The Cuban music industry awards festival this May 10-17 celebrated country music and Colombia was the guest country, although the remit of the festival covers a very wide range of music whether classical, jazz, Nueva trova, salsa-timba, pop, fusion, reggaeton and rumba. As in previous years, in Havana musicians, producers, academics, musicologists and journalists, from 9 countries and including Cuban musicians living abroad, come together to perform, listen and discuss issues of music and the recording industry.
Jorge Gómez, president of Cubadisco, explained at a press conference: “In Cuba so much music is made and of quality, that awarding is very difficult, but the award is vital for the industry…We will always be thinking about what to do to make our music more visible…”
The Cubadisco 2024 Grand Prize went to Beethoven: Piano Concerto, by Frank Fernández and the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba, Colibri Productions.
The diva of the Buena Vista Social Club, Omara Portuondo, received the Cubadisco 2024 Award for her life’s work, with the album Vida, released on the Danish label One World Records.
Within the category of country music, the winners were ‘Que hablen si van a hablar’, by María Victoria Rodríguez, and ‘No Escapes del amor’, by Luis Paz (Papillo), both produced by Cuban label Bis Music.
In the Nueva Trova category the winner was UNIVERS.O.S., by Tony Ávila and his group, on the Bis Music label.
The Prize in the Varied Traditional category went to Danzoneando. Live from Matanzas, by the Failde Orchestra, a collaborative production between Tumbao Productions, Egrem and the Californian label Cerrito Records.
Beatriz Márquez, received the Award in the Song category, with ‘Este encuentro. Tribute to René Márquez’, . While the Prize in the Contemporary Song category went to ‘El café de los felices’, by Vicente Trigo.
The Award in the Children’s Song category went to ‘Children of the World’, from the Tiny Choir. In the Music teaching section, the award was given to Doctor Tambor, by Horacio (El Negro) Hernández.
Guido López-Gavilán with ‘Estrenando mis 80’, received the Award in the Symphonic and Chamber Music category. José María Vitier won the award in the category of Concert/Instrumental, with ‘Tentaciones’.
The Prize in the Jazz category went to Flautas Gigantes, by Orlando (Maraca) Valle & Big Band Flautas Gigantes.
the Award in the category of Current Dance Music went to Pueblo Griffo, by Alexander Abreu and Havana D’ Primera, produced by Páfata Producciones.
Charly & Johayron were winners in the Reggaeton category, with their album E.G.O., on the label Planet Records. ‘Coge el hilo’ was the award-winning album in the Hip-Hop category, by Adverzary and Eimi, a collaboration between Producciones Colibrí and the Cuban Rap Agency (Acrap). The youth arts organisation AHS was a collaborator in ‘Dressing’, by Yosander and Agranel, in the category of First Film.
Toques del Río, this time with ‘No me formes crisis’, won in the category of Alternative Fusion. The singer Annie Gracés won the award in the Pop-Fusion category, with ‘Búscame tú’.
The Prize in the Electronics category went to ‘Before I Lose Control’, by DJs Riversound & JÄVIK.O., made by the German recording studio Noise Record Studio. Among the international awards was ‘De Bracos Abertos’, by Pablo Facundes, Brazil.
The Prize in the Musical Documentary category went to ‘Isla de la Música. La resistencia’, a co-production of the independent company Gavia and the Cuban record label Colibrí.
Watch the trailer for this documentary here
For their impact on the Cuban music scene, Original de Manzanillo received a special award.
Based on reports by Granma.cu and Prensa Latina
FULL DETAILS OF NOMINEES AND WINNERS HERE
Cuba 50 
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