Blog

Would you ask your carpenter to work for half the price because you 'love his craftsmanship'?Maybe it's time we asked ourselves the same question when it comes to how we value musicians.Music is a craft – not just a hobby when it’s on stageFar too often, musicians are expected to work for little or no pay, or to accept "exposure" as a form of compensation. But music is a true craft. It takes years of practice, investment in equipment, and immense dedication to deliver a professional performance.Playing a concert or performing at an event is not just a pleasure for the musician – it creates real value for venues, organizers, and audiences.When we willingly pay good money for a skilled carpenter, a photographer, or a chef, we should show the same respect for the professionals who provide the soundtrack to our lives.

"We musicians are like vultures, constantly forced to undercut ourselves. No other workplace would ever accept that."This is how one musician described the current state of the booking world when responding to our survey. And they’re absolutely right.Today, too many musicians are paying just to be listed on platforms – with no guarantee of getting gigs. When opportunities do arise, they’re often met with clients who don’t respect their rates and push them into bidding wars where the cheapest offer wins, not the best musical experience.Talent, skill, and professionalism are pushed aside in favor of the lowest price.

From the Practice Room to the Real WorldEvery day, music schools and high schools nurture new talent. Young people learn technique, theory, collaboration, and creative expression in safe environments. But when the diploma is handed out and the familiar routine ends, many are met with a reality they are unprepared for. New rules apply: networking, visibility, experience, and the ability to seize opportunities that aren't listed in any textbook.

It wasn’t long ago that music was something we experienced together. It lived in rehearsal spaces, basements, and behind-the-bar stages. It thrived in jam sessions, noticeboards in music shops, and handwritten ads seeking bandmates.But something has changed.Today, music lives mostly online. Solo artists share their latest releases on Instagram, Spotify links are dropped in stories, and algorithms determine who gets heard. It’s not all bad – but along the way, we’ve lost something: the collective.

Musicians are burning themselves out physically and mentally just to stay afloat. This isn’t sustainable – not economically, not personally. It’s time to rethink what sustainability really means.When we hear the word “sustainability,” we often think about carbon footprints, green energy, and climate goals. But sustainability is also about people – and the systems they work in. One of those systems, often overlooked, is the music industry.

Imagine a guitarist with a dream. She writes songs in a small apartment in Aarhus, plays shows with her band across Denmark, and maybe has an EP ready that deserves to be heard. But aside from writing the songs and performing them, she's also expected to to a whole range of other tasks