People’s choice voting now open for MIN Awards

This year marks the 16th MIN Independent Music Awards and the public can now cast their vote until 6 March. Fifteen shortlisted artists in each category will then be announced and the jury will narrow down the finalists in each category to five. The awards ceremony will take place in Zaragoza on 17 April.

The following artists will compete for the Etxepare Award for the Best Album in Basque:

- Akaleia, ‘Ondoloin’.

- Amorante, ‘Harri Herri Har’.

- Bas(h)oan, ‘Bas(h)oan II’.

- Bulego, ‘Aldatu aurretik’.

- Esne Beltza, ‘Esne Bidea’.

- Euskal Barrok Ensemble, ‘Subh’.

- EZEZEZ, ‘Katuzaldia’.

- Ezpalak, ‘Lagunekin zuzenean’.

- Gorka Hermosa – Garikoitz Mendizabal, ‘Sustraien matxinada’.

- Habi, ‘Ohartu’.

- Haize Arrosa, ‘Ez dogu zor ezer’.

- Ibil Bedi, ‘Goldea’.

- Jon Maia, ‘Kantu berri bat gara’.

- Jai/ egun, ‘Argiek istilu’.

- Jose Ramon Senperena, ‘Lied Koadernoa’.

- Kadira, ‘Kadira’.

- Korrontzi, ‘Korrontzi 20’.

- Kepa Junkera, ‘Erromeriak’.

- Kuttune, ‘Zer ote da?’.

- Izaro, ‘Cerodeenero’.

- Intza, ‘Aheri’.

- Modus Operandi, ‘Atzo/ Gaur’.

- Mugan, ‘Aurrera ez den alde batera’.

- Nøgen, ‘Åben cirkel’.

- Sara Azurza, ‘Hemen berriro’.

- Xabi San Sebastian, ‘Betazalak’.

- Zetak, ‘AAZTIYEN’.

Most of them are also eligible for prizes in other categories. A total of 22 award categories include musical styles (best jazz album, best rock album, best flamenco album...), languages (best album in Catalan, best album in Basque, best album in Galician), as well as other broader categories, such as best artist, best album or best live performance. Other Basque artists will also compete in other categories.

Since 2013, the Etxepare Basque Institute has awarded the best album in the Basque language (Euskara) to shine a spotlight on independent music in Basque. Last year, Niña Coyote eta Chico Tornado won the Etxepare Award for Best Basque Album.

Each person can vote once in each category for a maximum of 5 artists. The public can choose their favourites in all categories except three. ‘Best Album’ will be chosen by the jury from among all musical styles; ‘Best Design’ will be selected by a professional jury specialised in design; and the ‘Mario Pacheco Award of Honour’ will be chosen by members of the UFI (Unión Fonográfica Independiente), the association of independent record labels in Spain.

The MIN Awards were established in 2009 with the aim of showcasing the creativity, cultural diversity, and artistic excellence of independent music productions made in Spain. The awards also seek to increase public awareness about music and the music production process.