Nordic Music Biz announces Top 20 Under 30 winners

For the fourth year in a row, The Nordics officially announce the 20 young forces driving the Nordic music industry forward with Nordic Music Biz Top 20 Under 30.

Written by Kristiane Lunde 21.09.2021

Skjermbilde 2021 09 08 kl 11 40 01
Top 20 Under 30

A vital part of the rise of Nordic pop culture and global influence are the teams behind the scenes, especially the young forces who bring new perspectives, ideas and business models to an ever-changing industry. The revered judging panel shines a spotlight on 20 future business executives, with a ceremony at annual by:Larm Festival on Thursday 30 September, one of the the most important festivals for the Nordic music industry and the best new music, taking place in the centre of Oslo, Norway.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen that the recruitment of young people into the music industry is more important than ever.

— Nina Finnerud, Head of UK at Music Norway

- It’s crucial to show the new generation of managers, labels, agents, festivals etc. that it is a safe and rewarding industry to work in and choose as a career. It is also vital to make sure the artists have talented people to work with them and look out for their best interest in the future, says Finnerud.

- Nordic Music Biz believe that looking after and nurturing the new generation of music industry professionals is crucial and by lifting The Nordic Music Biz Top 20 Under 30, can build on the foundation of the successful award and create a platform where ideas and experiences are shared, connections are made and intra Nordic collaborations are created. These people are part of the future of our industry, continues Finnerud.

The winners of the Nordic Music Biz Top 20 Under 30 were chosen based on company growth, career path, recognition in the industry, influence in the industry in 2020, artistic development, innovation, concert revenues, sales, streaming, campaigns, radio and television publicity.

The five winners from Norway are:

Erlend Buflaten, 29
CEO and co-founder Propeller Management

Ziwer Teli, 23
Artist Manager, GR:OW

Johanna Alem, 29
Head of Event & Promotion, Universal Music Norway

Julie Rogstad Sandberg, 29
A&R, Sony Music Norway

Renate Eggan, 29
Project and Communication manager, TEMPO

The other winners are:
Creed Media (Timothy Collins og Hugo LePrince), Lina Pettersson (Live Nation), Anton Madock (Amuse), Sara Faraj (Asylum/Warner Music Sweden AB), Amanda Kiflay (Sony Music Publishing Scandinavia), Nikolaj Stavnstrup (Escho), Thea Moe (Glass Management), Jakob Løkkegaard-Friese (WAS Entertainment), Maria Borg (Discowax), Katarina Julie Madsen (Edition Wilhelm Hansen), Teea Kasurinen (Universal Music Finland), Hannes Andersson (Mantik Music Group & CMO, oeksound Ltd.), Saara Everi (PME Records), Ægir Sindri Bjarnason (R6013 & ´Why Not?´ Records) og Bergþór Másson.

The Nordic judges for 2021:
Annika Oksanen (Live Nation), Hildur Maral (Mercury KX (Decca/Universal Music Group), Loui Tornqvist (Edition Wilhelm Hansen (publisher), Diego Farias (Amuse), Amanuel Kidane (GR:OW), Nino Lintermo (Nordic Music Partners), Magnus Bjarni Grondal (Artist and independent PR consultant), Jesper Majdall (Bremen Teater and Hotel Cecil), Jennifer Gunn (MADE Management), Petra Piiroinen (Meidän Festivaali), Anna Sjölund (Live Nation Sweden), Nikoo Sadr (The Orchard), Sandra Barilli (Independent project manager and producer), Katja Sønderhauge (Warner Music DK), Magdalena Kellman (NORA/Sony Music).

Nordic Music Biz Top 20 Under 30 is an initiative set up by NOMEX (Nordic Music Export). NOMEX was set up to facilitate growth and development in the Nordic music sector, and is a collaborative organisation set up by Export Music Sweden, Music Export Denmark, Music Finland, Iceland Music Export and Music Norway.