The ZAI Awards are a Slovak music accolade presented by Zväz autorov a interprétov populárnej hudby (ZAI) to recognize outstanding achievements in the industry for the preceding year in the region. In the early phase, the annual ceremonies were held in association with the local Music Fund (HF) and International Federation of the Phonographic Industry Slovakia. For that reason, their follow-up equivalents were frequently renamed; once after the American Gramies (1996–1997).
The 8th OTO Awards, honoring the best in Slovak popular culture for the year 2007, took time and place on March 12, 2008, at the former Opera building of the Slovak National Theater in Bratislava. The ceremony broadcast live STV. The hosts of the show were Jan Kraus and Zuzana Fialová.
The 12th OTO Awards, honoring the best in Slovak popular culture for the year 2011, took time and place on March 9, 2012 at the Opera of the Slovak National Theater in Bratislava. The ceremony broadcast live RTVS on Jednotka. The hosts of the show were Marián Čekovský and Michal Hudák.
The 14th OTO Awards, honoring the best in Slovak popular culture for the year 2013, took time and place on 8 March 2014 at the Slovak National Theater in Bratislava. The ceremony broadcast live RTVS on Jednotka, the hosts of the show were Adela Banášová and Matej "Sajfa" Cifra.
The Aurel Awards were Slovak music accolades presented by Slovenská národná skupina Medzinárodnej federácie fonografického priemyslu to recognize outstanding achievements in the industry for the preceding year in the region.
Union of Authors and Performers, or rather Zväz autorov a interprétov populárnej hudby (ZAI), is a Slovak not-for-profit trade organization that works to increase brand recognition of the local music scene and its artists. Headquartered in Bratislava, the union was co-founded by Martin Sarvaš, and it is best known for holding the annual ZAI Awards in the country.
The 13th ZAI Awards, honoring the best in the Slovak music industry for individual achievements for the year of 2013, took place on February 13, 2014 at the V-klub music club in Bratislava. The annual ceremony held in association of the National Public Center (NOC), was hosted by Martin Sarvaš, the chairman of the ZAI union.
The 12th ZAI Awards, honoring the best in the Slovak music industry for individual achievements for the year of 2011, took time and place on April 26, 2012 at the Hotel Crowne Plaza in Bratislava. The annual ceremony hosted Martin Sarvaš, the chairman of the ZAI organization.
The 1st ZAI Awards, honoring the best in the Slovak music industry for individual achievements for the year of 1990, took place at the Hotel Kiev in Bratislava in 1991.
The 4th ZAI Awards, honoring the best in the Slovak music industry for individual achievements for the year of 1993, took time and place in February 1994 in Bratislava.
The 6th ZAI Awards, honoring the best in the Slovak music industry for individual achievements for the year of 1995, took time and place on March 2, 1996, at the West Theater in Bratislava.
The 2nd ZAI Awards, honoring the best in the Slovak music industry for individual achievements for the year of 1991, took place and time in Bratislava in 1992.
The 3rd ZAI Awards, honoring the best in the Slovak music industry for individual achievements for the year of 1992, took place and time in Bratislava in 1993.
The 7th ZAI Awards, honoring the best in the Slovak music industry for individual achievements for the year of 1996, took time and place on February 13, 1997, at the New Scene Theater in Bratislava.
The 8th ZAI Awards, honoring the best in the Slovak music industry for individual achievements for the year of 1997, took time and place on March 2, 1998, at the New Scene Theater in Bratislava. The ceremony was held in association with the local Music Fund (HF) and was hosted by actress Zdena Studenková. Unlike the previous editions when a clay statuette was designed, the new winners were bestowed a golden, five-pointed star with an inscription that read Grammy Slovakia '97, stationed on a black base.
The 9th ZAI Awards, honoring the best in the Slovak music industry for individual achievements for the year of 1998, took time and place on February 26, 1999, at the New Scene Theater in Bratislava. The ceremony was held in association with the local Music Fund (HF) and, for the first time, with the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry Slovakia. For that reason, the accolades were renamed after the Artmedia Music Academy, established by ZAI and the related company. The winners received a plaque with a five-pointed golden star. Host of the event was Peter Kočiš.
The 10th ZAI Awards, honoring the best in the Slovak music industry for individual achievements for the year of 1999, took time and place on February 25, 2000 at the Park kultúry a oddychu in Bratislava. The ceremony was held in association with the local Music Fund (HF) and the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry Slovakia. As with the previous edition, the accolades were named after the Artmedia Music Academy, established by ZAI and the related company in 1999.
The 11th ZAI Awards, honoring the best in the Slovak music industry for individual achievements for the year of 2000, took time and place on March 9, 2001 at the civic center Zrkadlový háj in Bratislava. The ceremony was held in association with the local Music Fund (HF) and the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry Slovakia. As with the previous two editions, the accolades were named after the Artmedia Music Academy, established by ZAI and the related company in 1999.
Karol Mikloš is a Slovak recording artist. A former member of a gothic rock band known as Shellwoy (1992–1993), recorded his own self-titled demo EP in 1994. His full-length debut, The Same Mist Here (1997), saw its official results on Róbert Gregor's Agency – G.A. Records. The guitar-based work made under production by Ladislav Lučenič, spawned a Grammy Slovakia Award-nomination as the New Artist. Its electronic follow-up issued on Millennium Records, Vis-à-vis (2002), became a Best Male Vocal Performance-nominee in favor of local Aurel Awards. While The Past of the Future (2008) with a more acoustic sound, was nominated for so-called Radio Head Awards, for a change. Apart from performing and composing skills for his own, Mikloš has occasionally been involved in production, audio and mastering engineering, mixing and programming for fellow artists.
