LOS ANGELES – Puerto Rican reggaeton duo Wisin & Yandel were the big winners of Los Premios MTV Latin America 2009, where together they took the Artist of the Year trophy.

The Caribbeans were also winners in the Video of the Year category, though they later lost to their fellow Puerto Ricans of Calle 13, who took the statuette in the form of a pink tongue for Best Urban Artist.

The Puerto Ricans were exceptions in the event staged at Universal City’s Gibson Amphitheater, where most of the prizewinners were Mexicans.

Paulina Rubio took the prize for Best Solo Artist for her “Gran City Pop” album, Cafe Tacvba won the Legend Award for lifetime achievement, while the Panda rock band was named Best Group and Best Alternative Artist.

The Zoe and Reik combos walked off with pink tongues in the rock and pop categories, respectively.

Choosing the winners of Los Premios MTV is done annually through a mixed election by professionals and fans, but it was mostly fans on the Internet that cast the deciding votes.

Hosting the gala were Residente, vocalist of the Calle 13 group, and Portuguese-Canadian singer Nelly Furtado.

The evening was dotted with performances by celebrity Latin artists. Wisin & Yandel performed with U.S. rapper 50 Cent, Paulina Rubio sang in English and Spanish with Gabe Saporta of Cobra Starship, while one-time Destiny’s Child Kelly Rowland sang to the rhythms provided by French DJ David Guetta.

Performances by Shakira and Spanish singer Alejandro Sanz were beamed from Colombia.

For the first time in the eight years of the MTV Latin America prizes a “multicity” ceremony was staged, with the main show from Los Angeles alternating with videos of galas held previously in Buenos Aires, Bogota and Mexico City. EFE