Our Unchanging Objective

In December 2002, 12 companies and organizations started Music Export Finland as an export partnership. The aim was to facilitate the promotion, marketing and sales of Finnish popular music abroad. On January 1, 2005, Music Export Finland became an export association that represents the entire Finnish music industry, with the membership comprising of a broad front of relevant organizations.

In distilled form, the primary objective of Music Export Finland is to help the Finnish music industry increase its export revenue income.

The approach to achieving this is three-pronged and involves external marketing directed at music business professional abroad, internal marketing that helps Finnish music business professionals develop their expertise as well as stay abreast of events and developments in their target markets and, lastly, co-ordinating export investments, as well as providing members with access to various networks that facilitate the export of music and related services.

The Current Situation

The circumstances for exporting Finnish music have improved markedly over the last decade. The new situation brings with it new challenges. Where opening new channels was the challenge before, now it’s making sure it runs smoothly and consistently. Doing this in a music business environment undergoing massive change just makes that much more challenging.

Music Export Finland aims to meet the new challenges by providing both the Finnish companies that it works for and the international music business professionals it reaches with more customized services. Tailor-made productions, in marketing, training or any other area, simply yield better results.

Letter from the Director

Paulina AhokasDear Friend,

Finnish music is doing better than ever on international markets. According to music export research, royalties from abroad received by Finnish artists have grown steadily throughout the 2000s. Royalties paid to Finland have grown once again, by 28 per cent on last year, and Finnish artists are attracting audiences of millions of fans – at live performances, as record buyers, and in social networks.

What do we at Music Export Finland do to help give Finnish music sector professionals a chance to offer clients the expertise, networks and resources needed for internationalization?

Music Export Finland’s operations in 2008 spanned 238 companies and actors in the music sector. An even hundred companies took part in our joint projects, 29 actors in the trade applied for sparring sessions in our refineries, and more than 150 companies benefited from our marketing and publicity campaigns. In total, our operations covered some 270 artists and creators.

In the autumn, Music Export Finland chalked up five years as a broad-based export organization representing the entire field of Finnish music exports. Prior to that, we worked as an export ring for 12 companies and organizations. Music Export Finland’s operations are thus of school age: We are starting to learn to read and do sums, even to learn from our mistakes and to analyse our own actions.

Music Export Finland’s operations are, in fact, undergoing a significant transformation. We are upgrading our services to assist various popular music genres more effectively, and as broadly as possible, and to offer tools for promoting exports, both for those just starting to export and for successful, expanding companies that already have music-export experience. Read more about our range of services on this website.

I feel utterly privileged to be working with such a great team at such an exciting time. As a taxi driver enthused to me: “You know, I am convinced that music can be Finland’s next Nokia.” You know, I agree. The exquisite berries of the North have now ripened – and you are all welcome to pick the juiciest ones for yourselves.

Helsinki, December 14, 2009

With best wishes,

Paulina Ahokas
Director

Staff

PaulinaMs. Paulina Ahokas
Director
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SamiMr. Sami Häikiö
Project Manager
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TuomoMr. Tuomo Tähtinen
Project Manager, Communications
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JaniMr. Jani Joenniemi
Producer, Finland at Shanghai Expo 2010
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TuulaMs. Tuula Juntunen
Finance & Administration
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RikuMr. Riku Salomaa
Assistant
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Documents

This section contains additional information about Music Export Finland and the Finnish music industry, including our annual reports, market research we’ve conducted or commissioned, presentations, etc.


Research on Market Value and Structure on Finnish Music Exports in 2007 (pdf)

Research on Market Value and Structure on Finnish Music Exports in 2006 (pdf)


Research on Market Value and Structure on Finnish Music Exports in 2005 (pdf)

Research on Market Value and Structure on Finnish Music Exports in 2004 (pdf)

FAQ & Help

What is Music Export Finland?

Music Export Finland exists to increase the export revenue of the Finnish music industry over the entire spectrum of services it provides. 

Who are the members?

A complete list is available here.

How does Music Export Finland work?

The actions Music Export Finland undertakes to reach its objective can be divided into three categories:

External marketing involves export promotion productions produced by Music Export Finland, participation at established trade fairs and activities related to marketing communications. Typically, Music Export Finland helps companies that belong to its member organizations during their entry to a new market.
In practical terms, this results in marketing booths, traditional promotional campaigns, live showcases, product launches, access to business networks and other ways of stirring up interest.

Internal marketing involves training professionals working in all areas of the Finnish music industry, from writing hit records to selling them, as well as helping companies refine their operations and serving as a recruitment platform by providing on-the-job training to interns. Music Export Finland also provides research, consulting and networking services.

In other words, we organize intensive workshops for songwriters, training for managers, export training events for artists and “their people”

Co-ordination of export investments involves helping companies finance a variety of projects in new markets, primarily by serving as a conduit and curator of sorts for grants provided by a variety of Finnish ministries for activities such as release tours, among others. 

Translation: we help deserving projects and companies find the money they need to spend to make money.

Where do I sign up?

That depends on who or what you are. And what you want to sign up for.

Anyone and everyone ought to sign up for our monthly newsletter right here. Every month we’ll present a couple of news tidbits about the most tantalizing developments in the business of music. There’ll be an occasional column dealing with the peculiarities of music in Finland. We’ll present a new band to fall in love with and nurture.

All international music business professionals (A&R, publishing, agency, management, promotion and whatnot) interested in Finnish music and/or cooperation with Finnish companies should contact us. Now.

Are you a company registered in Finland and interested in music-related exports? You should apply for registration.

Member organisations

IFPI Finland
Finnish Independent Record Producers’ Association Indieco
Finnish Musicians’ Union
Finnish Composers’ Copyright Society Teosto
Finnish Music Information Centre (FIMIC)
Finnish Composers and Lyric Writers Association ELVIS
Copyright Society of Performing Artists and Phonogram Producers in Finland GRAMEX
The Finnish Music Publishers’ Association

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