Say hello to shesaid.so Norway!
The newest shesaid.so chapter on the map.
shesaid.so: Tell us a little more about yourselves and your music career journey to date.
Maria Lindtun Bringsjord has been working for the record company MTG Music since 2013. She works mainly as a label manager, A&R, and with promotion. Maria grew up in very close relations with MTG MUSIC, so it has and always will be a big part of her life. Before the music industry became a part of everyday life, Maria worked with television production. She still works with television between releases and promotions as a director on various productions. Concerts, travel, and artist development are big passions for Maria. She started with promotion and soon got responsibility for several other areas in the company. In 2020 she also became manager to the Norwegian artist «Bølgen». Besides MTG Music, Maria is also working for FONO, Norway’s Independent Record Company association, the last seven years as a coordinator. In the last two years, she has also been involved in FONO Development. Maria is also involved with the Norwegian local radio station Ordentlig Radio as a music editor and host. The channel has a sole focus on lifting Norwegian artists and music.
Malene Strande Cae worked as a PR & Marketing manager for indie label MTG Music for four years. She has a bachelor’s degree in media studies, including subjects in music studies and copyright. After her bachelor’s, she completed a master’s degree in journalism. The master thesis discussed editorial content on Spotify and alternative music journalism in music forums such as Genius.com. In 2010 she started working at Carlings, a Norwegian retail store focused on music and lifting unknown artists, and of course, denim. Now, eleven years later, Malene works as an SEO Copywriter for Varner –the company that owns Carlings. She is also involved with the Norwegian local radio station Ordentlig Radio as a music editor and host. The channel has a sole focus on lifting Norwegian artists and music.
Cathrine Heen works at Grappa Musikkforlag, one of Norway’s oldest and largest independent record labels. Since she was in her early teens, Cathrine has been active in the music industry with various work at festivals, sold merchandise on tours, and has always been passionate about music. After graduating as a journalist in 2008, she got a job in Grappa Musikkforlag with responsibility for promotion. Today she’s a Label Manager, works with A&R and promotion, and is currently responsible for the companies’ main label Grappa and the sub-labels Barneselskapet and Blue Mood. In addition to her work at Grappa, she has been working for FONO, Norway’s independent music association, for several years. In recent years as the leader of FONO Development.
shesaid.so: What inspired you to be involved with shesaid.so?
Norway team: We’ve known about shesaid.so for years and have watched and followed the great work done by the community. Both Maria and Cathrine have been involved with work in FONO, Norway’s independent music association. A few years ago, the group created “FONO WOMEN” as an initiative for FONO’s female members. They wanted to make an arena for everyone to get to know each other, learn from each other, and make it a place to network. Feedback from others in the industry, and experiences the group has done themselves, have contributed to the fact that there is and has been a need, wish and desire to start a Norwegian chapter of shesaid.so.
shesaid.so: How would you describe the music scene in Norway?
Norway team: There’s no doubt that Norway has been described as a pioneer in streaming, which has undoubtedly contributed to Norwegian musicians achieving success internationally. Norway’s domestic music market has gained significant global attention over recent years, and many Norwegian artists in all genres have reaped praise and success abroad. Norway has a well-developed and well-funded live music sector, renowned for its quality and professionalism. It might be one of the countries with the most varied music scene in the whole of Europe, ranging from traditional folk to jazz and blues, rock, black metal to funk and soul, pop, Americana to indie-rock. With countless festivals every summer, or the whole year, it’s been said that every little Norwegian town and village has its festival. It’s an ever-growing music environment across the country, with grand ambitions and goals.
shesaid.so: Why did you want to form a chapter in Norway?
Norway team: Norway is considered to be one of the most gender-equal countries in the world. But, there are still challenges to gender equality, and new issues keep surfacing. With a Norwegian chapter, we want to create dialogue and space for local women, gender minorities, and their allies in the Norwegian music industry. Through collaboration and diversity, shesaid.so Norway wants to expand the social and professional awareness of gender balance, equality, and diversity.
shesaid.so: What are your hopes for shesaid.so Norway?
Norway team: We aim and hope that shesaid.so Norway will be a common meeting place to exchange knowledge, experience, and network opportunity. We hope to build bridges across the music industry and forge even stronger ties between the industry’s network of women and gender minorities through seminars, panel debates, insightful networking, and inclusion.
