On Monday, the Finnish music industry launched a social media campaign in which it drew attention to its financial situation and demanded rescue support.
Interviewed the country’s most famous contemporary composer on Monday morning, Kaija Saariaho, sharply criticized the decisions to cancel concerts and festivals and allowed restaurants, bars and other industries to continue their operations – even though no coronavirus cluster has been traced to music events in Finland.
Jaakko KämäräinenThe freelance coordinator of the Finnish Musicians’ Association told Yle that the situation in the domestic music industry is currently very challenging.
"Many people think about closing a business, and companies in the industry have started to be in such a bad position that we will soon start to see bankruptcies, ”says Kämäräinen, who plays bass with a pop-rock star. Olavi Uusivirtaband.
When the pandemic hit Finland last spring, the musicians’ Performance Calendar was wiped clean. Summer festivals – the main annual source of income for many – were all canceled in June and July. A few continued to tighten interest rates in August, and no infection was reported.
There have been few live gigs this fall, and the outlook for winter and spring is no better, according to Kämäräinen.
Live music losses up to 75%
The industrial export lobby Music Finland estimates that the pandemic and restrictions will destroy about a third of the industry’s revenue this year. The biggest losses are from live music, where losses can be as high as 75 percent. This means that the branch has already suffered losses of around EUR 230 million.
A sudden collapse can trigger bankruptcies among clubs, festivals, booking companies, record companies and stores. This makes the future uncertain, even if the pandemic is alleviated thanks to coronavirus vaccinations that may begin before the end of the year.
"It is worrying whether we still have the infrastructure to organize events in the future when we have the opportunity to do so, ”Kämäräinen said. "And are musicians and artists okay to perform? “
Kämäräinen points out that most musicians and artists work in an uncertain area between employment and entrepreneurship. As a result, many of them have been left out of larger structures that may have received corona support.
"The support granted is stuck somewhere along the way and has not fallen within the reach of the performers, ”he said.
Despite the dark situation, Kämäräinen is convinced that Finland can enjoy the summer festivals in 2021. Some major events, such as Ruisrock, Provinssi and Pori Jazz, have already announced foreign and domestic events for next summer, some of which are scheduled for this year.
In the music industry, it is hoped the government will provide support soon.
Minister of Culture Annika Saarikko (Cen) said in early December that he would ask the cabinet to approve subsidies for the live event industry, which also includes sports, fairs and other events.
He said he hopes to bring the matter to government before Christmas, but the extent and form of possible subsidies remain a question mark.
Social media campaign demands “right to music”
On Monday, musicians and companies flooded the red and green message of Finnish social media with the help of a hashtag #to law music (‘right to music’).
According to a send by Music Finland, "Music helps us survive in the midst of a crisis. It expresses our feelings, promotes our well-being and grows the community. Music is also a growing industry, employing over 30,000 professionals. The Finnish music industry is now under threat."
Kämäräinen said the campaign aims to point out that many industries are at risk of losing their livelihoods – and that the industry knows how to organize festivals and concerts safely.
"I argue that this sector has the best know-how in the country when it comes to how large groups of People can move safely. And rapid coronavirus testing systems are also evolving rapidly, ”he adds.
Source: The Nordic Page