On 1 October 1973 this letter was addressed from Polar Music to the UK.
The letter was written by Görel Johnsen (now Hanser), then secretary to Stig Anderson, to inform promoter EMA in London of the coming release of ‘Ring Ring’ in the UK.
This may be the first ever official published use of the name ABBA, though it had been used informally by Stig Anderson and in Swedish media since at least the previous March.
As is well known Stig had started using the abbreviation ABBA, rather than the four names, when talking about the group. Swedish media had picked up on this. The first known appearance of ABBA, referring to the group, was in a newspaper was on 23 March.
“Yes, it is much easier to remember than Bjorn & Benny, Anna & Frida” is certainly the understatement of the year.
This letter came 12 days before the single was released in the UK branded ABBA, and 16 days before the group name appeared on a recording session sheet.
In light of this perhaps we can consider October 1st as the anniversary of the name ABBA.
📸 courtesy of Maurits Brands, posted in the Facebook groups ABBA Newsflash and ABBA – History and Music, used here by permission.
ABBA Omnibus blog 