Nesten alene: Artisten, økonomien og bransjen

Abstract

This chapter explores the framework conditions under which Norwegian artists and managers work and discusses them against a backdrop of established theories on the effects of digitalization. The author’s ambition is to expand our understanding of how the current business of music works by focusing on the people who work with it. The chapter draws on a series of interviews with ten Norwegian artists and managers conducted during the winter of 2019/2020. Building on these interviews, this chapter argues that while digitalization certainly has offered artists and managers a range of possibilities, many of the ways they work are variations on traditional structures and models. A key finding in this research is that economic predictability and stability is central to how Norwegian artists and managers organize themselves and their work.