The Most Important Event in Latin Music Comes to Miami

MIAMI, April 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As the 22nd Annual Billboard Latin Music Conference Presented by State Farm® in Association with AT&T approaches, there is growing anticipation and excitement for what will be three days of compelling activities that will gather hundreds of industry movers. The conference kicks off April 25th with a Billboard Pre-Conference Poolside Party, sponsored by Musical Rhythms Promotions, at the Renaissance Eden Roc Miami Beach, Florida. For more information please visit www.BillboardLatinConference.com.

Combining entertainment and education to inspire and inform, the conference will feature an exclusive appearance with Spanish rock band Mana, which for the first time in its 20-year career, will gather all four members for an intimate interview to discuss their music creative process, their tours and the state of the Latin music industry. Latin super stars Don Omar, Pitbull, Gloria Trevi, Camila, Luis Fonsi, Jorge Villamizar, Donato Poveda, Lenny and Max, from Aventura; Gerardo Ortiz, Fernando Camacho from La Arrolladora Banda El Limon and Roberto Tapia, are among the artists scheduled to participate in the conference. They will be joined by executives from leading companies such as Universal Music Latin America, Sony Music, AT&T, Google, Facebook, Coca Cola, Walmart and many more, who will participate in provocative panels, receptions and special events surrounding the conference.

For the first time, the conference will also feature The Marketing Exchange Hosted by Telemundo and Mun2, featuring discussion panels such as My Big Vast Social Network. Sponsored by Internet portal Muzicol, the unprecedented discussion features successful singer and entrepreneur Don Omar, who will be joined by executives from Facebook and Google. The Marketing Exchange will also present The First Annual Billboard Latin Music Marketing Awards, honoring the best campaigns, collaborations and creative visions from Latin music over the past year.

Moreover, the conference will feature newly enhanced and expanded radio programming including case studies, roundtables, and panels with the masters of the airwaves. Billboard will also bring together the power players of Regional Mexican music for an in-depth conversation on where the genre is headed.

In addition, award-winning BMI songwriters, Pitbull, Luis Fonsi, Lenny and Max from Aventura, Donato Poveda and Jorge Villamizar will take part on the popular panel "How I Wrote That Song."  Registrants will also enjoy exclusive access to the Billboard Bash - a pre-Billboard Latin Music Awards show celebration featuring performances by finalists El Cata, Dyland & Lenny, Cultura Profetica and 24 Horas, among others.

The week is capped off by The Billboard Latin Music Awards Presented by State Farm®– the longest running and most prestigious awards show in the Latin music industry.  The awards show, produced and broadcast live by Telemundo on Thursday, April 28 at 8PM (7PM Central), honors the biggest stars based on Billboard's weekly charts, and features performances by top artists across all genres of Latin music.

SOURCE Billboard