Echo Awards
March 25, 2011
The stars were out in Berlin on Thursday night for Germany's annual Echo Music Awards. Nineteen-year-old pop sensation Lena picked up an award for the newcomer of the year, while rock group Unheilig won the award for album of the year.
Unheilig frontman "Der Graf" said the award was an amazing symbol of how many people listened to his music.
The band was nominated for a total of seven awards and also won for best German rock-alternative band.
Lena was nominated for five awards following her hands-down win at last year's Eurovision Song Contest with her hit song "Satellite." In addition to her newcomer of the year award, Lena was named female artist of the year in the category of rock-pop.
Ich + Ich won best German rock-pop group ahead of hip-hop group Die Fantastischen Vier, Silly, Adoro and Die Atzen.
International prizes
British-pop old hands Take That came away with the best international rock-pop award, beating the Black Eyed Peas, Bon Jovi, Hurts and Kings of Leon to the top gong.
Robbie Williams thanked the German music industry for its recognition with the words "Germany is good to us."
Scottish singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald won best female rock-pop artist in the international category.
Other German musicians up for awards were Philipp Poisel, Ina Müller and rapper Bushido.
Culture Minister Bernd Neumann opened the ceremony, saying the Echo Awards had grown to become one of the most important music prizes since their inception 20 years ago.
Author: Darren Mara, Matt Zuvela (AP, dpa)
Editor: Martin Kuebler