A comparative study of professional music production methods in theage of streaming

• Although Sweden is a small country, the Swedish music exports have been successful for many years. In our ongoing research project: Searching for Sophia in music production, we study how various aspects linked to music production may have contributed to the Swedish music industry´s international achievements. In this sub-study we focus on production methods available today, including digital production tools for music, and compare those with the production methods that were used before the age of streaming, in the late 1990s. Several previous studies focus on the technological development of digital music production tools. However, surprisingly little attention has been directed towards how such tools can affect professional musical creativity and productivity. This sub-study includes a case study of the Swedish music producer Dag Volle (1963–1998), also known as Denniz PoP. Volle had some unique music producer skills and also developed new innovative music production methods. Previous research has so far largely ignored his works despite his importance for the success of Swedish music exports. Denniz PoP is also remembered as mentor of Martin Sandberg [Max Martin] and therefore we analyze how the new tools and methods, that have been added over the years, may have affected the creative process of Sandberg and other successful Swedish music producers. The empirical material includes published sources of various kinds as well as interviews, conversations and written communication with some of Volle's closest associates who still are internationally active as music producers. The results indicate, firstly, that digital tools can help but also hinder creativity, and secondly, that several of the most important aspects of Volle's strategy as a music producer, for example to be driven by intrinsic motivation and by implementing music productions through collaborative processes, are still very relevant today - in the age of streaming.

Subject headings

HUMANIORA  -- Konst -- Musik (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Arts -- Music (hsv//eng)

HUMANIORA  -- Konst -- Musikvetenskap (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Arts -- Musicology (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Annan teknik -- Mediateknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Other Engineering and Technologies -- Media Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Denniz PoP

Dag Volle

creativity

music producers

Swedish music export

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)