The Pop Award is presented by Buma Cultuur, an organization which encourages and promotes Dutch music, supported by the Dutch music rights foundation Buma/Stemra. The first four editions of the prize were named BV Popprijs. The first edition of the award was presented to Mathilde Santing in discotheque Escape in Amsterdam on November 25, 1985 for her achievements of that year. The prize for 1986 was presented in January 1987 to Claw Boys Claw, establishing the practice to present the award in the following year. The two other awards bearing the name BV Popprijs were awarded to Herman Brood (1987) and The Nits (1988). For 1989 no award was presented. On May 20, 1991 the Urban Dance Squad receives the award for 1990, now named the Pop Award (Popprijs).