Polar Studios were founded by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus together with ABBA’s manager Stikkan (Stig) Anderson in 1977. The studio was designed by Jan Setterberg from Gothenburg and was built in the premises that previously housed Riverside cinema. ABBA had been looking for a modern studio with a good, spacious live sound and decided that the best solution was to build their own. In 1978 they started recording in Polar Studios. 

Here, ABBA did all their recording sessions of 1978–1982 (with the exception of Voulez-Vous, which was recorded in Miami, USA). It was also the location of the ‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!’ video.

Other well known artists and bands which have recorded here include the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin (In Through the Out Door), Rammstein (Herzeleid), Ramones, Backstreet Boys, Beastie Boys, Belinda Carlisle, Celine Dion, Genesis (Duke), and Roxette.

In 2004, Polar Studios moved to Hornsgatan on Södermalm in Stockholm and later on to its current location in Hammarby Sjöstad in Stockholm. 

There is a replica of the original studio and Stikkan’s office at ABBA The Museum (https://reveal.world/story/abba-the-museum).