The Music Publishers Award was presented on Wednesday evening in 9 categories. Here you can see who won – and why.
/ 17/06/2021 / Willy Martinsen Music Publishers Award 2021 was presented on Wednesday evening in front of a limited number of guests in the Marmorsalen hall at Sentralen in Oslo. The 9 awards that were presented were Work of the Year, Breakthrough of the Year and Artist of the Year in popular music and in classical/contemporary music, as well as Synchronization of the Year, Most Played Song of the Year and Honorary Award. An honorary award was also presented to music industry veteran Helge Westbye.
Winner: "Love/Hate My Hood" by Ezzari
Author: Adam Ezzari, Morgan Asgar Eirikson Kornmo aka MakeTheNoises
Music publisher: Arctic Rights Management, BMG Rights Management Scandinavia
The jury's reasoning: An entire coming-of-age novel in song format – that’s how the winner in the work of the year category can be briefly described. But these few words in no way do this ambitious project justice. This is a larger whole that takes the time to explore complex themes with both depth and rawness, but which is nevertheless built up with thoughtful production and a narrative so clear that it almost begs to be made into a film, which it was.
The natural centerpiece and highlight are the six minutes where listeners are taken through the artist and songwriter's upbringing in Søndre Nordstrand and the complicated love/hate relationship with the home hood. This is a theme that is probably recognizable to many, and therefore suitable to reach listeners far beyond the Oslo district.
Winner: Edvard Normann and Kristoffer Haugan (STATE)
Music publisher: MER Publishing
The jury's reasoning: This dynamic duo has followed up on previous successful collaborations with Alan Walker and Tungevaag, among others, by writing and producing songs for established artists such as K-391, Ruben and Dagny, as well as newcomers such as Musti, Natnael and Peder Elias throughout 2020. A span of collaboration on the Norwegian pop music map that is impressive in itself! Over the past year, the two have demonstrated a unique ability to operate within a wide range of expressions and have in a short time established themselves as two of the most skilled producers in Norway. The list of songs they have helped make their mark on in 2020 probably gives high expectations for what the future may bring in terms of catchy hooks and production technical antics.
Fatumata Kamara (KAMARA)
Music publisher: Sony Music Publishing Scandinavia
The jury's reasoning: The winner in the category of breakthrough of the year has had an impressive musical journey in 2020. After her career as an artist took off in full force in 2019, the winner was booked for both Øyafestivalen, Bergenfest and by:Larm before she had even released her first single! She was picked up early by Lars Vaular, and appeared on four of the songs on his album, "Flere steder alltid". She then followed up with her own EP, which resulted in a nomination for "Årets Urørt". The artist we are talking about works closely with eminent producers such as Mugisho, Edvard Tronstad, Skinny Days and Lasse Lokøy, and has topped the radio charts with both of her singles released during 2020. Bands of Tomorrow wrote about the winner, after a concert at Blå, that "I (and everyone else) was convinced that we had just witnessed one of the Nordic countries' next big shooting stars". We can't help but agree.
Winner: "Songs from the Planet of Life"
Author: Helge Iberg
Music publisher: Norwegian Music Publishers
The jury's reasoning: The winner of the "Work of the Year 2021" is distinguished by its thoughtful orchestration and fearless treatment of traditional material. The work combines – in a stylish way – an Eastern aesthetic with a modern tonal language, with rhythmic originality and harmonic references to French Impressionism.
Winner: Nils Henrik Asheim
Music publisher: Norwegian Music Publishers
The jury's reasoning: The winner of "Author of the Year" has made a mark in 2020 with two major CD releases with the Norwegian Soloist Choir, Ensemble Allegria and KORK. Furthermore, the composer has been a festival profile at Nordland Music Festival and Hardanger Music Festival, and had a work performed at the opening concert of Ultima Festival. "Author of the Year" is a zealot and a powerhouse in Stavanger's music scene, and received the Critics' Award in 2019 for the project "Messiaen Complete".
Winner: Kjetil Djønne
Music publisher: Norwegian Noteservice
The jury's reasoning:
The jury's reasoning: The winner of "Breakthrough of the Year" has written a fun piece within the framework of a classical style model, with idiomatic effects for the instrumental group. The piece is short, well-executed and works on all levels.
«Don't Start Now» – Dua Lipa
Author: Caroline Ailin, Dua Lipa, Emily Warren, Ian Kirkpatrick
Music publishers: Arctic Rights Management/BMG Rights Management Scandinavia, Tap Music Publishing/Universal Music Publishing, Havenwood House/Prescription Songs/ Kobalt Music Publishing, Buckley Tenenbaum Publishing/Warner/Chappell Music
The jury's reasoning: "Don't Start Now" by Dua Lipa is the most played song of the year in Norway. The award is given to the authors behind the song that, according to Radiomonitor and Spotify, received the most radio play and streaming in Norway last year, and which has one or more missing Norwegian authors. Caroline Ailin Furøyen from Bodø has already made a significant mark in the international music industry as the author of Dua Lipa's breakthrough song "New Rules". Now she follows up with a new collaboration with Dua Lipa on "Don't Start Now", which was the most played in Norway in 2020.
Winner: "My dear you" in Rådebank season 1
Author: Eldar Vågan
Music publisher: Slager Music/ Universal Music Publishing
The jury's reasoning:
The song selection in this first scene stands out and is experienced as both fresh and original. Typical song selections often reflect the main character's inner feelings, but here we experience that the juxtaposition of music and image establishes a "new layer" in the main character. Vazelina Bilopphøggers is admittedly well-established in the robbery community, and the album is also called "Musikk Tel Arbe'". However, the fact that the main character chooses "Min Kjære Du" to listen to at work (while he struggles with the great sorrow of love) is still experienced as so original that it arouses curiosity and interest. Perhaps because one has the impression that young people today do not particularly care for music made by "old people". The music genre also "nods" to well-known workshop scenes in the film classic "Grease", and implicitly plays on the common theme of the film and the series: Cars and young love.
The jury's reasoning: Most people have listened to the releases behind this year's honorary award winner. We are referring to one of the Norwegian music industry's most important veterans, highly respected by artists, composers and the industry, both nationally and internationally. The artists drive him forward and his colleagues inspire him. We are talking about Helge Westbye, director and founder of Grappa. Helge Westbye has a unique ability to capture good initiatives and make room for younger entrepreneurs. Through the development of the record labels around Grappa, he has been the "earthfather" of a wide range of quality music, and for a quarter of a century has been alone in taking special responsibility for the country's leading performers in the less commercial genres; jazz, contemporary music, classical and folk music. Grappa has been a significant player in the establishment and operation of Musikkoporätörene and Diskos Distribusjon, which in turn has been an important platform for a number of small Norwegian indie companies.
Success does not come by itself. It requires knowledge and familiarity with the industry, many long working days, the ability to see opportunities, good timing and last but not least, someone who sees, has faith in people and who realizes his and others' ideas. The value and ripple effects of what this man has produced are difficult to determine, but it is very easy to value him highly. It is therefore a great pleasure to be able to present the Honorary Award of the Year to a quiet, but magnificent communicator of Norwegian music in all genres; Grappa's founder and ever-present director, Helge Westbye.
More about the Music Publishers and the Music Publishers Award
The Music Publishers were founded in 1936 and consist of Norwegian music publishers who, through agreements with authors, arrange, publish, market and license works for sale and/or use. The first Norwegian music publisher was founded in 1809 and what is today the largest in Norway, Norsk Musikforlag, was started in 1909. Music has accompanied humans since the dawn of time. Since we could speak, we have sung, and since we could walk, we have danced. The work that a music publisher works with will forever remain unchanged. It will always appear exactly as it was at the moment it was created and will still need to be taken care of, no matter what technology or the world at large looks like.