With Tocotronic and Beatsteaks, two well-known male bands scooped important awards at the pop culture prize. That could be a great template for the songwriter Antje Schomaker, who sometimes also deals with the testosterone-heavy industry in her lyrics. However, her victory in the solo category shows that things are definitely moving.
Hamburg-based indie pop singer Antje Schomaker won the pop culture prize in the favorite artist category. Schomaker (“I don’t have to do anything”) was honored on Tuesday evening in front of around 1,000 guests in Berlin’s Admiralspalast. In her songs, the songwriter also deals with a male-dominated music scene. “I have the feeling that we’re changing something,” she said after the award.
However, two prizes in important categories promptly went to all-male bands. The Beatsteaks (“I don’t care as long as you sing”) from Berlin were honored as favorite band. The band Tocotronic, based in Hamburg and Berlin, was able to present their favorite album “Nie wieder Krieg”.
The prize for pop culture, organized for the sixth time, was awarded by a jury made up of around 900 members of the Association for the Promotion of Pop Culture. According to the association, the members come from all areas of the music industry and pop culture.
The favorite song came from Kraftklub frontman Felix Kummer, who recorded the hit “The Last Song (Alles wird gut)” with Fred Rabe as Kummer. A Lifetime Achievement Award went to singer Doro Pesch. The 58-year-old from Düsseldorf broke through the male-dominated phalanx of metal-rock as the “Queen of Metal” in the 90s with her band Warlock as a solo musician.
There was also money in the Most Hopeful Newcomer category. The Bremen punk band Team Scheisse secured the 10,000 euro prize. An award for living pop culture went to the presenter and comedian Carolin Kebekus. This year she organized the DCKS Festival in Cologne, a festival with only women’s bands. Electropop singer Antonia Rug, who works as Novaa, was able to convince in the category Favorite Producer with her song “She’s A Star”. The jury saw Rammstein’s stage spectacle with lots of fire, light and effects as the most impressive live show. The favorite video was delivered by Manuel Bittorf, who works as Betterov, and director Fares Hamade with “Bring me home”.
As the most beautiful story, the jury awarded the “Audio Book of Sexualized Violence” by Blond, the band including Nina and Lotta Kummer, sisters of Kraftklub singer Felix Kummer.
