The NOMEX organisation has announced the recipients of the 2025 Top 20 Under 30 – Nordic Music Biz awards. This year, Icelanders Snorri Ástráðsson and Agnes Hlynsdóttir have received this prestigious recognition and will be honoured at a formal ceremony during the By:Larm music festival in Oslo this September.

The awards are presented by NOMEX (Nordic Music Export), a collaborative platform for the Nordic music export offices. Each year, 20 individuals under the age of 30 are honoured for their outstanding work in the Nordic music industry. NOMEX aims to strengthen collaboration within the Nordic music sector - together, the Nordic countries represent the sixth-largest music market in the world. The Top 20 Under 30 awards support this mission by highlighting the vital role of young professionals and helping them build international connections.

This year’s Icelandic jury consisted of Gabríel Ólafsson, founder of Reykjavík Recording Orchestra, Klaudia Gawryluk, founder of Radar and DJ, and Ægir Sindri Bjarnason, musician, label owner, and concert promoter. All three have previously received the same award.

María Rut Reynisdóttir, director of Iceland Music, says the Top 20 Under 30 awards play an important role in supporting young people in the music industry and encouraging continued professional development:

“It matters—both for Icelandic and Nordic music life as a whole—that we recognise and highlight the work of the professionals who work with and for our artists. They are an essential part of a vibrant and evolving music ecosystem,” says María Rut.

Snorri Ástráðsson

Snorri began working in the Icelandic music industry at the age of just 15, initially as an artist liaison at festivals such as Iceland Airwaves. He quickly found his footing and is now the manager of some of Iceland’s most prominent rappers, including Daniil, Floni, Izleif and Young Nazareth. In addition, Snorri runs the event company Garcia Events and for years directed the Hip Hop Hátíðin music festival. As a promoter, he has brought international artists such as Skepta, Yung Lean, and Sammy Virji to Iceland.
In 2024, Snorri completed a music management degree at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen and subsequently joined All Things Live in Denmark.
Snorri has received prior recognition for his work—in 2023 he was included in IQ Magazine’s 20 under 30 – New Bosses list. Now based in Denmark, he’s aiming high and off to a strong start.

Agnes Hlynsdóttir

Agnes has made a clear mark on Reykjavík’s cultural and music scene in recent years. She served as operations and events manager at both Lemmy and Iðnó, where she focused on making the venues more accessible to a wide variety of concerts and cultural events.
Agnes founded the concert series Upptakarinn, providing a platform for emerging young artists to perform. She has also organised music workshops for children and played an active role in promoting a number of Icelandic music festivals.

Previous Icelandic award recipients include:

• Júnía Lín – artistic director for Laufey
• Unnsteinn Manúel Stefánsson – musician and entrepreneur
• Árni H. Kristmundsson – manager of Daði Freyr
• Sindri Ástmarsson – booker, Iceland Airwaves
• Soffía Kristín Jónsdóttir – founder of Iceland Sync

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Other 2025 Awardees

Denmark
• Daniel Bruhn – All we Need, Playback, Mother Tongue Records
• Esben Aarup – UMTO, Live Incubator
• Molly Mercedes Marlow – VEGA
• Susi Castelo – ALICE Cph
• Yasemin Özcelik – MM Management

Sweden
• Waldemar Nordström – WN Entertainment & Boshi Collective
• Naomi Wood – Wood Music & Playground
• Hilma Kekkonen Orrell – Sensus Music
• André Wessely – 777 Sound 2025

Norway
• Mats P. Austgulen – Ugreit AS
• Agnes Steen Eckersberg – All Things Live
• Sajje Solbakk – Riddu Riđđu
• Tatijana Todorovic – The Orchard Nordics
• Jericson Joseph – Popular Demand

Finland
• Henri Hagnäs – United Stage Finland
• Livari Suosalo – Warner Music Finland
• Sarah Latosaari – Universal Music Finland

Faroe Islands
• Dania O. Tausen – Plátufelagið Tutl

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Jury Members

Norway
• Stephanie Owusu – Sony Music Norway
• Dennis Kiil – Kiil Management
• Stian Nicolaisen – The Orchard

Sweden
• Holly Astera – The Very Good
• Ankit Desai – Snafu Records
• My Bergman – Jubel

Finland
• Stella Kylä-Liuhala – Ohlogy
• Leevi Mäkinen – PME
• Miika Blomqvist

Denmark
• Rosa Lois Balle Yahiya – Another Life
• Søren Falk Madsen – Playground Denmark
• Stine Omega – Copenhell

Faroe Islands
• Gunn Hernes
• Marianna Nagata – record label Tutl

Iceland
• Gabríel Ólafsson – Reykjavík Recording Orchestra
• Klaudia Gawryluk – founder of Radar and DJ
• Ægir Sindri Bjarnason – musician, label owner, and concert promoter

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