Groningen, The Netherlands – Europe’s musical talents shone brightly during the Music Moves Europe Awards 2025, held on January 16 at the ESNS festival in Groningen. This year’s ceremony distinguished six outstanding artists out of 15 nominees from across the continent, illuminating the varied and vibrant sounds defining Europe’s musical landscape today.
Glenn Micallef, the EU Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, underscored music’s universal language, celebrating its power to connect individuals across disparate backgrounds. “Music composes the soundtrack of our lives,” Micallef said, congratulating the array of talent that promises a flourishing future for Europe’s music scene.
Judeline from Spain emerged as a highlight of the evening, securing both an MME Award and the coveted MME Public Choice Award 2025, which came with a €5,000 prize. She shared the spotlight with other MME recipients including Kingfishr from Ireland, Naomi Sharon from the Netherlands, Night Tapes from Estonia, and UCHE YARA from Austria.
The grandeur of the evening was further elevated by the presentation of the MME Grand Jury Award to Yamê from France, signifying his outstanding contributions to the musical arts. This top honor includes an additional €5,000 green touring voucher, supporting sustainable concert touring practices.
The awards jury drew from a diverse pool of music industry experts, featuring Jess Iszatt from BBC Introducing, Filip Košťálek of Festival Colours of Ostrava, Kenza Naaimi – El Fezzazi from FIP, and Annika Walsh from Spotify. The seat reserved for the previous year’s Public Choice Award winner was filled by Zaho de Sagazan, marking a tradition of peer recognition.
Each winner of the MME Awards was granted €10,000, underscoring the European Union’s commitment to nurturing and promoting emerging artists on the international stage. Past recipients of the awards have gone on to achieve global fame, a list that includes names like Stromae, ROSALÍA, Dua Lipa, and Hozier, demonstrating the award’s pivotal role in launching prominent careers in music.
Post-ceremony, the musical festivities continued as the nominees performed across various stages at ESNS 2025, attended by over 40,000 music enthusiasts and industry professionals worldwide. In addition to the performances, the festival hosted the MME Education Programme, aimed at enriching young artists and industry hopefuls with essential skills and knowledge for advancing their careers. Key sessions included workshops on music rights, international touring strategies, and panels on inclusion and music syncing.
Moreover, Spotify extended an opportunity to the Public Choice Award winner for an exclusive recording session in their Stockholm studio, while Deezer invited two nominees to participate in a special recording session in Groningen.
This year’s Music Moves Europe Awards once again showcased the substantial talent burgeoning within the continent and reinforced music’s pivotal role in cultural exchange and understanding across Europe.
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