The "Buma Cultuur Pop Award" has been the most important Dutch musician award since 1986, when Mathilde Santing won the first edition. The winner is judged by his or her artistic achievements, national and international success and the steadiness of the musician. Previous winners are Mathilde Santing (1986), The Nits (1987), Claw Boys Claw (1988), Herman Brood (1989), Urban Dance Squad (1990), The Ex (1991), The Scène (1992), Bettie Serveert (1993), 2 Unlimited (1994), Osdorp Posse (1995), Eboman (1996), Marco Borsato (1997), Junkie XL (1998), Postmen (1999), Arling & Cameron (2000), Anouk (2001), Tiësto (2002), Bløf (2003), Ali B (2004), Within Temptation (2005) and Spinvis (2006).

Armin van Buuren caught the eye of the judges because of his big tours all around the world, his radio show "A State Of Trance" and his music productions throughout his career. They praise him for being an ambassador of Holland, for taking his music and sound throughout the whole world.

The jury contained the following people: Guus Bleyerveld (BV Pop), Gert Gering (013), Ben Houdijk (Radio 3FM), Gijsbert Kamer (De Volkskrant), Jan Douwe Kroeske (Double 2), Peter Sikkema (Oosterpoort/Noorderslag), Gert van Veen (freelance journalist). The head of the jury was Hans Kosterman (Buma Cultuur/BV Pop/FNV Kiem).