SAN ANTONIO — Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, is calling on the public to nominate Latin songs and albums to be preserved in the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry.

What You Need To Know

  • Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, is asking the public to nominate Latin songs and albums for preservation in the National Recording Registry

  • Since the registry’s inception in 2000, 600 songs have been registered and less than 5% of those can be attributed to Latino and Hispanic Americans

  • Submissions can be recordings including music, non-music, spoken word or broadcast sound and must be at least 10 years old to qualify

Each year, the National Recording Registry inducts 25 recordings that it deems “culturally, historically or aesthetically important.”

A longtime advocate for Latino representation in media and entertainment, Castro has publicly called for nominations to the registry since 2022.

“From the earliest days of recorded sound, Latino musicians have made incredible contributions to the soundtrack of American life. My annual National Recording Registry nominations list is more than a playlist — it’s a love letter to the musical culture that has brought joy to millions of people over the generations,” Castro said.

Over the years, several of Castro’s nominations have made the registry, including “Amor Eterno” by Juan Gabriel (1990), “El Cantante” by Héctor Lavoe (1978), “Flashdance…What A Feeling” by Irene Cara (1983) and “Gasolina” by Daddy Yankee (2004). In 2023, “Gasolina” made history as the first ever reggaeton song to be inducted into the registry.

But the National Recording Registry still lacks recordings from Latino and Hispanic artists. Since the registry’s inception in 2000, 600 recordings have been registered and less than 5% of those can be attributed to Latino and Hispanic Americans, according to a release.

Contributions to Castro’s nomination list can be made here. Submissions can be any recording including music, non-music, spoken word or broadcast sound and must be at least 10 years old to qualify. 

Individuals can also submit up to 50 nominations directly to the registry’s website here.

“Over the last two years, my office has received hundreds of suggestions for brilliant songs and albums from Latino musicians who topped the charts and transformed their genres,” Castro said. “As we kick off this year’s nomination process, I hope music lovers of all ages will help me build a multigenerational nomination list that showcases the range and excellence of Latino music and sound.”