How can we create an environment for a music scene where being a musician is not only about performing on Orange Stage, but about building a lifelong career with room for both artistic development and financial stability? The much-discussed report When Music Speaks (2024) shows that a large proportion of especially younger musicians experience poor well-being and struggle to create a financially sustainable life. So, have expectations for life as a musician gone wrong?
In an era of massive expectations for constant visibility, high streaming numbers, and sold-out venues, the traditional notion of success can push many out of music before they even manage to find their footing. But what does a sustainable music career really look like? Should we rethink the very concepts of success and career – and instead talk about music as a craft and a lifelong practice? How are educational institutions and other relevant stakeholders working to prepare future generations for a working life that encompasses both artistic ambition and a stable existence?
Meet Stine Glismand (Berklee College of Music, Valencia), Kristina Holgersen (DJM), Thomas Sandberg (DMF) and Thorbjørn Lervig (musician, producer, and songwriter) for a discussion about ways to create a more sustainable livelihood in music – and how we can create new narratives about success.
Panelists: Stine Glismand, Berklee College of Music, Valencia // Kristina Holgersen, DJM // Thorbjørn Lervig, musician, producer, and songwriter // Thomas Sandberg, chairperson, DMF
The panel is moderated by Christina Holm Dahl, Syddansk Musikkonservatorium.
The session will be held in Danish.
Presented by Promus and SPOT+.