Again? REALLY?!?! Chayanne ignored by 11th Latin Grammys

Yes, it's that time of the year again and you know what that means... I'm livid.  I don't pretend to know more than I do. But I do know one thing: the Latin Grammys has become (it probably has always been) a popularity contest.

The nominees to the 2012 Latin Grammy awards were announced this week and shockingly, at least to me and I believe I can speak for the entire staff here at Pandora's Caja as well, Chayanne was not nominated. No Hay Imposibles did not figure to be deserving of nomination in any category.  Unfortunately I've been through this since the first ever Latin Grammy in 2000.  Chayanne has never been nominated.  I just don't get it.

It would be very easy for me to start my disappointed rant by throwing the nominees under the bus (a la Kanye West) but I won't. In truth everyone nominated deserves it. With so many artists out there, being able to establish yourself worldwide deserves a Grammy all on it's own.  HOWEVER, there's a difference between those who deserve it and those who deserve it more.  And there is not one Latin Artist that deserves a Grammy more than Chayanne.

I would seriously like to know how the nominees are chosen. Is it radio play? Is it sales? Touring sales? I've googled and googled this and have never arrived at an answer that makes sense (not even the process on the Latin Grammy website makes sense) but just for fun:...
No Hay Imposibles sold millions of copies worldwide. Maybe not as many in the USA as in Latin countries but who cares, it's the LATIN Grammys and we all know this album completely dominated, just to name a few, what I consider the 3 biggest Latin Music mountains:  Spain, Argentina and Mexico.   So I guess nomination is not based on sales or radio play.

Let's see what else.... touring.  I guess it's not like Chayanne had one of the highest grossing tours this past year... Oh wait a minute. HE DID. Such an AMAZING tour that it has yet to see its end!  As I type, Chayanne is in Argentina getting ready for what is most certainly SOLD OUT shows at enormous arenas to continue on AGAIN to Mexico in October because they obviously cannot get enough of him. This will be his 3rd leg of the tour in Mexico.  I have to conclude that a successful tour has no relevance for a Grammy nomination... Right?

I've put some thought to this and here is what I think.  Chayanne will not get nominated because he knows who he is, what works for him and why we love him.  Yes I said it. The man knows who he is and the Grammys don't like that. The USA music market has never acknowledged any Latino artist who doesn't at the very least attempted a music crossover.  Or those who do not have singles with highly popular Urban music artist or artists who have already crossed over.  Or those who have not changed their style of music. I guess it's a sin to stick with your own style and not give in to the peer pressure brought on by the popular music industry. 

Either way, Chayanne if you ever happen to read this know that in my eyes you have a Grammy for each year I've loved you and your music.  And you also have many accumulated Grammys in the form of pure and simple love from us, your millions of fans around the world. So take that Academy.  It's all good.  He does not need to be nominated.  He is and has always been a true WINNER all along.