Warner Chappell Music Nordics’ Managing Director, Lars Karlsson, has been named the recipient of the 2025 Tampere Music Award, recognizing his long-standing influence and leadership in the music publishing industry.
The accolade was presented at the Music x Media Industry Awards gala on Friday (September 26) in Tampere, Finland.
The Tampere Music Award, established in 2010, honors executives who have significantly contributed to the creative ecosystem and strengthened connections between Finnish and international music markets.
Karlsson, who has been MD of Warner Chappell Music Nordics since 2007, brings nearly four decades of experience in the music industry.
His tenure has facilitated the international success of artists and songwriters including Ace of Base, Kent, Max Martin, Robyn, Miss Li, Jörgen Elofsson, Bolaget, and this year’s Eurovision Song Contest winners, KAJ. His leadership has also encompassed collaborations with Wolf Cousins, a partnership between Warner Chappell, MXM, and Shellback.
“I am truly honored and humbled to be named a recipient of the Tampere Music Award,” Karlsson said.
“I’VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO WORK WITH INCREDIBLE ARTISTS AND SONGWRITERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND IN PARTICULAR WITHIN THE NORDICS—A REGION WITH AN ENDLESS CONVEYOR BELT OF TALENT. I’M GRATEFUL TO MY COLLEAGUES AND THE WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC TEAMS GLOBALLY, WHO ARE SIMPLY THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS.”
LARS KARLSSON
Guy Moot, CEO and Co-Chair of Warner Chappell Music, added: “Lars is an incredible executive and so deserving of this award. The Nordics has always been a hub of creative talent, and Lars has been at the very heart of it. We congratulate him on this well-earned recognition.”
Karlsson began his career as an A&R at Peermusic Scandinavia in 1987. He later became Managing Director of BMG Music Publishing Scandinavia in 1991, establishing BMG’s Finnish operations before moving to Warner Chappell Music Nordics in 2007.
Between 2011 and 2024, he also oversaw Warner Chappell Music’s operations in Germany, leading the company through a local hip-hop boom and achieving seven consecutive years as the country’s top publisher from 2018 to 2024.
His professional roles extend beyond Warner Chappell. Karlsson has served as Vice Chairman of the Swedish Music Publishers Association (SMFF), and as a board member of STIM (Swedish Performing Rights Society), the Nordic Copyright Bureau (NCB), and the International Confederation of Music Publishers (ICMP).Music Business Worldwide