LOS40 Music Awards

The LOS40 Music Awards (formerly Premios 40 Principales) is an annual Spanish music awards ceremony organized by LOS40 radio, the country's most popular contemporary hit radio network. The awards recognize achievements in Spanish, international, and Latin music across nearly 30 categories. The 20th edition was held on November 7, 2025, at the Roig Arena in Valencia.

How the LOS40 Music Awards Work

The awards follow a multi-stage selection process:

1. Nominations: Nominees are determined using LOS40 radio airplay data, streaming performance on platforms like Spotify, audience engagement metrics, and editorial input from the LOS40 programming team. Categories are organized into three sections: Spain, International, and Global Latin.
2. Voting: Winners are selected through a combination of public voting via the LOS40 app and website, plus audience data from radio airplay. The public vote carries significant weight, making fan engagement a major factor in outcomes.
3. Ceremony: The awards ceremony is held annually in November, featuring live performances from nominated and invited artists. The 2025 edition at Roig Arena in Valencia marked the first time the ceremony was held in that city, after the 2024 edition took place at Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona.

The awards were originally called Premios 40 Principales when launched in 2005. They were rebranded as LOS40 Music Awards in 2016 to reflect the station's broader international and Latin music coverage.

Real-World Example: The 20th Edition (2025)

The 2025 LOS40 Music Awards Santander took place on November 7 at the newly opened Roig Arena in Valencia. Aitana, Ed Sheeran, and Emilia emerged as the biggest winners of the night.

Aitana won Best Act, cementing her status as one of Spain's most successful pop artists since her rise from Operacion Triunfo. Ed Sheeran took home Best International Act, while Argentine singer Emilia dominated the Latin categories, winning Best Latin Act.

In the Spanish categories, Dani Fernandez won Best Album for "La Jauria Tour," and Dani Martin won Best Song for "El Ultimo Dia de Nuestras Vidas." Chiara Oliver won Best New Act, beating out Naiara, Lia Kali, and other emerging Spanish artists.

The 2024 edition, held at Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, was notable for its tribute to victims of the 2024 Spanish floods. The ceremony became a telethon, partnering with the Red Cross to raise funds. Lola Indigo, Abraham Mateo, and Myke Towers were among the top winners that year.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

The LOS40 Music Awards offer independent artists a direct path to recognition in the Spanish and Latin music markets. Because nominations factor in streaming data and radio airplay, artists who build genuine audience engagement can earn a nomination without major label backing.

The Best New Act category specifically targets emerging talent. Chiara Oliver's win in 2025 shows that relatively new artists can take home awards. The awards also provide significant exposure: performing or winning at the ceremony generates press coverage across Spanish-speaking media markets, which can translate to streaming spikes and tour opportunities.

For independent artists targeting the Spanish or Latin market, focus on building streaming numbers and engaging with LOS40 radio programming during the eligibility period. Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to track your performance across platforms. Check the LOS40 Music Awards website for eligibility windows and nomination timelines.

Award Categories Explained

The LOS40 Music Awards divide categories into three sections: Spain, International, and Global Latin. Here are the main categories:

Spain Categories:

• Best Act: Top Spanish artist or group of the year, based on airplay, streaming, and fan votes.
• Best New Act: Emerging Spanish artist with breakthrough impact during the eligibility period.
• Best Album: Spanish album with the strongest overall performance across streaming and radio.
• Best Song: Individual Spanish track with the highest chart performance and audience engagement.
• Best Video: Music video by a Spanish artist, judged on creativity and production quality.
• Best Collaboration: Spanish artist collaboration that achieved significant airplay and streaming numbers.
• Best Tour: Spanish artist concert tour based on ticket sales, production value, and audience response.
• Best Urban Act: Spanish urban or hip-hop artist with the strongest year (added in recent editions).

International Categories:

• Best International Act: Non-Spanish artist with the biggest impact on Spanish music charts and LOS40 airplay.
• Best International New Act: Emerging international artist who broke through in the Spanish market.
• Best International Album: International album with the strongest performance in Spain.
• Best International Song: International track with the highest chart position on the LOS40 playlist.

Global Latin Categories:

• Best Latin Act: Latin American or Spanish-language Latin artist with the biggest year.
• Best Latin New Act: Emerging Latin artist with breakthrough streaming or radio performance.
• Best Latin Song: Latin track with the highest chart performance and audience engagement.
• Best Latin Collaboration: Latin artist collaboration that achieved significant commercial success.
• Global Icon Award: Special honor for artists with sustained impact across multiple markets and eras.

Eligibility and Submission Information

The LOS40 Music Awards do not have a formal submission process. Nominations are determined by LOS40 radio programming data, streaming performance on platforms like Spotify, audience engagement metrics, and editorial input from the LOS40 team. Artists do not need to apply or submit their work for consideration.

The eligibility period typically runs from approximately October of the previous year through September of the current year. The LOS40 programming team monitors airplay, streaming numbers, and audience engagement throughout this period to identify nominees.

Public voting opens after nominations are announced, usually in October. Fans vote through the LOS40 app and website. The public vote carries significant weight in determining winners, alongside radio airplay data and editorial input.

For the 2026 edition (21st ceremony), the event is scheduled for November 20 in Barcelona, returning to Palau Sant Jordi. Check the LOS40 Music Awards website for the most current eligibility windows and nomination timelines.

Notable Past Winners

2025 Winners (20th Edition, Roig Arena, Valencia)

2024 Winners (19th Edition, Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona)

2023 Winners (18th Edition, WiZink Center, Madrid)

Ceremony Highlights and Performances

The LOS40 Music Awards ceremony features live performances from nominated and invited artists. The gala is streamed live on the LOS40 YouTube channel and broadcast on Divinity and Cuatro in Spain, with TNT carrying the broadcast across Latin America.

The 2024 edition at Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona became a telethon for victims of the 2024 Spanish floods (DANA). The ceremony partnered with the Red Cross to raise funds. Lola Indigo delivered one of the most talked-about performances of the night, appearing in a spectacular red costume with a full dance crew. Estopa received a spontaneous audience tribute when collecting their Best Tour award, marking their 25th anniversary on stage.

The 2025 edition at Roig Arena in Valencia opened with Rosalia performing "Reliquia" from her album LUX, accompanied by an orchestra of over 20 musicians. Ed Sheeran surprised the audience by inviting Aitana to join him for a bilingual version of "Perfect." Over 18,000 people attended the ceremony, which also served as a tribute to those affected by the 2024 Valencia floods. Rosalia, Ed Sheeran, Nicky Jam, and Pablo Alboran all received the Global Icon Award.

Related Awards

• Mirchi Music Awards - India's premier music awards for Hindi film and indie music
• Viña del Mar Festival - Latin America's most prominent music festival and competition

Related Resources

• Streaming Royalty Calculator - Track streaming performance that feeds into LOS40 nominations
• Target Streams Calculator - Set streaming goals for awards eligibility
• 21 Ways Musicians Can Earn Income - Build revenue alongside awards strategy
• How to Get Your Music on Spotify Playlists - Playlist placement drives the streaming data behind nominations
• What Is an Artist Development Deal - Understand label deals before pursuing awards