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 Records. 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.
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.
| Previous laureates | |
| 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 |
Sir Paul McCartney and the Baltic States Dizzy Gillespie and Witold Lutoslawski Nikolaus Harnoncourt and Quincy Jones Sir Elton John and Mstislav Rostropovich Pierre Boulez and Joni Mitchell Eric Ericson and Bruce Springsteen Ray Charles and Ravi Shankar Stevie Wonder and Iannis Xenakis Bob Dylan and Isaac Stern Burt Bacharach, Robert Moog and Karlheinz Stockhausen Sofia Gubaidulina and Miriam Makeba Keith Jarrett B.B. King and György Ligeti Gilberto Gil and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau Valery Gergiev and Led Zeppelin Steve Reich and Sonny Rollins Renée Fleming and Pink Floyd José Antonio Abreu and El Sistema & Peter Gabriel Ennio Morricone and Björk |
