The 'Corazon' singer says he doesn't feel like he's part of the Latin Recording Academy after he and his reggaeton colleagues were excluded from this year's nominations.
- November 13, 2019
AceShowbiz - Maluma has admitted he doesn't "feel like I'm a part of the (Latin Recording) Academy," after being snubbed in the Latin Grammy Awards nominations.
The 25-year-old Colombian star was noticeably absent from the list of nominations when they were released earlier this year, alongside other reggaeton artists such as J Balvin and Daddy Yankee.
Reflecting on the snub during a chat with Entertainment Tonight, Maluma said it's had a lasting impact on him.
"To be honest, I don't feel like I'm a part of the Academy. Like, I don't know, they want me out," he said. "The whole genre, reggaeton music, we change lives. We're doing amazing things for the world, and I feel like they don't see it."
"It's kind of sad because we all appreciate and we all respect the Academy. When we see the nominations, it's like, 'What did I do wrong?' Like, it's so random and so weird and not being a part of it, you feel like you're not part of the Latin Academy."
Explaining why he's decided to speak out about the issue, Maluma added, "That's why we wanted to talk about it and see what's going on with the Academy. I think it has to change."
After other artists including Balvin spoke out to express their frustration at not being included in any of the awards' major categories, the Latin Recording Academy released a statement in which they said they "hear the frustration and discontent" and "respect and admire all the genres that compose the world of Latin music."
