The "New Wave" competition is a contest for upcoming performers of typical popular music. It was founded back in the year 2002 by the popular Russian composer Igor Krutov as well as Latvia Pianist Raimonds Pauls. The festival in itself was later enhance by the Russian superstar Alla Pugacheva. The "New Wave" competition is held in the Latvia city of Jurmala which is on the coast. Although the contest mainly emphasizes on European stars, other nations such as the former USSR (now Russia) and the United States present several stars to add to the fesitivals' calibre

The debut "New Wave" competition saw the Russian group Smash race to a stunning victory but what is notable in that edition is that future Eurovision Song Contest winner Dima Bilan managed to achieve a very respectable fourth place. Amongst the guests in this edition there were Toto Cotugno (1990), Lou Bega, Filip Kirkorov (Russia 95).

In 2003, the competition continued and grew fiercer in competition. Russia would go on to claim another victory for the second successive year this time with the singer Nastya Stotckaya. Amongst the guests invited for the show were Patricia Kaas who went on to represent France this year, Filip Kirkorov who represented Russia in 1995, Alsou who brought Russia's first best placing which is the second best placing for the nation now as well as Sarah Connon (a former member of the A*Teens)

The competition moved into it's third year receiving more submissions than ever before but at the end a winner had to emerge and that was none other than the group Cosmos for the nation of Latvia. The group would go on to represent their nation in the Eurovision Song Contest just two years later without success though. The special guests during the evening included world renowned artists Bonnie Tyler and Thomas Anders (German NF 07) along with Alsou (Russia 00).

The 2005 edition of the competition saw another second successive win for Latvia with 2009 Eurovision Song Contest representative Intars Busulis winning it all. Amongst the competitors there was also Tina Karol who would represent Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest of just one year later. Another set of notable guests made their way to the stage.

Heading into it's fifth year, the competition was celebrating it's anniversary and wanted to organise something completely huge and different. The organisers were happy of the achievements that some singers managed to achieve through their result or performance and thus made sure that the event was given a lot of coverage by inviting a lot of high profile stars including Lara Fabian (Luxembourg 88), Craig David and Al Di Meola. The new winner of the competition was the country of the red, white and blue namely the United States whose group La Rose battled it out.

In 2007, the contest was won by Moldova whose entrant Natalia Gordienko would go on to compete in the Moldovan national final on more than one occassion. The special guests for the evening included Filip Kirkorov (Russia 95), Stevie Wonder, Michael Bolton, Dima Bilan (Russia 06,09) and Alsou (Russia 00).

Last years' contest held in the same Latvia city saw victory being claimed by the nation of Georgia who group Duo Georgia managed to seal victory. Amongst the guests in the show there were Joe Cocker, Al Jarreau, Kostas Martakis (Greek NF 08) and Robin Gibb.

One could easily see how things have developed in this festival increasing it's popularity from year to year. Many people around Europe can view the show via satellite on the channels "RTR Planeta" and "Rossija".

This years' Competition is being contested by these nations and these people:

Belarus: Max Lorens
Georgia: Lika
Indonesia: Sondoro Sandhy
Italy: Antonio Carozza
Kazakstan: Nurjan Kermenbayev
China: Gu Liya
Poland: Shmiel Sara
Russia: 2 Normal, Mark Yusim
Ukraine: Vladislav Levitsky, Mila Nytych, Jamala
Finland: Ville Laaksonen
France: 3NITY

We Wish the Best of Luck to all the participants and we will be keeping you updated on what happens at this prestigious festival.