The Finnish Music Publishers Association (MPA Finland) has given out their annual awards today for the sixth time. Among the winners in five categories were composers Lotta Wennäkoski and Antti Paalanen.

Internationally renowned and respected contemporary composer Lotta Wennäkoski was awarded this year’s “Export award”. The four nominees in the category were nominated by Music Finland. Wennäkoski was chosen as the winner for the following reasons: 

“Lotta Wennäkoski is one of the most sought-after contemporary composers in Finland, and during 2018 she has gained great international recognition and appreciation. Her orchestral work "Flounce" for BBC Proms 2017 was performed by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in St. Louis, USA, the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra in Stockholm, and at three Royal Scottish National Orchestra concerts in the UK. The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra also premiered Wennäkoski's "Hele" in November. ”

The yearly genre-free category was this year named "Composer of Contemporary Folk Music" by the winner Antti Paalanen. The award winner was selected from a group of five entries, by the jury consisting of members Tuuli Saksala, Mervi Vuorela, Mirva Merimaa and Suonna Kononen.

“Antti Paalanen has done the same thing with his accordion as Pekko Käppi has done with his jouhikko (bowed lyre): made folk music sound trendy and popular without the slightest attempt to be trendy or popular. On his album "Rujo", the Finnish 'pelimanni' tradition is intertwined with modern electronic sound, and nature is intertwined with concrete jungle,” explains jury member Mervi Vuorela.

This year’s "Contemporary Composer of the Year" award went to Mikko Heiniö, while the coveted "Song of the Year" award went to Bäng bäng (typerä sydän) by Ellinoora Leikas, Samuli Sirviö and Eetu Kalavainen. Ellinoora Leikas also received the "Pop Music Maker of the Year" award. 

The prizes of the Finnish Music Publishers Association in the amount of EUR 2,000 were awarded on 9 September.