The listeners of the broadcast "Allegro vivace" of programme "Horizon" of the Bulgarian National Radio nominated Atanas Mladenov – a soloist of the Sofia Opera and Ballet – for "Musician of the Year".

Among the winners of this prize in previous years were Vasil Arnaudov, Emil Tabakov, Mincho Minchev, Lyudmil Angelov, Ghena Dimitrova, Ivan Spasov, Theodosii Spasov (twice), Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Raina Kabaivanska (twice).