By Bertil Laursen
An intimate and tension-filled room sets the scene as a panel of voices from the Danish music industry takes their seats for the debate: “Who sets the agenda in the music industry – and are we overlooking something?” The question hangs heavy in the air. For many in the room, it’s no longer about identifying the problems – it’s about finally taking action.
“Stop talking about it – and do it.”
These words from singer and debater Sana Sey strike as a call to action, not just aimed at the industry, but at everyone present. She speaks openly about feeling invisible as a brown woman in the music scene:
“I have to work five times harder than others. I don’t feel welcome. It’s still the same white men we see on the stages.”
Sana Sey is not alone in her frustration. Several panelists point out that structures and old codes – often invisible to those who benefit from them – still influence who gets a seat at the table, and who is left out.
“I couldn’t decode it. I felt like an outsider.”
This is how Esben Marcher from Dansk Live describes his encounter with certain music environments dominated by a “heavy street attitude” and unspoken norms. It becomes clear how cultural and social codes can be exclusionary – and how these must be challenged in order for more people to see themselves reflected on stage.
Diversity Is Not a Checkbox, but a Process
Esben Marcher emphasizes further that diversity is not a checklist. “There’s no single solution – the only solution is constant focus. Venues must reflect the society they’re part of.”
He points out that action is needed on many levels: from making stages accessible to people in wheelchairs to ensuring geographic and ethnic representation.
Isabella Hindkjær, editorial director at DR P3, adds:
“It’s a project we’re all responsible for. Diversity shouldn’t be parked on one person’s shoulders.”
She calls diversity a requirement – not just a moral one, but a necessity for telling the right stories and avoiding the reproduction of stereotypes.
We Must Think Intersectionally
Loui Tornquist, chairperson of Koda, who works actively with diversity strategies, believes the industry is still stumbling in the dark:
“We haven’t fixed anything yet. We need to think intersectionally – building on gender, ethnicity, and class. Women are still underrepresented. It’s a long, tough journey.”
She uses the metaphor of removing the “black box” – the hidden mechanisms and habits – as a way to open up for more honest reflection within the industry.
“What’s the Next Blind Spot?”
Moderator Erkan Cakmak steers the debate with both precision and sensitivity.
“There are many beautiful things happening right now,” he says, while reminding the panel and audience that there are still far too few who “look like me in this room.”
He encourages self-examination: What blind spots do we still have? Who still hasn’t been handed a microphone?
The debate ends not with an answer – but with an acknowledgment. Representation, justice, and real access require persistence, critical self-reflection, and, most importantly, action.
Because, as several panelists said: It’s not about talking about diversity. It’s about doing it.
Photo: Stine Rosemunte
Af Bertil Laursen, journalist
Et intimt og spændingsmættet lokale danner rammen, da et panel af stemmer fra den danske musikbranche tager plads til debatten “Hvem sætter dagsordenen i musikbranchen – og overser vi noget?”. Spørgsmålet hænger tungt i luften. For mange i rummet handler det ikke længere om at identificere problemerne – men om endelig at tage handling.
“Stop med at snakke om det – og gør det.”
Ordene fra sanger og debattør Sana Sey rammer som en opfordring, ikke kun til branchen, men til hele salen. Hun fortæller ærligt om at føle sig usynlig som brun kvinde i musikmiljøet:
“Jeg skal arbejde fem gange hårdere end andre. Jeg føler ikke, jeg er velkommen. Det er stadig de samme hvide mænd, vi ser på scenerne.”
Sana Sey er ikke alene i sin frustration. Flere i panelet peger på, at strukturer og gamle koder – ofte usynlige for dem, der selv er en del af dem – stadig præger, hvem der får plads, og hvem der falder udenfor.
“Jeg kunne ikke afkode det. Jeg følte mig ved siden af.”
Sådan beskriver Esben Marcher fra Dansk Live mødet med visse musikmiljøer præget af “tung gadeattitude” og usagte normer. Her bliver det tydeligt, hvordan kulturelle og sociale koder kan virke ekskluderende – og hvordan netop disse skal udfordres, hvis flere skal kunne spejle sig i scenen.
Mangfoldighed er ikke et punkt, men en proces
Esben Marcher understreger yderligere, at mangfoldighed ikke er en tjekliste.
“Der er ikke én løsning – den eneste løsning er konstant fokus. Koncertstederne skal afspejle det samfund, de er en del af.”
Han peger på, at det kræver handling på mange niveauer: fra at gøre scenerne tilgængelige for folk med kørestole til at sikre geografisk og etnisk repræsentation.
Isabella Hindkjær, redaktionschef DR P3, supplerer: “Det er et projekt, vi alle er forpligtede til. Man skal ikke parkere mangfoldighed på én persons skuldre.”
Hun kalder mangfoldighed et krav – ikke bare moralsk, men som en nødvendighed for at kunne fortælle de rigtige historier og undgå at reproducere stereotyper.
Vi må tænke intersektionelt
Loui Tornquist, forperson for Koda, der selv arbejder med mangfoldighedsstrategier, mener, at branchen stadig famler i mørke: “Vi har ikke fikset noget endnu. Vi skal tænke intersektionelt – bygge oven på køn, etnicitet, klasse. Kvinder er stadig underrepræsenterede. Det er et langt, sejt træk.”
Hun bruger metaforen om at fjerne den “sorte kasse” – de skjulte mekanismer og vaner – som en måde at åbne for mere ærlig refleksion i branchen.
“Hvad er det næste blinde punkt?”
Moderator Erkan Cakmak styrer debatten med både skarphed og følsomhed.
“Der sker mange smukke ting lige nu,” siger han, men minder samtidig panelet og salen om, at der stadig er alt for få, der “ligner mig i rummet.”
Han opfordrer til selvransagelse: Hvilke blinde vinkler har vi stadig? Hvem mangler stadig at få en mikrofon stukket i hånden?
Debatten slutter ikke med et svar – men med en erkendelse. Repræsentation, retfærdighed og reel adgang kræver vedholdenhed, kritisk selvransagelse og ikke mindst handling. For som flere i panelet sagde: Det handler ikke om at tale om mangfoldighed. Det handler om at gøre det.
Foto: Stine Rosemunte
