Finnish president Tarja Halonen has awarded Music Export Finland the 2010 Internationalization Award for their excellence in promoting Finnish business (and in this case, art) abroad: http://www.musex.fi/en/news/music-export-finland-receives-the-internationalization-award-of-the-preside/
Quoteth the article: "Music Export Finland is the first organisation to win the award that operates in an industry, where revenues are primarily derived from the sales of immaterial goods – in this case the music copyrights, as well as a whole range of other music-related services and products."
Happy 5th birthday to Swedish music blog Absolut Noise: http://absolutnoise.blogspot.com/2011/02/absolut-noise-is-five-years-old.html
Likewise, happy 2nd birthday to online newsletter/webzine The Swede Beat who are turning 2 and celebrating with a clubnight in Brooklyn featuring a DJ set from Victoria Bergsman/Taken By Trees: http://www.theswedebeat.com/events
When I started this site way back when there was literally no one else out there exclusively covering Scandinavian music. Over the years, many sites have come and gone, but for the ones that stick around: much love! It makes my job easier and the more niches we all cover, the better it is for the readers and the artists.
Iceland Music Export on "Iceland: Beyond Sigur Rós", a new not-for-profit 30m documentary on the Icelandic music scene which is available for free streaming online: http://www.icelandmusic.is/News/1684/Iceland--Beyond-Sigur-Ros---New-Music-Documentary--/default.aspx
Featured artists include Ólafur Arnalds, Hafdis Huld, Mugison, Bloodgroup, For A Minor Reflection, Seabear and more plus a number of behind-the-scenes folks such as journalists and producers.
London-based Scandinavian music showcase Ja Ja Ja has announced that their next gig on February 24 will include the actually quite promisingly solid lineup of Kellermensch, Årabrot and Deathcrush as curated by The Quietus and The Stool Pigeon. Read more: http://www.jajajamusic.com/news.php?id=56
The Swedish Music Information Centre is giving away copies of a CD sampler featuring a selection of tunes recorded at Swedish Jazz Celebration 2010: [click here]
Featured artists include some of Sweden's finest, such as Mats Öberg & Jonas Knutsson, Karin Hammar Quartet, Jacob Karlzon Trio and more.
The Øya Festival will onceagain be sending Norwegian talent abroad, this time to London for a couple gigs in late February in association with Field Day and Club NME. The featured acts: Team Me and Lucy Swann. Full details: http://www.listento.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2011013112581187917601
The Danish indie label alliance is passing along their distribution arm over to the newly-founded : http://labelkollektiv.com/news/goodbye-labelkollektiv-distribution-welcome-rillbar-distribution/
Rillbar is founded by the folks behind who also work at the Copenhagen-based record store Route 66. As for , the alliance of Aalborg-based labels will still continue to works towards common goals for promoting eachother's music.
The Danish Cultural Institute in Brazil in collaboration with Brazilian cultural institution SESC have arranged for the three Danish acts Efterklang, Søren Bebe Trio and Jakob Davidsen Mangfoldighed to perform there as part of a Danish music fest called "Mostra de Música Dinamarquesa" which will take place at the end of the month. My Portuguese is a bit rusty, but I do believe that details on the shows can be found here: http://www.sescsp.org.br/sesc/programa_new/busca.cfm?conjunto_id=8085
Listen to Norway runs down the 18 Norwegian acts now confirmed for SXSW 2011: http://www.listento.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2011011114030711899290
The list: Altaar, Benea Reach, Casiokids, Datarock, Death Crush, Forza, Harry`s Gym, DE Håker Flaten, Kvelertak, Marit Larsen, The Megaphonic Thrift, My Little Pony, Nico D & Admiral P, Serpentine, Simon Says No!, Sondre Lerche, Tôg and Youth Pictures Of Florence Henderson.
Tom Robinson from BBC6 Music Introducing has been selected as January's curator for London-based Scandinavian music showcase Ja Ja Ja. His selections for January 27: Murmansk, Montée and Benni Hemm Hemm.
The Embassies of Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway are collaborating together on a Scandinavian music showcase in Zürich, Switzerland entitled "Sounds Nordic, Sounds Good!". The inaugural event will happen on January 16 and will feature representatives from each of the four countries: Saybia, Sivert Høyem, The Amplifetes and Sweatmaster. For more details, go here or here.
Though not directly Scandinavian music-related, this feature on Spotify from the January 2011 issue of Wired is worth checking out: http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/12/mf_spotify/
I would love to integrate Spotify links with the site, especially since the catalog includes a vast majority of the music I cover, but alas I cannot. Honestly, I'd be more than content with a version of Spotify with only Scandinavian/Euro artists, but I doubt that'll ever happen either. Bummer.
Best album: Håkan Hellström - 2 Steg Från Paradise Oskar Linnros - Vilja Bli Robyn - Body Talk Säkert! - Facit The Radio Dept. - Clinging To a Scheme
Best artist: Håkan Hellström Johnossi Oskar Linnros Petter Robyn
Best song: Anna Bergendahl - This Is My Life Daniel Adams-Ray - Gubben I Lådan Eric Saade - Manboy Erik Grönwall - Higher Johnossi - What's The Point Mohombi - Bumpy Ride Oskar Linnros - Från Och Med Du Robyn - Dancing On my Own Salem Al Fakir - Keep On Walking Swedish House Mafia – One
Best group: Dungen - Skit I Allt Hästpojken - Från Där Jag Ropar Johnossi - Mavericks Kent - En Plats I Solen The Radio Dept. - Clinging To A Scheme
Best folk/visa: Blandade Artister - Sonja Åkesson Tolkad Av First Aid Kit - The Big Black & The Blue Jonas Knutsson - Blåslåtar Ola Magnell - Rolös Toni Holgersson - Ibland Kallar Jag Det Kärlek
Best hardrock/metal: Ghost - Opus Eponymous Khoma - A Final Storm Pascal - Orkanen Närmar Sig Sabaton - Coat Of Arms Watain - Lawless Darkness
Best jazz: Dan Berglunds Tonbruket - Tonbruket Goran Kajfes - X/Y Magnus Carlson & The Moon Ray Quintet - Echoes Oddjob - Clint Peter Asplund Quartet - Asplund Meets Bernstein
Best songwriter: Annika Norlin & Henrik Oja - Facit Håkan Hellström - 2 Steg Från Paradise Klas Åhlund & Robyn - Body Talk Oskar Linnros - Vilja Bli Pernilla Andersson - Ö
Best female artist: Anna Von Hausswolff - Singing FromThe Grave Britta Persson - Current Affair Medium Rare Pernilla Andersson - Ö Robyn - Body Talk Säkert! - Facit
Best male artist: Daniel Adams-Ray - Svart Vitt Och Allt Däremellan Håkan Hellström - 2 Steg Från Paradise Oskar Linnros - Vilja Bli Salem Al Fakir - Ignore This The Tallest Man On Earth - The Wild Hunt
Best newcomer: Anna Von Hausswolff - Singing From The Grave Ceo - White Magic First Aid Kit - The Big Black & The Blue Oskar Linnros - Vilja Bli Swedish House Mafia - Until One
Best producer: Adrian Lux Joakim Åhlund & Håkan Hellström Klas Åhlund Max Martin Red One
Best international success: Dungen Max Martin Red One Robyn Swedish House Mafia
Best lyrics: Annika Norlin - Facit Håkan Hellström - 2 Steg Från Paradise Ola Magnell - Rolös Oskar Linnros - Vilja Bli Plura Jonsson - Kärlekens Väg - En Mässa
Best urban/dance: Boeoes Kaelstigen - Tanum Teleport Familjen - Mänskligheten Petter - En Räddare I Nöden PH3 - PH3 Löser Ett Fall Swedish House Mafia - Until One
Best Innovator: Johnossi Robyn Nomy Magnus Weideskog Iamamiwhoami
Winners will be announced at a ceremony at Kungliga Operan in Stockholm on January 17.
Danish indie label mainstays (Figurines, Oh No Ono, etc.) turns 10 years old in 2011 and will mark the occasion by throwing a celebratory show at Loppen in Copenhagen on April 15 and then shutting down for good. Read more: http://gaffa.dk/nyhed/45096 (in Danish)
The 25 Swedish nominees for the Nordic Music Prize have been revealed: http://gradvall.se/artiklar.asp?entry_id=695
These 25 will eventually be whittled down to 10 who will go up against 10 selections from each of the other Scandinavian countries which will then be narrowed down even further to a top 12 to be presented to the jury for the final prize.