News in from Radio Sweden: On Monday 31st August Peter Gabriel and Venezuelan composer, Jose Antonio Abreu received the Polar Music award. Founded by Stig Anderson, the late manager of ABBA, the award recognises exceptional achievement in music. Since its foundation in 1992 two winners, one from the world of popular music and the other from the classical realm are chosen. Gabriel and Abreu will share the prize money of 1 million kroner, equivalent to $60,000 each. As befits one of the world's most prestigous music awards, it was presented to them in a special ceremony in Stockholm's Concert Hall by His Majesty, Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.

Peter Gabriel has been a tireless promoter of "world music" founding the WOMAD festival and the RealWorld record label. Jose Antonio Abreu founded the Simon bolivar Orchestra as part of the El Sistema music network which gives hundreds and thousands of children in Venezuela the means to leave poverty.

Previous winners include, Bob Dylan Miriam Makeba, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Ravi Shanker and Gilberto Gil. For the full list see the Wikipedia article

More details in the Radio Sweden article