Golden Microphone Awards 2024: Winners, Highlights & Behind the Scenes

Ventspils hosted the 30th annual Latvian Music Awards, “Zelta Mikrofons” (Golden Microphone), on Saturday, February 28th, with the group Sudden Lights receiving the award for “Gada albums” (Album of the Year) for their record “īsas vasaras, garas ziemas” (Short Summer, Long Winter). The ceremony, held at the Ventspils Olympic Center, recognized achievements in 20 categories, according to a statement released by award representative Rebeka Japiņa.

Sudden Lights also secured the award for “Labākais popmūzikas albums” (Best Pop Music Album), marking a double win for the band. This year’s event saw a total of 315 submissions, encompassing 140 albums, 57 songs, 74 music videos, 38 debut albums, and six video concert recordings.

Mārtiņš Krastiņš was recognized as the best producer of the year. The post-folkloric group “Iļģi” received the award for “Par mūža ieguldījumu Latvijas mūzikas attīstībā” (For Lifetime Contribution to the Development of Latvian Music).

Other winners included Kārlis Auziņš Double Trio, who took the prize in the jazz, funk, or soul music album category with “Equilibrium Suite.” Eiii won in the electronic or dance music album category for “Refractions,” while Prospekti claimed the hip-hop music album award with “Biļete uz vienu galu” (Ticket to Nowhere). Stūrī Zēvele was awarded for their indie or alternative music album, “Arlabunakti” (Good Night). A collaborative effort featuring Oskars Petrauskis, Marina Rebeka, Duglass Bostoks, Liene Andreta Kalnciema, and the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra won in the cross-genre or instrumental music category for “Gratitude.” Normunds Rutulis, Ginta Krievkalna, and Hansa Anteheda grupa were recognized in the traditional pop music album category for “Abpusēji” (Mutually).

The Tīnūžu tautas nama bērnu vokālais ansamblis “Tī mažors” (Tīnūži Folk House Children’s Vocal Ensemble “Tī Majors”) received the award for “Mūzikas albums bērniem” (Music Album for Children) with their album “Man ir ģimene” (I Have a Family).

The ceremony featured performances by Ventspils Big Band and Ventspils Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Aigars Meri, as well as performances by Normunds Rutulis, “Dzeguzīte”, “Apvedceļš”, “Dzelzs vilks”, “Baltic Groove Orchestra”, Ivo Fomins, Emilija, “The Sound Poets”, “Dagamba”, “Musiqq”, and “Iļģi”, among others. The event was hosted by Sanda Dejus, Madara Kivkucāne, and Beta Beidz.