Los Govinada, Garbanzos, Los Ajenos, Akasha, Cocofunka), Ecuador (Daniel Betancourth, Karla Kanora, Daniel Páez, Brito, Papa Chango), Guatemala (Reyes Vagos, El Tambor de la Tribu, Daniela Carpio, Malacates Trébol Shop, Gaby Moreno), Mexico (Zoe, Paty Cantu, Belanova, Ximena Sariñana, Maná), Panama (Los Rabanes, Os Almirante, Aldo Ranks, Rd Maravilla, Joey Montana).

Now it's up to the estimated one million members of the public in Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama and Ecuador, who have until December 2 to pick their songs and artists of the year.