“The Academy understands that some people in Miami hold strong and heartfelt views about the inclusion of Cuban National nominees resulting from the Latin Grammy voting process,” Latin Recording Academy President and CEO Michael Greene said in a statement. “And while we support everyone's right to express individual views, our mission is to celebrate excellence in all recorded Latin music, regardless of who produces it.”

The Academy’s decision followed a compromise between Miami officials and protest organizers on Sunday (8/19) that would have positioned protesters on the street outside of the venue, according to the Miami Herald. Original city proposals reportedly called for protests to be held two blocks away from the event.

Greene cited a large protest by Cuban exiles and anti-Castro demonstrators outside of Cuban dance band Los Van Van’s October 1999 performance at Miami Arena as a factor in the decision to move the event, according to the Miami Herald. That protest erupted in violence when some of the estimated 4,000 protestors who gathered outside of the venue threw eggs, rocks and plastic soft drink bottles at concert-goers as they exited the arena.

Last year, the first incarnation of the Latin Grammys was also relocated from South Florida to Los Angeles after it was learned that a now-defunct Miami-Dade County ordinance would have barred Cuban Nationals scheduled to perform at the event from doing so.

Though several Cuban Nationals are among the nominees for this year’s awards ceremony, none are scheduled to perform, according to the Miami Herald.

The second annual Latin Grammy Awards was expected to inject $35 million into the South Florida economy, according to the Miami Herald.

The Academy still hopes to hold a future edition of the Latin Grammy awards in Miami, according to Greene’s statement.