Television is not only important in Mexico; it is a vital part of Mexican culture. Soap opera producers try many things to connect with their viewers. Consider the Mexican soap opera Rebelde, which is an adaptation of the Argentine soap opera Rebelde Way. In 2004, Rebelde’s producer had an idea to expand the storylines and develop the connection between the characters and viewers. The idea was to create the musical group RBD.

The band quickly became much more popular than the soap opera. Soon the television audience was more concerned with hearing the music of RBD than they were with the storylines of the soap opera. As a result, Rebelde had only three seasons: 2004, 2005, and 2006. Then began a new television series called RBD - La Familia, meaning RBD - The Family, starring the members of the band: Dulce Mara, Anah, Christian Chvez, Maite Perroni, Cristopher Uckermann and Alfonso Herrera. The thirteen chapters that make up the first season document the different aspects of the band’s life: the concerts, backstage, recording in the studio, and the personal life of each member.

The group has already recorded albums in three different languages including Spanish, English, and Portuguese. The band’s greatest success has been in Brazil, but they have followers from around the world. The band is known in almost all of Latin America except Argentina, where they still have not released any albums. The most surprising thing about the group is the amount of awards they have been nominated for and won in the four years they have been in the music industry.

In the World Music Awards, they were nominated for the “Best Latin Artist on the World.” In the Latin Grammy Awards, they were nominated for “Best Pop Album by a Duo or Group with Vocal.” In the Premios Juventud, or Young People’s Awards, they were nominated for twenty-one awards and won seventeen. They won, in Brazil, “Best Duo or Group” and “Melhor Banda Internacional”, or “Best International Band.”

In the Billboard Latin Music Awards, they have been nominated in thirteen different categories and won awards including: “Solo Qudate en Silencio,” meaning “Just Stay in Silence,” for Latin Pop Airplay Song of the Year - Duo or Group, “Rebelde” and “Celestial” for Latin Pop Album of the Year 2006 and 2007, and “Tour Generacin 2006″ for Latin Tour of the Year.

In Mexico, the tour “Tour Generacin RBD” was certified as the fourth most sold tour in Mexico. First comes The Cure, followed by Britney Spears, The Backstreet Boys, and finally RBD.

RBD started out as a simple promotion. In little time, they grew and reached an impressive level in the Mexican music industry. Towards the future, they have great potential to continue growing. I believe they will win many more awards, awards that they truly deserve. It has been a true pleasure for me to write about such a great band.