Chic legend Nile Rodgers and composer Esa-Pekka Salonen have been announced as recipients of the prestigious Polar Music Prize 2024 - often described as the "Nobel Prize of music".
Each year the prize typically honours two figures, one contemporary and one classical, for significant achievements in music.
The ceremony for the award, which was first handed to Paul McCartney in 1992, will take place at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden, on May 21 in the presence of the Swedish royal family.
Rodgers, who is the chairman of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, has produced stars including the late David Bowie, Madonna and Diana Ross, as well as creating disco hits including Le Freak and Everybody Dance with his band Chic.
Reflecting on receiving the prize, the US musician told the PA news agency: "It's amazing when people that are from other countries give you prizes like this… because it shows you that this art form touches people all around the world.
"And maybe, and this is how I’ve always felt, that communication was the most important part of being an artist, because it may be something that you create (in a) very solitary place but what you do after the form is completed, is you want to share it with the world."
The music veteran also advised younger artists to "embrace failure" and to allow space for the "what if" moments when creating music.
"If you’re in the art business, I guarantee you, there is no way everyone is going to love what you do, that’s just not going to happen", he said.
"And if you worry about the few people who don’t, and it could be thousands, it could be millions, but don’t take these criticisms so personally because you’re an artist, and you’re trying to explore."
Fellow recipient Esa-Pekka Salonen has established himself as an acclaimed composer and conductor over the years.
The Finnish artist is currently the music director of the San Francisco Symphony and is the conductor laureate for London’s Philharmonia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic and Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Previous recipients of the prize include Iggy Pop, Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd, Chuck Berry, Ennio Morricone, Bjork, Led Zeppelin, Patti Smith, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Elton John and Metallica.
Source: Press Association
