SKAP Special Prize – 2011:
‘The work of Freemuse is crucial’

“Music and culture are essential pillars of society. In many respects, it is also the conscience of society. The right to express your voice and opinion is vital and therefore the work of Freemuse is crucial.”
Alfons Karabuda, chairman of SKAP, May 2011

The surroundings are splendid when SKAP – the Swedish Society of Popular Music Composers – celebrates its 85th anniversary on Monday 16 May and in addition to presenting annual grants will give a special prize to Freemuse. Stockholm City Hall’s Blue Hall, world famous for serving the Nobel Prize banquets, will be the impressive setting for the SKAP Spring Festival and the prize ceremonies. Freemuse is being awarded for its work advocating freedom of expression for musicians and composers and fighting music censorship.

Freedom to Create Prize – 2009:
‘In support of musicians on the world’s frontlines’

“Freemuse is waging a vital war in support of musicians on the world’s frontlines who are using their freedom to create to oppose injustice and oppression. It is through the tremendous dedication of organizations like Freemuse that the sacrifices of artists, such as those made by 2009 Freedom to Create Prize winner Lapiro de Mbanga, are being made public on a global scale.”
Freedom to Create Vice President Bernard Stringer, November 2009.

The Freedom to Create Prize celebrates the courage and creativity of artists around the world, who use their talents to build the foundations of open societies, promote social justice and inspire human spirit. More than 1,000 artists from more than 100 countries were nominated in 2009.

Marie Korpe, Freemuse Executive Director, received the prize on behalf of the imprisoned singer Lapiro de Mbanga from Cameroun. The prize is 25,000 US dollars, which can be used in support for the release of Lapiro and his family who has suffered immensely since his arrest in 2008.

Zentsura At! Prize – 2009:
‘For the freedom of speech of musicians all over the world’

“Freemuse is awarded for its work against censorship, and for their representatives Marie Korpe and Ole Reitov, who with the World Forum on Music and Censorship have fought for the freedom of speech of musicians and authors all over the world. We send our most sincere support and recognition to them.”

Motivation by José Angel Serrano, Zentsura At! IV Festival Against Censorship

The IMC Inaugural Musical Rights Award – 2009:
‘Courageous global programme’

“This unique programme [of Freemuse] advocates freedom of expression for creators and performers of music. It documents and often publicises incidents of censorship and oppression, some of which may see musicians gaoled or even killed. It acts in a variety of ways to support musicians who experience limitations in their freedom to express themselves, in some cases by lobbying offending governments directly. It collaborates with other organisations working to implement the principles outlined in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, and with researchers and journalists to focus on issues of music censorship. Hence, the programme goes to the roots of the five musical rights defined by IMC.”
The IMC Award motivation

In October 2009, the International Music Council (IMC) awarded Freemuse the IMC Inaugural Musical Rights Award for its "courageous global programme advocating freedom of musical expression for creators and performers of music." The award was presented during the '3rd IMC World Forum on Music' which took place in Tunisia. It was presented to Freemuse by IMC President Dr. Richard Letts. In his speech, Dr. Letts praised the "unique programme" of Freemuse and said that "defence of the right to freedom of expression in music is the first of the five musical rights at the base of IMC activities."

The International Music Council (IMC) is a global network of expert organisations and individuals working in the field of music. Founded in 1949 by UNESCO, the International Music Council is mandated to promote musical diversity and support cultural rights for all.

The Womex Award – 2003:
‘For its fight against music censorship’

“This year the Womex Award goes not to just one artist but to all those suffering from censorship, an ill against which the award winner Freemuse has been fighting valiantly for the past few years from their base in Copenhagen.”
The Womex Award “honours the international human rights organization Freemuse - The World Forum on Music and Censorship - for its fight against music censorship. Freemuse was founded in 1998 and is dedicated to uphold the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights by funding reports, creating a database of information and taking up cases of individual musicians in trouble.”

The Webby Awards – 2002:
‘For paving important paths to the Internet's next phase...’

The Freemuse Award:
Freemuse’s own award to honour musicians

The Freemuse Award is given to an individual or an organisation that “has worked for freedom of musical expression in a remarkable way”.
Marie Korpe, Freemuse Director

Ramy Essam from Egypt received the award in 2011, Mahsa Vahdat from Iran and Ferhat Tunç from Turkey shared it in 2010, Pete Seeger from the US received it 2009, and Tiken Jah Fakoly from Côte d’Ivoire in 2008.