Germany’s Echo Awards axed amid antisemitism row

Germany's top music prize is no more, following an outcry by artists and Jewish groups over the decision to honour 'antisemitic' rappers Farid Bang and Kollegah

News By | 25 April 2018

Farid Bang (left) and Kollegah at the Echo Awards in Berlin © Echo Music Prize

The Echo Music Prize, the German recording industry’s highest accolade, will not return in 2018, organisers have announced, amid a controversy over antisemitism that has left the awards’ reputation “so badly damaged that a completely new beginning is necessary”.

The Echos were criticised worldwide after handing the 2018 award for best hip-hop/urban album to rappers Farid Bang and Kollegah for 2017’s Jung, brutal, gutaussehend 3. The album includes a song, ‘0815’, where the two rap about their bodies being “more…

You've used your free article this month

Continue reading with a free account, or subscribe for unlimited access to all of our news, features and reports.

Subscribe Create a Free Account

Share this

MOST POPULAR

Related Content

L–R: Mihail Groys (project coordinator, BMG), Walton, Lesser and Rotstein

BMG says “nie wieder” with campaign against antisemitism

After the outcry over the Echos and amid rising antisemitism in Germany, the publisher hopes to snuff out hatred in schools with a €100,000 music biz-led initiative

News 15 June, 2018

Echo Jazz 2018 winner Norah Jones

BVMI axes Echo Jazz prize too

The Echo Jazz awards have also been affected by the controversial awarding of an Echo Music Prize to 'antisemitic' rappers Farid Bang and Kollegah

News 14 May, 2018

Achtung Maybe: Germany market report

IQ talks to those on the front line in a robust territory where pressures of rising costs has never been more keenly felt

Feature 23 July, 2024

Back to top