Polar Music Prize

Not to be confused with Polaris Music Prize.

Polar Music Prize
A crown made of music notes and signs
Awarded forInternational recognition of excellence in the world of music
CountrySweden
Presented byStig Anderson Music Award Foundation
Reward(s)1 million Swedish krona
First awarded1992
Websitewww.polarmusicprize.org

The Polar Music Prize is a Swedish international award founded in 1989 by Stig Anderson, best known as the manager of the Swedish band ABBA, with a donation to the Royal Swedish Academy of Music.[1] The award is annually given to one contemporary musician and one classical musician.[2] Exceptions were made in 2001, when it was awarded to three musicians (one composer, one contemporary musician and one inventor), and 2003, when it was awarded only to one musician. Without any restrictions of nationality, the prize is to be "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".[3] The prize has been called the "Nobel Prize of Music" in Sweden.[4][5][6]

The awards were first presented in 1992.[7] The recipients were Sir Paul McCartney and the three Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Each of these four Laureates were awarded 1 million kr (approximately US$120,000 at 2016 rates, US$106,000 in 2019, US$94,000 in 2024)[8][9][10] presented by HM King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden at a ceremony at Stockholm Concert Hall in June every year. The Polar Music Prize is regarded as Sweden's foremost musical honour.[11] The prize is overseen by the Stig Anderson Music Award Foundation, which includes members of Anderson's family and representatives of SKAP – the Swedish Society of Songwriters, Composers and Authors and the Swedish Performing Rights Society.[12][13] A committee of musicians, other experienced members of the music industry, and members of Anderson's family selects the prize recipients from nominations submitted by representatives of several international music industry organizations, such as the European Composer and Songwriter Alliance.[12][13][14] The prize amount is raised from revenue from the donation, while sponsors fund the ceremony. In June 2018, it was reported by Swedish public service radio that the Polar Prize organization had sustained large financial losses for several years.[15]

  1. ^ Van Gelder, Lawrence (26 January 2007). "Reich and Rollins Win Polar Prize". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 5 June 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  2. ^ Moser, Whet (24 March 2014). "Swedish Pop Mafia: How a culturally conservative effort in the 1940s backfired to create the greatest engine of pop music in the world". Pacific Standard. Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  3. ^ "History". Polar Music Prize. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  4. ^ "Bjork and Ennio Morricone win Polar Music Prize". BBC News. 17 May 2010. Archived from the original on 9 April 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  5. ^ "Polar Music Prize". Kinnarps. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  6. ^ "Kronos Quartet, Patti Smith awarded Polar Music Prize 2011". Xinhua News Agency. 3 May 2011. Archived from the original on 5 May 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  7. ^ "About". Polar Music Prize. 14 May 2021. Archived from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Convert SEK_USD. Sweden Krona to United States Dollar". XE.com. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  9. ^ "krona to dollar - Google Search". google.com. Archived from the original on 23 March 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  10. ^ "1000000 swedish krona to dollars - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Morricone, Bjork win 2010 Polar Music Prize". CBC News. 17 May 2010. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  12. ^ a b "About". Polar Music Prize. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  13. ^ a b "The Award Committee". Polar Music Prize. Archived from the original on 10 October 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
  14. ^ "Nominations". Polar Music Prize. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  15. ^ Radio, Sveriges (12 June 2018). "Polarprisstiftelsen har svårt att hitta sponsorer - Kulturnytt i P1". Sveriges Radio (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.