Career
As the owner and manager of the record company Mariann Grammofon Bachelor of Arts, Karlsson became a familiar face to the Swedish public as the man behind Carola Häggkvist. In 1984 he started Skara Sommarland, a theme park. Attracting major media attention, and with a patriotic platform, the party received 6.7 percent of the vote in the parliamentary election in September.
He has started the popular Swedish reality television show Fame Factory, (a programme somewhat similar to the British show People’s Idol), in which he played an important role.
Many Mariann artists have entered Melodifestivalen, the Swedish qualifications for the Eurovision Song Contest. From 1978 to 2005, approximately 120 songs from Karlsson"s record company competed, and 14 of these went on to represent Sweden in the Eurovision Song contest.
In March 2005, Karlsson filled out an application for membership in the Liberal People"s Party during a television interview. When the party immediately responded with criticism of him, calling the move a media stunt, he did not go through with his application.
Karlsson was a judge in the first five seasons of the television show "Talang" on TV4, the Swedish version of America"s Got Talent, between 2007–2011.