About Nordic Music Prize

The Nordic Music Prize is an annual award for the Best Nordic Album Of The Year, inspired by the British & Irish Mercury Prize and introduced in 2010. The prize was initiated by the by:Larm conference in Norway, the most important conference and showcase event for the wider Nordic music industry. The first Nordic Music Prize was won by Iceland’s Jónsi for his solo debut, GO, and was presented to the artist by H.R.H. The Crown Prince Of Norway during by:Larm in Oslo in February 2011. The second Nordic Music Prize was won by Sweden’s Goran Kajfeš for his album XY, and was presented to the artist by the culture minister of Danmark, Uffe Elbæk.

In setting up The Nordic Music Prize, by:Larm had several aims: first, to create even stronger unity across the regions industry; second, to further increase international interest and awareness of what the region has to offer musically; and, last but not least, to refocus on the full length album as an art form.

This is a serious project and one we’ll approach with an open mind. The jury is comprised of some of Europe’s most respected music lovers, who’ll look past the hype and examine the music from an entirely qualitative and creative perspective. This award is a first for the region and is unlike any other in any of the participant countries thus far. And it is fair to say that the cross border ambitions of the award are not only current and relevant but also almost political in an era of ever increasing nationalism and inward looking small mindedness.
- Andres Lokko

The prize will be presented during by:Larm 2014.