Alþingi has approved the Ministry of Culture and Trade’s bill on music, the first comprehensive policy on the matter in Iceland.
The legislation aims to establish a new music policy for 2030 by strengthening the environment for the creation and performance of music in Iceland, establishing a comprehensive framework for music-related issues, and creating favourable conditions for its creation, promotion, and performance.
The bill is seen as especially important given the role that music has historically played in Icelandic culture and the promotion of Iceland abroad.
Read more: Draft Iceland’s First Comprehensive Music Policy Approved
In a statement, Minister of Culture and Trade Lilja Dögg Alfreðsdóttir said: “These are truly milestones for music in this country. I wish all of our wonderful musicians congratulations and I am truly looking forward to listening to the results of these significant changes. I also want to thank all of the amazing people who worked on the policy-making.”
A key achievement of the bill is the creation of a new centre for music, to be established later this year, and is intended to support all kinds of music activities and export projects for all music genres. In addition, the centre will manage the registration, administration and distribution of Icelandic music.
New sources of funding will also become available under the law, which merges the current Music Fund, the Sound Recording Fund and the Icelandic Music Export Fund. The role of the new fund will be to promote Icelandic music, sound recording and development work in the Icelandic music industry. The fund will promote Icelandic musicians and their work, both in Iceland and abroad.
Lilja stated further: “I am grateful for the great support that the issue received in the Icelandic Parliament. I also want to thank the good and powerful group of people who have participated in this work. The future of Icelandic music has become even brighter following these changes, which will be enjoyable to follow along the way.”
