The Buma Export Award (previously Conamus Export Award) is given to the Dutch artists who have sold the most records abroad. Each year, this prize is given by the Buma Cultuur foundation which also presents the Golden Harp and Zilveren Harp awards.
The awards were first presented in 1972. They show the international prestige and popularity of Dutch singers, producers, musicians or bands. The first winners were pop duo Mouth & MacNeal, conductor Harry van Hoof and songwriter/record producer Hans van Hemert for the success of the hit single "How Do You Do". This song spent 19 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and won the R.I.A.A. gold disc on 2 August 1972. Selling over a million copies in the U.S. alone, global sales exceeded two million. Seven years later, Van Hemert won another Export award thanks to his brainchild: the girl group Luv' .
Violinist André Rieu holds the record for the most export prizes (six). Brothers duo Bolland & Bolland and symphonic metal band Within Temptation won the award several years in a row. Jaap Eggermont received the prize twice because of his world famous Stars on 45 project. Saxophonist Candy Dulfer had three awards. Among other prestigious winners were legendary acts Golden Earring, Focus, George Baker Selection, Pussycat, Earth and Fire and Tiësto.
1972: Hans van Hemert, Harry van Hoof, Mouth & MacNeal for the song "How Do You Do".
1973: Focus for their entire oeuvre.
1974: Golden Earring for their entire oeuvre.
1975: The George Baker Selection for the song "Una Paloma Blanca".
1976: Pussycat for their entire oeuvre.
1977: Champagne for their entire oeuvre.
1978: Pierre Kartner for his alias 'Vader Abraham'.
1979: Luv', Hans van Hemert, Piet Souer, Pim ter Linde for their entire oeuvre.
1980: Earth and Fire for their entire oeuvre.
1981: Jaap Eggermont and Martin Duiser for the Stars on 45 Medley.
1982: Jaap Eggermont, Martin Duiser and Tony Sherman for the Stars on Stevie medley.
1983: Golden Earring; The Shorts (for the song Comment ça va).
1984: VOF de Kunst for the song ’Susanna’.
1985: VideoKids; Bolland & Bolland.
1986: Bolland & Bolland for their entire oeuvre.
1987: Bolland & Bolland for the song In the Army Now performed by Status Quo.
1988: Bolland & Bolland for the songs Love House and I Wanna Have Some Fun performed by Samantha Fox
1989: Bolland & Bolland
1990: Candy Dulfer for the album Saxuality.
1991: Candy Dulfer for the album Saxuality.
1992: Ten Sharp for the album Under the Water-Line; Ton van den Bremer for his label ToCo International.
1993: Candy Dulfer for the album Sax-a-Go-Go.
1994: Twenty 4 Seven.
1995: Doop.
1996: André Rieu for the albums ‘Strauss & Co’ and ‘Wiener Melange’.
1997: André Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra for the albums “Strauss & Co”, “Stille Nacht”, “Wiener Melange” and “In Concert”.
1998: André Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra (several albums).
1999: Vengaboys
2000: Vengaboys
2001: Jan Smit
2002: Marco Borsato
2003: Within Temptation
2004: Within Temptation
2005: Within Temptation
2006: Within Temptation
2007: Tiësto
2008: André Rieu, Giorgio Tuinfort
2009: André Rieu
2010: André Rieu
