Its status in the Polish public can be compared to the US Grammy and British BRIT Award.

Officially created in 1994 and presented for the first time in 1995, the award was initially conferred by the Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry (Związek Producentów Audio-Video, ZPAV).

Since 1999, nominees and winners have been selected by a body called Phonographic Academy (Akademia Fonograficzna) which by now consists of nearly 1000 artists, journalists and music industry professionals.

The Fryderyk statuette is reminiscent of the Academy Awards' "Oscar", but with wings, arms stretched backwards, and with headphones.

[2] The categories in which Fryderyk awards are presented have been steadily extended and modified since its inception in 1994.