13th of March 1924
For the first time, a diversity report sheds light on the demographics of Danish songwriters and composers. Particularly, their high level of education is surprising.
The Danish music industry is currently working intensively to ensure equal access to musical life. As a contribution to this effort, the music rights organization Koda is now publishing a report that, for the first time, outlines a diversity profile of the country's songwriters and composers.
"At Koda, we believe that equal opportunities are essential for creating a diverse music industry and a sustainable musical life. That's why it's crucial for us to continuously strengthen our knowledge base, so that we and the industry can work purposefully to ensure equal access to musical life," says Koda's chairperson, Loui Törnqvist, explaining the background for the report.
The diversity profile reveals demographic parameters such as gender identity, sexual orientation, age, education, geography, disabilities, and ethnicity.
The results largely confirm well-known trends, except for the surprisingly high level of education among our members.
- Loui Törnqvist
One of the most surprising insights for Koda is the overrepresentation of members with higher education. The report reveals that six out of ten songwriters and composers have a tertiary education, compared to four out of ten adults in the Danish population. Additionally, three percent of songwriters and composers hold a Ph.D.
"The results largely confirm well-known trends, except for our members' high level of education. These figures challenge the myth that one cannot be educated for musical success. Conversely, they may also suggest that a lack of education could be a barrier to achieving a career as a music creator today. The report does not provide all the answers, but we will investigate further to see if this reflects socioeconomic barriers, a sign of a more professional industry, or something else entirely. Based on these findings, we will decide our next steps," says Loui Törnqvist.
Five key figures from Koda's diversity profile
60%
of Kodas members have a higher education. Three percent have a Ph.D. degree.
3%
register their gender identity as non-binary or other than cis-woman or cis-man. Gender diversity is greatest among the new members, where six percent identify as something other than woman or man.
40%
have a long-term or chronic condition that significantly limits one or more life activities such as the ability to see, hear, or speak, to learn, remember, or concentrate.
14%
of the songwriters and composers describe their ethnicity as something other than white/Caucasian.
44%
are based in the Capital Region, while seven percent live outside of Denmark. Among the highest-earning members, 58 percent live in the Capital Region.
For the first time ever, the report also provides insight into the ethnic composition of Danish songwriters and composers. The responses show that 14 percent of the songwriters and composers define their ethnicity as something other than white/Caucasian, which is defined as a person of origin from one of the indigenous peoples of Europe.
In comparison, just under 16 percent of the total Danish population are immigrants, descendants, and children of descendants. Out of these, just under 64 percent have origins in non-Western countries.
“We are pleased that we now have insight into the ethnic composition of our members, and that they on this parameter do not differ much from the general Danish population. However, this does not change the well-documented discrimination against ethnic minorities, and therefore we will naturally continue to focus on changing these conditions,” says Loui Törnqvist.
In addition to education and ethnicity, the report also contains statistics on gender identity and disabilities, which support well-known insights. The report thus shows an overrepresentation of men, as Koda's gender statistics have demonstrated for several years, and which is greatest among Koda's highest-earning members.
The report also reveals that while about 30 percent of adult Danes estimate they have a disability to some extent, 40 percent of songwriters and composers live with a disability, such as tinnitus, depression, or ADHD, which significantly limits them in one or more life activities.
Several initiatives are currently underway across the music industry to address these issues, aiming to create better conditions, enhance well-being, and break down barriers for Danish music creators and performers.
For the first time ever, Koda is publishing a report that outlines a diversity profile of Koda's membership.
The report is based on data from a comprehensive questionnaire survey and provides insight into the composition of Koda's members across the following demographic parameters: Education, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, number of children, ethnicity, religion, geography, citizenship, and disabilities.
Download Koda's Diversity Profile 2024 (in Danish)
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