Music and Stockholm
Publish date: 26 March 2024
Did you know that Sweden is actually the largest exporter of pop music per capita in the world and the third-largest overall, trailing only Great Britain and USA?
Artists like Robyn, Avicii, and Swedish House Mafia have conquered the world. Top producers such as Max Martin and Redone at the legendary Cheiron Studios have provided Britney Spears, One Direction, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and many others with a virtual beehive of ubiquitous 21st-century pop songs. Not to mention veterans like ABBA, Roxette, Europe, and Ace of Base, whose lyrics many people still know by heart.
Listen to Swedish music on Spotify
Want to get musically inspired? Discover Swedish artists, songwriters, and performers in our Spotify lists.
- Swedish artists – Sweden has produced a wide range of artists. From classic chart-toppers and contemporary pop to genre-defining metal and dance music.
- Music by Swedish producers – What do "I Want It That Way" by The Backstreet Boys, "Starships" by Nicky Minaj, "This is America" by Childish Gambino, and "Shake it Off" by Taylor Swift have in common? They're all produced and/or co-written by Swedish producers like Max Martin, Redone, and Ludwig Göransson.
- Songs about Stockholm – Hear how Stockholm has been interpreted through music and lyrics by Avicii, Orup, Hurula, Cherrie, Dungen, and many others.
- Swedish love songs – In a romantic mood? Listen to a playlist of songs about love - both happy or unrequited – by Loreen, Roxette, Kleerup and Robyn, Ulf Lundell, Kent, and many more
As the nation's capital, Stockholm is a natural hub for the music industry, and the creative atmosphere here attracts aspiring musicians worldwide. People come here to be inspired and to create and record new music. It also sparked the entrepreneurial spirit of Stockholmer Daniel Ek, the man behind the music streaming program Spotify.
Musical attractions in Stockholm
Stockholm has a creative live performance scene, which offers everything from intimate performances by international DJs to world-famous artists on mega-stages and festivals with all the latest in pop, rock, electro, and classical music.
You'll also find several well-stocked record stores, catering to niche crate diggers and mainstream palettes. Not to mention the city's historical music venues and cultural museums. Here are some suggestions for a day of musical sightseeing.
- ABBA The Museum: A museum dedicated to the phenomenon of ABBA. Learn how Agnetha, Anni-Frid, Björn, and Benny first met, formed ABBA, and conquered dance floors all over the world with their timeless music. The museum has several interactive displays like a karaoke experience where you'll don the stage as the fifth member of ABBA.
- The Avicii Experience: An exhibition that honors one of the icons of modern popular culture; Tim "Avicii" Bergling. Discover unpublished music and untold stories, sing VR karaoke, and perform in front of thousands of screaming fans in this immersive exhibition.
- Historical concert venues and modern clubs: Many cultural venues in Stockholm have become attractions in their own right, like the historical Stockholm Concert Hall and The Royal Opera House or Avicci Arena - the world's largest spherical building. Other notable music venues are for example Friends Arena in Solna, Berns Salonger, and Södra Teatern; both well over 100 years old, legendary jazz club Fasching, beloved rock club Debaser, and popular nightclub Under Bron/Trädgården. Discover more clubs, arenas, and concert venues below or in our concert guide.
- Record stores in Stockholm: Bengans on Drottninggatan is Stockholm's biggest and most centrally located record store. Sound Pollution in Old Town is the go-to place for everything metal, punk, and hard rock, while Snickars on Södermalm specializes in house, techno, hip-hop, and other types of club and dance music. Pet Sounds caters mostly to rock, indie, and country lovers, while thrift store Mickes, at Hornstull, is a great place for second-hand rummaging.
- Swedish Museum of Performing Arts: Formerly known as The Museum of Music, the Swedish Museum of Performing Arts was rebuilt and rechristened to encapsulate all performing arts; music, dance, and theatre. The interactive exhibitions give an insight into life behind the stage and let visitors be a part of the experience in fun and inventive ways.
Artists visiting Stockholm in 2024
2024 will be a busy year in Stockholm for music fans! Artists like Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen, Tricky, Nicky Minaj, Justin Timberlake, P!nk, Tool, Grace Jones, Massive Attack, Rod Stewart, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and Nelly Furtado will be in town during the year.
Get in the mood by listening to our Live in Stockholm 2024 playlist!
Discover more musical highlights in our guide about upcoming concerts or see what's playing at Stockholm's classic concert houses and music venues.
The Polar Music Prize
The Polar Music Prize, founded in 1989, by ABBA's former manager Stig "Stikkan" Anderson, has become Sweden's most prestigious music award. Sometimes called "the Nobel Prize in music" the award is given to persons who have made significant and lasting contributions to the world of music.
Usually (with some rare exceptions) the Polar Music Prize has been handed out in two categories each year: contemporary classical music and popular music. The ceremony is held in May and is broadcast on TV with a concert honoring the laureates.
Most laureates have been artists or composers, like Nile Rodgers (2024), Metallica (2018), Emmylou Harris (2015), Yo-Yo Ma (2012), Ennio Morricone (2010), György Ligeti (2004), Miriam Makeba (2002), Pierre Boulez (1996), and Paul McCartney (1992). But the Polar Music Prize has also been awarded to producers; Max Martin (2016), Quincy Jones (1994), inventors; Robert Moog (2001), non-profit organizations; Playing For Change (2019), and institutions; The Afghanistan National Institue of Music (2018).
Listen to all the winners in our Polar Music Prize playlist.