BMI is thrilled to honor esteemed singer/songwriter Horacio Palencia with the BMI President’s Award at the 2024 BMI Latin Awards on March 13. This award celebrates Palencia’s exemplary contributions to the art of songwriting as a luminary in Mexican music. Over his illustrious career spanning over two decades, Palencia has been a driving force in shaping the genre with his timeless lyrics and heartfelt songs, which are deeply rooted in Mexican culture and resonate with listeners worldwide. The private ceremony will be hosted by BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI Vice President, Creative, Latin, Jesus Gonzalez, at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA.
“Since joining the BMI family twenty years ago, Horacio has played a major role in the success and evolution of Música Mexicana through his profound connection to the heart and soul of his musical heritage,” said Gonzalez. “In addition to Horacio’s commercial success, he’s garnered widespread respect within the industry and established himself as one of the most talented and sought-after songwriters in Latin music. We’re so proud to honor Horacio and his prolific career with the BMI President’s Award and celebrate the creative accomplishments of all our 2024 BMI Latin Award winners. It is going to be an incredible night to remember.”
Throughout the evening, BMI will recognize the songwriters and publishers of the past year’s most-performed Latin songs in the United States. The BMI Regional Mexican Song, Songwriter, BMI Contemporary Latin Song, Songwriter and BMI Contemporary Latin and Regional Mexican Publisher of the Year will also be recognized during the ceremony.
Palencia began songwriting at an early age with his first recording being with Banda Santa Rosa de Guamúchil, which garnered the Sinaloense native regional success. This motivated him to continue working on his craft and he later collaborated with La Arrolladora Banda El Limón who recorded his song “De Ti Exclusivo,” earning Palencia various accolades including his first 2008 BMI Latin Award and Billboard’s highly coveted “Song of The Year” title. He went on to receive more than 50 BMI Latin Awards, as well as BMI Latin Songwriter of the Year and BMI Regional Mexican Songwriter of the Year four times each. He’s also taken home the BMI Latin Song of the Year for “Niña De Mi Corazon” (2011) and Regional Mexican Song of the Year three consecutive years in a row with “Me Vas a Extrañar” (2017), “Solo Con Verte” (2016), and “No Me Pidas Perdón” (2015). Adding to his many honors, Palencia has also received Univision’s Premio Lo Nuestro, music awards from Monitor Latino, has been named Latin Songwriter of the Year at the Billboard Latin Music Awards and was the first Latin songwriter to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in Miami. Palencia is also an accomplished songwriter for film & TV with several song placements including the film Salvando al Soldado Pérez, where he composed the main theme “Corazón Negro” performed by Chavela Vargas, and several of his songs have been featured in soap operas like La Fuerza del Destino and La Doble Vida de Estela Carrillo.
In addition to his successful solo career, Palencia has written and collaborated for some of the biggest names in Latin music such as Carin León, Christian Nodal, Grupo Frontera, Grupo Firme, Banda MS, Banda El Recodo, La Adictiva, La Arrolladora, Los Ángeles Azules, Belinda, Luis Fonsi, Sebastián Yatra, Yuridia, Fuerza Regida, and Junior H, among many others.
The BMI President’s Award is presented to a songwriter, composer, producer or executive who has profoundly influenced the entertainment industry. In receiving this honor, Palencia joins previous BMI President’s Award recipients including Carlos Vives, Gloria Trevi, Juanes, Luis Fonsi, Mario Quintero, Pitbull, Sergio George and Wisin & Yandel, among others.