This year the MTV Video Music Awards are going to be slightly different.

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The powers-that-be have decided to add a new category to recognize Latino music: Tr3s Artista Latino del Año.

Who is nominated in this new and exciting category?

Camila, Shakira, Daddy Yankee, Wisin y Yandel, Aventura, Pitbull are all nominated in this inaugural edition of the category.

Who is your favorite to win in this category? Don’t forget to vote for them here.

While many of the ladies swoon at the sight of him, and recognize him for being very, very handsome, Anthony Romeo Santos of Aventura is being recognized for a different honor.

The imaginative songwriter has been recognized for his talent as a songwriter with songs like “El Perdedor”, “Mi Corazoncito” and “Los Infieles”, and has been given the award of Songwriter of the Year by the Latin division of the ASCAP (that’ll be American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers).

Congratulations to Mr. Anthony Romeo Santos—a Romeo in looks and in songwriting talent!

We hope that he doesn’t get too much of a big head after getting this honor!

Just in case you needed any signs that Aventura has arrived, look no further than their own application for the Apple Smartphone…you know the iphone. It’s called the Aventura Open Mic, and using it, you can have the reys of bachata give you some background vocals support, while you sing their songs. Nice, huh?

Meanwhile Jose Iorio, the host of Ritmoson Latinon, has his own publishing deal with EMI Music Publishing. No word on how much plata he got for this deal, but you can be it’s a lot. Jose is going to be releasing his own solo album under the terms of this deal. For someone who has such good ears for music, we can only expect him to emerge with something worthwhile.

While you wait for his album to drop, be sure to check out this single “Chicki Chaka”. Be sure to let us know what you think of it.

Miguel Bosé released a new album this week. Cardio, as the album is titled, contains 12 songs carrying the Bosé signature, meaning that they are melodic, catchy, and just plain lovely to listen to. Songs like “Ayurvedico” carry a New Age edge, while “¿Hay?” and “Estuve a punto de…”, “El perro” will have you contemplate on the virtues and pains of love.

We’ve previously told you about Emilio Estefan and Gloria Estefan gathering a host of famosos for our very own version of We Are the World. We have received the list of Latino artists participating in this historical event. If you’re short of breath already, you had better sit down for this, because the list is huge.

It includes: A.B. Quintanilla (who will surely leave his ego at the door), Alacranes Musical (Omar and Memo), Alejandro Fernández, Aleks Syntek, Ana Bárbara, Andy García, Angélica María, Angélica Vale, Arthur Hanlon, La Arrolladora, Banda El Limón de René Camacho, Aventura, Banda El Recodo, Carlos Santana, Chayanne, Cristian Castro, Christian Chávez, Cristina Saralegui, David Archuleta, Eiza, Eddy Herrera, Ednita Nazario, Fernando Villalona, Fonseca, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Gloria Estefan, (are we surprised she’s on the list? )Jencarlos Canela, Jenni Rivera, Johnny Pacheco, Jon Secada, Jorge Celedón, Jorge Moreno, Jorge Villamizar (previoiusly of the group Bacilos), José Feliciano, José Luis Rodriguez “El Puma“, Jocelyn, Juan Luis Guerra, Juanes, Kany García, Kat De Luna, K-Paz de la Sierra, Lena, Lisette, Lucero, Luis Enrique, Luis Fonsi, Luz Rios, Melina Leon, Milly Quezada, Montéz de Durango, Natalia Jiménez, Ojeda, Olga Tañón, Paquita la del Barrio, Paulina Rubio, Patricia Manterola, Pee Wee, Pitbull, Ricardo Montaner, Sergio Mayer, Taboo (from Black Eyed Peas), Thalía, Tito “El Bambino“, Vicente Fernández and Willy Chirino.

This is going to be big. Very big. Mark our words.

Emilio has this to say about teaming up with Quincy Jones in this unprecedented gathering of Latino talent:

“Me siento extremadamente orgulloso de poder juntar a este impresionante grupo de seres humanos y músicos para esta causa tan especial. Hoy estamos haciendo historia. Le estamos mostrando a Haití lo mucho que valen para nosotros.”

He continued:

“Gloria y yo estamos honrados de que Lionel Richie y el patrimonio de Michael Jackson hayan puesto su confianza en nosotros al permitirnos traducir esta canción histórica por primera vez en 25 años. Creo que nos hemos mantenido fieles al mensaje de unidad y de consuelo.”

We are so proud of the Latino artists who’ve chosen to be part of this milestone event. And we’re glad that they are, once again, coming to the aid of Haiti’s earthquake victims.

Be sure to tune in to Univision for the world premiere of the video (as well as exclusive behind-the-scenes footage!), which will take place on Univision on “El Show de Cristina” on March 1st at 10 P.M Eastern Time and 9 P.M. Central Time.

Photo Credit: Jemal Countess/Getty Images

Tito el Bambino performed “Te Pido Perdón”. We wonder if he wrote that song with his ex-wife Jessica Santiago in mind and silently dedicated to her? More performances!

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Aventura was the biggest winner of the night. They had a total of five nominations, and won most of them.

As their fans wishes, they sung “Veneno” “Dile Al Amor”, which got a lot of girls screaming their lungs out.

Espinazo Paz performed one of the songs from his latest album Yo no Canto, pero Lo Intentamos.

He had a throwback film projector as his prop on stage. How unique.

We respect our elders around here, but what’s up with the orange lipstick, Paquita la del Barrio?

And Luis Enrique made them dance and made them cry! He keeps on getting awards, after awards. Most recently, he was honored at the Grammys. What a year it’s been for Luis Enrique! When he came to accept his award on stage, he brought along his cute, very cute son Lucas. Aww.

Cristian Castro and Ana Isabelle had a nice duet together. They sure make a cute couple, on stage at least. Ana recently released her album Mi Sueño, and Cristian was nominated for Pop Album of the Year for El Culpable Soy Yo as well as Male Pop Artist of the Year.

So what did you think of those performances? Any favorites?

See photos of the performances by Nelly Furtado, Grupo Manía, and Jorge Celedón, El Torito Acosta and Jimmy Zambrano NEXT!

Photo Credit: F. Cuevas/Univision

So the kings of bachata had a little surprise for the fans the other night when they performed at Madison Square Garden for one of their many sold-out shows.

Rapper Akon joined them on stage, as they rocked the house!

They had two suprise guests who joined them for the night. Guess who?

Legendary athlete and jazz musician Bernie Williams, a man of many talents.

And who’s this?

None other than Bonescito!

As promised, the band gave $25,000 to the earthquake relief efforts for the country of Haiti, added to the $25,000 promised by their show’s sponsor Amheiser Busch, to total $50,000!

Not only are they adorable, they’re also generous!

If you were wondering who’s doing what, when, here is a small breakdown.

Just today, Maxwell, who’s partly Puerto Rican, for those of you who didn’t know, performed his song “Fistful of Tears” on the Oprah Winfrey show. The song is also dowloadable on iTunes and proceeds from the downloads will go to the relief effort.

Wisin Y Yandel gave a press conference inside Puerto Rico Sheraton Hotel, divulging that they have donated $300,000 to go towards rebuilding Haiti, in collaboration with business man Enrique González Domínguez. At stake here is the St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Port-au-Price that was destroyed during the quake.

Next week, the duo is going to be traveling to the island nation to lend a hand and to help. Who knew these two had a sensitive side? And you thought they were just eye candy!

Cristián de la Fuente spoke to Peopleenespanol.com, about the compassion he felt for the people of Haiti, and what the earthquake’s aftermath taught him:

“Es una señal de humildad darnos cuenta que somos tan pequeños, que nuestra vida es tan frágil que en un minuto todo nos puede cambiar y que no sacamos nada con tener dinero en el banco, un gran puesto en el trabajo o ser una persona poderosa si la naturaleza en un minuto nos lo puede quitar todo”.

Ricky Martin is putting his money where his mouth is! Not to mention his presence. Ricky is in Haiti. His foundation is going to be working with Habitat for Humanity International in helping build shelter for the natural disaster’s relief. And Ricky went the extra mile, by actually traveling to Haiti to oversee things! Help Ricky raise money for this important cause, by donating here.

Like we needed more reasons to like him!

The guapos of Aventura of course are helping out as well. They are donating $25,000 to help out Haiti, and the tour’s sponsor Anheuser-Busch is going to give that amount as well.

The group has also given the American Red Cross permission to install donation booths during their concert at Madison Square Garden this weekend. Imagine, the concert is sold out! So if the nearly 20,000 people who purchased tickets donate, there will be even more money raised!

And as we previously told you, Don Francisco is going to have a telethon as well.

And as for George Clooney’s telethon this Friday, Shakira and Christina Aguilera have already signed up to participate. No word yet though on which other Latino artists will come on board.

Finally, “Todos por Haití”, a fundraising special being organized by América TeVe will air on January 22nd at 4 P.M. Scheduled to appear are most of the station’s hosting celebrities: Maria Laria, Juan Manuel Cao, Yossie Galindo, Nelson Bustamante, Fernando Hidalgo, Oscar Haza, Carlos Otero, Félix Guillermo, and Alejandra Molina.

Good work, Latino Celebrity Do-gooders!

The reys of bachata are at it again! Aventura overplayed “Dile Al Amor” has reached atmospheric heights on the Billboard charts, as The Last, Aventura’s latest album continues to top the Billboard Latin album charts.

Now, if anyone is counting, and I know you are, that’s four number ones off one album. And they said Latin music sales were going down!

In case you’ve been a hermit in the past months, and haven’t seen the music video for the song, check it out below:

Now that’s some good bachata for your Latin soul.

Photo Credit: Gustavo Caballero/Getty

Boricua prince Carmelo Anthony, a.k.a. #15 at a game in the Orleans Arena, looking buff. Unfortunately his team The Nuggets lost to the Hornets.

Zoe Saldana was among the actors who attended the unveiling of a Walk of Fame star dedicated to director James Cameron, the director of Zoe’s latest film Avatar.

Here she is posing with Sam Worthington. Is that her new boyfriend? They sure look cute together standing side by side.

Aventura rocked the American Airlines Arena in Miami this weekend. Their upcoming dates in the Madison Square Garden are sold out, folks!

Photo credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; Orlando Garcia