popNRW Prize

The popNRW Prize is awarded in collaboration with the North Rhine-Westphalia State Music Council and is one of the most prestigious and lucrative awards for pop musicians in Germany.

For the 14th time, the coveted award was presented to successful musicians and promising newcomers from the region – on 29 October 2025 in Düsseldorf at the Rheinterrasse in conjunction with Music Düsseldorf as part of the New Fall Festival.

The popNRW Prize 2025 in the ‘Outstanding Artists’ category went equally to Suzan Köcher's Suprafon and Tape Head & NONI. The ‘Best Newcomer’ prize, worth 2,500 euros, was awarded to GRENZKONTROLLE. In addition to the prize funds, the musicians can look forward to an additional career boost and an increase in their popularity.

Time and again, the popNRW jury has demonstrated a keen sense for promising award winners. This is evidenced by such illustrious names as Roosevelt, Giant Rooks, Amilli, Von Spar, Messer, Goldroger, International Music, Blumengarten, Serious Klein, Die P and Philine Sonny.

The popNRW prize is awarded annually in two categories: the award for ‘Outstanding Artists’ is endowed with 10,000 euros, while the winners in the ‘Newcomer’ category receive a prize of 2,500 euros. Further prizes await the runners-up. The award has been made possible since 2016 by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Under the chairmanship of the NRW KULTURsekretariat, a jury of experts consisting of sector representatives, festival organisers and journalists, supplemented by suggestions from an advisory board of representatives from the field of pop music promotion, makes the preliminary selection of artists and groups.

popNRW

Statewide funding program

The award's integration into the unique pop promotion concept ‘popNRW’ also ensures the supra-regional appeal of the North Rhine-Westphalia pop scene. With this concept, the Landesmusikrat NRW and the NRWKS operate an effective and sustainable network of artists, event organisers, venues and pop promotion institutions throughout the year, together with local partners and supported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Ministry of Culture of North Rhine-Westphalia.