In course of WAVES VIENNA 2017 the newly founded Export Award XA will be introduced. The winner of the first XA will be awarded with 2.500 Euros in cash, a voucher for the music store Klangfarbe for 200 Euros and gets support from Radio FM4, the Austrian Music Export and Waves Vienna for one year.

First step of the nomination process was to select the shortlist of ten acts from all acts performing at Waves Vienna 2017. The selection was made by representatives from FM4, MICA, Austrian Music Export and Waves Vienna. The jury of the XA which consists of ten national and international music professionals then has the honor to attend all their shows at Waves Vienna. After watching all the performances live they select their favorite performance which is the winner of the first XA. The XA winner gets not only 2.500 Euros in cash and a voucher of 200 Euros for the music store Klangfarbe but also the support of FM4, Austrian Music Export and Waves Vienna for one year.