About | Polar Music Prize Polar Music Prize The story behind the Polar Music Prize About: Tweet this THE POLAR MUSIC PRIZE was founded in 1989 by the late Stig ”Stikkan” Anderson, one of the true greats in the history of popular music. As the publisher, lyricist and manager of ABBA, he played a key role in their enormous success. Its name stems from Anderson´s legendary record label, Polar Music. The Polar Music Prize is one of the most prestigious and unique music prizes in the world, crossing over musical boundaries and awarded to individuals, groups and institutions in recognition of exceptional achievements. The board of the Stig Anderson Music Award Foundation includes representatives from the Stig Anderson family, SKAP (The Swedish Society of Popular Music Composers) and STIM (The Swedish Performing Rights Society). The task of scrutinizing nominations submitted and selecting the ultimate Laureates is undertaken by an Award Committee comprising of experienced members of the music industry, representatives from the Anderson family, musicians, and previous Laureates. Laureates from a wide range of countries, cultures and continents have received the Prize in Stockholm from the hand of His Majesty, King Carl XVI Gustaf.

Music has no boundries; it touches, influences and changes the world. Stig "Stikkan" Anderson, Founder of the Polar Music Prize “ Tweet this Share Quote Where it all began When, in 1989, Stig Anderson donated MSEK 42 it was with the intention of endowing “the world’s biggest music prize” and that is exactly what he accomplished. The Polar Music Prize was endowed for the purpose of awarding, annually if possible, The Polar Music Prize to one or more persons. The donor’s breadth of musical vision, characterized by an insistence that it is not only “good” music in the conventional sense which deserves to be rewarded, because “good” music can mean such a wide variety of things, is reflected by the statues of the foundation. Without any restrictions of nationality, the prize is to “awarded for significant achievements in music and/or musical activity, or for achievements which are found to be of great potential importance for music or musical activity, and it shall be referable to all fields within or closely connected with music”.

Gudrun and Stig Anderson at the first Polar Music Prize Ceremony, 1992 (Photo: © Polar Music Prize) The first award, in 1992, when an extra large sum of money was available for distribution because the fund had been accumulating during the build-up phase, clearly manifested the wide scope of the prize, with one award going to Sir Paul McCartney – who received MSEK 1, of which he immediately donated part to a hospital, while using the other to help in the setting up of a Performing Arts School in his native Liverpool – for his achievements in popular music – the field in which Stig Anderson himself had achieved the successes enabling him to endow the prize in the first place – and at the same time each of the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania received MSEK 1 towards the establishment of a performing rights organization corresponding to STIM in Sweden. The Polar Music Prize is globally unique through its combination of breadth and size. Nominations are handled by a prize committee which is entitled to nominate candidates of its own.

This committee includes representatives from SKAP (the Swedish Society of Popular Music Composers), FST (the Society of Swedish Composers), representatives from the Anderson family, musicians, previous Laureates and Musikförläggarna (the Swedish Music Publishers Association). Stig "Stikkan" Anderson Anderson started as a composer and lyric writer and had his first song published in Sweden in 1950, when he was 19 years old. During the 50s he wrote several songs, a number of which became minor hits. His first very big success, in 1959, was Klas-Göran, which gave him golden records not only in all the Nordic countries, but also for instance in Holland (Rockin´Billy). At the end of the 60s Sweden Music, Anderson´s company, was the biggest pop music publisher in Scandinavia. Anderson understood very early that he also needed a record label as a complement to his publishing activity, so he formed Polar Music and had successes with local artists during the 60s. The big international break came with a Swedish group he came to call ABBA.

He was manager and lyric writer and they won the Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton, England, in 1974 with a song called Waterloo. The rest is history. In 1989 he sold his companies to Polygram, but Anderson was still Chairman of the Board for Sweden Music AB and Polar Music International. Anderson received many Swedish and international awards during his years. For example, he was an honorary member of The Royal Swedish Academy of Music, which was founded in 1771. However, the International award he was most proud of was Billboard Magazine´s Trendsetter Award´. Such a distinction had only been presented to one European person before Stig Anderson, and that was Brian Epstein, The Beatles´ manager. Stig Anderson died on September 12, 1997. Nomination The Polar Music Prize Committee has, apart from single members’ potential to nominate future Laureates, an international working process for nominations, which enables broader substrate for the Prize Committee to relate to in a sample process. The Prize Committee receives nominations from ECSA (the European Composer and Songwriter Alliance) and its 40 author representative organizations in 25 European countries.

The Prize Committee also receives a growing number of nominations from individuals all over the world. These nominations, too, are taken into consideration in the work of the Prize Committee, before the it reaches its final decision. CISAC – Confédération Internationale des Sociétés d’Auteurs et Composers and IFPI – International Federation of the Phonographic Industry have over the years also contributed with nominations from its members. Since the mid 2000′s, the Award Committee has established links with senior advisors from previous Polar Music Prize Laureates, such as Renee Fleming and Ennio Morricone. Nomination Who in the world of music, touches, influences and changes the world? Make your nomination! Your nomination* Your e-mail The Board Stig Anderson had a belief and a vision. Music has no boundaries; it touches, influences and changes the world. The quality of a musical work is independent of its genre, source or conformity with prevailing trends. When great musicians get together, they speak the same language and find more similarities than differences. Anderson knew all that when he donated 42 million Swedish kronor in 1989 and paved the way for the Polar Music Prize.

The endowment is now managed by the Stig Anderson Music Award Foundation, which has three chief sponsors: the Anderson family, the Swedish Society of Popular Music Composers (SKAP) and the Swedish Performing Rights Society (STIM). According to the by-laws, the prize must “be awarded for significant achievements in music and/or musical life, or for achievements which are believed to be of great potential importance for the advancement of music and/or musical life and shall cover all fields within music or be closely connected with it.” Anderson wanted to reward extraordinary achievements in the world of music, as well as provide a unique venue for world artists with different musical platforms. An independent 12-member Award Committee that includes representatives of SKAP, the Society of Swedish Composers (FST) and the Swedish Music Publishers Association (SMFF) selects the Laureates. The committee receives nominations from Confédération Internationale des Sociétés d´Auteurs et Compositeurs (CISAC), the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), the European Composer and Songwriter Alliance (ECSA) and a number of other organisations.

Many international stars and musicians have come to Stockholm through the years to accept the Polar Music Prize from the hands of King Carl XVI Gustaf. Thus, Anderson’s vision of providing a unique venue has been realised. -Lennart Wiklund Lennart Wiklund Chairman of the Polar Music Prize Board Senior Advisor Employers Issues Bonnier AB, chairman of the board f Medieföretagen, vice chairman of Almega. Chairman of the Board Svenska Bio as well as for Barnfonden, vice chairman ChildFund Alliance. Worked in media since 1972, at newspaper Expressen from 1972 to 1982 as a journalist and in leading management roles. CEO of AB Svensk Filmindustri from 1984 to 1996, then directors assignment within Bonnier AB and member of Group Management, responsible for Human Resources, information & Communication and Public Affairs.

Close About Anders Anderson Member of the Polar Music Prize Board, the Polar Music Prize Award Committee, and Chairman of the Supervisory Board Member of the Polar Music Prize Board, the Polar Music Prize Award Committee, and Chairman of the Supervisory Board Director of the Swedish House of Finance (SHoF) at the Stockholm School of Economics. E-mail: anders.anderson@polarmusicprize.org Monica Ekmark Member of the Polar Music Prize Board Monica Ekmark started her career in the music business in 1975 at Stig Andersons’ music publishing company Sweden Music AB. She is today holding the position of General Manager at the Swedish entity of the international major publishing company Universal Music Publ. AB. Monica Ekmark is Chair of the Board of SMFF (Swedish music publishers’ association), board member of STIM (Swedish performing rights society) and Musiksverige (an umbrella organization representing the collective interests of the Swedish commercial music industry).

Close Alfons Karabuda Member of the Polar Music Prize Board, Chairman of the Polar Music Prize Award Committee As a composer, mainly of film and theatre music, Alfons has an extensive career in Sweden and internationally, with music composed for BBC, Zentropa, DR, SVT, the Swedish Film Institute, Dance House and the Stockholm City Theatre. Alfons Karabuda is chairman of SKAP (Swedish Composers of Popular Music), ECSA (European Composer & Songwriter Alliance), APCOE (The Alliance of Popular Music Composer Organization of Europe) and Vice Chairman of STIM (Swedish International Music Composers Bureau). E-mail: alfons.karabuda@polarmusicprize.org Marie Ledin Member of the Polar Music Prize Board and Managing Director of the Polar Music Prize Marie held positions as Label Manager and Promotion Manager with Polar Music International until 1986. Then started The Record Station (record company), which was bought by Bertelsmann. Worked at BMG until 1995 when she started Anderson Records. In 2005 Marie started Anderson Pocket, a book publishing company. Marie is also a board member of the charity organization Stockholms Stadsmission.

E-mail: marie.ledin@polarmusicprize.org Michael Storåkers Member of the Polar Music Prize Board Executive Director of the Acne Studios Board, Chairman FLX 2.0 AB and Bernadotte & Kylberg AB. Member of the Rodebjer AB and Fidelio AB board. Former executive chairman of Pysslingen AB, McCann Nordic AB and member of the Stockholm School of Economics, Bukowskis and Fortum Värme AB board. Close The Prize Committee The Polar Music Prize is awarded for significant contributions in any area of music, in line with the guidelines of founder Stig Anderson. In highlighting two very different musical achievements that still share certain clear characteristics, we seek to build bridges across musical genres. The composition of the Prize Committee for the Polar Music Prize reflects the full spectrum of musical endeavour and is intended to represent a wide range of expertise as well as authority and integrity.

As in previous years, the Prize Committee has, apart from its members’ own nominees, in addition received nominations not only from professional organisations such as ECSA (European Composer and Songwriter Alliance) and CISAC (International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers), but also from a growing number of private individuals. These nominations, too, are taken into consideration in the work of the Prize Committee, before it reaches its final decision. The increasing interest has not made the work of the committee easier, but the certainty of having made the right choice more evident. The committee´s assignment and dedicated work, going through in-depth discussions showing what shifts below the surface, has culminated in a unanimous decision on this year’s fantastic laureates. -Alfons Karabuda Members of the Award Committee Alfons Karabuda Alfons Karabuda Chairman of the Polar Music Prize Award Committee As a composer, mainly of film and theatre music, Alfons has an extensive career in Sweden and internationally, with music composed for BBC, Zentropa, DR, SVT, the Swedish Film Institute, Dansens Hus and the Stockholm City Theatre, among others.

Alfons Karabuda is chairman of SKAP, the Swedish Society of Songwriters, Composers and Authors, President of ECSA, European Composer & Songwriter Alliance, and expert in the field of artistic rights to the UN Human Rights Council. He is a member of the executive board at the International Music Council, Statens Musikverks konstnärliga råd (The Artistic Board of Music Development and Heritage Sweden), Musiksverige (Musicsweden), STIM (The Swedish Performing Rights Society) and Svensk Musik (Swedish Music). Close About Anders Anderson Represents the Anderson family. Anders is Director of the Swedish House of Finance (SHoF) at the Stockholm School of Economics and holds a PhD in Finance from the Stockholm School of Economics. He is member of the board of the Polar Music Prize, Chairman of its Investment Committee. Close About Lars Anderson Represents the Anderson family. Composer arranger and producer of popular music, and has received numerous Swedish and international music awards. Member of SKAP and STIM. Close About Douglas Carr Douglas Carr, one of the corner stones and key components behind “the Swedish music wonder”. Responsible for putting Ace Of Base at no.

1 on US Billboard Chart and producing “The Sign” together with partner Denniz PoP. He has also written and produced hits such as Dr Alban’s “Sing Hallelujah” and Meja’s “All ‘Bout The Money”. He is currently a member of the board for both STIM (Swedish International Music Composers Bureau) and SKAP (Swedish Composers Of Popular Music). Douglas started writing melodies at the age of 6 and his journey with music continues being the center of his heart and profession. Close About Malena Ernman Hovsångerska Malena Ernman was recently called ” without a doubt one of the worlds greatest singers” in Swedens leading newspaper Dagens Nyheter. But Malena Ernman is far more than a world class mezzo. She is an entertainer in the words true meaning – a groundbreaking modern classical artist with an extremely flexible voice, spanning over nearly 4 octaves. A voice that is willing to try out anything that spells music. Malena Ernman is educated at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm, the Conservatoire d’Orléans and the National Opera School in Stockholm.

Her musical background is firmly anchored in the Swedish choir tradition. From the age of 6 she was a member of the Coromanterna Choir in her native Sandviken; a small industrial town some 200km north of Stockholm. And until her exam from the National Opera School she sang the first alto part in the Swedish Radio Choir under the supervision of Tönu Kaljuste, Gustav Sjökvist and Eric Ericsson. Close About Renée Fleming (Senior Advisor) As “the people’s diva” and as a respected musical ambassador, celebrated soprano Renée Fleming has charmed audiences around the globe, from the world’s leading opera and concert houses to the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony to recent performances in Russia and Beijing during the 2008 Olympic Games. In September 2008, Ms. Fleming became the first woman in the history of the Metropolitan Opera to headline an opening-night gala.

Among the soprano’s numerous awards are Honorary Membership in the Royal Academy of Music (2003); the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur by the French government (2005) and the Polar Music Prize (2008). Close About Stefan Forsberg Stefan Forsberg was in 2003 appointed Executive and Artistic Director of the Stockholm Concert Hall Foundation and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. In March 2012 the Stockholm Concert Hall Foundation extended his appointment until 2021. Forsberg also holds a position at the Royal Court as Lord in Waiting and is since 2009 a member of The Royal Academy of Music. During Forsberg's period, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra’s international presence has been of highest priority. The orchestra has debuted at the London Proms, conducted large landscaped Japanese-tours, visited Carnegie Hall and United Nations in New York and made several other European tours and guest performances. At home in the Stockholm Concert Hall has the leading artists of today made Stockholm to a regular venue in their yearly planning.

Close About Jonas Forssell Jonas Forssell works as a musician in various genres; he has written music for among others the Swedish National Theatre Centre and the regional theatres in Gothenburg and Uppsala. He has also written a number of operas, such as the acclaimed Riket är ditt which was his definitive breakthrough as a composer and resulted in Svenska Dagbladet’s Opera Prize and the German Wolf Ebermann Prize. In 1988 he was the first modern composer to be commissioned to write a musical drama for the Drottningholm Court Theatre and its baroque orchestra, and during the summer of 1999, the opera Trädgården had a successful première. Between 1996-1998 Jonas Forssell was the artistic director of the Northern Opera of Sweden in Umeå, and 2002-2005 he held the same position at “The Other Opera” in Copenhagen, a chamber opera company dedicated only to contemporary works. Since 2005 he is full-time “composer in residence” at the Malmö Opera, writing three full-length opera works for the house.

Since September 2010 Forssell works as PhD research student at the University College of Opera in Stockholm in a project called “The Transfigurations of the Text”. Close About Kim Hedås Kim Hedås is a composer, trained at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. Her music has been performed by orchestras and ensembles such as the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, the Symphony Orchestra of NorrlandsOperan, Norrbotten NEO, Gageego!, pëarls before swine experience, Kroumata, VOX, DalaSinfoniettan, and the Gothenburg Opera. Hedås’ list of works contains chamber music, orchestral music, choral music, theatre music and electro acoustic music. She collaborates regularly with other artists in projects combining music with theatre, art and architecture. Hedås has been composer-in-residence for the Swedish Radio P2 and has also been appointed as recipient of several grants and prizes.

In recent years, her music has been performed at, among others, Göteborgs Konserthus, Moderna museet, Kulturhuset, Färgfabriken, the Venice Architecture Biennale, Kivik Art Centre, Teater Galeasen, Audiorama, and the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm. In September 2013, Kim Hedås completed her PhD at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Gothenburg with the dissertation Linjer. Musikens rörelser – komposition i förändring (Lines: Music moving – composition changing). Close About Martin Ingeström Martin Ingeström has been working for various companies in the music industry since 1989. Martin started his career working for Sture Borgedahl at Air Music Scandinavia AB, General Manager at Chrysalis Records Sweden, Managing Director – MCA Music Publishing AB, A&R Director- MCA Records AB and is now President UMP Sweden/SVP Nordic Region-Universal Music Publishing AB.

Universal Music Publishing is one of the leading Music Publishers in the world, the Swedish office represents songwriters like ABBA, Robyn, Swedish House Maffia, Oskar Linnros, Veronica Maggio, Jörgen Elofsson, and many many more. He is also the head of ceremony for Musikförläggarnas Pris (MPA awards) and board member of Singbox AB. Close About Thomas Johansson Thomas Johansson is one of the most experienced persons in the Concert industry. He founded EMA Telstar in 1969 and is the largest promoter in the Nordic countries. He is currently the Chairman of International Music at Live Nation. Thomas Johansson works with such artists as Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Bob Dylan, U2, Metallica, and the Rolling Stones just to mention a few. Besides bringing some of the largest artists to perform in the Nordic Countries, he is the tour producer and promoter behind the Swedish sensations ABBA and Roxette. He produced all ABBA world tours 1975-1980 and Roxette’s world tours. He is still producing Roxette’s successful ongoing world tour.

He has also been involved in the musical Chess in the 80’s and Mamma Mia in the 90’s. Close About Ennio Morricone (Senior Advisor) Maestro Ennio Morricone has composed and arranged scores for more than 500 film and TV productions and is widely acknowledged as one of the most prolific and influential film composers of his era. He is well-known for his long-term collaborations with international acclaimed directors such as Sergio Leone, Brian De Palma, Barry Levinson, and Giuseppe Tornatore. Ennio Morricone received the Polar Music Prize in 2010. He has also received numerous Grammies, BAFTAs, Golden Globes, Nastro d’Argento and David di Donatello awards. In 2007, he received the Academy Honorary Award “for his magnificent and multifaceted contributions to the art of film music”. Close About Georg ”Jojje” Wadenius Georg Wadenius has been a professional guitarist, composer, arranger and producer since 1968. He first became known in his native country, Sweden, through his work with the group “Made in Sweden” and for his children’s songs.

He was also early on one of the most sought after studio players in Stockholm. He was then hired by “Blood, Sweat and Tears” and moved to the USA and played with them for three and a half years (1972-5). Later on he became a member of the “Saturday Night Live” band (1979-85) and in the 1980‘s he was one of the 4-5 most used session guitarists in New York, playing on records by Luther Vandross, Roberta Flack, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, Donald Fagen, Michael Franks, Joe Thomas, Backstreet Boys and countless others. He also toured briefly with Roberta Flack (‘80), Luther Vandross (‘81), Simon and Garfunkel (‘82) and Steely Dan (‘94). Georg Wadenius is currently Music Director at the Polar Music Prize Ceremony. He has received five Grammies over the years and just about any music award that you could think of in Sweden (Hagström Prize, Guitar People Prize and the Cornelis Prize).

Close Emmylou Harris Honored With Polar Music Prize - Rolling Stone Emmylou Harris Honored With Polar Music Prize Emmylou Harris Honored With Polar Music Prize Country legend is one of two recipients of the so-called "Nobel prize for music" Emmylou Harris Credit: Paul Morigi/Getty Images All Stories Country music icon Emmylou Harris has been announced as one of the two 2015 Laureates to receive Sweden's prestigious Polar Music Prize. A 13-time Grammy winner and member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Harris and her fellow Laureate, acclaimed Scottish percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie, will attend the gala event and receive their prizes from Sweden's King Carl XVI on June 9th at Stockholm's Concert Hall. More News See Willie Nelson and Emmylou Harris' 'Crazy' Duet Take an additional sneak peek at the Redheaded Stranger's "Funny" pairing with Lyle Lovett on a special, all-star episode "I was both surprised and honored at the news of this most prestigious award," Harris said in a statement.

"[I'm] now looking forward to once again returning to your beautiful country where I was first so warmly welcomed those many years ago." Now in its 24th year, the Polar Music Prize, often referred to as the "Nobel Prize for music," recognizes one Laureate from contemporary music and one from the classical world. Paul McCartney and the Baltic States were the first Laureates in 1992, with rocker Chuck Berry and theater director Peter Sellars the most recent recipients. Other Laureates include Dizzy Gillespie, Patti Smith, Bob Dylan, Ravi Shankar and Ray Charles. The Polar Music Prize was founded by Stig "Stikkan" Anderson, the publisher, lyricist and manager of pop supergroup ABBA, one of Sweden's most profitable exports of all time. The Prize honors "significant achievements in music and/or music activity" and endeavors "to break down musical boundaries." Also taking place in Stockholm on June 8th, one day before the Prizes are awarded, will be the Polar Music Talks, a debate of current issues in the music industry. For the first time in the Prize's history, the Polar Music Talks will also take place in New York on April 1st.

Polar Music Prize Laureates each receive a specially designed trophy and one million Swedish Krona, a cash award equal to just under $116,000 in U.S. dollars. Don’t Miss a Story Sign up for our newsletter to receive breaking news directly in your inbox. We may use your e-mail address to send you the newsletter and offers that may interest you, on behalf of Rolling Stone and its partners. For more information please read our Privacy Policy How we use your email address RS Country The story of the Polar Music Prize | Scandinavian Traveler Polar Music Prize. Photo: Magnus Glans The story of the Polar Music Prize June 8, 2016 Stockholm Having a prestigious music ceremony in the country that produced ABBA and the Nobel Prize seems like a no-brainer right? That’s what Stikkan Anderson thought when he created the Polar Music Prize 25 years ago. You may think that one of producer Quincy Jones’s career highlights (so far) would be conducting the star-studded supergroup that sang “We Are the World” in 1984. Or maybe his work with Frank Sinatra, or Count Basie or Ray Charles.

He played with Miles Davis, and jammed with ­Sammy Davis Jr. too. And he produced Michael Jackson’s Thriller album. Ten years after “We Are the World,” Jones found himself at a party in Stockholm, eating a hotdog, even though he had just attended a sumptuous dinner at the Grand Hotel. The party was taking place at a villa in Stockholm’s ­affluent Djurgården area, and the host, Stig “Stikkan” Anderson, was walking around, very casually, in wool socks. Anderson and Jones were old friends. The party was the post Polar Music Prize gala dinner party and it was being held at Anderson’s house. Jones had just been awarded the Polar Music Prize. He later said that it was this that was “one of the highlights of my life.” This year, the Polar Music Prize, created by Anderson, celebrates its 25th anniversary. At a concert and ceremony at Stockholm’s Concert Hall in June, the latest Polar Music Prize laureates, Swedish producer-songwriter Max Martin and Italian mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli, will be honored. The lavish gala dinner will once again take place in Stockholm’s Grand Hotel.

And once again there will be hotdogs, because that’s how Anderson, who died in 1997, would have wanted it. Stikkan Anderson wrote lyrics to well over a thousand songs, including ones you have surely heard, like “Mamma Mia,” “Honey, Honey,” “Dancing Queen,” and “Waterloo,” the song that gave ABBA, a band he founded and managed, its international breakthrough in the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. He started a record company, Polar Music, and made a series of such good investments that the financial press called his record company the “most profitable company in Sweden.” After selling the company in 1989 for SKr 189 million, the equivalent of €31 million in 2016, Anderson decided to create an international music award that would make Sweden, and Stockholm, the center of attention, just like the Swedish capital was center stage every year when the Nobel Prizes were awarded. After all, not only, but mostly thanks to ABBA, Sweden was already famous for its music exports.

“Stikkan thought it was interesting that there was no Nobel Prize for music,” says Marie Ledin, Anderson’s daughter and CEO of the Polar Music Prize. Anderson contacted the Nobel Foundation that administrates the Nobel Prizes to see if he could make a donation that would create a Nobel Prize in music. The Nobel Prize in economics had been established in 1968 after Sweden’s central bank, the Sveriges Riksbank, donated money to commemorate its 300th ­anniversary (the economics Nobel Prize is actually called the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel). Whatever the reason for their decision, the representatives of the Nobel Foundation politely declined Anderson’s offer. This did not discourage Anderson. He’d just have to do it himself. No big deal. He set up a foundation and made a donation to the Royal Swedish Academy of Music so that the winners would be awarded SKr 1 million or about €100,000. “He laid out detailed plans on how everything was to be done. He even wrote that the prize ceremony should be held on May 18, Erik’s name day in the Swedish calendar.

I think he did that because one of his names was Erik but also because Saint Erik is the patron saint of ­Stockholm,” Ledin says. “We’ve actually never held the ceremony in May,” she adds. Anderson had big plans. The entire city would host a festival, a celebration of music, with glamour and stars. He also wanted it to be a Swedish event, laid back and down to earth but also with the King of Sweden in attendance. “It was important for Stikkan that His Majesty was involved. The king loves music and he and Stikkan had a good relationship. The king also understood the importance of having an international music prize come out of Sweden,” says Ledin. It was just as important for Stikkan to have a real party. And that there were hotdogs, and that a snapsvisa, a Swedish drinking song, was sung before the dinner. Even today, a snapsvisa is sung at the dinner, which also always features elements of traditional Swedish cuisine. “We always used to have herring, but this year, we’ll have Västerbottenpaj,” Ledin says. Västerbottenpaj is a quiche made with strong Swedish cheese.

The first Polar Music winner was Paul McCartney in 1992. “That was an obvious choice,” says Ledin. McCartney is one of the few recipients of the award not to have accepted the award at the ceremony in Stockholm. But that is probably due to this being the first one and the routines were not quite established. Nor the prestige. “It’s such a high honor that even big-heads like me get impressed,” McCartney said of the prize later. But who wouldn’t be delighted to be included in the company of the ex-Beatle and other musicians such as Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Yo-Yo Ma, Patti Smith, Björk, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, and Joni Mitchell? And according to Ledin, the laureates feel some kinship with each other. “I know [1995 laureates] Elton John and Mstislav Rostropovich stayed in touch until the Russian cellist’s death. Bruce Springsteen and the late Eric Ericson got along great, and Renée Fleming and members of Pink Floyd stay in touch. And Patti Smith and the Kronos Quartet have even performed together,” Ledin says.

Prestigious music awards Today, the list of winners is an impressive who’s who of music, and not just popular music. Anderson, in his notes, also stipulated that the prize should be given annually – if possible – “for significant achievements in music and/or ­musical activity, or for achievements which are found to be of great potential importance for music or musical activity, and it shall be referable to all fields within or closely connected with music.” “It’s one of the most prestigious music prizes in the world so it’s very important to me,” said Peter Gabriel, Class of 2009. Creating a new tradition isn’t easy and can’t be done overnight, which is why it’s taken the prize a quarter of a century to become the Nobel Prize of music. “In the beginning, when we contacted the artists and their managers, we had to explain what the prize was about. We don’t have to do that anymore. And with Max Martin, we’ve now reached a new generation of artists as well,” Ledin says. In 2008, the Royal Swedish Academy of Music withdrew their involvement, and the Polar Music Prize has been an ­independent organization ever since.

­Ledin is the CEO, and her brother Anders Anderson serves on the board, the 12-person strong election committee, and as the head of the investment committee. Recently, the Anderson-Ledins brought in a third generation when Marie’s (and Swedish pop star Tomas Ledin’s) son John joined the organization as project manager on an advisory board that works to raise the prize’s profile internationally. “When we make the winner announcement, the New York Times will cover it, but it won’t be big,” says Ledin. “We’re well known in the classical music world, and we see a peak in media coverage every time we have winners from new countries. When [the Venezuelan conductor, composer and economist José Antonio] Abreu won it, we had reporters from Venezuela here in Stockholm.” The SKr 42 million that Stikkan Anderson donated originally won’t last forever without smart investments. Ledin and the others have to find sponsors, donators, and other partners to not only keep the tradition going, but to raise its profile. This year, the Polar Music Prize organization has struck up a partnership with H&M, and the Swedish fashion giant will sell special Polar Music Prize T-shirts in its flagship stores in Sweden.

The T-shirt is designed by Mary McCartney, daughter of Paul McCartney. This year’s ceremony with Martin and Bartoli will naturally include ­tributes to their music, performed by some of the biggest and brightest stars in Sweden, just as Stikkan would have wanted it. Except for one thing. Marie has moved the post-dinner party to a pre-dinner party on the day before the ceremony. “It’s casual, and gives everybody a good chance to get to know each other. There’s music and there are warm encounters between people. Last year, Evelyn Glennie met her first music teacher at the party. There are so many emotions, and that’s what music’s all about,” Ledin says. The pre-ceremony party will also help everybody, and especially the laureates, to relax and simply enjoy the event. “Everybody’s nervous about meeting the king. But they don’t need to be, they’ll be fine, and we always tell them what to do and what not to do,” Ledin says. “We don’t usually tell the ­laureates exactly what will take place at the concert, only that it’ll be a tribute to them.

Paul Simon said he was too old for surprises, so we told him.” When the music started to play at the Concert Hall in 2012, and Loreen – the Eurovision Song Contest winner that year – sang her version of Simon’s 1970 hit “Bridge Over Trouble Water,” the singer-songwriter closed his eyes, put his hand on his wife’s hand, and squeezed it. Another highlight, for sure. Text Risto Pakarinen Emmylou Harris, Evelyn Glennie awarded 2015 Polar Music Prize - LA Times Emmylou Harris, Evelyn Glennie awarded 2015 Polar Music Prize Emmylou Harris Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Blackbird Productions Emmylou Harris, photographed in January in Washington, D.C., at an all-star salute to her music, will receive Sweden's Polar Music Prize, along with Scottish percussionist Evelyn Glennie. Emmylou Harris, photographed in January in Washington, D.C., at an all-star salute to her music, will receive Sweden's Polar Music Prize, along with Scottish percussionist Evelyn Glennie.

(Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Blackbird Productions) Randy Lewis Contact Reporter The 2015 @PolarMusicPrize goes to @EmmylouSongbird Harris and @DameEvelyn Glennie. Americana singer and songwriter Emmylou Harris and Scottish percussionist Evelyn Glennie have been chosen as recipients of the 2015 Polar Music Prize, awarded each year by Swedish King Carl XVI to recognize “significant achievements in music and/or music activity and to break down musical boundaries.” Harris and Glennie will receive their awards, often referred to as the Nobel Prize for music, June 9 in Stockholm. “In Evelyn Glennie and Emmylou Harris, the Foundation has chosen two exceptional Laureates...,” Polar Music Prize managing director Marie Ledin said in a statement, “as both represent the spirit of the award that my father envisaged when he founded the prize. We look forward to honouring Evelyn and Emmylou and paying tribute to their exceptional music careers.” Ledin’s father was Stig “Stikkan” Anderson, music publisher, lyricist and manager of pop group ABBA.

He established the Polar Music Prize in 1989 and it is given each year to one contemporary musician and one classical musician. The prize includes a cash award of 1 million Swedish krona, or about $117,000 U.S. "I was both surprised and honored at the news of this most prestigious award,” Harris said in a statement, “and am now looking forward to once again returning to your beautiful country where I was first so warmly welcomed those many years ago." Swedish Pop Powerhouse Max Martin wins the Polar Music Prize! Swedish Pop Powerhouse Max Martin wins the Polar Music Prize! February 10, 2016 Martin Sandberg, better known as Max Martin, has been announced as the Polar Music Prize 2016 recipient for his outstanding career in writing modern pop music. Max Martin is one of the most prominent songwriters and producers in the international pop world, and during his career, the Sweden native has worked with some of the biggest names around including Taylor Swift, Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Pink, Maroon 5, and many, many more.

The choice was made with the following motivation: In the last 20 years, no composer in the world has written melodies as sustainable or as widespread as those of Max Martin. Right now, at this very moment, someone, somewhere in the world will be singing a hit song written and produced by Max Martin. With his ear for song melodies, his musical precision and craftsmanship, he has refined and developed the world’s popular music. The Polar Music Prize was introduced by Stig Anderson, known as the manager of ABBA, for highlighting ”significant achievements in music”. The first award was handed out to Paul McCartney in 1992, and since then artists such as Bob Dylan, Björk and Burt Bacharach have been honoured with the title. The second recipient this year is the Italian vocalist Cecilia Bartoli. The award ceremony will be held in Stockholm on June 16th at the Stockholm Concert Hall, where Max and Cecilia will personally receive their prizes. Before that however, Max Martin is very likely to grow his award collection at the Grammys next week, where he’s nominated for so many awards, that we decided to turn him into a category all of his own ! Read Next

Question: The Polar Music Prize is an annual award in which country for significant achievements in music?
Answer: Sweden