New publication: “I don’t make world, I make pop music”

The new publication “I don't make world , I make pop music” reveals the harsh truth about racism in the Swedish music industry, but also offers many recommendations to improve the situation. The report, originally published in March 2023 in Swedish, has now been translated into Finnish and English.

I Don’t Make World, I Make Pop music

In March 2023, the Swedish association for music creators, Skap, published a report on structural racism in the Swedish music industry (Jag gör inte world, jag gör pop). The report, conducted by Dr. Jasmine Kelekay (University of California, Berkeley), centres the experiences and perspectives of music creators who have experiences of racism in the industry. The report, based on a survey and a set of interviews, delves into issues such as the white normativity in music education, the racialization of genres and musical styles, exotification, the impact of racism on the well-being of musicians and on the music industry as a whole, as well as the exploitation of BIPOC musicians. The report’s findings reveal a harsh reality, but the publication also offers many suggestions for improving the situation.

As the survey is unique in Europe and because conditions are somewhat similar in many countries, Research Association Suoni felt it was important to make the survey accessible to a readership outside Sweden. Suoni has now published the Finnish and English translations of the report as part of the association’s Acta Musicologica Militantia publication series. Carmen Baltzar has been responsible for the translation and the publication has, in addition to Skap and Suoni, received support from the Finnish Musicians' Union, Finnish Music Creator’s Association, and The Society of Finnish Composers.

The translations are openly available for download on Suoni’s website.