PRESS RELEASE AUGUST 2012
MORTEN HARKET WINS THE “GREEN MUSIC AWARD”
CLEAN TECH MEDIA AWARD’S FIRST PRIZE FOR OUTSTANTING COMMITMENT IN THE MUSIC BRANCH
Within Germany’s biggest environmental and media award ceremony, the Clean Tech Media Award, a prize will be given, for the first time, to a musician or entertainer, whose outstanding environmental activism improve their fans’ and the public’s awareness.
Berlin. Morten Harket, former a-ha front man and successful solo-artist, will receive the first „Green Music Award“ awarded within the Clean Tech Media Award. Years of activism for electro-mobility, renewable energy and the rainforest, as well as the nature-bound lifestyle of the singer make him to a deserving winner of the Green Music Award. Morten Harket has been active in the environmental protection organization Bellona Foundation for over 25 years and transferred, along with founder and current president of the foundation, Frederic Hauge, the first electric vehicle, a Fiat Panda, to his homeland of Norway. Morten Harket was one of the first activists for the spread of electro-mobility.
Morten Harket lives the motto “Practice what you Preach”. With grounded confidence, the musician dedicates his time to environmental protection and numerous projects. On September the 7th, he will receive the Clean Tech Media Award’s “Green Music Award” for his outstanding environmental commitment: “as public personality, I have the opportunity to direct attention to environmental themes and promote environmental consciousness. The “Green Music Award” is a medium for this and I am very honored to receive it” says Harket.
Marco Voigt, initiator of the Clean Tech Media Award, explains the importance of this distinction: „the music industry has a huge potential to become an opinion disseminator for more environmental consciousness in society. Musicians set trends and can act as role models. Awareness can be raised on an emotional level for the music fans and thus moved to become more active.” For decades now, Harket has topped charts and invaded fans’ hearts around the world, both as a-ha band member and solo musician: he, with his environmentally friendly mindset, is a role model for his worldwide fan community.
The Clean Tech Media Award works with patron supporting the various categories: Energy (Fraunhofer ISE), Mobility (VDA e.V.), Aviation (aireg e.V.), Communication (medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg), Emerging Talent (WWF) and Lifestyle (CSCP). The European promotional platform, Green Music Initiative, will assume patronage of the Green Music Award. Founder Jacob Bilabel and his team have been committing themselves to a more environmentally sustainable music and entertainment industry since 2008. Together with organizers of large events, the Green Music Initiative develops concepts for the reduction of their environmental impacts, as with the well-known MELT! Festival. The object of the initiative is to reduce carbon emissions in all departments, from production, distribution to playing and performing the music. Jaco Bilabel, who will stand on our stage for the Green Music Award bestowal along side initiator Marco Voigt and Clark Datchler, singer of the pop band Johnny Hates Jazz, explains the choice: “with his passionate dedication for the spread of electro-mobility and renewable energy, Morten Harket demonstrates what environmental protection and clean tech mean to him. Further, he integrates them into his lifestyle. In short: he is a wonderful ambassador of green ideas”.
The Clean Tech Media Award is supported by members of the music industry, such as its companion of many years Clark Datchler (Johnny Hates Jazz), Sir Bob Geldof (presenter 2011) or The BossHoss. Morten Harket will give us a taste of his new album „Out Of My Hands“. Sandra, known through her international hit “Maria Magdalena”, will accompany the evening musically. The newcomer sensation Glasperlenspiel will play the hit-singles “Echt“ und „Ich bin Ich“ from their current album. Amongst the many celebrity ambassadors and guests of the Clean Tech Media Award are stars such as Christiane Paul, Hannes Jaenicke, Kai Wiesinger, Nora Tschirner, Nina Eichinger, Ralf Bauer, Sabine Christiansen, Michael Ballhaus, Mariella Ahrens, Thomas Anders and Ursula Karven. Ruth Moschner and Jan Hahn will host the Gala.
The Clean Tech Media Award has been showcased for the past five years by Clean Tech Media GmbH & Co. KG with the goal of promoting ecological and economic commitment as well as the implementation of alternative technologies. It is worldwide a unique event and both initiators, engineers Marco Voigt and Sven Krüger, dedicate themselves to it with great enthusiasm. They were able to obtain patronage from Dr. Peter Ramsauer, Minister for Traffic, Construction and Urban development, for this year’s award. Over 100 celebrity supporters, who often act as ambassadors for the award, as well as around 1000 Directors, CEOs and Sustainability Managers of Germany companies are presently confirmed as guests.