“With his efforts for rhythmic music, Gunnar Madsen has paved the way for both Danish and Nordic music”.
These were some of the words used to describe the work of SPOT’s director Gunnar Madsen when he received the NPU award at this year’s summit for songwriters and producers from the Nordic countries. Yesterday, representatives from Finland, Iceland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, Norway, Sweden and Denmark were invited to the annual gathering, which this time took place in Copenhagen. Here knowledge was to be shared and the community that has been created between the Nordic songwriters, composers and producers in the field of rhythmic music was to be strengthened – and an honor was also to be handed out, which this time went to the long-standing founder and director of the Aarhusian showcase festival.
The NPU prize has been awarded by the Nordic Popular Union since 1967, and the NPU covers the entire Nordic network of songwriter organizations. Previous Danish recipients include, among others, Poul Reichhardt (1973), Lisbeth Dahl (1981), Povl Dissing and Benny Andersen (1999) as well as Pia Raug in 2017. This year’s recipient was nominated by the two Danish songwriters’ organizations DPA and AUTOR, and DPA’s leader Tobias Stenkjær emphasized in his award speech on Thursday evening, why this particular Nordic honor should go to Gunnar Madsen this year.
“With his efforts in rhythmic music, Gunnar Madsen has helped pave the way for both Danish and Nordic music. In 1994, SPOT Festival opened as a place where all Nordic acts could get potential exposure, and he was also one of the founders of Music Export Denmark, where he was vice-chairman for many years. Gunnar Madsen helped create the Nordic export umbrella NOMEX and was on speed dial when Norwegian by:Larm was founded as well as the Icelandic music export office. Gunnar Madsen is generous with both network and knowledge, which not only benefits the Danish music scene, but to a large extent the Nordic one. We have benefited from this for over 30 years and with this Nordic award would like to say a big thank you on behalf of the Nordic songwriters, composers and producers“, said DPA’s front person Tobias Stenkjær in his speech to Gunnar Madsen.
The award recipient himself, who was naturally present to receive the award, put a few words on the recognition from NPU
“It is a great privilege to receive NPU’s recognition for a job which in itself has been a privilege. Since the mid-70s, my working life has been a happy amalgamation of concerts, music politics, tours, travels, meetings and a few more concerts. Inspiring and hard-working songwriters, musicians, concert organizers and other dedicated music mediators have shared the vision of a common Nordic culture. Many Nordic pages have been turned over – and many doors have been opened, but I have yet to come across a single-sounding Nordic tone. On the other hand, there are beautiful songs and exciting tones from all the Nordic shelves of music. They live and are found everywhere. Strong personalities along the way have shared their knowledge, skills and enthusiasm and nurtured my joy in Nordic music and the shared visions of putting it all together just a little more!
Thanks to all the good people I’ve met, traveled or worked with, and a huge thank you to NPU. It’s a great honor.”
Gunnar Madsen passes on the baton at the turn of the year, when he resigns as director of SPOT Festival.
Photo: Kim Vadskær
”Gunnar Madsen har med sin indsats for den rytmiske musik været med til at bane vejen for både dansk og nordisk musik”.
Sådan lød de første beskrivende ord, da SPOT’s leder Gunnar Madsen i går modtog NPU-prisen ved årets topmøde for sangskrivere og producere fra de nordiske lande. Repræsentanter fra Finland, Island, Grønland, Færøerne, Norge, Sverige og Danmark var i går budt ind til den årlige sammenkomst, der altså denne gang fandt sted i København. Her skulle der deles viden og styrkes det fællesskab, som er skabt mellem de nordiske sangskrivere, komponister og producere inden for rytmisk musik – og der skulle også uddeles en hæder, der i denne omgang tilfaldt den mangeårige leder af den aarhusianske showcase festival.
NPU-prisen har været uddelt af Nordisk Populær Union siden 1967, og NPU dækker over det samlede nordiske netværk af sangskriver-organisationer. Tidligere danske modtagere siden prisens indstiftelse tæller bl.a. Poul Reichhardt (1973), Lisbeth Dahl (1981), Povl Dissing og Benny Andersen (1999) samt Pia Raug i 2017. Årets modtager var indstillet af de to danske sangskriverorganisationer DPA og AUTOR, og DPA’s forperson Tobias Stenkjær understregede i sin pristale torsdag aften, hvorfor netop denne nordiske hæder skulle tilfalde Gunnar Madsen i år.
”Gunnar Madsen har med sin indsats for den rytmiske musik været med til at bane vejen for både dansk og nordisk musik. I 1994 blev SPOT Festival åbnet som et sted, hvor alle nordiske aktører kunne få potentiel eksponering, og han var også en af grundlæggerne af Music Export Denmark, hvor han var næstformand i mange år. Gunnar Madsen var med til at skabe den nordiske eksportparaply NOMEX og var på hurtigopkald, da norske by:Larm blev grundlagt samt det islandske musikeksportkontor. Gunnar Madsen er generøs med både netværk og viden, der gavner ikke bare den danske musikscene, men i høj grad den nordiske. Det har vi nydt godt af i over 30 år og vil med denne nordiske pris gerne sige en stor tak på vegne af de nordiske sangskrivere, komponister og producere”, sagde DPA’s forperson Tobias Stenkjær i sin tale til Gunnar Madsen.
Prismodtageren, der naturligvis var til stede for at modtage prisen, satte selv et par ord på anerkendelsen fra NPU
“Det er et stort privilegium at modtage NPU’s anerkendelse for et arbejde, som i sig selv har været et privilegium. Mit arbejdsliv har siden midten af 70erne været et lykkeligt sammensurium af koncerter, musikpolitik, turneer, rejser, møder og lidt flere koncerter. Inspirerende og arbejdsomme sangskrivere, musikere, koncertarrangører og andre dedikerede musikformidlere har delt visionen om en fælles nordisk kultur. Mange nordiske byggesten er vendt -og mange døre er åbnet, men en enslydende nordisk tone er jeg endnu ikke stødt på. Til gengæld findes smukke sange og spændende toner fra alle musikkens nordiske hylder. De lever og findes overalt. Stærke personligheder undervejs har delt deres viden, kunnen og entusiasme og næret min glæde ved nordisk musik og de fælles visioner om at kitte det hele bare lidt mere sammen!
Tak til alle gode mennesker, jeg har mødt, rejst eller arbejdet sammen med, og en kæmpe tak til NPU. Det er en stor ære.”
Gunnar Madsen giver stafetten videre ved årsskiftet, hvor han takker af som direktør for SPOT Festival.
Foto: Kim Vadskær
