Luxembourg has a well-developed music scene, with numerous public structures (e.g. the Philharmonie, Rockhal, Réseau Luxembourgeois des Centres Culturels Régionaux, as well as several festivals.[1] Likewise, measures to promote Luxembourg music abroad are very intensive, particularly since the creation in 2009 of the non-profit organisation music:LX-Luxembourg Export Office, which has been fully folded into Kultur|lx-Art Council Luxembourg in 2021.
Nevertheless, and despite many professionals working in the music sector in one way or in another (and most often cumulating functions), it is not possible to talk in terms of music industry, as the country is too small for a fully-fledged ecosystem.[2] Although not new, this has been one of the issues debated during the “Assises sectorielles Rock/Pop/Electro” that the ministry of Culture organised in March 2021, and also the “Assises sectorielles Musique classique” that took place in Novembre 2021. As was underlined during one of the roundtables, on the road to professionalization, it is not only a question of the training of young musicians, but importance has also to be given to their entry into the labor market, with all the challenges that ensue (digital revolution, international competition, prospects, etc).[3]
Support schemes into that direction already exist, such as the Rockhal’s Rocklab whose task it is “to guide, inform and accompany amateur and professional musicians as well as all those interested by or active in the area of modern music in Luxembourg (…) providing them with a range of logistical and cultural tools (infrastructures, workshops & conferences, project follow-up…)”.[4] Also private structures are active in that area, for example Kulturfabrik that proposes rehearsal rooms for rent and runs Soundcamp, a week of coaching from professional musicians for young people in bands. There is also strong support for young musical talents and developing future audiences in classical music, for instance through the Luxembourg Composition Academy, a joint workshop of Philharmonie’s rainy days festival, the United Instruments of Lucilin orchestra and neimënster cultural centre where young composers are given the opportunity to work with renowned composers and have their works played publicly. There are also competitions such as the Luxembourg Competition for Young Soloists organised by the Union Grand Duc Adolphe (www.ugda.lu), the national federation of the associative movement of choral and instrumental music, folklore and theatre, or the International Percussion Competition Luxembourg and the international composers’ competition known as « Artistes en herbe » that put young musicians to the fore.
In more general terms, the music sector receives significant support, be it through financial agreements with the ministry of Culture that co-funds through this measure either projects or ensembles, by SACEM Luxembourg, the country’s collective rights management company, Kultur|lx that proposes a Global Project Grant (which provides up to €15,000 funding for a musician or ensemble every year) as well as other financial grants (in particular for tours, marketing and promotion) and information on foreign markets and networks. Other institutions providing funding are the Luxembourg National Cultural Fund and the Œuvre Nationale de Secours Grande-Duchesse Charlotte. In 2022, the ministry of Culture also created the Lëtzebuerger Musekpräis, an award that will be attributed for the first time at the end of the year.
[1] For a full overview, see https://www.kulturlx.lu/panorama-category/musique/
[2] For a more thorough analysis, see https://www.culture.lu/blog/articles/actualite/la-scene-musicale-au-luxembourg-une-analyse-23
[3]https://mc.gouvernement.lu/fr/actualites.gouvernement%2Bfr%2Bactualites%2Btoutes_actualites%2Bcommuniques%2B2021%2B11-novembre%2B10-tanson-assises-sectorielles-musique.html
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