2024 Polar Music Prize

22 May 2024 - Press release

Yesterday, two legendary names in music were honoured with the 2024 Polar Music Prize at a gala ceremony held in Stockholm, Sweden.


Nile Rodgers, award-winning songwriter, composer, producer, arranger, guitarist and co-founder of CHIC, and Esa-Pekka Salonen, esteemed conductor and composer, were each presented with the Prize by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.Nile Rodgers said:

I am honored to be here tonight in such distinguished company. Congratulations to the outstanding Esa-Pekka Salonen, and all the past recipients of The Polar Prize to have been acknowledged in the same way as Paul McCartney, Led Zeppelin, Chuck Berry, Joni Mitchell, Ennio Morricone and so many more of my heroes is a dream come true. I would like to give a very special thanks to the Polar Music Prize for recognizing so many artists of color, and to the people of Sweden for welcoming us with open arms, from Eric Dolphy and Miles Davis to Jimi Hendrix, way before most people did. I say this from the bottom of my heart, WE ARE FAMILY! Thank you.”
 Esa-Pekka Salonen, on receiving the award, said:

"There are so many reasons why the Polar Music Prize feels incredibly special. Stockholm used to be my musical and my actual home for many years, early in my career. I have close friends among the previous prize winners, as well as artists who were heroes of mine when I was growing up - and still are. To share the stage today with the legend Nile Rodgers is a great privilege and honour."
 The ceremony and banquet took place at The Grand Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden and was hosted by mezzo-soprano and journalist, Boel Adler.

The evening featured musical performances from a spectacular line-up of artists and musicians who celebrated the Laureates’ music. Peg Parnevik, Moonica Mac, Augustine, Janice, Kayo, Gladys del Pilar and Sharon Dyall all performed tributes to Nile Rodgers, while Eva Dahlgren and Markus Maskuniitty both performed for Esa-Pekka Salonen. There was also an octet, with musicians from the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Emilia Hoving, one of Finland’s most acclaimed young conductors.

Many thanks to our Laureates, artists and guests who contributed to this fantastic evening!