Raccoon Music Award 2025-'26: Second Round begins January 13th

The second phase of the Raccoon Music Award 2025-’26, the contest promoted by OndaRock, is about to kick off at Let It Beer in Rome. 

The five nights staged at Let It Beer saw twenty acts from the under-30 scene take turns on stage, sketching out an eclectic sonic map that ranges from the resurgence of acoustic folk to urban experimentation, by way of hyper-pop. Here's an update on the standings and how the tournament works.

The frontrunners

At the end of the first round of voting (Technical Jury + Audience), the provisional standings see Hibiscus in the lead with 56 points. The act won over listeners across the board by blending R&B and Hip Hop with the elegance of the saxophone, singled out by critics as one of the contest's best surprises for the band's chemistry. In second place (54 points) is BEABI, buoyed by internationally-minded Pop songwriting and impeccable vocal control.

Third place (50 points) is shared by two opposite souls of the contest: on one side Delilah Earnshaw, who brought a choreographed synth-pop show echoing Lady Gaga and Britney Spears; on the other Make It One, technically superb in their Zappa-esque zany rock. Rounding out the "Top 6" (49 points) are the sharp-toned songwriting of LOE and the expressive urgency of Upnea, praised for fusing urban mood, political rap and punk attitude.

The Rules: the race toward Wishlist

It's worth noting that no artist has been eliminated. The format works on a cumulative points system: all 20 acts in competition will perform again in the second round, set to begin on January 13, once again at Let It Beer. Only at the end of the second phase, by adding up the scores from both performances, will the top 12 acts advance to the semifinals, to be held on the historic Wishlist stage on March 13 and April 3.

Below is the full standings from which things will resume in January:

1. Hibiscus – 56 pts
2. BEABI – 54 pts
3. Delilah Earnshaw – 50 pt
4. Make It One – 50 pt
5. LOE – 49 pt
6. Upnea – 49 pt
7. Corpoceleste – 45 pt
8. Alchimisti Anonimi – 44 pt
9. Mind Your Step – 44 pt
10. Wild Mint – 44 pt
11. Scar – 42 pt
12. Flowhertz – 40 pt
13. Carla Alejandra – 39 pt
14. Brezza – 37 pt
15. Chiara Osso – 35 pt
16. Emile & Adriano – 35 pt
17. Roberta Cassarino – 35 pt
18. Steinum – 35 pt
19. Sara Angotzi – 34 pt
20. IlFitch – 33 pt

The next date is now set for the second round, starting January 13, again at Let It Beer, where the artists will be called on to confirm or upend expectations by working on new material and stage presence. Don't miss it!

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