The Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik ("German Record Critics' Award") was established in Germany in 1963 by publisher Richard Kaselowsky with the aim of setting the "most rigorous standards for supreme achievement and quality" in the field of music recording. Later on, it became closely linked to the German music industry's Deutsche Phono-Akademie e.V. – however, in 1980, the entire jury cut these ties and became an independent association. In 1988, in order to remain independent from commercial interests of the music industry, the jury officially registered as a non-profit organization, Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik e.V. (PdSK e.V.).