Corona, culture | Stephen Ackles threatens to leave Norway if the music industry does not get help soon
The pandemic has almost taken the life of the artist career of the world-famous, Norwegian-American musician Stephen Ackles. Now he is considering leaving Norway for good.
– It is a cruel time for us artists, and it does not look like either this or the Solberg government takes the situation seriously.
This is what the Norwegian-American artist, musician and actor Stephen Ackles says to Nettavisen. He points out that repeated shutdowns in connection with the corona pandemic have almost killed the music industry.
– We have been going for lye and cold water for almost a year, the artist says.
He says that he has eaten a lot of pasta, ketchup and oatmeal lately. Men work that his situation is not unique:
– There are very many in my situation who do not have a family and end up in such a situation, he says.
The rock and roll artist has shared the stage with world stars such as Elton John, Tom Jones, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard.
33 percent decline for the music industry
In 2020, revenues in the music industry fell by NOK 1.8 billion compared with the previous year.
In 2019, revenues were NOK 5.3 billion. In the first year of the pandemic, they went down to NOK 3.5 billion.
It shows «Art in numbers», The Cultural Council’s annual statistics for sales of music, performing arts, literature and visual arts in Norway.
The Cultural Council emphasized in December that the effect of the corona pandemic is greatest for the industry, which is characterized by large audience activity.
“Revenues related to the performance of music and the performance of performing arts both fell by 53 percent last year compared to 2019.” writes the Cultural Council on its website.
Norway is also the only country in Europe that has at times had a full stop to drinking.
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Ackels asks artists not to perform for politicians
He has little sense that the industry was encouraged to run again when Norway reopened in June last year.
Now he has a prayer to the new Minister of Culture that she must do something for the entire music industry.
It is time for the industry to take to the streets and demonstrate outside the Storting, he believes.
– We must become a little French and protest against the politicians.
Now he comes with an appeal to the industry.
– Politicians have always used musicians to promote their cause. I therefore urge all music throughout the country to never be used by a political party as entertainment before we get an agreement that can protect us in an ugly pandemic, the artist says.
He thinks politicians are good at sunbathing on us, but they are not there when we really need them.
– They have not lifted a little finger, the music discovers.
When asked if he has considered taking another job, he answers that it would be wrong to do so after 42 years as an artist.
Then he would rather become a financial refugee.
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– We get the life’s work destroyed
In August, he was hired by a company. The plan was that he would later take over the company. But that put an end to the pandemic. As a self-employed person, there has been little to gain from NAV, he says.
– Adults have their entire life’s work destroyed. It’s not about whining, it’s about quality of life, he says quickly.
– I no longer know my poor advice, he says, and says that he can not continue to borrow money from family and friends.
– You can not go on like that. We can not do our art, and stand on bare ground, without the opportunity to earn money and support ourselves.
He points out that abroad it is still possible to perform as an artist and hold concerts.
– I am considering becoming a financial refugee, and building myself up somewhere else.
It is with a heavy heart that Ackles talks about leaving Norway. Despite the fact that he is only half Norwegian, the feeling of fatherland is strong. He thrives at Langhus and is a distinct monarchist.
– It’s not just getting a playing job, he says, and demands that the jobs must be booked a year in advance, and adds.
– The situation is frightening and there is despair among us. We are standing still, and we have been doing that for two years. We die inside.
Several times in recent times have been considered to pack their things. He says it works poorly to be creative during a pandemic.
– Who should I play for? he asks.
– When the state destroys your creativity, it goes wrong, the musician says.
Ackle’s 40th birthday was canceled due to a pandemic
The artist has rented an apartment at Langhus outside Ski for almost eleven years. Now he does not know if he can afford to pay the rent anymore, after almost years without a job.
– There are many in the industry who feel that way. Artist colleagues have left their homes and sold the instrument. Many have also retrained, says Ackles.
Until recently, the musician has lived on savings. A good friend has run the artist side which has provided income. In addition, he has received the remaining stock of his records. But now the financial buffer has been used up.
Since the pandemic broke out in March 2020, he has been featured in 25 planned performances of Erik Bye.
The performance, which was a tribute to the musician and journalist Erik Bye, was to be played throughout Norway, and was part of Ackle’s celebration of 40 years as an artist. The musician says that it was fully booked. The same year, the musician was also to release a new record.
The closure of both the cultural industry and Norway has given four gigs in almost a year.
Just before Christmas last year, a planned tour was also canceled when Norway closed down again.
Ackles says he has not received financial compensation for the tours that have been canceled. He says that it is a combination of the fact that he has not had a manager and the application process for that reason became challenging.