Den digitale (r)evolution: Institutionelle forandringer i den danske musikbranche

This chapter examines how the so-called 'digital revolution' of the music industries has affected institutional and organizational conditions in the Danish music industries. By analyzing revenue numbers from different sectors in the Danish music industries, I challenge the dominating conception of music business crisis, and argue that we should rather understand it as a shift in revenue streams from sales of recorded music towards exploitation of rights in a broader perspective. Moreover, the conception of the democratizing forces of the internet is nuanced. I argue that record companies' loss of monopoly on production and distribution of music has not (as expected by many) made them irrelevant, but has changed their roles regarding investment and development of talent, which has influence on the organizational and power-related conditions for all other actors in the music business. Lastly, the article discusses how digitalization affects the conditions of Danish music in relation to a global music market.