Estonian Music Awards

The Estonian Music Awards () is an annual non-profit gala concert with the goal of recognizing outstanding Estonian musicians and popularising Estonian music. The concert is organized and the awards are presented by the Estonian Association of the Phonogram Producers (EFÜ). The awards ceremony is broadcast on television.

The awards began in 1998, when the EFÜ first awarded the Golden Record () to the most successful artists. In 1998–1999, the Golden Records Music Awards was presented in cooperation with the Estonian Authors' Association and the Estonian Performers' Association.

In 2000, the logo and name of the award were changed. Artists were selected based on the voting results of juries – which included music editors, presenters, music teachers, musicians, DJs, concert organizers, producers, etc. In six categories, juries of 100 members were formed, and in three categories, juries of up to 15 members were formed. In addition, nominees and laureates were selected based on rankings.

Categories Below are the current categories as of 2025.

Album of the Year Debut Album of the Year Female Artist of the Year Male Artist of the Year Ensemble of the Year Jazz Album of the Year Ethno/Folk/Folk Album of the Year Original Song Album of the Year Hip-Hop/Rap Artist of the year Soul/Funk/R'n'B Artist of the Year Metal Album of the Year Rock Album of the Year Classical Album of the Year – the nominees for the category "Classical Album of the Year" are the albums that received the most votes in each classical genre category. Solo or Chamber Music Album of the Year Orchestra or Stage Music Album of the Year Choral Music Album of the Year Estonian Composition Album of the Year Song of the Year Music Video of the Year Contribution to Estonian Music

History

1998 Estonian phonogram producers first felt the need to recognize the best of Estonian pop music by creating the Estonian Pop Music Annual Awards Golden Disc in 1998, when the most successful artists were awarded the Estonian Pop Music Annual Awards Golden Record 1998. The awards ceremony took place and was recorded at the Estonian Television (ETV) studio on December 29, 1998, and aired as a 40-minute television program two days later, on the last day of the year.

The 1998 awards were presented in 9 categories: Most Successful Female Singer, Most Successful Male Singer, Most Successful Ensemble, Most Successful Debut, The Most Successful Record Company, Most played radio hit, The most played hit in dance halls, Album of the Year, and Music Video of the Year. In addition, one special award was given: Best Police Officer in the Fight Against Piracy in 1998.

1999 The Estonian Pop Music Annual Awards Golden Disc 1999 Gala took place at the Tallinn nightclub “Venus” on March 3, 2000. It was broadcast live by both ETV and Raadio 2. In 1999, the award categories were renamed as an innovation and two new categories were added – Album Design of the Year and Contribution to Estonian Pop Music.

The 1999 awards were presented in 10 categories: Male Artist of the Year, Debut Album of the Year, Ensemble of the Year, Radio Hit of the Year, Dance Hit of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Record Label of the Year, Album Design of the Year, Album of the Year, Contribution to Estonian Pop Music.

2000 In 2000, the event was renamed to Estonian Music Awards (). The difference compared to the two previous years is that the EFÜ started to determine the nominees and winners based on the jury voting results from 2000.

Impartial juries of 100 members were formed in six categories. Nominees and laureates were determined based on rankings. The juries consisted of individuals active in various fields of music in Estonia (for example, music editors, presenters, teachers, musicians, DJs, concert organizers, producers, etc.). For the first time, a comprehensive set of rules for music awards was also developed, which included the conditions for nomination, criteria for determining nominees and winners, and the composition and work of the juries. When determining nominees and winners, the jury members had to take into account, among other things, the following criteria - sales success, the idea and execution of the performance or music video or album design, playability on radio and television, the success of concerts, and the impact on Estonian music in general and more broadly.

At the award ceremony held on March 3, 2001 at the Decolte nightclub. New awards were added that included multiple genres of music, rather than just pop music, including ethno/folk, jazz/blues and classical music categories. One of the special awards recognized the fight against piracy – the Music Supporter of the Year award was given to Äripäev journalist Peep Sooman for his articles on piracy.

Cooperation with ETV and Raadio 2 continued, both of which broadcast the event live, providing extensive advance advertising for the event in the form of commercials, interviews, etc. The 2000 awards were presented in 14 categories: Male Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Ensemble of the Year, Jazz/Blues Artist of the Year, Ethno/Folk Artist of the Year, Classical Artist of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Album Design of the Year, Radio Hit of the Year, Dance Hit of the Year, Record Label of the Year, Music Supporter of the Year, Contribution to Estonian Music.

2001 The Estonian Music Awards 2001 took place on March 3 at Saku Suurhall. Awards were presented in 15 categories: Male Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Ensemble of the Year, Dance Artist of the Year, Jazz/Blues Artist of the Year, Ethno/Folk Artist of the Year, Classical Artist of the Year, Alternative Artist of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Album Design of the Year, Radio Hit of the Year, Dance Hit of the Year, Artist of the Year, Contribution to Estonian Music.

2002 There was no award ceremony in 2002, likely due to the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 being held in Tallinn.

2003 The Estonian Music Awards 2003 took place on March 15 at the Saku Suurhall. Awards were presented in 15 categories: Male Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Ensemble of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Dance Artist of the Year, Jazz Artist of the Year, Ethno/Folk Artist of the Year, Alternative Artist of the Year, Classical Album of the Year, Hit Song of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Album Design of the Year, Artist of the Year, Foreign Artist of the Year, Contribution to Estonian Music.

2004 The Estonian Music Awards 2004 took place on March 3, 2004 at the Sokos Hotel Viru. The awards ceremony was broadcast live by TV3. Awards were presented in 13 categories: Male Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Ensemble of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Jazz/Blues Artist of the Year, Ethno/Folk Artist of the Year, Alternative Artist of the Year, Classical Artist of the Year, Hit Song of the Year, Album Design of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Contribution to Estonian Music, Artist of the Year.

2005 On March 2, the Estonian Music Awards 2005 were presented at Club Parlament. In addition to the award ceremony, Koer, Toe Tag, Soul Militia, Cool D, Julia Boman and Slobodan River performed. Awards were presented in 16 categories: Male Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Ensemble of the Year, Album of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Jazz/Blues Artist of the Year, Ethno/Folk Artist of the Year, HipHop/RnB Artist of the Year, Electronic Artist of the Year, Metal/Punk Artist of the Year, Classical Album of the Year, Hit Song of the Year, Album Design of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Contribution to Estonian Music.

2006 On March 19, 2006, the Estonian Music Awards 2006 were presented at the Vanemuine Concert Hall. Awards were presented in 17 categories: Album of the Year, Ensemble of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Rock Artist of the Year, Jazz/Blues Artist of the Year, Ethno/Folk Artist of the Year, HipHop/RnB Artist of the Year, Electronic Artist of the Year, Metal/Punk Artist of the Year, Classical Album of the Year, Hit Song of the Year, Album Design of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Contribution to Estonian Music.

2007 At the Estonian Music Awards 2007, awards were presented in 15 categories: Album of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, HipHop/RnB Artist of the Year, Electronic Artist of the Year, Metal/Punk Artist of the Year, Rock Artist of the Year, Jazz Artist of the Year, Ethno/Folk Art of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Hit Song of the Year, Ensemble of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Album Design of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Contribution to Estonian Music.

2008 The annual music awards were presented at the A.Le Coq Live Estonian Music Awards 2008 gala concert, held at the Pärnu Concert Hall on April 1. Various artists took to the stage with programs and lineups specially created for the evening. The evening was hosted by Hannes Võrno and the event was broadcast live by TV3. Awards were presented in 15 categories: Album of the Year, Ensemble of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, HipHop/RnB Artist of the Year, Electronic Artist of the Year, Metal/Punk Artist of the Year, Rock Artist of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Jazz/Blues Artist of the Year, Ethno/Folk Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Hit Song of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Album Design of the Year, Contribution to Estonian Music.

2009 The A. Le Coq Live Estonian Music Awards 2009 gala took place on March 19 at the Russian Theatre. Awards were presented in 15 categories: Album of the Year, Ensemble of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Jazz/Blues Artist of the Year, Ethno/Folk Artist of the Year, Electronic Artist of the Year, HipHip/RnB Artist of the Year, Metal Artist of the Year, Rock Artist of the Year, Pop Artist of the Year, Music Video of the Year, People's Choice of the Year, Contribution to Estonian Music.

2010 The A. Le Coq Live Estonian Music Awards 2010 gala took place on February 25 at the Nokia Concert Hall. Awards were presented in 15 categories: Album of the Year, Ensemble of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Jazz/Blues Artist of the Year, Electronic Artist of the Year, HipHop/RnB Artist of the Year, Metal/Punk Artist of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Pop Artist of the Year, Rock Artist of the Year, Ethno/Folk Artist of the Year, Audience Favorite, Contribution to Estonian Music.

2011 The A. Le Coq Live Estonian Music Awards 2011 gala was held at the Nokia Concert Hall and featured performances by Koit Toome, The Sun, Metsatöll ja Zetod, Ott Lepland, Lenna, Liisi Koikson, Singer Vinger and Ultima Thule. Scandinavian rock band Sunrise Avenue introduced themselves to the Estonian audience for the first time. Awards were presented in 15 categories: Album of the Year, Ensemble of the Year, Debut Album of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Jazz Artist of the Year, Ethno/Folk Artist of the Year, Electronic Artist of the Year, HipHop Artist of the Year, Metal Artist of the Year, Rock Artist of the Year, Pop Artist of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Best Song of the Year, Contribution to Estonian music.

2012 The Estonian Music Awards 2012 gala took place on February 2 at the Nokia Concert Hall. Awards were presented in 15 categories: Album of the Year, Ensemble of the Year, Debut Album of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Jazz Album of the Year, Ethno/Folk Album of the Year, Electronic Album of the Year, Alternative Album of the Year, Metal Album of the Year, Rock Album of the Year, Pop Album of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Best Song of the Year, Contribution to Estonian music.

2013