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New Wave (competition)

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New Wave
GenrePop, europop, jazz
DatesSix days (three contest days) in July
Location(s)
Years active2002–2019; 2021–present
FoundersIgor Krutoy and Raimonds Pauls
Websitenewwavecontest.ru

New Wave (Russian: Новая волна, Novaya volna, Latvian: Jaunais Vilnis) is an international contest for young performers of popular music founded in 2002 by the Russian composer Igor Krutoy and Latvian pianist and composer Raimonds Pauls, and was later enhanced by the Russian superstar Alla Pugacheva. Along with Pugacheva, the headliners of the competition were Valery Leontyev, Patricia Kaas, Toto Cutugno, Lou Bega, Craig David and Svetlana Loboda. Since 2016, Pugacheva has not participated in the organization of the competition.[6][7][8]

The contest usually lasts for six days: 3 contest days, 2 special event days and, at the end, the day when the contest's results are announced followed by an ending concert.

History

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The New Wave competition, held annually in Jūrmala, Latvia, from 2002 to 2014, became a magnet for Russian oligarchs and elites, transforming the seaside resort into a hub of wealth and influence during its summer festivals.

Organized by Russian composer Igor Krutoy and Latvian composer Raimonds Pauls, with Russian superstar Alla Pugacheva as a prominent figure, the event attracted high-profile figures such as oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, Roman Abramovich,[9] alongside Russian businessmen Umar Dzhabrailov, politicians like Mikhail Kasyanov, Duma MPs, and even FSB officials like Vladimir Pronichev and transportation minister of Russia Igor Levitin, as well as other elite members like Petr Aven, Yuri Shefler, Len Blavatnik, and Oleg Boyko.[10][11][12] As well Ukrainian oligarchs like Rinat Akhmetov. The festival's concerts and exclusive VIP events, where tables in the Dzintari concert hall’s VIP lounge cost up to £25,000, facilitated networking among Russia’s elite, with their combined wealth reportedly exceeding Latvia’s national budget.[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]

Critics, including Latvian investigative journalist Leonid Jakobson, argued that the event served as a discreet venue for Russian mafia like Vyacheslav Shestakov who is tied to Aslan Usoyan, and Kremlin figures to discuss business and geopolitical strategies, raising concerns about Latvia’s growing role as a playground for Russian interests.[21][22][23] The festival’s relocation to Sochi in 2015 followed Latvia’s ban on Russian performers like Oleg Gazmanov for supporting Russia’s annexation of Crimea, marking the end of Jūrmala’s era as a Russian elite hotspot.[15][24][25]

Participants

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Although meant to popularize new stars from all over Europe, the countries of the former Soviet Union and the United States, many present and former superstars play an important, if not the most important, role in it. Many participants have also represented their countries at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, including but not limited to: Helena Meraai (Belarus), Gaia Cauchi (Malta), Marta Kirakosyan (Armenia), Ela Mangion (Malta), Daneliya Tuleshova (Kazakhstan), Krisia Todorova (Bulgaria), Lerika Engalycheva (Russia and Moldova), Anahit Adamyan (Armenia), Polina Bogusevich (Russia), Misha Gregoryan (Armenia), Anastasiya Baginska (Ukraine), Dino Jelusić (Croatia) and Daniel Yastremski (Belarus).

In 2007, The New Wave closing concert featured not only the competition winners and Russian pop stars, but also US musician Stevie Wonder and world-famous Russian baritone Dmitry Hvorostovsky.[26]

New Wave contestants have also represented their country at the Eurovision Song Contest including Jamala (Ukraine), DoReDos (Moldova), Natalia Gordienko (Moldova), Demy (Greece), Nutsa Buzaladze (Georgia) and Saro Gevorgyan (Armenia; as a backing vocalist).

Winners

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Year Country Contestant
2024  Armenia Anahit Hakobyan
2021  Armenia Saro Gevorgyan
2019  Albania Inis Neziri
2018  Russia Dan Rosin
2017  Armenia Erna Mir
 Moldova DoReDoS
 Uzbekistan Sardor Milano
2016  Croatia Dino Jelusić
 Italy Walter Ricci
2015  Croatia Damir Kedžo[27]
2014  Georgia Nutsa Buzaladze
2013  Cuba Roberto Kel Torres
2012  Russia Niloo[28]
2011  United States Jayden Felder
2010  Armenia Sona Shahgeldyan
2009  Indonesia Sandhy Sondoro[29]
 Ukraine Jamala
2008  Georgia Duo Georgia
2007 Moldova Moldova Natalia Gordienko
2006  United States Anjuelaye Larose
2005  Latvia Intars Busulis
2004  Latvia Cosmos
2003  Russia Anastasia Stotskaya
2002  Russia Smash!!!

Location

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For the first 14 years, New Wave was held in the Latvian coastal city of Jūrmala,[1] but in 2015, it moved to Sochi, the Russian Federation (other potential locations included Baku, Kaliningrad, Kazan and Crimea). According to organizer Igor Krutoy, the main reason for relocating was because of performing Russian singers Valeriya, Iosif Kobzon and Oleg Gazmanov being denied entry into Latvia for the 2014 contest by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs because of their voiced support for Russia's annexation of Crimea.[2][4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "New Wave song festival could switch to Crimea". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. November 28, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "New Wave waves goodbye to Jūrmala". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. February 27, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  3. ^ "Officially confirmed there will not be New Wave in Jurmala this year". Baltic News Network. LETA. February 24, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Ban on Russian Singers Makes 'New Wave' Festival Leave Latvia for Sochi". The Moscow Times. January 12, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  5. ^ Granger, Anthony (6 July 2020). "New Wave 2020 in Kazan Has Been Cancelled". Eurovoix World. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  6. ^ "Новая волна (Novaya volna) - Фестивали и премии - Музыка - Главная". Вокруг ТВ. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
  7. ^ "Алла Пугачева назвала Светлану Лободу своей преемницей". Вокруг.ТВ. 2024-08-25. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
  8. ^ "«Новая волна»: кто из участников стал знаменитым". Шоубиз (in Russian). 2014-07-02. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
  9. ^ "Abramovičs Jūrmalā svin Krutoja dzimšanas dienu" [Abramovich celebrates Krutoys' birthday in Jurmala]. https://jauns.lv (in Latvian). 2010-07-30. Retrieved 2025-05-16. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  10. ^ "Seši bagātākie cilvēki 2014. gada 'Jaunajā vilnī'". www.delfi.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  11. ^ "Jaunajā vilnī šogad vietējās elites mazāk, pirmo reizi Rīgas domes vadība". www.diena.lv. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  12. ^ "Jauno vilni apmeklēs mazāk biznesa haizivju". Dienas Bizness (in Latvian). Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  13. ^ "New EU tax haven? – DW – 07/18/2013". dw.com. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  14. ^ "Ninth international contest "New Wave 2010"". www.baltictimes.com. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  15. ^ a b Harding, Luke (2013-01-23). "Latvia: Russia's playground for business, politics – and crime". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  16. ^ "Pie Latvijā mītošā Krievijas miljardiera strādā vairāki bijušie un esošie tiesībsargājošo iestāžu darbinieki". Latvijā (in Latvian). 2019-05-19. Retrieved 2025-05-16. Shefler generously financed the Russian political show "New Wave" held in Jurmala every summer and was a frequent visitor. The security services did not put obstacles in his residence permit in Latvia, but Shefler was rejected by the services as a potential buyer of Citadele Bank.  {{cite web}}: no-break space character in |quote= at position 282 (help)
  17. ^ "Grib apcietināt Latvijas balzama lielāko akcionāru". Dienas Bizness (in Latvian). Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  18. ^ "Miljardierim Boiko Jūrmalā uzklūp 'vecmeitas'". www.delfi.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  19. ^ "Jauno vilni apmeklēs ietekmīgi miljardieri" [Influential billionaires will visit the new wave]. Dienas Bizness (in Latvian). Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  20. ^ "Разбойники наелись, напились и пустились впляс". www.kompromat.lv. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  21. ^ "Shestakov". The database “PUTIN'S LIST”. 2024-10-28. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  22. ^ "«Guardian» brīdina, ka Latvija kļuvusi par Krievijas spēļu laukumu". Ārvalstīs (in Latvian). 2013-01-24. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  23. ^ ERR (2012-01-09). "Official Suspected of Ties With Mafia, Latvia Joins Investigation". ERR. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  24. ^ "New Wave Music Festival and Competition Returns to Jurmala". russkiymir.ru. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  25. ^ Times, The Moscow (2015-01-12). "Ban on Russian Singers Makes 'New Wave' Festival Leave Latvia for Sochi". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  26. ^ "Uzvar gaišmatainā Krutoja favorīte". www.diena.lv. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  27. ^ "Bravo majstore! Kedžo pomeo konkurenciju i postao zvijezda u Rusiji!". Dnevnik.hr. Dnevnik.hr. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  28. ^ "New Wave 2012 concludes". Baltic News Network. July 30, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  29. ^ Irina Pantelejeva (August 6, 2015). "International guests throw spotlight on New Wave festivities". The Baltic Times. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
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