Per Urban Sundin (born 1963) is a Swedish music executive who has been the chief executive officer (CEO) of Pophouse Entertainment since 2019.[1][2] Previously, he served as the managing director of Universal Music Sweden and president of Universal Music Nordics from 2008 to 2019.[3]
Sundin is known for his work with musicians such as Avicii, Tove Lo, Swedish House Mafia, and ABBA.[4][5] He is also the co-founder of Avicii Experience, a museum dedicated to Avicii with whom he worked closely after signing him in 2010.[6][7][8]
He has been credited for his role in the rise of Spotify and music streaming, which is depicted in the Netflix TV series The Playlist.[9][10]
Early life and education
editSundin was born in 1963 in Sweden.[11] He attended Mid Sweden University, where he graduated with a degree in systems science.[11][12]
Career
editSundin started his career as a marketing manager at CBS Associated Records, now part of Sony Music, in 1989.[13] He was promoted to the marketing director position in 1991.[13] Soon, he left CBS Records and worked with the national radio channel, Radio City, and Swedish commercial TV channel, TV4, as an artist manager.[13][12]
In 1998, he rejoined Sony Music Sweden as managing director.[13][14] Three years later, in 2001, he became the managing director of Sony Music in the Nordic region.[13]
Between 2004 and 2008, Sundin served as the CEO of Sony BMG after the merger between Sony and BMG.[13]
In 2008, Sundin joined Universal Music Sweden as the chairman and CEO.[13] At Universal Music, he was a witness in the trial against The Pirate Bay co-founder, Peter Sunde, in Malmö.[15][16] In the same year, he became the first music label executive to partner with Spotify and thereby opened the door for the streaming platform.[15] His instrumental role in the rise of Spotify is portrayed in the Netflix drama, The Playlist.[17][18]
In 2010, Sundin signed Avicii to Universal Music, where Avicii in 2011 released his track, "Levels".[19][20]
In August 2019, Sundin joined Pophouse Entertainment, an entertainment company co-founded by Conni Jonsson and ABBA-member Björn Ulvaeus, as the CEO.[21][22] Under his tenure, Pophouse Entertainment has among other things acquired the publishing and recording rights of Swedish House Mafia in March 2022, and bought Swedish podcast producer Perfect Day Media.[23][24][25]
References
edit- ^ "Brännbollsyran blir mötesplats för nöjesbranschen". Västerbottens-Kuriren. 18 January 2023.
- ^ WestbergText, Loke (February 25, 2022). "Per Sundin om nya Avicii-museet: "Vi har investerat över 25 miljoner"". Dagens industri.
- ^ Farber, Jim (April 5, 2019). "Avicii's Death Left Many Questions. Will His New Music Provide Answers?". The New York Times.
- ^ Halperin, Shirley (April 21, 2018). "Geffen Records' Neil Jacobson on the Power of Avicii and Plans for Unreleased Music". Variety.
- ^ "'AI-enabled' indie label Snafu Records adds ex-UMG Nordics CEO Per Sundin and songwriter/producer Savan Kotecha to list of sharholders". Music Business Worldwide. December 4, 2020.
- ^ "Sweden honors star DJ Avicii with museum". Deutsche Welle.
- ^ "Avicii fans touched by 'emotional' museum in Stockholm". February 28, 2022 – via BBC.
- ^ Bain, Katie (February 25, 2022). "Take a Tour of Stockholm's Newly Opened Avicii Experience Tribute Museum". Billboard.
- ^ "Who are the heroes in Spotify's origin story?". The Globe and Mail. 21 October 2022.
- ^ "The Playlist on Netflix dramatises the implausible rise of Spotify — review". Financial Times. 2022-10-13. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
- ^ a b LundegårdhText, Peter (August 31, 2019). "Musikveteranen om sin passion: "Jag kan diskutera chips i timmar"". Dagens industri.
- ^ a b "Per Sundin". September 7, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Per Sundin appointed SVP of Nordics at Universal Music". Music Business Worldwide. March 18, 2013.
- ^ "The Spotify effect". Financial Times. October 24, 2014.
- ^ a b "Spotify's Ek Wins Over Music Pirates With Labels' Approval". Bloomberg. 14 July 2011.
- ^ "Music Executive Ridiculed at Pirate Bay Trial". Wired.
- ^ Reilly, Nick (June 16, 2021). "Netflix confirms new fictional drama about the rise of Spotify". NME.
- ^ "The rise-and-rise of Spotify is told in a ripper Swedish series". Sydney Morning Herald. 28 December 2022.
- ^ Davies, Tracey. "The winner takes it all: will Stockholm's Abba museum or Avicii experience triumph?" – via The Times.
- ^ Bain, Katie (October 28, 2021). "Celebrate 10th Anniversary Of 'Levels' With Never-Before-Released Avicii Performance". Billboard.
- ^ "Universal Music Reboots Nordic Team as Per Sundin Joins Forces With Abba". Variety. August 8, 2019.
- ^ "Per Sundin steps down as MD of Universal Music Sweden to join ABBA branding company Pop House". Music Business Worldwide. August 7, 2019.
- ^ Aswad, Jem (March 29, 2022). "Swedish House Mafia Sells Masters, Publishing to Pophouse Entertainment". Variety.
- ^ "ABBA Star's Entertainment Firm Buys Swedish House Mafia Catalog". Bloomberg. 29 March 2022.
- ^ Tiefenthaler, Federica (September 8, 2021). "Pophouse Entertainment Group's Acquisition of Perfect Day Media".
Further reading
edit- Schwarz·, Jonas Andersson (2013). Online File Sharing: Innovations in Media Consumption. p. 175.
- Leijonhufvud ·, Jonas; Carlsson, Sven (2021). Spotify: Příběh inovátorů, kteří porazili Apple, Google i Amazon. Jan Melvil. ISBN 9788075551252.