Latvian Music Awards: “Zelta Mikrofons” Celebrates Top Artists of 2025

The 30th annual “Zelta Mikrofons” (Golden Microphone) awards ceremony, Latvia’s premier music awards, took place on February 4, 2025, recognizing outstanding achievements in the Latvian music industry. The event, held in Ventspils, celebrated a diverse range of artists across numerous genres, culminating in “Sudden Lights” being named Album of the Year for their perform, “short summers, long winters.”

Award Winners

Here’s a comprehensive list of the 2025 “Zelta Mikrofons” winners:

• Album of the Year: “Sudden Lights” – “short summers, long winters”
• Best Jazz, Funk or Soul Album: Kārlis Auziņš “Double Trio” – “EQUILIBRIUM SUITE”
• Best Electronic or Dance Music Album: EIII – “Refractions”
• Best Hip Hop Music Album: “Prospectus” – “ONE WAY TICKET”
• Best Indie or Alternative Music Album: “Zēvele in the corner” – “with Goodnight”
• Best Cross-genre or Instrumental Album: Oskars Petrauskis, Marina Rebeka, Douglas Bostock, Liene Andreta Kalnciema, Liepaja Symphony Orchestra – “Gratitude”
• Best Traditional Pop Album: The group of Normunds Rutulis, Ginta Krievkalnas and Hans Antehed – “ABPUSEJI”
• Best Music Album for Kids: Children’s vocal ensemble of Tīnūžu folk house “Tī Majors” – “I have a family”
• Best Pop Album: “Sudden Lights” – “short summers, long winters”
• Best Rock or Metal Music Album: “Skyforger” – “Tales”
• Best Folk or World Music Album: “The Baltic Sisters” – “Vārav / Vārti / Vartai”
• Best Classical or Vocal Album: “Trio Baltia” – “White Birds”
• Best Song: Finčis – “ENJOY!”
• Best Debut Album: Emily – “The Ink Story”
• Best Video: “Carnival Youth” and Evija Weber – “The best idea in the world”
• Best Live Recording: “Zēvele in the corner” – “with Goodnight”
• Best Album Design: Folklore group “Grodi” – “Silver mining”
• Best Producer: Mārtiņš Krastiņš
• Radio Hit: Finčis – “ENJOY!”
• Lifetime Contribution to Latvian Music: Group “Iļgi”

The Ceremony and Celebration

The 30th-anniversary ceremony was hosted by Sanda Dejus, Madara Kivkucāne, and Beta Beidz. The event featured performances by a wide array of Latvian musicians, including Ventspils Huge Band, Ventspils Chamber Orchestra, Normunds Rutulis, “Dzeguzīte”, “Apvedceļš”, “Dzelzs vilks”, “Baltic Groove Orchestra”, Ivo Fomins, “Very Cool People”, Daniela Mase, Ozols, Emilija, “The Sound Poets”, “Dagamba”, “Musiqq”, and “Ilgi”.

Following the televised ceremony on TV3 and available on TV3 Play, celebrations continued at the Olympic Center “Ventspils” with performances by Atis Ieviņš & The Rock Brothers, “Mākoņstūjeji”, and DJ Maija Rozīte. The party then moved to SIRLAK nightclub, featuring “Rīmdari”, DJ Vento, and DJ ALE.MAR.

Organization and Support

The “Zelta Mikrofon” 30-year ceremony was organized in partnership between the Latvian Music Recording Annual Award “Zelta Mikrofon” association, responsible for jury work and laureate selection, and SIA “Art Management Group,” which produced the ceremony itself.

The event received support from the Ministry of Culture, Green Belt, Ventspils, Grant Thornton, Hedonya, St. Black, Venden, Eveko, Unastyle, RocketBean, Tourist agency “AP Sauli”, Tradehouse, Pizza Lulu, Preimmu, Skrīveru Saldumi, Kurzeme Gaļsaimnieks, St. Black, Gemos, Cēsu doretava, Augļu Serviss, Dimdiņi and Vecā maiznīca. Informative support was provided by TV3 Group, Radio SWH, Radio Star FM, Radio Skonto, Radio TEV, Kurzemes Radio, EHR, Relax FM, Riga Vilnius and lasi.lv.