NRK and International Music Coverage: Hervé Riesen and Mats Borch Bugge

NRK’s announced restructuring of its music coverage has sparked major discussions in the cultural sector this autumn. Several long-running and traditional music programs — including Musikkreisen, formerly known as Jungeltelegrafen — are being shut down. This raises open questions about how NRK will continue to take responsibility for various musical niches within the remaining, more general programming blocks. One key concern is how NRK will ensure broad coverage of international cultural life. While NRK has signaled clear ambitions to be an important platform for Norwegian music, it remains unclear what will be left of its international music coverage without programs like Musikkreisen. The pop world is becoming increasingly globalized — but what about all the other pieces of the puzzle?

To gain new perspectives on the importance of international outlooks in public broadcasting, we have invited Hervé Riesen to Oslo World. Few in Europe know more about this topic than he does — Riesen works at FIP / Radio France, was involved in the creation of the French station Couleur 3, and has led numerous collaborations between broadcasters in Europe and Africa. He is also president of the Eurosonic group within the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). In Europe, France holds a unique position when it comes to a global perspective on music coverage. Why is that? How do they approach this work? And what are Riesen’s thoughts on the future of music coverage in public broadcasting?

He will meet with NRK’s Head of Music, Mats Borch Bugge, who is currently navigating a busy period — but who, in his many justifications for the restructuring of NRK’s music offerings, has also stated that he wants NRK to be bold, in-depth, and playful in its approach to music journalism. How can they achieve that — and what role does the international music scene play in the struggle for space within the new structure?