The talent emerging from the Nordics seems to never end; Sigrid, Alan Walker, Boy Pablo, Volbeat, MØ, Alma, Zara Larsson, Of Monsters and Men, and the list goes on, have all built up a massive following, performing for thousands of fans around the world.
A vital part of the rise of these artists are the teams behind them, and especially the young forces who bring new perspectives, ideas and business models to an ever-changing industry. Therefore, for the second time, 20 young forces driving the Nordic industry forward are given the spotlight.
A vital part of the rise of these artists are the teams behind them, and especially the young forces who bring new perspectives, ideas and business models to an ever-changing industry. Therefore, for the second time, 20 young forces driving the Nordic industry forward are given the spotlight.
Meet them at by:Larm 2019
This year’s Nordic Music Biz’ 20 under 30 will be honored with a ceremony and lunch during by:Larm the 28th of February, where they will be presented with a diploma.
In addition, you can catch three of them in a panel discussion on Friday March 1st. “Shaking Up the Status Quo: Nordic Music Biz’ Top 20 Under 30″ will address how they got to where they are today, share their favourite tips and tricks as well as some of the biggest successes and screw-ups of their careers so far. More information here.
“With their ears to the street, they have an inspiring energy and a 2019-knowhow that is needed to take the music business into the next phase, their artists to the next level and the Nordic music industry to a even greater position international. To showcase the young talents that does the work behind the scenes – this is a highlight of the year for me” – Kahtrine Synnes Finnskog, Managing Director of Music Norway.
“We are very proud that the 20 under 30 are celebrated during by:Larm. The young talents are important, and it is substantial to us and the whole industry that new voices and talent emerge behind the stage as well. There is always a huge focus on artists, but we must not forget how important the men and women behind are as well. This prize is a part of putting the spotlight on them.” – Joakim Haugland, Head of Program at by:Larm,.
Sweden
Anton Waltari -Rightsholder Relations, STIM, Sweden
Anton Waltari.
Worked with sales and marketing in several years before starting in the music business. In 2015 started as an A&R in Record Union where he worked close with Mike Perry, Fricky, Ansiktet, Eric Gadd, Hov1, CLEO, VAX among many others. In 2017 he got headhunted as a Product Manager at Woah Dad!.
He oversaw the acquisition and development of three catalogs from Warner Music (Estelle, Ziggy Marley, Håkan Hellström, Broder Daniel, Serj Tankian among others) and managing distribution and promotion for new releases, both digital and physical (Popsicle, Esther Vallee, Johannes Räihä, Mouthe, Ola Salo and INVSN). In 2018 he started at Stim as a Rightsholder Relations Manager. His key purpose is to establish and develop the best digital products possible.
He oversaw the acquisition and development of three catalogs from Warner Music (Estelle, Ziggy Marley, Håkan Hellström, Broder Daniel, Serj Tankian among others) and managing distribution and promotion for new releases, both digital and physical (Popsicle, Esther Vallee, Johannes Räihä, Mouthe, Ola Salo and INVSN). In 2018 he started at Stim as a Rightsholder Relations Manager. His key purpose is to establish and develop the best digital products possible.
Dan Karlström -Senior International Creative Manager, Warner/Chappel, Sweden
Dan Karlström.
Joined the international booking agency Pitch & Smith in 2012 where he was elementary in signing Tove Lo and worked with artists such as Caribou and José Gonzalez among others. In 2015 her joined Warned/Chappel Scandinavia and got the position as Senior International Creative Manager in 2017.
During his years at Warner/Chappel he´s been working with songwriters and producers like Jason Gill, Jack & Coke and Jesper Borgen. He has also signed Finnish producer “Hank Solo”, also Danish producer/artist Vasco, norwegian pride Iselin Solheim and most recent Johanna Ekmark, aka Winona Oak. Dan joined Vivstilo in 2019 as a Songwriter- & Producer Manager.
During his years at Warner/Chappel he´s been working with songwriters and producers like Jason Gill, Jack & Coke and Jesper Borgen. He has also signed Finnish producer “Hank Solo”, also Danish producer/artist Vasco, norwegian pride Iselin Solheim and most recent Johanna Ekmark, aka Winona Oak. Dan joined Vivstilo in 2019 as a Songwriter- & Producer Manager.
Olivia Hessel -Head of label & partner relations, TEN, Sweden
Olivia Hessel.
Working at the independent 360° music company TEN Music Group where she started her career in 2015 after studying Music and Event Management. Now, 4 years later and as Head of Label and Partner Relations, Olivia oversees and is overall in charge of the artist projects signed to the label, in addition to managing the label team.
Together with her team she works closely with the record labels different partners both nationally and internationally. The daily focus lies in strategizing and planning the releases, handling the artist management side/artists development as well as overseeing brand partnerships and collaborations. She has been a key person in the progress of artists such as Zara Larsson, Benjamin Ingrosso and Felix Sandman.
Together with her team she works closely with the record labels different partners both nationally and internationally. The daily focus lies in strategizing and planning the releases, handling the artist management side/artists development as well as overseeing brand partnerships and collaborations. She has been a key person in the progress of artists such as Zara Larsson, Benjamin Ingrosso and Felix Sandman.
Markus Boström -Associate lawyer, Ström, Sweden
Markus Boström.
Markus began his career at international law firm Bird & Bird where he formed part of the music and entertainment team that subsequently left the firm and founded Ström. The team is frequently ranked as Sweden’s leading team in media, entertainment and music. Markus holds a law degree from Uppsala University.
Nicole O’Sullivan -Team Leader of the International Export team, Universal, Sweden
Nicole O’Sullivan.
Originally from Ireland, Nicole has been working at Universal Music Sweden for three years and is currently Team Lead of the International Export team, strategizing global marketing plans to promote our Scandinavian stars and place our up and coming artists on the map.
The team looks after artists including; Tove Lo, Notd, Avicii, Astrid S, LOVA, Sandro Cavazza, Seeb, and many more. Before moving to Stockholm Nicole studied Neuroscience in Dublin, and began her label career at Universal Music Ireland.
The team looks after artists including; Tove Lo, Notd, Avicii, Astrid S, LOVA, Sandro Cavazza, Seeb, and many more. Before moving to Stockholm Nicole studied Neuroscience in Dublin, and began her label career at Universal Music Ireland.
Norway
Benjamin Fabio -Founder and manager, 777, Norway
Benjamin Fabio.
The young man from Bergen is the founder and a manager in his own company, “777 MUSIC,” which is a record label, management and YouTube channel. He actually dropped out out of his last year of a degree in Business Administration in London to go all in on his management and label in Bergen, Norway.
Since then he has been a manager and done the creative work for Boy Pablo, which is a project he has been involved in from the beginning. He runs the music channel 777tv on YouTube with over 100.000 subscribers. In addition, the company 777 MUSIC is a cooperation between him, Boy Pablo and partners in the company “U OK?.”
“Together with Boy Pablo, Benjamin Fabio has convinced the world in an impressively short amount of time, that some of the best talent still comes from Bergen in Norway. He has jumped on each challenge along the way, worked playfully and creatively – and we know from history that the good managers have made “learning by doing” a life lesson,” the music Norway director says about Fabio.
Since then he has been a manager and done the creative work for Boy Pablo, which is a project he has been involved in from the beginning. He runs the music channel 777tv on YouTube with over 100.000 subscribers. In addition, the company 777 MUSIC is a cooperation between him, Boy Pablo and partners in the company “U OK?.”
“Together with Boy Pablo, Benjamin Fabio has convinced the world in an impressively short amount of time, that some of the best talent still comes from Bergen in Norway. He has jumped on each challenge along the way, worked playfully and creatively – and we know from history that the good managers have made “learning by doing” a life lesson,” the music Norway director says about Fabio.
Ksenia “Kess” Jurjevna Petrova – Agent, Atomic Soul, Norway
Ksenia “Kess” Petrova.
Ksenia Petrova, also known as Kess, is 27 years old and works as a booking agent at Atomic Soul. She’s been at Atomic for two years. Prior to her move to Atomic, she spent 5 years working with production, marketing and administration – amongst other tasks, at the club venue Blå in Oslo.
Kess is currently working with acts like Djerv, Dreamarcher, Eddy & Zino, Fanny Andersen, Hkeem, Lucy Swann, Jesper Jenset, Jonas Benyoub, Jimmy Smash, Oliver Hohlbrugger, Otha, OMVR og Seksuell.
“Kess has got flair, an aura and smartness that will get her far in the music business. She is a fresh breath of air in a tough agent business, but with her guts, she makes good deals and earns respect from artists, international contacts and Nordic colleagues,” Kathrine Synnes Finnskog says.
Kess is currently working with acts like Djerv, Dreamarcher, Eddy & Zino, Fanny Andersen, Hkeem, Lucy Swann, Jesper Jenset, Jonas Benyoub, Jimmy Smash, Oliver Hohlbrugger, Otha, OMVR og Seksuell.
“Kess has got flair, an aura and smartness that will get her far in the music business. She is a fresh breath of air in a tough agent business, but with her guts, she makes good deals and earns respect from artists, international contacts and Nordic colleagues,” Kathrine Synnes Finnskog says.
Lasse Kinden Endresen -Agent, ACT Entertainment, Norway
Lasse Kinden Endresen.
The soon to be 30 year old is a booking agent in “ACT Entertainment.” At ACT he works with acts such as Kakkmaddafakka, Kjartan Lauritzen, No. 4 and Hjerteslag. He used to live and work in Bergen, where he lived for seven years and worked for Stageway before moving to Oslo. Before Stageway he also worked for Made Management.
“Lasse has helped some of Norway’s most promising acts to become some of Norway’s biggest. He is works hard, has confidence, builds his network wherever he goes, is already considered as a long time professional and is respected in the industry,” Synnes Finnskog says.
“Lasse has helped some of Norway’s most promising acts to become some of Norway’s biggest. He is works hard, has confidence, builds his network wherever he goes, is already considered as a long time professional and is respected in the industry,” Synnes Finnskog says.
Yunus Daar, Manager -Nora Collective, Norway
Yunus Daar.
Yunus is born and raised in Bergen, Norway. He made a move to Oslo to work for the artist and creative collective,”Nora,” and work together with Ali Wali and Petter Wahlen, who included him from day one. Since 2015 he has worked creatively for Nora, and has been a part of shaping it into what it is today; one of the biggest labels and management companies for urban music in Norway.
Yunus has worked with brand development, project management, tour managing, events, booking, DJ (his own duo “Lotionboyz”), A&R, marketing, PR and design. In other words an already quite fruitful CV. The 23 year old is now managing the Norwegian artist “Philip Emilio,” and the new rising star, “Kapteinen.” In Nora’s roster you find artists such as Arif, Unge Ferrari, Loveless (Filip Kollsete and Eirik Tillerli) and the dancer, Mona Berntsen (dancer for Justin Bieber, Justin Timberlake, Cardi B among others).
“Nora has nurtured both artist and industry talent, and with his only 23 years, Yunus has already become well known in the Norwegian industry who has a good eye for the next urban stars. He is also one of the creative heads behind “plussfiresyv,” a concept that promotes and brings thhe Scandinavian urban scene together,” Synnes Finnskog says.
Yunus has worked with brand development, project management, tour managing, events, booking, DJ (his own duo “Lotionboyz”), A&R, marketing, PR and design. In other words an already quite fruitful CV. The 23 year old is now managing the Norwegian artist “Philip Emilio,” and the new rising star, “Kapteinen.” In Nora’s roster you find artists such as Arif, Unge Ferrari, Loveless (Filip Kollsete and Eirik Tillerli) and the dancer, Mona Berntsen (dancer for Justin Bieber, Justin Timberlake, Cardi B among others).
“Nora has nurtured both artist and industry talent, and with his only 23 years, Yunus has already become well known in the Norwegian industry who has a good eye for the next urban stars. He is also one of the creative heads behind “plussfiresyv,” a concept that promotes and brings thhe Scandinavian urban scene together,” Synnes Finnskog says.
Finland
Aino-Maria Paasivirta -Fullsteam, Promoter, Finland
Aino-Maria Paasivirta
Aino-Maria Paasivirta is a promoter at Fullsteam Agency. She started working at Fullsteam as assistant to founder Rauha Kyyrö, working with acts such as Big Boi, Jośe González, Franz Ferdinand, Wiz Khalifa, Jack White, Volbeat and Justin Bieber.
She has been booking foreign acts to Provinssi Festival (cap 32,000) together with Rauha the last 3 years. In 2017 Paasivirta took on the role of full-time promoter, and is the promoter for Allas Sea Pool, a 2500 capacity outdoor venue in downtown Helsinki. She is shortlisted on IQ’s New Bosses 2018 feature and she was rewarded the Future Visionary prize at the Finnish Industry Awards (Music and Media) 2018.
She has been booking foreign acts to Provinssi Festival (cap 32,000) together with Rauha the last 3 years. In 2017 Paasivirta took on the role of full-time promoter, and is the promoter for Allas Sea Pool, a 2500 capacity outdoor venue in downtown Helsinki. She is shortlisted on IQ’s New Bosses 2018 feature and she was rewarded the Future Visionary prize at the Finnish Industry Awards (Music and Media) 2018.
Rafael Elivuo -A&R Manager/producer/Director of Creative/Songwriter, Kaiku Songs, Finland
Rafael Elivuo.
Rafael Elivuo excels both as a music publisher and a songwriter/producer. He has a degree in law from the University of Helsinki. Songs written & produced by Rafael have gained over 35 million streams on Spotify during the past year. These include a Finnish Album Chart #1 in addition to 5 platinum singles and 6 gold singles.
His recent domestic cuts include Finnish A-list pop acts such as ABREU, Aleksanteri Hakaniemi, Lukas Leon and TIPPA. His recent international cuts include Isac Elliot. Rafael is based in Helsinki, but has extended his career to both Stockholm and Los Angeles. Rafael is a visionary go-getter who’s strongly steering Kaiku Songs towards international success. Writers from Rafael’s roster have cuts with several big international acts such as Blackbear, Galantis, Matoma, Jacob Sartorius and MAX.
His recent domestic cuts include Finnish A-list pop acts such as ABREU, Aleksanteri Hakaniemi, Lukas Leon and TIPPA. His recent international cuts include Isac Elliot. Rafael is based in Helsinki, but has extended his career to both Stockholm and Los Angeles. Rafael is a visionary go-getter who’s strongly steering Kaiku Songs towards international success. Writers from Rafael’s roster have cuts with several big international acts such as Blackbear, Galantis, Matoma, Jacob Sartorius and MAX.
Nino Lintermo -A&R @ The Fried Music & Independent Artist Manager, Finland
Nino Lintermo.
Based between Los Angeles and Helsinki Nino is an a&r and an artist manager working with both Scandinavian and U.S. talent. Lintermo made the move to LA in 2017 to study international music business in the University of California Los Angeles. The same year he signed with his first U.S. management client – rapper Shane Moyer.
In 2018 Lintermo graduated with honors from UCLA and joined The Fried Music as an a&r with sole focus on the international music publishing. Currently Nino is working with Fried Publishing co-founder Teemu Brunila in Los Angeles, constantly trying to find new opportunities for Fried Music’s writers & producers. At the same time Nino is very focused on scouting the best new Scandinavian talent and helping them break into the international market.
Before moving to Los Angeles Lintermo enjoyed a 4,5 year spell at Warner Music Finland.
In 2018 Lintermo graduated with honors from UCLA and joined The Fried Music as an a&r with sole focus on the international music publishing. Currently Nino is working with Fried Publishing co-founder Teemu Brunila in Los Angeles, constantly trying to find new opportunities for Fried Music’s writers & producers. At the same time Nino is very focused on scouting the best new Scandinavian talent and helping them break into the international market.
Before moving to Los Angeles Lintermo enjoyed a 4,5 year spell at Warner Music Finland.
Tina Jukarainen -artist manager and COO, Manage Me, Finland
Tina Jukarainen.
Tina Jukarainen is an artist manager and a COO of Manage Me, a management company that represents some of Finland’s biggest household names in pop music. Tina started her career in music at Finland’s music export organisation Music Finland where she worked as a project assistant. At Manage Me she works with some of Finland’s most successful artists and manages future superstars such as ILTA.
Tina is a vice board member of Music Managers’ Forum Finland, has worked as an international product manager for BMG Records and for the last three years she’s been the tour manager for Cheek, the biggest rap phenomenon in the history of Finnish music.
Tina is a vice board member of Music Managers’ Forum Finland, has worked as an international product manager for BMG Records and for the last three years she’s been the tour manager for Cheek, the biggest rap phenomenon in the history of Finnish music.
Iceland
Anna Ásthildur Thorsteinsson -Online marketing manager, Iceland Airwaves, Iceland
Anna Ásthildur Thorsteinsson.
Anna graduated in 2011 from the University of Iceland with a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing & International Business. After graduating Anna worked freelance in the music industry for the Icelandic Music Awards, Ásgeir, IFPI Iceland and more before starting to work full time for Iceland Music Export.
In 2016 she moved to Berlin where she continued to work for the export office as well as being project manager for Ja Ja Ja Berlin, Marketing Director for Sónar Reykjavík and starting a small techno label with friend Exos called X/OZ. She currently works as marketing manager for Iceland Airwaves and Sena Live.
In 2016 she moved to Berlin where she continued to work for the export office as well as being project manager for Ja Ja Ja Berlin, Marketing Director for Sónar Reykjavík and starting a small techno label with friend Exos called X/OZ. She currently works as marketing manager for Iceland Airwaves and Sena Live.
Sigríður “Sigga” Ólafsdóttir -Festival director, Sónar Reykjavík, Iceland
Sigríður “Sigga” Ólafsdóttir.
Sigríður Ólafsdóttir, or Sigga, started working in the Icelandic music business at 18 years of age. Sigga has worked all major festivals in Iceland for the past 7 years, most recently having gotten promoted to festival director at Sónar Reykjavík.
She has managed Icelandic bands both in Iceland and abroad, including Retro Stefson and is currently managing party powerhouse FM Belfast. Sigga is an experienced event and film producer and the go-to person for any kind of artistic production in Iceland. She commands an extensive network of contacts in the music and entertainment scene, which adds great value to any undertaking.
She has managed Icelandic bands both in Iceland and abroad, including Retro Stefson and is currently managing party powerhouse FM Belfast. Sigga is an experienced event and film producer and the go-to person for any kind of artistic production in Iceland. She commands an extensive network of contacts in the music and entertainment scene, which adds great value to any undertaking.
Unnsteinn Manuel Stefánsson -Label management/Radio director, Les Fréres Stefson/101derland, Iceland
Unnsteinn Manuel Stefánsson.
Co-owner of the label Les Fréres Stefson that houses the most prominent musicians of the Icelandic hip hop and R&B scene as well as their producers and visual artists. For the year 2018 the label roster counted 10 million hits on Spotify. Last November Unnsteinn added a radio station to the organisation. 101 Radio consist of a group of creative people that hosts daily programs and music 24/7.
Unnsteinn has also done TV shows for the Icelandic Broadcasting Service (RÚV) and was elected TV personality of the year 2017. In 2019 Unnsteinn is exploring the world of music publishing and possibilities of exporting Icelandic music through publishing and sync.
Unnsteinn has also done TV shows for the Icelandic Broadcasting Service (RÚV) and was elected TV personality of the year 2017. In 2019 Unnsteinn is exploring the world of music publishing and possibilities of exporting Icelandic music through publishing and sync.
Denmark
Emil Byskov Valnert -Head of Brand Partnership, Warner, Denmark
Emil Byskov Valnert.
Emil Valnert has been behind some of the biggest commercial partnerships in the last five years. With a degree in Strategic Communication he started his career within the music industry by helping acts as Lukas Graham, Medina, and Alesso to create commercial campaigns centered around the love of music with commercial heavyweights as Unilever, Schweppes, Tuborg and more.
Since early 2016, Emil Valnert has, as Head of Brand Partnership at Warner Music Denmark, helped brands and agencies create consumer love and engagement through creative commercial partnerships with artists as Christopher, MORTEN, Ida Corr and Soleima.
Since early 2016, Emil Valnert has, as Head of Brand Partnership at Warner Music Denmark, helped brands and agencies create consumer love and engagement through creative commercial partnerships with artists as Christopher, MORTEN, Ida Corr and Soleima.
Jens Uhre Karlsson -Agent&Manager, BAEST/Skandinavian
Jens Uhre Karlsson.
Jens Uhre Karlsson works for the Aarhus-based Skandinavian Booking, where he manages the band BAEST, and also works with several other small- and midsized bands.In October 2015 Jens started from scratch as a manager of the death metal band BAEST and have since then been working strategically and passionately with the band.
Today BAEST has a record deal with the major label Century Media Records and are working with booking agencies Skandinavian in Denmark and Doomstar Bookings in EU on increasing tour activity throughout Europe.
Today BAEST has a record deal with the major label Century Media Records and are working with booking agencies Skandinavian in Denmark and Doomstar Bookings in EU on increasing tour activity throughout Europe.
Signe Tobiassen -A&R/ Artist manager/radio host/ label manager, Nelson Can/Sony/CPH College Radio, Denmark
Signe Tobiassen.
Over the last seven years she has worked as pretty much everything from being an Artist Manager to A&R, radio host at DR and whatever is in between. She currently works freelance as an A&R consultant at Sony Music Entertainment Denmark while finishing her Master’s Degree in Management of Creative Business Processes from Copenhagen Business School.
Besides various freelance jobs and projects she is also actively involved in the debate about how the secondary ticketing market will shape the future economy for the live Industry.
Besides various freelance jobs and projects she is also actively involved in the debate about how the secondary ticketing market will shape the future economy for the live Industry.
Tim Brauner -Senior Director of A&R, Warner/Atlantic, Denmark
Tim Brauner.
After several years in the music industry Tim joined Tim joined Warner Denmark as an A&R.Shortly after, Tim signed Faustix (Diplo, Alvaro and more), and the first cross over record from Faustix that they put out, ‘Come Closer’, went Gold in both Denmark and Norway and over the following 2 years, Faustix racked up +115 million streams on Spotify.
During his time with Warner Music Denmark, Tim signed artists like Soleima, rising star Nicklas Sahl, AV AV AV, MORTEN and a handful of successful domestic Danish urban artists like Eebz, Bar Z, Milbo, BasedBoys and Livid. In 2017, Tim teamed up with Gina Tucci, to work Soleima in the US. In May 2018, Gina Tucci and Craig Kallman (CEO, Atlantic Records) hired Tim for his current job, and on November 15th, 2018, Tim stepped in as Senior Director of A&R at Big Beat in New York. Shortly after joining Big Beat/Atlantic Records, Tim signed both Soleima and Danish producer Vasco to each their artist deal at Atlantic US.
During his time with Warner Music Denmark, Tim signed artists like Soleima, rising star Nicklas Sahl, AV AV AV, MORTEN and a handful of successful domestic Danish urban artists like Eebz, Bar Z, Milbo, BasedBoys and Livid. In 2017, Tim teamed up with Gina Tucci, to work Soleima in the US. In May 2018, Gina Tucci and Craig Kallman (CEO, Atlantic Records) hired Tim for his current job, and on November 15th, 2018, Tim stepped in as Senior Director of A&R at Big Beat in New York. Shortly after joining Big Beat/Atlantic Records, Tim signed both Soleima and Danish producer Vasco to each their artist deal at Atlantic US.
