NEW YORK, NY -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 02/07/06 -- The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) will celebrate its 14th Annual Latin Music Awards on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, California. The invitation-only gala will honor the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP's most performed songs in Latin Music of 2005. ASCAP's Latin Music Awards is one of the most attended and celebrated events in the Latin entertainment community.

One of the evening's highlights will be the presentation of the ASCAP Latin Heritage Award to Ricardo Arjona. This is one of the most prestigious honors that the Society bestows upon its members, and is being given to Arjona for his outstanding contribution to Latin music. Past recipients include Antonio Aguilar, Celia Cruz, José Feliciano, Ednita Nazario, Arturo Sandoval, Gilberto Santa Rosa and Olga Tañón.

During the awards ceremony, ASCAP will also recognize the Songwriter of the Year, Publisher of the Year, Super Song of the Year, and awards will be presented in the following categories: Pop, Tropical, Regional Mexican, Rock, Urban, and Television. In the Television category, awards will be presented to the Top Rated Theme for Soap Opera and the Top Rated Theme for TV Variety Program.

The singer-songwriter tradition of social and interpersonal commentary remains robust around the world, and in Latin America, no one keeps it alive more than Ricardo Arjona. Arjona is one of the most respected poets, performers and songwriters in the hemisphere. Born in the small town of Jocotenango, Guatamala, he starting playing guitar and singing at an early age, performing at political rallies and festivals while in college. He taught school, but moved to Mexico to follow his muse. When his first album turned out more pop than protest, he turned his back on recording and spent five years experimenting with different careers. He enrolled in university and studied Engineering, Architecture and Communications. He taught school in a rural part of Guatemala and was also a record setting professional basketball player. But like any artist with a calling, his creativity could not be contained.

He moved to Buenos Aires, where he began writing songs and performing in local bars. In 1990 he released the controversial "Jesus Verbo No Sustantivo." He soon found a recording home with Sony, where his "Animal Nocturno" album went on to receive 13 Platinum and 1 Diamante Awards. The follow up, 1994's "Historias," was an even bigger success, but it was in 1996 that the now Mexico-based Arjona experienced a defining moment with the release of "Si El Norte Fuera el Sur," the title track from the album of the same name. The title was a hugely popular song and served to further separate Arjona from the traditional pop lyricists. He fills stadiums and has gone on to release four hugely successful CDs, an autobiographical DVD documentary, and his newest release, "Adentro."

About ASCAP

Established in 1914, ASCAP is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization representing the world's largest repertory totaling over 8 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 230,000 composer, lyricist and music publisher members. ASCAP also represents the repertories created by the international affiliates of 70 foreign performing rights organizations. ASCAP protects the rights of its members and foreign affiliates by licensing the public performances of their copyrighted works and distributing royalties based upon surveyed performances. ASCAP is the only American Performing Rights Organization owned and governed by its writer and publisher members. www.ascap.com

MEDIA, PLEASE NOTE: For information on how to apply for credentials to cover the 14th Annual ASCAP Latin Music Awards, please go to ASCAP's Press Room (www.ascap.com/press), click on the link for ASCAP's Latin Music Awards, and follow the directions posted.

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