Warner Chappell Music’s Lars Karlsson receives Tampere Music Award 2025

29 September 2025 - Press release

The Music x Media Industry Award Recognises Music’s Most Influential Executives 

 

Warner Chappell Music Nordics’ Managing Director, Lars Karlsson, has been named as the recipient of this year’s Tampere Music Award at the Music x Media Industry Awards gala tonight in Finland. 

The Tampere Music Award, which has been presented since 2010, recognises the music industry’s most influential experts and the executives that have contributed to the creative ecosystem, building bridges between the Finnish and international music markets.

Karlsson has been MD of Warner Chappell Music Nordics since 2007, and with almost 40 years of music industry experience, he is one of the most highly regarded and respected executives within the music publishing world and the Nordic industry. His work has enabled the international breakthrough of a number of songwriters and artists, including Ace of Base, Bolaget, Jörgen Elofsson, Kent, Max Martin, Miss Li and Robyn, as well as this year’s Eurovision Song Content winners, KAJ. Karlsson's achievements at Warner Chappell also include collaborations with, among others, Wolf Cousins - a partnership between Warner Chappell, MXM and Shellback.

Lars Karlsson said: "I am truly honored and humbled to be named a recipient of the Tampere Music Award. I have been lucky enough to enjoy an amazing career in music, working with incredible artists and songwriters from all over the world and, in particular, the creative hub that is the Nordics. I've always been drawn to talent and couldn't have picked a better place to work than our region, with its seemingly never ending conveyor belt of genius. Throughout my career, I've also been very fortunate to work alongside some fantastic music executives who have helped me develop and grow. I'd like to say a special thank you to Guy Moot, Carianne Marshall and the undeniably brilliant Warner Chappell Music teams around the world - they really are the best in the business. And a final thank you to the Music x Media team for this recognition."

Guy Moot, CEO and Co-Chair of Warner Chappell Music, added: “Lars is an incredible executive and so deserving of this award. He has been at the top of the game for a number of years and still has the drive and passion to deliver for our songwriters. The Nordics has always been home to an abundance of creative talent and Lars has been right at the heart of it. I want to wish him a massive congratulations on this achievement.”

Karlsson began his career in music in 1987 working as an A&R at Peermusic Scandinavia. In 1991, he became the managing director of BMG Music Publishing Scandinavia and was involved in establishing BMG's publishing operations in Finland. He held that role until 2007, before starting his current position at Warner Chappell Music Nordics. From 2011 to 2024, he also ran Warner Chappell Music's operations in Germany, where he was at the forefront of local hip-hop explosion and led the company to seven consecutive years as the country's number one publisher, from 2018-2024.

He has also held positions as the Vice Chairman of the Swedish Music Publishers Association (SMFF), board member of the Swedish Performing Rights Society (STIM), board member of the Nordic Copyright Bureau (NCB) and board member of the Pop Bureau of the International Confederation of Music Publishers (ICMP).