Nina Qvam Appointed New Managing Director of Music Norway
The Board of Music Norway has appointed Nina Qvam as the new Managing Director for a five-year term. Over the past year, Qvam has served as Acting Managing Director of the organization and has led Music Norway through a demanding and important period.
“We are very pleased that Nina Qvam has accepted the position as Managing Director of Music Norway. She knows the organization well, has demonstrated confident and steady leadership, and represents both continuity and renewal at a time when the music industry is undergoing rapid change,” says Chair of the Board Stein Bjelland.
The recruitment process was led by a hiring committee consisting of the Chair of the Board, the Deputy Chair, and employee-elected representatives, with support from Hodejegerne. Following a thorough and comprehensive recruitment process involving 43 applicants, two rounds of interviews, personality assessments, and case presentations, Qvam was assessed as the best-qualified candidate to lead the organization going forward.
Stable Leadership and Strategic Development
Music Norway’s societal mission is to increase exports and international interest in Norwegian music, operating at the intersection of business, art, and politics. Throughout the process, the Board emphasized the need for a unifying leader with a strategic perspective, strong execution capabilities, and high integrity.
“Nina has shown that she is able to combine structure and direction with a solid understanding of the organization’s role in a complex and fragmented field. She has clear ideas on how strategy should be translated into concrete action, and how we can further develop both the organization and our collaboration with the industry,” Bjelland says.
“A Motivating and Meaningful Mission”
Nina Qvam has more than 20 years of experience in the music industry, including from Universal Music Norway, where she held leadership roles in international repertoire, marketing, and strategy. Over the past year, she has been employed at Music Norway as Acting Managing Director.
“Music Norway has an important and meaningful mission. I find it both motivating and a great responsibility to be entrusted with leading the organization forward. Norwegian music is performing strongly internationally, but we are also facing significant changes—politically, technologically, and in the market. This calls for clear priorities, strong analyses, and close teamwork internally and with the industry,” says Qvam.
She highlights in particular the need to further develop initiatives in close dialogue with the industry, strengthen decision-making through analysis and evaluation, and build on the strategic work already in place.
“I am focused on creating direction and a sense of security within the organization, while also challenging ourselves and the industry to think long-term and sustainably about international growth and the music business. I would also like to express my sincere thanks to Tone Østerdal. It means a great deal to us that we are able to retain her expertise, political insight, and experience within the organization in her new role,” she says.
Continuity and Renewal
The Board emphasizes that the appointment of Qvam represents a continuation of the organization’s work, while also enabling further development in line with new frameworks and ambitions.
“We believe Nina Qvam is the right person to lead Music Norway at this time. She combines deep industry knowledge with strong strategic competence and a clear desire to further develop the organization. We look forward to working together in the years ahead,” Bjelland concludes.