Latin GRAMMY® winner Nicky Jam, will begin funding the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation's Prodigy Scholarship for a bachelor's degree in music at Berklee College of Music beginning in the fall of 2023.

The artist performed at the 23rd Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards® alongside recipients of Foundation scholarships, where he made a commitment to help young musicians get started. Those with musical talent and financial need can apply for one of 44 scholarships totaling a full bachelor's degree from Berklee College of Music.

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Established eight years ago, the four-year namesake Prodigy Scholarship, the Nicky Jam Scholarship this year, awards up to $200,000 in funding to deserving students. Sofia Carson (2022), Juanes (2021), Julio Iglesias (2020), Emilio and Gloria Estefan (2019), Carlos Vives (2018), Miguel Bosé (2017), Juan Luis Guerra (2016), and Enrique Iglesias (2015) are among the Latin artists who have supported it (2015).

“Music has always been there for me; it has been the fuel that has kept me going even during the hardest moments of my lifeBy providing the Prodigy Scholarship in partnership with the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation, I get to share my passion for music and give back to the next generation of Latin music makers on their journey to achieving their dreams.” - said Nicky Jam.

Along with Nicky Jam, CEO of La Industria Inc. Juan Diego Medina is sponsoring one of the Gifted Tuition Scholarships of up to $100,000, and the Foundation is now accepting applications for all 2023 scholarships.

“When it comes to pursuing a career in music, finances should not be a deterrent to cultivating talent,” said Raquel “Rocky” Egusquiza, Executive Director of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation.

All scholarships are available to music students between the ages of 17 and 25, as follows:

• Three (3) Gifted Tuition Scholarships of up to $100,000 each will be awarded to students to cover tuition costs towards a four-year bachelor's degree in music starting in fall 2023 at the university of their choice.
• Forty (40) Tuition Assistance Scholarships of up to $10,000 each will be awarded to students pursuing a degree in music. This is a one-time award that will cover tuition costs over one year (fall 2023 and spring 2024 semesters).

“We are grateful for Nicky Jam’s generosity, which makes music education a reality for future generations of Latin music creators and preserves our legacy for years to come.” - Raquel “Rocky” Egusquiza,

The Scholarship Committee at the Foundation for Advancement in the Arts reviews applications from hundreds of talented young musicians every year, taking into account not only their musical and academic prowess but also their personal qualities and goals. Through their global music education initiatives, the Foundation has distributed over $7.6 million in grants, scholarships, and donated musical instruments. All scholarships are given to deserving students pursuing a degree in music who demonstrate exceptional talent and financial need.

Visit www.latingrammyculturalfoundation.org for application information. Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions after reading the guidelines or need help submitting an application.

Students must upload two audition videos, two letters of recommendation, proof of acceptance to an accredited university, and two essays to the online application. Any of these three languages can be used to submit the materials. The application deadline is 11:59 PM EDT on April 10, 2023.

Nick Rivera Caminero, better known as Nicky Jam, is a pioneer of the Latin urban sound. Throughout the 2000s and into the 2010s, the Puerto Rican singer's fresh take on reggaeton helped to shape the sound of what would become a worldwide phenomenon. The Latin GRAMMY winner has amassed an impressive body of work, including a number of platinum albums and sold-out world tours.

Nicky Jam, a reggaeton prodigy from Puerto Rico, released his first album, Diferente a Los Demás, when he was just 11 years old (Different From the Rest). Hits like "Yo No Soy Tu Marido," "Me Voy Pa'l Party," "Fiel A Tu Piel," and "La Combi Completa" propelled him to stardom as a teen. Along with fellow musical trailblazer Daddy Yankee, he formed the duo Los Cangris. Nicky Jam's career was derailed, however, by his time spent in prison and a severe bout of depression that followed.

After waiting three years, he finally decided to take his career back into his own hands and relocate to Colombia. In 2014, Nicky Jam returned to the charts with "Travesuras," which spent over 20 weeks at the top of Billboard's Hot Latin Songs chart. He collaborated with Enrique Iglesias the following year on the international smash "El Perdón," which went on to win the Latin GRAMMY for Best Urban Performance. His single "Hasta el Amanecer" was the most successful of 2016. The tracks appeared on his 2017 comeback album Fénix, which is widely regarded as the catalyst for a renewed interest in reggaeton around the world.

More than 14.5 billion people have listened to music by Nicky Jam on YouTube, and 1.1 billion people have listened to music by Nicky Jam on Spotify. His most recent hits include "Te Boté," a collaboration with Casper Mágico, Nio Garca, Darell, Bad Bunny, and Ozuna; "X," a collaboration with J Balvin, which has been certified 35 times platinum; and "X." In 2019, Nicky Jam starred in and executive produced the hit series El Ganador, based on his own uplifting life story. He made his film debut with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in Bad Boys For Life.

What You Need to Know About the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation

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In 2014, The Latin Recording Academy® founded the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to increase the world's understanding of and respect for the significant cultural contributions of Latin music and its creators. Over $7.6 million has been donated to date thanks to the efforts of Latin Recording Academy members, artists, corporate sponsors, and other generous donors who have enabled the Foundation to fund college scholarships, educational programs, and grants for the research and preservation of its rich musical legacy and heritage. Visit www.latingrammyculturalfoundation.org, AmazonSmile, or our Facebook page for more details or to make a donation. Check out Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @latingrammyfdn.