Rosalía, the Catalan singer who has become one of the most influential artists in the Spanish-speaking world, achieved a historic milestone at the third edition of the Academy of Music Awards. Despite not attending the ceremony held at the Ifema Congress Palace in Madrid, she collected all eight awards for which she was nominated, setting a new record for the fledgling event. Her clean sweep underscored her dominance in the Spanish music industry and confirmed what many already knew: Rosalía is the pearl of Spanish music.
The awards night began with a pre-gala where Rosalía had already won five prizes for her album Lux and her song La perla. The album, which was released to critical acclaim in 2025, topped year-end lists and was praised for its genre-blending production and emotional depth. Lux won Best Pop Album, while Rosalía was named Producer of the Year. Her single La perla, a heartbreak anthem that resonated with audiences during her tour, earned Best Pop Song and Songwriter of the Year. The music video for Berghain, the first single from the album, was recognized as Best Music Video.
During the main gala broadcast on La 2, Rosalía added three more trophies to her collection: Best Song of the Year for La perla (recorded with Yahritza y Su Esencia), Best Album of the Year for Lux, and Artist of the Year 2025. This achievement surpassed the previous record set by Arde Bogotá in 2024, who won five awards, and Nathy Peluso’s four wins in the second edition. The absence of Rosalía from the ceremony was noted, but her impact was undeniable.
Background and Career Highlights
Born in Sant Esteve Sesrovires, Barcelona, Rosalía Vila Tobella rose to fame with her unique fusion of flamenco and modern pop. Her breakthrough album El Mal Querer (2018) garnered international attention and earned her a Latin Grammy. She continued to push boundaries with Motomami (2022), which won a Grammy for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album. Her latest work, Lux, represents a more introspective and experimental phase, exploring themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. The album’s production, which she co-produced with long-time collaborators, has been praised for its innovation.
Rosalía’s influence extends beyond music; she is a fashion icon and a vocal advocate for women’s rights and cultural heritage. She has performed at major festivals like Coachella and Glastonbury, collaborated with artists such as Billie Eilish, Travis Scott, and The Weeknd, and has amassed billions of streams on platforms like Spotify. Her ability to reinvent herself while staying true to her roots has made her a role model for a new generation of Latin artists.
The Gala’s Other Winners and Tributes
The evening honored several other artists across various categories. Leiva, a Madrid-born singer-songwriter, was one of the night’s biggest winners, taking home three awards: Best Soundtrack for the original song from his documentary Hasta que me quede sin voz, Best Tour for his Gigante Tour, and Best Pop-Rock Song for Caída libre, a collaboration with the late Robe Iniesta. In his acceptance speech, Leiva dedicated his award to Iniesta, saying he missed him dearly.
Lia Kali dominated the urban music categories. Her second album Kaelis was named Best Urban Album, and she won Best Urban Song for Chulx (featuring Eladio Carrión) and Best Rap/Hip Hop Song for En la cuerda floja. Guitarricadelafuente, from Castellón, won Best Alternative Music Album for Spanish Leather and Best Alternative Song for Babieca. These wins highlighted the diversity and talent in Spain’s music scene.
The gala began with a tribute to Robe Iniesta, the legendary frontman of Extremoduro who passed away in December 2024. A medley of his songs was performed by various artists. Fito Robles sang Ama, ama, ama y ensancha el alma, while Lela Soto and Rafael Riqueni offered a flamenco rendition of Stand By. The freestyler Walls performed Nada que perder, and Xoel López closed the tribute with Si te vas.... Iniesta’s friends Fito Cabrales and Leiva also took the stage to remember him.
Another emotional moment came when Joan Manuel Serrat received the Academy’s honorary award. The legendary Catalan singer-songwriter, now in his 80s, gave a heartfelt speech. He joked about receiving a “survival award” and said he would have preferred the “revelation award,” but was grateful for the recognition. Serrat reflected on his humble beginnings as the son of workers and recalled singing with his mother as a child. His performance of Romance de Curro El Palmo, preceded by a version by María Terremoto and Andrés Suárez, moved the audience to tears.
Other winners included Sanguijuelas del Guadiana, who won Best New Artist, and Luz Casal, who took Best Traditional Pop Album. The gala also featured performances by Amaral and a tribute to the late Jorge Martínez of Ilegales, performed by Ultraligera and Juanma Montoya.
The event, hosted by Leonor Watling, faced some technical difficulties, including sound issues and a stalled script, but was ultimately saved by powerful musical moments. The absence of Rosalía, however, left a void that many attendees noted. Nonetheless, her eight awards served as a testament to her artistry and the high regard in which she is held by her peers.
With Lux already being hailed as an instant classic and her tour selling out arenas worldwide, Rosalía’s star continues to rise. The Academy of Music Awards may have crowned her the pearl of Spanish music, but her influence is now truly global. As she continues to break records and defy expectations, one thing is certain: Rosalía’s journey is far from over.
Source: MSN News