Majorero Talent Shone Last Night at the 7th Canary Music Awards

Domingo Rodríguez “El Colorao” and his daughter Julia Rodríguez walked away with three awards.

The night in La Laguna seemed to align the stars for the Rodríguez family—one of the most beloved and respected musical lineages of Fuerteventura—ensuring their name continues to echo across the Canary music scene.

The 7th edition of the Premios Canarios de la Música, held at the Teatro Leal in La Laguna and organized by the Asociación Premios Canarios de la Música together with Radio Canaria, honored young singer‑timple player Julia Rodríguez with two of the most coveted prizes: Revelation Artist and Best Roots Music Album for Hacia la vida. Her father, the revered timple virtuoso Domingo Rodríguez “El Colorao”, received the Honor Award in recognition of his flawless career and his constant reinvention of the Canary Islands’ popular roots sound.

The sold‑out gala also celebrated, among many others:

• Valeria Castro (Gran Canaria) – Best Song of the Year for “El borde del mundo”, composed for Marcel Barrena’s successful film El 47.
• Pedro Guerra (Tenerife) – Best Pop Album for the second volume of his collaborative project Parceiros, which brings together more than 36 artists in duets and joint productions.
• Carlos Meneses (Gran Canaria) – Best Jazz Album for Collabs, a project featuring over ten internationally acclaimed musicians.
• Cruz Cafuné (Tenerife) – Best Urban Music Album for blu€s (d€lux€), a blend of sexy drill, jerk, dancehall and blues.
• Said Muti, Jordanian‑born soloist residing in the Canaries – Best Rock Album for the EP Criminales del sueño, repeating his recent nomination in LOS40 Canarias’ “Click and Roll”.

The awards, driven by the Asociación Premios Canarios de la Música and Radio Canaria, with support from the Government of the Canary Islands, the Ayuntamiento de San Cristóbal de La Laguna, the Teatro Leal and sponsors Munchitos, Mahou, Ballantine’s and St Petroni, returned to the Teatro Leal—the venue of the first two editions in 2018 and 2019.

Artistic direction was led by stage director Israel Reyes, while the ceremony—lasting almost two hours—was hosted by Radio Canaria presenter Tomás Galván and actress‑filmmaker Mercedes Ortega. Highlights included performances by Nia, winner of the 11th edition of Operación Triunfo and Spain’s representative at the Viña del Mar Festival, followed by Xerax, Ale Acosta, Said Muti and Julia Rodríguez.

Prominent guests graced the event, among them:

• Migdalia Machín, Councilor of Universities, Science, Innovation and Culture of the Canary Islands, and her deputy Horacio Umpiérrez, Councilor of Culture and Cultural Heritage.
• Francisco Javier García, Rector of the University of La Laguna.
• Adrián del Castillo, Councilor of Culture of La Laguna.
• Culture councilors of Fuerteventura and El Hierro, Rayco León and Rubén Armiche Benítez.
• Composers Laura Vega, Julio Tejera and Teddy Bautista.
• Musicians Germán Arias, Yul Ballesteros, Alba Gil Aceytuno, Aldara, among many others.

“During a year, this sector works to give us the most precious thing they can share with the island public: their songs,” said Lisandro Rodríguez, President of the Asociación Premios Canarios de la Música, during his opening address.
He lamented that in the Canaries “musical programming has turned culture into simple leisure and entertainment spaces.”
Rodríguez called on the Cabildos and municipalities to “bet on local artists” to correct the imbalance where public funds are spent on foreign performers at festivals while budgets for island‑based creation are “negligible.”
“Culture and identity are protected by creating new cultural heritage, allowing musicians, actors, painters, sculptors, writers and other Canary creators to work and live dignified from their work,” he concluded.

Rest of the Winners

• Maite Artajo – Best Video Clip for the promo of Julia Rodríguez’s song “Marioneta de la luna”.
• Carlos Arocha – Best Design for Said Muti’s album Criminales del sueño.
• Alberto “Naranja” Méndez – Best Sound Technician.
• Superstereo Recording Studio (Tenerife) – Best Recording Studio.
• Herofest El Hierro – Best Canary Music Programming (festival).
• Orquesta Universitaria Maestro Valle (established 2009) – Best Classical Music Work.
• Musicafé Podcast by Javi Brichis and Ale González – Best Dissemination Work.

The talent and ingenuity of the fifteen artists and professionals honored across fourteen categories underscore the vitality of a cultural sector that, in 2025, generated approximately €65 million and created around 842 jobs annually in the islands.

Radio Canaria streamed the ceremony and produced a special program hosted by Cé Castro, featuring live interviews with many nominees on the red carpet. Canary Television recorded the entire gala and will broadcast it in the near future.