ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AND BMI NASHVILLE CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH WITH ARTIST SHOWCASE

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Academy of Country Music and BMI Nashville partnered for a showcase on Thursday (10.10) at the Warner Chappell office in Nashville, spotlighting Hispanic/Latino artists. The intimate event featured moving performances from MŌRIAH, Alejandro Sierra, Ana Cristina Cash, and Matt Castillo, with BMI’s Shannon Sanders alongside Marushka Media and Hispanic Entertainment Alliance Founder Jackie Martinez Marushka hosting the evening.

“As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, BMI and the Academy of Country Music are proud to honor the rich contributions of Hispanic artists and songwriters to the fabric of American music,” says Sanders. “Their stories, rhythms, and voices bring unique perspectives that inspire and connect us all.”

Highlights from the event included:
MŌRIAH, a Mexican-American recording artist, actress, and producer, opened the show with several songs including her inaugural Latin Country track, “Hasta Mañana,” which was released on October 4.

Ecuador native and Belmont graduate, Alejandro Sierra’s moving performance included his latest single “Todo Lo Que Sube” / “What Goes Up.” Sierra, whose parents were in the audience, made a special trip from Quito for the event.

Miami native and daughter in-law of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, Ana Cristina Cash, treated the crowd to a live performance of her critically acclaimed, all-Spanish version of the hit song, “Patria Y Vida.” Cash is currently applying the finishing touches on her new project, which is due in 2025 and melds Country Music with Pop and Latin influences.

Closing out the evening, South Texas native, Matt Castillo, shared acoustic versions of his Texas Country Radio No. 1 songs, “Corazon,” “Te Necesito,” and “Go Get Her,” ahead of his forthcoming project, which arrives in 2025.

“I can’t thank Shannon, BMI, and the ACM enough for opening doors for these artists to share their music, voice and culture,” Marushka said. “Thank you, Warner Chappell, for making your showcase space available for such a special event, as it’s so important to highlight Hispanic voices in Country Music, and there’s no better time for it than Hispanic Heritage Month.”

About the Academy of Country Music:
Founded in Southern California in 1964 as a regional trade organization, the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC (ACM) has become a leading association for the Country Music industry over the last 60 years. Now headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., and boasting a record-high membership of more than 5,000+ worldwide, the Academy serves as a powerhouse advocate for Country fans, artists, and all facets of the business, as well as a supporter of philanthropic work through charitable partner ACM LIFTING LIVES, dedicated to improving lives through the power of music and providing aid in times of need, with a focus on health initiatives. 2024 has been another monumental year for the Academy, with the 59th ACM Awards, hosted by entertainment icon Reba McEntire, broadcast live from Texas for a second consecutive year on Prime Video. The Academy also remains relentlessly committed to creating a more inclusive environment for underrepresented groups in Country Music, from the boardroom to the stage, and proudly presents both ACM LEVel Up, a two-year professional development and enrichment curriculum for rising leaders, and OnRamp, a guaranteed income program for Black members of the Nashville music community, in partnership with the Black Music Action Coalition. For more information, visit ACMcountry.com or ACMLiftingLives.org.

About BMI:
Celebrating over 80 years of service to songwriters, composers, music publishers and businesses, BMI® is a global leader in music rights management, serving as an advocate for the value of music. BMI represents the public performance rights in over 22.4 million musical works created and owned by more than 1.4 million songwriters, composers, and music publishers. The Company negotiates music license agreements and distributes the fees it generates as royalties to its affiliated writers and publishers when their songs are performed in public. In 1939, BMI created a groundbreaking open-door policy becoming the only performing rights organization to welcome and represent the creators of blues, jazz, country, and American roots music. Today, the musical compositions in BMI’s repertoire, from chart toppers to perennial favorites, span all genres of music and are consistently among the most-performed hits of the year. For additional information and the latest BMI news, visit bmi.com, follow us on X and Instagram @BMI or stay connected through BMI‘s Facebook page. Sign up for BMI’s The Weekly™ and receive our e-newsletter every week to stay up to date on all things music.