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.
This year marks the 20th time that the Polar Music Prize has been awarded.
-Lennart Wiklund
Members of the Board
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Lennart Wiklund Chairman of the Polar Music Prize Board Senior Advisor and Board of Directors assignment within Bonnier AB, chairman of the board in Medieföretagen, Vice President of Almega. 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, responsible for areas such as European Affairs, Human Resources and Public Affairs. E-mail: lennart.wiklund@polarmusicprize.org |
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Anders Anderson Member of the Polar Music Prize Board, the Polar Music Prize Award Committee, and Chairman of the Supervisory Board Deputy Director of the Institute for Financial Research (SIFR). Previously, Anders has held positions as a researcher and teacher in Stockholm and at the University of Mannheim, Germany. He is also a board member of the company Cicero Fonder. E-mail: anders.anderson@polarmusicprize.org |
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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). |
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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 |
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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 |
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Michael Storåkers Member of the Polar Music Prize Board CEO and member of the board of Bukowskis Auktioner AB, Executive Chairman McCann Worldgroup AB and Storåkers McCann AB and member of the McCann EMEA Steering Committee. Member of the Björn Borg AB and Stockholmsmässan AB board. Former executive chairman of Pysslingen AB and during 8 years member of the Stockholm School of Economics board. Other previous engagements include member of the Fortum Värme AB, Beckman School of Design and Childhood board. |
