Grappa Musikkforlag has been awarded the TONOS Media Prize 2017 for their tireless efforts for Norwegian music since 1983.
/ 27/11/2017 / Willy Martinsen
The award was presented to Grappa Musikkforlag and director Helge Westbye at the Christmas party of the independent record industry interest organization FONO on Friday, November 24. TONO's CEO Cato Strøm was in charge of the presentation.
TONO's Mediator Award was established in 2011 to honor people who work to create increased knowledge, understanding and enthusiasm for music and its creation. The award consists of NOK 50,000 and a diploma designed by designer Rune Mortensen.
Here is the jury's reasoning:
Grappa Musikkforlag was founded in 1983 by Helge Westbye, and is one of Norway's oldest and largest independent record labels. Through a number of sub-labels, the company releases music in genres such as jazz, folk, classical, contemporary music, pop, rock and blues. Many artists and composers who are today considered among the truly great and established in Norway first got their chance through Grappa. Many have also chosen to stay there, despite offers from larger companies. Among the artists and composers published by Grappa are Lillebjørn Nilsen, Jan Eggum, Annbjørg Lien, Bendik Hofseth and Arve Tellefsen, to name a few.
It is difficult to know how much of the TONO repertoire would never have seen the light of day without Grappa's existence. The number of Spellemann awards and nominations testify to an enormous production, both in quantity and quality. In the shadow of the international record companies, Grappa has constantly released music that has received good reviews and has been appreciated by a wide audience.
Through Grappa's debutant prize, artists such as Valkyrien Allstars, Gjermund Larsen, Siri Nilsen, Frida Ånnevik and others have received good help with their breakthroughs. As early as 1997, Grappa received FONO's Bjellesau Prize for "a lifetime achievement". The lifetime achievement is by no means finished, and we look forward to the continuation.
With the award of TONO's Media Prize 2017, TONO wishes to honor Grappa for their tireless efforts for Norwegian music.
Previous winners
Previous winners of TONO's Mediator Award are Øyafestivalen (2011), German record producer Manfred Eicher and his record label ECM (2012), music publisher Leif Dramstad (2013), hip hop producer etc. Tommy Tee (2014), music publisher, manager etc. Kai Robøle (2015) and Geir Johnson, who among other things established the Ultima festival (2016).
The jury behind TONO's Mediator Award:
The TONO Mediator Award jury in 2017 consisted of composers Arvid Wam Solvang, Hilde Wahl, Therese Birkelund Ulvo, Klaus Sandvik, Rita Engedalen, Gøran Grini, as well as music publishers Jan Stefan Bengtsson (Cantando Musikkforlag) and Stine Lieng (Warner/Chappell).
For more information:
Willy Martinsen, communications manager at TONO, mobile 909 65 254, email: willy.martinsen@tono.no