For International Recognition of Excellence in the World of Music
The Polar Music Prize is an international music prize celebrating the power and importance of music.
Latest news
Thank you!
Many thanks to our Laureates, performing artists, and guests for contributing to making the Polar Music Prize 2024 such an exceptional evening. You will find pictures from the red carpet, the Ceremony and the Banquet on Flickr.
Everybody danced!
What a night we had at Grand Hôtel in Stockholm where we celebrated the music and careers of this year's Laureates Esa-Pekka Salonen and Nile Rodgers. Watch the highlights on our Youtube channel and social medias @polarmusicprize.
Polar Talks
Watch the Polar Talks 2024. We gathered at Soho House in Stockholm for live interviews with Esa-Pekka Salonen and Merck Mercuriadis.
Performing artists at the Polar Music Prize
Peg Parnevik, Janice, Moonica Mac, Eva Dahlgren, Kayo, Gladys del Pilar, Sharon Dyall and Augustine are some of the artists who will join us at Grand Hôtel on May 21 to celebrate our Laureates!
The ceremony is broadcast on TV4 Play in Sweden and on Youtube for our international audience, 18:00 CEST.
The banquet is broadcast live on TV4 at 20:00 CEST.
Polar Talks – May 20
This year, Polar Talks invites Laureates Nile Rodgers and Esa-Pekka Salonen together with Merck Mercuriadis, founder of Hipgnosis, for an afternoon of live interviews on May 20.
Polar Talks will be streamed live on Youtube from 16:00 CET on May 20.
The 2024 Polar Music Prize Laureates
Nile Rodgers, award-winning songwriter, composer, producer, arranger, guitarist and co-founder of CHIC, and Esa-Pekka Salonen, esteemed conductor and composer, are announced today as recipients of the 2024 Polar Music Prize.
Nile Rodgers
The 2024 Polar Music Prize is awarded to Nile Rodgers from the USA. Dance music has been played for thousands of years. However, there are few in history, if any, who have composed dance music as sophisticated and subtly arranged as Nile Rodgers. It is fitting that his group was named Chic: elegance is part of his musical hallmark. As a composer, producer and guitarist, Nile Rodgers turned disco and funk into an art form. His chop chord style of guitar playing, which he calls chucking, creates a hypnotic swing that has kept millions grooving on the dance floor. The songs created by Nile Rodgers for Chic, Sister Sledge, Diana Ross, David Bowie, Madonna, Daft Punk and many others are so well-crafted that they will outlive us all.
Esa-Pekka Salonen
The 2024 Polar Music Prize is awarded to Esa-Pekka Salonen from Finland. His breakthrough came in 1983 when he conducted Mahler’s Symphony No. 3. As a composer, Esa-Pekka shares many similarities with Gustav Mahler. They have been equally prominent both as conductors and composers, and characterised by the same artistic curiosity. On stage and in the studio, Esa-Pekka Salonen embraces technological innovations, not simply for the sake of experimentation, but as a way to help people discover great music in the constantly changing world of media. Esa-Pekka Salonen is a master of tone in soul and heart. With his resolute baton, he not only guides symphony orchestras but points the way for all classical music.
Get to know the music of this year’s Laureates.
We’ve chosen some of the defining works of our two new Laureates in the official Polar Music Prize playlist.
Visit our Press room
Visit our press room for press contacts, press photos and the latest press review.
Friends & Family
Quincy Jones 1933–2024
Today we say goodbye to a true legend and Polar Music Prize friend, Quincy Jones. This visionary composer, producer and musician leaves an indelible mark on the world of music, from jazz to pop, from the 1950s until today.
Quincy Jones was honored with the Polar Music Prize in 1994. His legacy will continue to inspire and resonate through his timeless work.
Our thoughts are with his family and all who loved and admired his music.
Previous Laureates
Marie Ledin
Managing Director
marie.ledin@polarmusicprize.org
Alfons Karabuda
Chairman of the Polar Music
Prize Award Committee
alfons@polarmusicprize.org
Polar Music Prize
Po Box 55777
SE-114 83 Stockholm
Sweden
Visiting address:
Banérgatan 16