José López Campos, the Galician Minister of Culture, Language and Youth, has hailed the music sector as “one of the prominent cultural drivers of Galicia.” His remarks came during the II Premios Palco ceremony, organised by the Galician Association of Music Companies (AGEM) with support from the Xunta, aimed at highlighting and giving visibility to notable careers and projects in the field.
Accompanied by Xosé Merelles, Director of Tourism for Galicia, and Jacobo Sutil, Director of the Galician Agency for Audiovisual Industries, López Campos praised the “great moment” Galician music is experiencing, attributing this to the “maturity, diversity, talent and excellence” of both artistic projects and professionals within the region.
He noted the “high public attendance, positive reviews, and numerous accolades” received by initiatives and artists utilising the Galician language, which he described as a testament to the language's validity for any artistic and musical expression, particularly for engaging younger generations.
Among the 17 categories at the awards, the group The Rapants, known for their repertoire performed in Galician, won the Artist of the Year award, presented by López Campos. Additionally, the Paidea Foundation was also recognised, while the Surfing The Lérez festival won the Excellence in Audience Experience award for the second consecutive year, as determined by public vote.
The II Premios Palco, previously known as the Galician Music Industry Awards, are a result of collaboration between the Ministry of Culture, Language and Youth and AGEM, which currently represents 59 companies and professionals in the sector, advocating for their interests in cultural management and live music events. The awards are part of a strategic plan for the Galician music industry, aiming to showcase and value careers and projects committed to creativity, innovation, respect, and sustainability, serving as examples for professional advancement in the music sector from a business perspective. Their purpose also includes recognising individual and collective merits that are strengthening the music industry as a cultural, social, and economic engine.
