2fortheroad comes to the end

2fortheroad, a German booking agency that handled a large number of Scandinavian acts, has closed shop: https://www.2fortheroad.de/

Friendly Noise tries new tact for 2009

Swedish label Friendly Noise has outlined their plans for 2009 which will include a new limited release every three months, should they receive enough pre-orders to make it worthwhile: https://www.friendlynoise.se/guide-to-friendly-noises-release-plan-for-2009-in-ten-points/
First up is the new album "Aquatint" from Testbild!. Click the above link for more info and preorder details.

Follow the money

The recipients of this year's Kulturrådet (Swedish Arts Council) grants have been announced, the biggest recipient being Hybris: https://www.kulturradet.se/templates/KR_Page.aspx?id=4184&epslanguage=SV

Expect lots more Norwegian bands in the UK very soon...

Music Export Norway has worked out a deal with instrument rental service FX Group to get 50% off in UK: https://www.musicexportnorway.no/music-export-norway-signs-deal-with-uk-rental-company.4538411-32166.html

Physical album sales are down all over, but that doesn't seem to be stopping Warner from launching ADA Nordic: https://www.musikindustrin.se/artikel/335/Warner_Music_lanserar_distributoren_ADA_i_Norden.html (in Swedish)

The Svenska Musikerförbundet is the new owner of Digfi as of December. Read more: https://www.digfi.com/default.aspx?id=12199 (in Swedish)

Danish music mag Gaffa is celebrating their 25th anniversary by working to get their archives online: https://gaffa.dk/nyhed/30181

Swedish indie labels NONS and Novoton have joined forces in the new company 3NO Music AB. Read the press release: https://www.3no.se/ (in Swedish)

Baskery, Billy the Vision and the Dancers, Firefox AK, First Aid Kit, Marching Band, Nina Kinert, Pacific!, The Tallest Man on Earth and Zeigeist have been selected to represent Sweden at the new EuroSonic music conference in Groningen (NL) on January 15-17.

I didn't notice until MI alerted me, but Swedish demo music site All Ears is now closed.

MI reports that Kaine Taylor of indie label I Made This has moved on to Air Chrysalis Scandinavia AB: https://www.musikindustrin.se/140/nyheter.html
UPDATE: Kaine has informed me that he is still co-owner of I Made This and is working as an A&R manager for Air Chrysalis Scandinavia in addition to his duties at IMT.

The Music Export Finland newsletter for November is online: https://musex.fi/mxf/news?articleId=172

UK-based Swedophiles Tack! Tack! Tack! are taking it back to Sweden with a tour/lecture series later this month. Dates and details at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/tacktacktack
Quoteth the press release: "The keynote lectures will present a roadmap of the Swedish music ecosystem, alongside takeaways for how to leverage social media tools to reach an international audience of tastemakers and superfans."

Music Export Norway reports that the "Born to be Wide" clubnight in Edinburgh, Scotland is devoting the evening of November 6 to the music of Norway with DJs and a seminar: https://www.musicexportnorway.no/norwegian-focus-in-scotland.4523612-32166.html

The latest Music Export Finland newsletter is now online: https://musex.fi/mxf/news?articleId=171