Bert Karlsson

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Bert Willis Karlsson (born June 21, 1945, in Skövde, Västra Götaland County) is a Swedish record company manager, entrepreneur, former politician (Member of Parliament) and front figure of the New Democracy (Ny Demokrati) party.

As the owner and manager of the record company Mariann Grammofon AB, Karlsson became a familiar face to the Swedish public as the man behind Carola Häggkvist. In 1984 he started Skara Sommarland, a theme park.

In 1991, Karlsson and count Ian Wachtmeister started the populist political party New Democracy. Attracting major media attention, and with a patriotic platform, the party received 6.7 percent of the vote in the parliamentary election in September. With no previous political experience, Karlsson suddenly found himself elected to the Riksdag as a Member of Parliament.

When New Democracy imploded due to internal struggles and failed in the 1994 parliamentary election Karlsson went back to being a full-time businessman. He has started the popular Swedish reality television show Fame Factory, (a programme somewhat similar to the British show Pop Idol), in which he plays an important role. Many Mariann artists have entered Melodifestivalen, the Swedish qualifications for the Eurovision Song Contest. From 1978 to 2005 approximately 120 songs from Karlsson's record company have been competing, and 14 have gone on to represent Sweden in the European Song contest. Mariann artists include Herreys and Charlotte Perrelli, who went on to win the European competition.

In March 2005, Karlsson filled out an application for membership in the Liberal People's Party during a television interview. When the party immediately responded with criticism of him, calling the move a media stunt, he did not go through with his application.

During spring 2007 Karlsson was a judge for a new tv show called "Talang 2007" on TV4, the Swedish version of America's Got Talent.

[edit] Trivia

• In the browser-based online music roleplaying game, Popmundo, it is possible to see a message saying: "You spot Bert Karlsson in the audience", whilst viewing a band's concert. An evident homage from the Swedish developers of the game.

[edit] External links

• (Swedish) Mariann Grammofon - Official page
• (Swedish) "Storskalig attack gör Bert Karlsson till vinnare" - March 5, 2005 Dagens Nyheter article on Karlsson and Melodifestivalen.
• (Swedish) "Här blir Bert folkpartist" March 30, 2005 Aftonbladet article on Karlsson's membership application to the Liberal People's Party.
• (Swedish) Liberal People's Party press release - March 30, 2005 press release from the Liberal People's Party following Karlsson's statements.
• (Swedish) "Bert Karlsson ville bli folkpartist – men nekades" - March 30, 2005 Aftonbladet article on Karlsson's reaction to the party press release.
• / This is the jury, Tv4.se