Women Shine at the Academy of Music Awards
In an event that showcased the undeniable talent dominated by women in music, the Academy of Music Awards celebrated its second edition at the Ifema Municipal Palace in Madrid, live on La 2 de TVE. This year’s gala not only highlighted stellar performances but also recognized women for their powerful contributions to the music industry.
Amaia Romero stood out by being nominated for five awards with just a single song, ‘Tengo un pensamiento’. Her heartfelt performance won her the titles of Song of the Year, Best Pop Song, and Best Composer of the Year. “This song came from a very intimate place, and I am emotional that it has reached so many people,” expressed the young Navarre artist during her acceptance speech.
Despite the declining trend of singer-songwriter genres in streaming charts, it has made a significant showing this year. Rozalén, with her sixth album ‘El abrazo’, earned the prestigious Artist of the Year title, overwhelmed by emotion during her acceptance. “Thank you so much, I don’t understand, I don’t understand,” she managed to say amid tears. “There was a lot of pain behind this album, and I’m so grateful for your support,” she added, continuing to tear up. Rozalén also took home awards for Best Singer-Songwriter Album and Best Traditional Pop Album. Additionally, Valeria Castro from the Canary Islands received accolades for Best Singer-Songwriter Song and Best Song in a Soundtrack for her work in the film ‘El 47’. Castro also contributed as a vocalist for the award-winning electronic piece ‘La ceniza’ by Ale Acosta.
The performances during the gala also highlighted female talent, notably as Rozalén and Valeria Castro delivered a delicate duet of ‘Agua’ by Jarabe de Palo, backed by a string quartet and piano. One of the show’s grand highlights was Amaia teaming up with Silvia Pérez Cruz to present an adaptation of ‘Zorongo gitano’, celebrating the work of Federico García Lorca.
Nathy Peluso a su llegada a los premios.Europa Press
Among the significant awards, Album of the Year went to Dani Fernández for ‘La jauría’, although his absence somewhat overshadowed the honor for the singer who faced uncertainty following the end of Auryn, the boy band that launched his career a decade ago.
Nathy Peluso, who won three Latin Grammy Awards in November for her album ‘Grasa’, dominated the urban and rap categories with an impressive four awards: Best Urban Album, Best Rap Song, Best Urban Song, and Best Urban Fusion Performance.
The evening commenced with a lively performance by Alcalá Norte, awarded as Best New Artist, who played their hit ‘La vida cañón’ with Lori Meyers’ Noni as a guest. The duo humorously tossed pieces of bread to the audience, dressed in Granada football team shirts.
However, the gala’s start fell somewhat flat, marred by Maria Peláe’s prolonged interlude while the stage was cleared after initial performances. Co-host Rodrigo Cuevas amusingly fanned himself in front of the microphone, creating an unwelcome gust of wind that disrupted the flow. Both hosts displayed occasional wit, but their improvisations did not always resonate with the audience. Overall, the gala, which was expected to be swift and engaging, often suffered from pacing issues.
Estopa entered with two nominations, winning both Best Pop Album and Best Tour. David Muñoz humorously remarked, “I don’t like pop at all, but okay,” during his post-award press meeting, reflecting on their happiness and surprise after 26 years in the industry. They reminisced about attending awards in the same venue as “youngsters,” even struggling to recall the name of the awards from the past (“Were they called ‘Amigo’?”). The Academy of Music Awards aim to establish national recognition as a significant platform, akin to the Goya Awards for cinema.
Rock categories yielded victories for Leiva (Best Rock Song), who dedicated the award to his mother in the hospital, and Biznaga (Best Rock Album). Notably, even the Best Electronic Album went to a female artist, Sandra Delaporte.