Vote now for People’s Choice MIN Awards

This year marks the 15th MIN Independent Music Awards and the public can now cast their vote until 22 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 Palma de Mallorca on 17 May.

Competing for the Etxepare Award for the Best Album in Basque are Addar, Anonyme Popular, Arima Soul, Broken Brothers Brass Band, Bulego, Eñaut Elorrieta, Esti Markez, ETS (En Tol Sarmiento), Etxekalte, Ezpalak, Feline, Gari&Maldanbera, Gontzal Mendibil, Goxua´n salsa, Ilargi, Ines Osinaga, Jenus Lester, Kristonak, Lorelei, Merina Gris, MICE, Mikel Telleria, Mikel Urdangarin, Mila Modu, Murgi, Nhil, Niña Coyote eta Chico Tornado, Olaia Inzuarte, Zea Mays and Zelanda. Most of them are also eligible for prizes 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.

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.

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.

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.