Today the Finnish Music Publishers Association (MPA Finland) presented their annual awards for the ninth time. Among the winners in six categories were composers Antti Auvinen and Iiro Rantala as well as rock sextet Blind Channel (pictured above).

High rolling hard rock sextet Blind Channel was given this year’s “Export award” by the Finnish Music Publishers Association. The choice was justified by the band's international breakthrough and the streaming success of their single Dark Side. The nominees in the category were nominated by Music Finland.

This year’s "Contemporary Composer of the Year" award went to Antti Auvinen, who was unanimously chosen from the three candidates in the category, with these words:

"Antti Auvinen has something to say in his music and a strong voice of his own. His works are thought-provoking and memorable. In 2022, Auvinen has been strongly present, musically ready and interesting." The jury included Aleksi Malmberg, Kare Eskola, Lotta Emanuelsson and Minna Pensola.

The awards' yearly genre-free category was this year named "Crossover Composer of the Year" and the winner, Iiro Rantala, was chosen out of four nominees by the jury consisting of members Henna Salo, Jukka Haarma, Annamaija Saarela and Aleksi Pahkala.

“As an artist, Iiro Rantala is Genre-free with a capital G. He is a connoisseur and a virtuoso of the jazz piano, and an internationally known, luminous performer, but he is at least as strong as a composer, versatile and moving between genres. His music plays in countless contexts, from children's films to musicals – and now with the success of "Die Zaubermelodika" – on opera stages around the world” explained members of the jury.

The highly regarded "Song of the Year" prize was given for Haluun takas mun perhoset by singer-songwriter Pehmoaino (Aino Morko). The "Pop Music Maker of the Year" award was given to Samuli Sirviö.

The prizes of the Finnish Music Publishers Association in the amount of EUR 2,000 were awarded on 5 September in Helsinki,.