Indie Awards honored indie artists – see the list of winners

The Association of Independent Record and Production Companies in Finland, IndieCo, presented recognition awards today at Tiivistämö in Helsinki to key independent actors of 2025.

In this context, “indie” refers to music released by independent record companies. A release is considered an indie release when less than 50% of its ownership is held by a major label. An indie label is defined as a company whose majority ownership is in independent hands.

Here’s how the prizes were distributed

A total of 20 categories were awarded over the course of the evening. The biggest winners were Good Boys and Aili Järvelä, both receiving recognition in two categories. Good Boys were awarded in the Hip Hop Act of the Year and Group of the Year categories. Aili Järvelä’s album Vuori was chosen as Album of the Year, and Järvelä also won the public vote for Best of the Year.

The Song of the Year award went to Pussailen tyttöjen kaa by Asla Jo, one of the most compelling names in the Finnish indie music scene.

Lauri Haav claimed the Artist of the Year award for the second year in a row; the artist, who blends rap, pop and R&B, won in the same category last year as well. Havukruunu took home the Metal Act of the Year award, Komiat was recognised as Schlager of the Year, and the Jazz Award went to Kadi Vija.

See all the winners of the Indie Awards 2026:

Newcomer of the year: louna0nline

Album of the year: Aili Järvelä – Vuori

Song of the year: Asla Jo – Pussailen tyttöjen kaa

Band of the year: good boys

Artist of the Year: Lauri Haav

Hiphop of the year: good boys

Metal of the year: Havukruunu

Rock of the year: the Ursus Factory

Year alternative: Modem

Pop of the year: OLGA

Schlager of the year: Komiat

Songwriter of the Year: Rebekka Holi

Jazz of the Year: Kadi Vija

Etno of the Year: Pekko Käppi & K:H:H:L

Classic of the Year: Aki Yli-Salomäki & Auli Särkiö

Radio Helsinki’s Special Mention: Helsinki Music Week

The most streamed song of the year: Ares: Menestys on paras tapa kostaa

Export Achievement of the Year: Soliti Records

Best of the Year – public vote: Aili Järvelä

Indie Ally of the Year: Radio Suomen Musiikki-ilta 

They chose the winners

The nominees and winners were selected by a jury appointed by the Board of IndieCo. This year, the jury consisted of Johan Lindroos (Head of Music, Yle Suomi), Lotta Savolainen and Rosanna Mantila (Radio Helsinki), Sini Tiainen (Qobuz), Mikko Merimaa (Tavastia Club), Lani Nordlund (Programme Manager at Kulttuuritalo and KULT), Ella Ossi and Anne Lainto (YleX), Jussi Mäntysaari (Nelonen Media), Rosanna Mantila, Panu Hattunen (Ilosaarirock), Aino-Maria Paasivirta (Fullsteam / Provinssi), Eero Jääskeläinen (Live Nation / Allas Live), Aku Toivonen (Musiikintekijät), Oskari Onninen (Uusi Juttu), Raine Pulkkinen (Lutakko / Jelmu), and Aki Nuopponen (journalist for Inferno & Soundi / store manager at Levykauppa Äx).

The jazz and folk/world music nominees and winners were selected by Laura Korhonen, music journalist at Yleisradio, together with Maria Silvennoinen, Executive Director of the Finnish Jazz Federation. The classical music nominees and winner were chosen by Kaisa Rönkkö, Dean of the Uniarts Helsinki.

Now in its seventh edition, the Indie Awards also recognised the Most Streamed Song of the Year, the Indie Ally of the Year selected by the IndieCo Board, the Export Achievement of the Year awarded by Music Finland, the winner of the public vote for Best of the Year, and Radio Helsinki’s Special Mention.

All artists nominated in the Newcomer of the Year category performed during the evening at Tiivistämö: Kukkatalo, louna0nline, keiju, Ullalintulampi and Jaanat.