Cubadisco is the international fair of the Cuban recording industry, being the most significant and integrative event within the framework of Cuban music. It takes place year after year in Cuba since its first edition in 1997. Cubadisco is organized by the Cuban Institute of Music (, its primary purpose is the promotion and expansion of Cuban music in each and every one of its musical genres. Ciro Benemelis Durán is the President of its Organizing Committee.

Cubadisco pays tribute to artists whose creative work in Cuban music has been significant. Each day of this event also honors a different country and musical genre, and awards are presented to prominent figures in both Cuban and international culture.

During this period, various activities are held, including specialized conferences, exhibitions, screenings of new recordings, colloquia, and concerts. A vast musical program is also organized, featuring both Cuban and international groups and performers, in various theaters and concert halls located in Havana. Important meetings and exchanges are held between collectors and music industry experts, record producers, music publishers, musical instrument manufacturers, designers, and editors of specialized magazines.

Its origins date back to the first half of the 1960s, a time when all Cuban record companies were concentrated and called the Empresa de Grabaciones y Ediciones Musicales (EGREM) (1008 3rd Street between 10th and 12th Streets, Miramar, Playa, Havana). It dominated the island’s phonographic production for nearly 25 years. Other record companies were established in Cuba in the late 1980s, including three foreign record labels (Art Color, Caribe Productions, and Magic Music), as well as Pablo Milanés’ PM Record studios, ARTEX SA, Silvio Rodríguez’s Ojalá studios, and RTV Comercial.

In 1997, the Cubadisco International Fair emerged, as an event became necessary to facilitate exchanges between producers and music industry executives, as well as to establish equality between all Cuban and foreign record labels. This was a result of the growth of the Cuban music industry.

The Cubadisco Award Committee is made up of musicians, musicologists, critics, radio and television music program directors, journalists, and editors of specialized magazines—high-level professionals. The selection process is carried out with the utmost rigor and is carried out in two stages. In the first stage, the albums are listened to, with the goal of choosing those with a chance of being nominated by category. In the second stage, the different jury panels are created by category, and these panels are tasked with selecting the award winners in each category.

Since 1998, the Cubadisco Award has been offered in more than 25 categories encompassing all musical genres. The Honorary Award was established in 2001. It is awarded to Cuban or foreign personalities with an unparalleled track record of collaboration in the creation and promotion of musical works of great cultural and social significance.

The first edition of the Cubadisco International Fair was held in March 1997, with the participation of Cuban and foreign record labels. The Cuban record label Cosmopolitan Caribean Music and its Magic Music label showcased their project called The Island of Music and held a competition to set a new Guinness World Record for the longest son in the world. Many Cuban performers and musical groups were included in this project. More than a thousand Cuban musicians performed the longest son in the world.

In this edition, the Ebony Phonograph was established as the top flagship of the competition, and for the first time, the Prize was awarded to the participating companies in different competitive categories.

The 2nd International Record Fair in Cuba took place in the second half of April, bringing together around 40 record companies from Cuba, Europe, and other Caribbean countries. It was dedicated to Harold Gramatges, a notable classical composer, and to three other artists representing the Son genre: Francisco Repilado Muñoz (Compay Segundo), Rubén González (pianist), and Adalberto Álvarez.

In 2000, the Fair was held in May. This fourth edition was dedicated to rumba and paid tribute to Tata Güines (70th birthday), María Teresa Linares (80th birthday); Chano Pozo (85th birthday), Omara Portuondo (70th birthday), and Lázaro Ross (75th birthday). More than 180 Cuban music titles were presented, in addition to groups from the Dominican Republic, the country to which the Fair was dedicated.

In 2001, Cubadisco paid tribute to Trova and Brazilian music.

The sixth edition took place in May 2002. It was dedicated to Mexico and the 40th anniversary of the founding of the National School of Art. Several figures of Cuban music were honored, such as: César Portillo de la Luz (on his 80th birthday), Manuel Duchesne Cuzán (on his 70th birthday), Juan Formell (on his 60th birthday), Guillermo Rubalcaba (on his 75th birthday and the 40th anniversary of the founding of his orchestra), and Compay Segundo (on his 95th birthday).

In 2003, the year the seventh edition was held in May, the guest of honor was Germany. This Cubadisco was dedicated to the music industry. The honorees included Carlos Varela, Sergio Vitier, Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco, Adalberto Álvarez, Schola Cantorum Coralina, Harold Gramatges, Calixto Álvarez, Edesio Alejandro, and Roberto Valera.

The 8th event in 2004 was dedicated to the Caribbean. It honored: Frank Fernández, Pancho Amat, Leo Brouwer, Eduardo Rosillo, José María Vitier, Irakere, Radio Progreso (105 Infanta Street, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, Havana), and EGREM (1008 3rd Street between 10th and 12th Streets, Miramar, Playa, Havana).

At the 9th Fair held in 2005, the guest of honor was Japan. This gave us the opportunity to delve a little deeper into the traditions of Japanese musical culture. In 2006, the 10th day was dedicated to music and dance. Two albums won the Grand Prize: Cancionero Cubano, from Chucho Valdés’s EGREM record label, and Goza Pepilllo, produced by Interactivo’s Bis Music record label.

In 2007, the 11th edition of Cubadisco had Venezuela as its guest of honor, dedicated to music and film. The Cubadisco Honor Award was given to the Vitier brothers (Sergio and José María), who were honored with a concert. Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Andy Montañez was also worthy of this award.

The 12th day of the Cubadisco International Fair was dedicated to African music and poetry. During the event, several Cuban groups performed the world’s longest rumba. Each Cuban province organized a day of rumba, beginning in Guantánamo province and culminating in Havana.

In May 2009, the 13th edition took place, with Puerto Rico as the guest of honor. Several Puerto Rican composers were honored, including Pedro Flores, Rafael Hernández, Bobby Capó, Daniel Santos, and Tité Curét Alonso. The theme of the event was Music and Children.

The most recent edition of this event, number 14, took place in 2010 and focused on the theme of “Country Music.” Tributes were paid to Pancho Amat, Efraín Amador, Tomasita Quiala, Barbarito Diez, and Miguel Ojeda.

Cubadisco, also known as the Cuban music industry festival, is of great importance to the development of Cuban music. It provides us with the opportunity to appreciate the music of the different participating countries, as well as to exchange experiences and proposals with producers, musicians, and experts. At the event, we can observe the live work of top-level performing arts companies. The main achievements of Cuban phonography find a place to be presented at this event.