Oye! Awards Support Mexican Industry

International artists shared their space with Mexico's own when the Oye! National Awards for Recorded Music announced the finalists for its first edition, set to take place Nov. 26 at Mexico's Auditorio Nacional.

Nelly Furtado, along with Mexican bands Elefante and Sin Bandera, garnered the most nominations—four each—including album of the year and song of the year (Furtado for Whoa! Nelly and "Turn Off the Light," Elefante for El Que Busca Encuentra and "Así Es la Vida," and Sin Bandera for Sin Bandera and "Entra En Mi Vida"). Shakira won three nominations.

The Oye! Awards, which will be presented for music released in Mexico between June 1, 2001, and July 15, 2002, are one of a slew of music awards created this year in Spanish-speaking countries, along with Chile's Premios Violeta Parra and Spain's Premios de la Música.

The Oye! Awards will be watched carefully because of their focus on product released in Mexico—the world's eighth-largest music market, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI)—and because for Latin acts, success in Mexico often precedes success in the U.S.

The Oye! Awards were created with the intention of supporting the Mexican industry during its hard battle against piracy. According to IFPI figures, the country's piracy rate is second only to China and Russia, with approximately 60% of all music sales pirated.

Nominees for the awards were chosen by a newly created National Academy of Music comprising 650 music critics, radio programmers, and TV executives who considered more than 500 entries. Awards are given in 15 categories, including international artists, banda, ranchero, norteño, rock, and pop.

The event is put together by Amprofón—the association of Mexican record labels—and concert- and event-promotion company Corporación Interamericana de Entretenimiento, which is in the process of joining forces with radio and TV networks. Although a formal announcement has not been made regarding who will air the awards, both the Televisa and TV Azteca networks are involved.

Winners will receive a trophy named la Musa (the Muse) designed by sculptor Jorge Marín.