Metallica Wins Swedish ‘Polar Music Prize’

If you’re a musician, winning an MTV, Grammy, or People’s Choice Award means more revenue and a plaque on the wall in your agent’s office. Many rockers, however, consider the Swedish ‘Polar Music Prize’ to be the ‘Nobel Prize’ of music, and Metallica is honored to be receiving one of rock and rolls highest honors this year, with the ceremony scheduled for mid-June. The award was founded in Sweden in 1989 by Stig Anderson, manager of the Swedish band ABBA, designed to recognize excellence in music.

The list of previous winners is a ‘who’s who’ of rock royalty, ranging from Peter Gabriel, Paul McCartney, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd, and Joni Mitchell all on the list.

Those that win a Polar Music Prize are also handed a check for $125,000. We hear the band will donate the money to their pet charity, ‘All Within My Hands.’

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