36-548: 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 . The award is annually given to one contemporary musician and one classical musician. Exceptions were made in 2001, when it was awarded to three musicians (one composer, one contemporary musician and one inventor), and 2003, when it
72-507: A Dutch company holding Björn Ulvaeus's rights. The dispute was eventually settled out of court in July 1991; the terms of the settlement remain undisclosed. In 1982, Anni-Frid Lyngstad had sold all the shares in the Polar Music company given to her by Anderson, as she moved abroad. She remains the only member of the band never to seek legal recourse for past royalty fees and was not involved with
108-526: A contract). Before his time with ABBA, Anderson managed some of the biggest Swedish artists at that time, and had a huge number of hits on the Swedish charts . His success earned him the nickname "The Business" since he often had several artists in the Top 10 at any time with whom he had written, published, and recorded the songs. When requiring fresh ideas, Anderson would travel to New York City, buy songs that had been American hits, and then translate or transcribe
144-518: A daughter Marie. His daughter, Marie Ledin (born in 1957, wife of Swedish star and ABBA concert backing vocalist Tomas Ledin ) was also involved in the music industry. In the mid-1980s she started a new, highly successful record label called Record Station (sold to German BMG in the early 1990s), followed by Anderson Records . Anderson Records released Anni-Frid Lyngstad's Swedish comeback album Djupa andetag in 1996, as well as Michael B. Tretow's Greatest Hits in 1999. On 12 September 1997, at
180-486: A thoroughly personal style that embodies both inquisitiveness and imagination." "...for his unflinching creative engagement in bringing to the world the heart and soul of the rich music of Brazil." "...for his unique artistry in every area of classical singing and for his unparalleled achievements as a penetrating and innovative interpreter of art songs in the German language." "...one of the great pioneers of rock." "...for
216-413: A unique and consummate artistry distinguished by a personal musicianship without compare for over half a century, for his pioneering achievement on behalf of young people the world over, for his patient and energetic commitment to preserving and developing places where music is played, and for his uncompromising attitude concerning the humanistic power of music." "...Bacharach has been a principal player on
252-457: A way of reflecting and depicting the world." "The music of Emmylou Harris contains the history and topography of the entire American continent." Stig Anderson Stig Erik Leopold " Stikkan " Anderson (25 January 1931 – 12 September 1997) was a Swedish music manager , lyricist and music publisher . He was the co-founder of Polar Music , and is best known for managing the Swedish pop band ABBA . Stikkan Erik Leopold Anderson
288-415: A wider field than the great majority. Thus he has occupied the forefront as composer, interpreter/conductor and eminent theorist, and he has made unique contributions as a debater and source of ideas." "...for an outstanding career as singer and stage performer." "...for pioneering achievements as a conductor, teacher, artistic originator and inspirer in Swedish and international choral music." "...one of
324-489: A worldwide response from a broadbased public." "...for a unique artistic achievement distinguished by originality, independence, fluency and vigour of interpretation and instrumental mastery." "...In a long career of prolific and many-sided artistry, she has combined the roles of composer, lyric writer, vocal artist and musician with an impressive array of 'first instruments'." "...His profound musicality, clear intelligence and unusual farsightedness have enabled him to act in
360-440: Is a modern maestro who opens up our ears and causes their anvils and stirrups to fall in love." "...Chuck Berry was the rock’n’roll pioneer who turned the electric guitar into the main instrument of rock music." "...Peter Sellars shows us that classical music is not about dusty sheet music and metronomic precision, but that classical music, with its violent power and complexity, has fundamentally always been and will continue to be
396-525: The European Composer and Songwriter Alliance . 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. "...for his creativity and imagination as a composer and artist which has revitalised popular music worldwide over
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#1732844334354432-577: The lyrics on the return journey ready for a recording session shortly after and then have the record on the shelves within a few days. Some songs were sent to IFPI / ASCAP for copyright infringement . In the early years of ABBA's existence, Anderson co-wrote many of the songs' lyrics, among them some of the band's biggest hits, such as " Ring Ring " (1973), " Waterloo " (1974), " Honey, Honey " (1974), " I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do " (1975), " Mamma Mia " (1975), " S.O.S " (1975), " Dancing Queen " (1976), " Knowing Me, Knowing You " (1977) and " The Name of
468-529: The African continent." "...whose intensely expressive and deeply personal musical idiom has the ability to speak to an ever-growing audience of listeners all over the world." "...for his outstanding musical contributions in fields as diverse as classical interpretation and jazz improvisation." "...for his significant contributions to the blues." "...for stretching the boundaries of the musically conceivable, from mind-expanding sounds to new astounding processes, in
504-470: The Game " (1977). Sometimes referred to as the "fifth member" of ABBA, Anderson also owned the band's record label and publishing company. He shared the ownership with Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Michael B. Tretow , the main sound engineer for the company. Anderson was one of the dominant figures behind ABBA, representing their commercial interests and global success through successful record deals. At
540-676: 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 . 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
576-412: The decades to the fusion of art and music in the development of popular culture." "...in recognition of her sublime unparalleled voice and unique stylistic versatility. [People] have been dazzled by the beauty of her soft and natural voice." "...for his ground-breaking, outward-looking and boundary-busting artistry." "... Abreu created the music network El Sistema, which has given hundreds of thousands
612-540: The four ABBA members terminated their relationship with Anderson when it was revealed that Anderson had used this contract to take a percentage of profits at a value of 4.5 million euros over the course of many years. A complaint against Anderson was submitted to the Stockholm District Court in June 1990 by Agnetha Fältskog's company Agnetha Fältskog Produktion AB , Benny Andersson's company Mono Music AB , as well as
648-475: The international music scene since his debut in the late 1950s, producing a host of timeless classics stemming from his infallible feeling for powerful, memorable and unmistakably personal melodies and for brilliantly designed harmony." "...for his design of the MiniMoog, the first compact, easy-to-use synthesizer, which paved the way to the realm of electronic sounds that has revolutionised all genres of music during
684-402: The last 30 years." "...to support their national music culture, as a nucleus for the formation of performing rights societies in international co-operation." "...Closely familiar with the origins and roots of jazz, and perceiving its fertile development out of a variety of musical cultures, Dizzy Gillespie came on the scene, almost half a century ago, as a revolutionary innovator." "...one of
720-496: The late 1960s, Anderson was the manager and producer of Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson , who would become the two main songwriters of ABBA. He joined the careers of these two, after previously managing the Hootenanny Singers , of which Ulvaeus was a member. Later, in 1972, he began managing Anni-Frid Lyngstad , and finally in 1976 Agnetha Fältskog (until December 1975, Fältskog was still bound to Cupol/ CBS Records under
756-443: The leading figures of soul music and an important stylistic innovator with an unusual diversity of musical roots ... a man whose presence, ever since the 1950s, has been perceptible behind generations of innumerable pop musicians and singers." "...for nearly six decades of achievement as a brilliant performer and explorer of his country's art music and at the same time a leading representative and communicator to western civilisation of
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#1732844334354792-588: The legal proceedings against Anderson. In 1989, Anderson made a substantial financial endowment to found the Polar Music Prize from money he made when he sold the multimillion-dollar record company Polar Records. In this deal nearly all utilisation and license rights, and the registered ABBA trademark, were sold for an unknown sum of money to PolyGram shortly before the ABBA members took him to court over royalty back payments. Previously, Anderson had licensed ABBA and
828-525: The members' solo releases to labels internationally as a means to increase royalties. In 1998, PolyGram was in turn sold to Seagram and merged into what is now one of the Big Three record labels, the Universal Music Group , the company that holds the rights to the entire ABBA back catalogue. Stig Anderson was married to Gudrun Anderson (née Rystedt, 1931–2010), and had two sons, Anders and Lasse, and
864-427: The mid-1980s, a considerable part of ABBA's fortune was lost by mismanagement, bad investments, high demands for tax and the rise of credit rates. The contract with the performers, as well as the international distribution, ran from a standard publishing and recording deal involving identical contracts, rather than from one written specifically with the performers of the band. This led to problems later, when three of
900-587: The mundane feel like dramatic scenes in full Cinemascope." "...For almost 40 years, the Kronos Quartet has been revolutionising the potential of the string quartet genre when it comes to both style and content." "...Patti Smith has demonstrated how much rock'n'roll there is in poetry and how much poetry there is in rock'n'roll." "...Nobody else is more deserving of the epithet of "world-class songwriter." For five decades, Paul Simon has built bridges not only over troubled waters but over entire oceans by (re)joining
936-528: The musical traditions of the Orient." "...for a unique career as a singer, composer and stage artist." "...for a long succession of forceful works, charged with sensitivity, commitment and passion, ... exercising within its various fields an influence which cannot be readily overstated." "...his achievements encompass almost four decades of constantly changing modes of creativity, always innovative, but always based on American musical traditions and roots." "...for
972-402: The past half-century." "...for a career as a composer that has been characterized by impeccable integrity and never-ceasing creativity, and for having stood at the forefront of musical development for fifty years." "...Miriam Makeba embodied the concept of world music long before the term even existed on the musical map. In the 1960s, her expressive voice drew attention to the musical riches of
1008-422: The pioneers of contemporary European art music." "...a boundary-transcending musical magician" "...ranks today as a pioneer of the revival of interest, ... But he is also an independent ground-breaker who is constantly discovering new dimensions of the classics." "...a central figure in the popular music crucible of the 70s and 80s and, eventually, an eccentric mega-star with a big output of successful hits with
1044-476: The same time, he also managed the investment of funds and the enormous financial incomes of Polar Music, holding the majority of stocks. This was an agreement dating back to 1974, and a great deal of the money came from individual record deals he struck for the group, including a ground-breaking agreement for record sales in the Soviet Union in which ABBA recordings were released in exchange for barrels of oil . In
1080-578: The song " Är du kär i mig ännu, Klas-Göran? " ("Are You Still in Love With Me, Klas-Göran?"), written for Swedish singer Lill-Babs . During the 1960s, he was one of Sweden's most prolific songwriters. According to Anton Stimm in the Swedish SVT documentary 'Stikkan' Stig Anderson wrote 767 published titles. Anderson also founded Sweden Music in 1960, as well as several other companies. Three years later, Anderson co-founded Polar Music with Bengt Bernhag. By
1116-406: 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) 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. The prize is overseen by
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1152-435: The tools to leave poverty. José Antonio Abreu's successful creation has promoted traditional values, like respect, fellowship and humanity." "...With her deeply personal music and lyrics, her precise arrangements and her unique voice, Björk has already made an indelible mark on pop music and modern culture at large [...]." "...Ennio Morricone's congenial compositions and arrangements lift our existence to another plane, making
1188-689: The way his unique, electrifying musical skills have deepened and renewed our relationship with the grand tradition; and for how he has managed to develop and amplify the importance of artistic music in these modern, changing times." "...Sonny Rollins has elevated the unaccompanied solo to the highest artistic level – all characterised by a distinctive and powerful sound, irresistible swing and an individual musical sense of humour." "...The award recognises his unique ability to use repeats, canon technique and minimal variation of patterns to develop an entire universe of evocative music, endowed with immediate tonal beauty." "...for their monumental contribution over
1224-567: The world's continents with his music." "...Yo-Yo Ma has dedicated his virtuosity and his heart to journeys of musical exploration and discovery around the world." "...Youssou N’Dour is maintaining the griot tradition and has shown that it can also be changed into a narrative about the entire world. ... His voice encompasses an entire continent’s history and future, blood and love, dreams and power." "...Kaija Saariaho combines acoustic instruments with electronics and computers. She has written chamber music, orchestral works and operas. Kaija Saariaho
1260-552: 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". The prize has been called the " Nobel Prize of Music " in Sweden. The awards were first presented in 1992. The recipients were Sir Paul McCartney and
1296-589: Was born on 25 January 1931 in Hova , Sweden , the son of a single mother named Ester. Anderson began his career as a chemistry and mathematics teacher at a primary school, by taking night classes after leaving school at the age of 15. Having written his first song at age 16, Anderson soon entered the Swedish popular music scene, becoming a music producer, manager and occasional performer. Anderson began writing songs as early as 1951, and in 1959 gained his breakthrough with
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