Benin’s Kidjio awarded Polar Music Prize

Award profitable singer-songwriter Angélique Kidjo gained the 2023 Polar Music Prize.

Island Data founder Chris Blackwell and composer Arvo Pärt have additionally gained the Swedish music award.

They “made such a world influence with their music,” Marie Ledin, the managing director of the annual prize, stated in asserting the winners Tuesday (Mar. 28).

The award committee was enthralled by Kidjo’s “placing voice, stage presence and fluency in a number of cultures and languages.” The 62-year-old has blended the West African traditions of her childhood in Benin with components of U.S R&B, funk and jazz, in addition to influences from Europe and Latin America.

The Polar Music Prize is awarded yearly to people, teams and establishments for distinctive music achievements. An awards ceremony is scheduled for Might 23 in Stockholm. 

Annual award

Blackwell, 85, whose impartial label began in Jamaica and signed artists corresponding to Bob Marley, Cat Stevens, Roxy Music, Tom Waits, Grace Jones and Marianne Devoted, made Island one “of probably the most profitable labels in music historical past,” Ledin stated in an announcement.

Ledin described Pärt who’s 87, as “one of the crucial unbelievable composers the world has ever seen, and his stunning music has touched audiences across the globe.” She famous that his tintinnabuli, a composition type that Pärt invented in 1976, “has deeply affected the course of music over a number of many years.”

The Polar Music Prize is awarded yearly to people, teams and establishments in recognition of remarkable music achievements. It features a money award of 600,000 kronor ($57,700) every.

It was based in 1989 by former ABBA supervisor Stig Anderson. Final yr, the Polar Music Prize was awarded to Iggy Pop and singer-songwriter Diane Warren.