View source for New Wave (competition)

{{Short description|International contest for young performers of popular music}}
{{infobox music festival |
  | music_festival_name = New Wave
  | image = New wave logo.jpg
  | location = {{plainlist|
*[[Jūrmala]], [[Latvia]] (2002<ref name="LSM1">{{cite web |url= http://www.lsm.lv/en/article/culture/new-wave-song-festival-disappears-over-the-horizon.a108055/ |title=New Wave song festival could switch to Crimea |date=November 28, 2014 |publisher=[[Public Broadcasting of Latvia]] |accessdate=October 6, 2016}}</ref>–2014<ref name="LSM2">{{cite web |url= https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/society/new-wave-waves-goodbye-to-jurmala.a119524/ |title=New Wave waves goodbye to Jūrmala |date=February 27, 2015 |publisher=[[Public Broadcasting of Latvia]] |accessdate=October 6, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://bnn-news.com/officially-confirmed-wave-jurmala-year-125735 |title=Officially confirmed there will not be New Wave in Jurmala this year |date=February 24, 2015 |publisher=[[Baltic News Network]] |agency=[[LETA]] |accessdate=October 6, 2016}}</ref>)
*[[Sochi]], [[Russia]] (2015–2019)<ref name="The Moscow Times">{{cite web |url= https://themoscowtimes.com/news/ban-on-russian-singers-makes-new-wave-festival-leave-latvia-for-sochi-42797 |title=Ban on Russian Singers Makes 'New Wave' Festival Leave Latvia for Sochi |date=January 12, 2015 |publisher=[[The Moscow Times]] |accessdate=October 6, 2016}}</ref>
*[[Kazan]], Russia (2020, planned)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eurovoix-world.com/2020/07/06/new-wave-2020-in-kazan-has-been-cancelled/|title=New Wave 2020 in Kazan Has Been Cancelled|date=6 July 2020|accessdate=7 July 2020|work=Eurovoix World|first=Anthony|last=Granger}}</ref>
}}
  | years_active= 2002–2019; 2021–present
  | founders = [[Igor Krutoy]] and [[Raimonds Pauls]]
  | dates = Six days (three contest days) in July
  | genre = [[Pop music|Pop]], [[europop]], [[Jazz music|jazz]]
  | website = {{URL|https://newwavecontest.ru/}}
}}

'''New Wave''' ({{langx|ru|Новая волна}}, ''Novaya volna'', {{langx|lv|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 [[Headliner (performances)|headliners]] of the competition were [[Valery Leontiev|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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Новая волна (Novaya volna) - Фестивали и премии - Музыка - Главная. |url=https://www.vokrug.tv/product/show/novaya_volna/ |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=Вокруг ТВ |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-25 |title=Алла Пугачева назвала Светлану Лободу своей преемницей |url=https://www.vokrug.tv/article/show/15668893151/ |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=Вокруг.ТВ |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-07-02 |title=«Новая волна»: кто из участников стал знаменитым |url=https://showbizzz.net/2014/06/novaya-volna-kto-iz-uchastnikov-stal-znamenitym.html |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=Шоубиз |language=ru-RU}}</ref> 

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 ==
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]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-07-30 |title=Abramovičs Jūrmalā svin Krutoja dzimšanas dienu |trans-title=Abramovich celebrates Krutoys' birthday in Jurmala |url=https://jauns.lv/raksts/izklaide/211505-abramovics-jurmala-svin-krutoja-dzimsanas-dienu |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=https://jauns.lv |language=lv}}</ref> alongside Russian businessmen [[Umar Dzhabrailov]], politicians like [[Mikhail Kasyanov]], [[State Duma|Duma]] MPs, and even [[FSB (Russia)|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]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Seši bagātākie cilvēki 2014. gada 'Jaunajā vilnī' |url=https://www.delfi.lv/life/42051922/sovbizness/44798278/sesi-bagatakie-cilveki-2014-gada-jaunaja-vilni |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=www.delfi.lv |language=lv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Jaunajā vilnī šogad vietējās elites mazāk, pirmo reizi Rīgas domes vadība |url=https://www.diena.lv/raksts/kd/muzika/jaunaja-vilni-sogad-vietejas-elites-mazak-pirmo-reizi-rigas-domes-vadiba-680349 |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=www.diena.lv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Jauno vilni apmeklēs mazāk biznesa haizivju |url=https://www.db.lv/zinas/jauno-vilni-apmekles-mazak-biznesa-haizivju-168048 |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=Dienas Bizness |language=lv}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New EU tax haven? – DW – 07/18/2013 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/latvia-the-eurozones-new-tax-haven/a-16960333 |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=dw.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ninth international contest “New Wave 2010” |url=https://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/26710/ |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=www.baltictimes.com}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Harding |first=Luke |date=2013-01-23 |title=Latvia: Russia's playground for business, politics – and crime |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/23/latvia-russian-playground |access-date=2025-05-16 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-05-19 |title=Pie Latvijā mītošā Krievijas miljardiera strādā vairāki bijušie un esošie tiesībsargājošo iestāžu darbinieki |url=https://www.tvnet.lv/6687099/pie-latvija-mitosa-krievijas-miljardiera-strada-vairaki-bijusie-un-esosie-tiesibsargajoso-iestazu-darbinieki |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=Latvijā |language=lv |quote=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. }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Grib apcietināt Latvijas balzama lielāko akcionāru |url=https://www.db.lv/zinas/grib-apcietinat-latvijas-balzama-lielako-akcionaru-176765 |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=Dienas Bizness |language=lv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Miljardierim Boiko Jūrmalā uzklūp 'vecmeitas' |url=https://www.delfi.lv/life/42051922/sovbizness/43526543/miljardierim-boiko-jurmala-uzklup-vecmeitas |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=www.delfi.lv |language=lv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Jauno vilni apmeklēs ietekmīgi miljardieri |trans-title=Influential billionaires will visit the new wave |url=https://www.db.lv/zinas/jauno-vilni-apmekles-ietekmigi-miljardieri-375037 |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=Dienas Bizness |language=lv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Разбойники наелись, напились и пустились впляс |url=https://www.kompromat.lv/item.php?docid=readn&id=6931 |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=www.kompromat.lv}}</ref> 

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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-28 |title=Shestakov |url=https://www.spisok-putina.org/en/personas/shestakov-3/ |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=The database “PUTIN'S LIST” |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-01-24 |title=«Guardian» brīdina, ka Latvija kļuvusi par Krievijas spēļu laukumu |url=https://www.tvnet.lv/5509592/guardian-bridina-ka-latvija-kluvusi-par-krievijas-spelu-laukumu |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=Ārvalstīs |language=lv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=ERR |date=2012-01-09 |title=Official Suspected of Ties With Mafia, Latvia Joins Investigation |url=https://news.err.ee/110124/official-suspected-of-ties-with-mafia-latvia-joins-investigation |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=ERR |language=en}}</ref> The festival’s relocation to Sochi in 2015 followed Latvia’s ban on Russian performers like [[Oleg Gazmanov]] for supporting [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|Russia’s annexation of Crimea]], marking the end of Jūrmala’s era as a Russian elite hotspot.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=New Wave Music Festival and Competition Returns to Jurmala |url=https://russkiymir.ru/en/news/132658/ |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=russkiymir.ru}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Times |first=The Moscow |date=2015-01-12 |title=Ban on Russian Singers Makes 'New Wave' Festival Leave Latvia for Sochi |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2015/01/12/ban-on-russian-singers-makes-new-wave-festival-leave-latvia-for-sochi-a42797 |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=The Moscow Times |language=en}}</ref> 

== Participants ==

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]] [[Dmitri Hvorostovsky|Dmitry Hvorostovsky]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Uzvar gaišmatainā Krutoja favorīte |url=https://www.diena.lv/raksts/pasaule/krievija/uzvar-gaismataina-krutoja-favorite-13204699 |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=www.diena.lv}}</ref> 

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

== Winners ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Country
! Contestant
|-
|2024
|{{ARM}}
|[[Anahit Hakobyan]]
|-
|2021
|{{ARM}}
|[[Saro Gevorgyan]]
|-
|2019
|{{ALB}}
|[[Inis Neziri]]
|-
|2018
|{{RUS}}
|Dan Rosin
|-
| rowspan="3" |2017
|{{ARM}}
|[[Erna Mir]]
|-
|{{MLD}}
|[[DoReDoS]]
|-
|{{UZB}}
|Sardor Milano
|-
| rowspan="2" |2016
|{{CRO}}
|[[Dino Jelusić]]
|-
|{{ITA}}
|Walter Ricci
|-
|2015
|{{CRO}}
|[[Damir Kedžo]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Bravo majstore! Kedžo pomeo konkurenciju i postao zvijezda u Rusiji! |url=https://dnevnik.hr/showbuzz/celebrity/damir-kedzo-pobjednik-ruskog-showa-new-wave-stars-2015---411904.html |website=Dnevnik.hr |publisher=Dnevnik.hr |access-date=12 August 2021 |date=11 September 2015}}</ref>
|-
|2014
|{{GEO}}
|[[Nutsa Buzaladze]]
|-
|2013
|{{CUB}}
|Roberto Kel Torres
|-
|[[New Wave 2012|2012]]
|{{RUS}}
|Niloo<ref>{{cite web |url= https://bnn-news.com/new-wave-2012-concludes-70219 |title=New Wave 2012 concludes |date=July 30, 2012 |publisher=[[Baltic News Network]] |accessdate=October 6, 2016}}</ref>
|-
|2011
|{{USA}}
|Jayden Felder
|-
|2010
|{{ARM}}
|[[Sona Shahgeldyan]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |2009
| {{IDN}}
| [[Sandhy Sondoro]]<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/23317/ |title=International guests throw spotlight on New Wave festivities |author=Irina Pantelejeva |date=August 6, 2015 |publisher=[[The Baltic Times]] |accessdate=October 6, 2016}}</ref>
|-
|{{UKR}}
|[[Jamala]]
|-
| 2008
| {{GEO}}
| Duo Georgia
|-
| 2007
| {{flagicon|Moldova}} [[Moldova]]
| [[Natalia Gordienko]]
|-
| 2006
| {{USA}}
| Anjuelaye Larose
|-
| 2005
| {{LAT}}
| [[Intars Busulis]]
|-
| 2004
| {{LAT}}
| [[Cosmos (band)|Cosmos]]
|-
| 2003
| {{RUS}}
| [[Anastasia Stotskaya]]
|-
| 2002
| {{RUS}}
| [[Smash (Russian band)|Smash!!!]]
|}

== Location ==

For the first 14 years, New Wave was held in the [[Latvia]]n coastal city of [[Jūrmala]],<ref name="LSM1" /> 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 [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Latvia)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]] [[Edgars Rinkēvičs]] because of their voiced support for [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|Russia's annexation of Crimea]].<ref name="LSM2" /><ref name="The Moscow Times" />

== See also ==

* [[Russian pop]]

*[[Jurmala Young Pop Singer Competition]]

== References ==
<references/>

== External links ==
{{Commons}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20161128044724/http://newwavestars.eu/en/ Official website of the New Wave Contest] {{in lang|en|ru}}
* [http://newwavejunior.eu/en/ Official website of the Junior New Wave Contest] {{in lang|en|ru}}

{{New Wave (Contest)}}

[[Category:New Wave Festival| ]]
[[Category:Jūrmala]]
[[Category:Music competitions in Latvia]]
[[Category:Singing competitions]]
[[Category:2002 establishments in Latvia]]