STUART WARD MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR THE POLAR MUSIC PRIZE

For almost ten years the Polar Music Prize has been established as one of the world's finest prizes awarded for achievements in music.

Thanks to its recognition of all kinds of music, its high standards and its status free of commercial interests the prize is truly unique.

The Stig Anderson Music Prize Fund of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music now intends to further strengthen the standing of the prize, in particular in the international arena. It has therefore appointed a managing director with vast experience of the music industry, both nationally and internationally.

Stuart Ward, has a broad background in the Swedish music industry and from the world of media. During the last few years he has successfully built-up Export Music Sweden, the Swedish music industry's own organization co-ordinating the international promotion of Swedish music at an industry level.

Export Music Sweden has been responsible for high profile Swedish participation in a number of music events around the world, not at least last year's sponsorship of the most important international music exhibition and conference MIDEM in Cannes, France.

The Chairman of the Polar Music Prize Mr. Åke Holmquist says, "In acquiring its own managing director the Board of the Prize Fund is demonstrating its clear intention to lift the Polar Music Prize to an even higher level, in Sweden and the world. We are extremely happy to have recruited Stuart Ward, who through his broad base in the music industry, will contribute greatly to the further development of the Prize's potential.

After this year's Awards' Ceremony with prize-winners Bob Dylan and Isaac Stern at the centre of attention, the Polar Music Prize will focus all its efforts on the preparations for its tenth anniversary next year, now with a fortified organization."

ISAAC STERN AND BOB DYLAN RECEIVERS OF THE POLAR MUSIC PRIZE 2000

THE 2000 POLAR MUSIC PRIZE from the Stig Anderson Music Prize Fund of The Royal Swedish Academy of Music has been awarded to the Russian-American violinist Isaac Stern and the American singer and composer Bob Dylan.

The prize, SEK 1,000,000 each, is one of the most substantial and prestigious music awards in the world.

The actual award’s ceremony will take place on May 15th in Stockholm; His Majesty the King of Sweden will present the prize winners.

Prize winners are chosen irrespective of nationality, for their significant achievement in music, or in musical activity, or for an achievement esteemed of great potential importance within the musical realm. All fields within or closely related to music are eligible.

This is the nineth time the prize is awarded.

THE PRIZE COMMITTEE’S CITATION FOR ISAAC STERN
THE PRIZE COMMITTEE’S CITATION FOR BOB DYLAN

THE POLAR MUSIC PRIZE – IN SUMMARY

PURPOSE:

The Polar Music Prize is an international music prize endowed for the purpose of awarding persons, groups or institutions which have created something of major importance within the musical field.

FOUNDED:

In 1989 Stig Anderson donated 42,000,000 to the Royal Swedish Academy of Music with the purpose of establishing the Stig Anderson Music Prize Fund of The Royal Swedish Academy of Music – the Polar Music Prize.

Stig Anderson died on September 12, 1997.

Åke Holmquist, The Royal Swedish Academy of Music, Chairman of the Board
Håkan Elmquist, Member of The Royal Swedish Academy of Music
Marie Ledin
Gunnar Petri, Vice chairman, STIM, The Swedish Performing Rights Society
Roger Wallis, The Swedish Society of Popular Music Composers

CO-OPTED MEMBERS:

Bengt Holmstrand, Permanent Secretary of The Royal Swedish Academy of Music

VALUE OF THE PRIZE:

Totalling SEK: 2,000,000

THE AWARD COMMITTEE 1999

Åke Holmquist, Chairman, The Royal Swedish Academy of Music
Gunnar Petri, Vice Chairman, STIM, The Swedish Performing Rights Society
Lars Anderson
Håkan Elmquist, The Royal Swedish Academy of Music
Kjell-Åke Hamrén, SMFF, The Swedish Music Publishers’ Association
Sten Hanson, FST, The Society of Swedish Composers
Marie Ledin
Roger Wallis, SKAP, The Swedish Society of Popular Music Composers

Alternates:

Lennart Åberg, Daniel Börtz, The Royal Swedish Academy of Music
Roland Sandberg, STIM
Johan Ekelund, Tomas Ledin, Bengt-Arne Wallin, SKAP
Peter Bengtson, The Society of Swedish Composers
Lars Wiggman, SMFF

Co-opted members:

Bengt Holmstrand, The Royal Swedish Academy of Music

RECIPIENTS:

2000: Isaac Stern and Bob Dylan
1999: Iannis Xenakis and Stevie Wonder
1998: Ravi Shankar and Ray Charles
1997: Eric Ericson and Bruce Springsteen
1996: Pierre Boulez and Joni Mitchell
1995: Mstislav Rostropovitch and Elton John
1994: Nikolaus Harnoncourt and Quincy Jones
1993: Witold Lutoslawski and Dizzy Gillespie
1992: Paul McCartney and the Baltic States; Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

OFFICIAL SPONSORS:

SKANDIA

OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS:

DAGENS NYHETER, GÖTEBORGS-POSTEN, SYDSVENSKAN-CITY
FORSMAN & BODENFORS
GRAND HOTEL, STOCKHOLM
SAAB AUTOMOBILE AB
SAS SCANDINAVIAN AIRLINES
TELE2

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Please contact Stuart Ward, Managing Director.

Phone: +46 8 407 18 16. Fax: +46 8 407 18 17.
Address: Box 5354, SE-102 49 STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN.

E-mail: info@polarmusicprize.com

Internet: www.polarmusicprize.com