Dear member of the Danish Artist Union.

I am standing for re-election to the board at the general meeting on 28 May. If I am not elected as a board member, I would be happy to stand as a deputy. Unfortunately, I cannot attend the general meeting myself as I will be on tour in Japan.

I was elected as a substitute member some years ago and have since become a full board member. I have found the work on the board really interesting and very instructive, and I feel I have grown with the task. And it has been a great privilege to sit with such skilled and dedicated colleagues. This is a foundation I would very much like to build upon.

I am a composer, producer, musician, and songwriter, working on both my own projects and those of others. I trained at the Danish National School of Performing Arts, and therefore also work extensively with music for theatre. In recent years, I have written and produced music for a wide range of Danish and international artists, and I have created music for and performed in productions such as The Little Mermaid at the Royal Danish Theatre and productions at, for example, Østregasværk, Nørrebro Theatre, and Folketeatret.

There are three areas in particular that I would like to work towards in the coming period:

First and foremost, I am committed to creating the framework for better conditions and professionalisation of the music industry. More transparency in agreements, contracts, payments, and working conditions, which makes it possible to have a long and sustainable career as an artist and in other roles within the industry. Economically, legally, structurally. It is fundamentally about our work being recognised as work.

Furthermore, AI cannot be ignored, as it will significantly change our industry in the coming years, as well as the rest of the world. Our voices, our music, and our expressions are already being used to train models, often without consent and without payment. We need clear rules, proper protection, and fair compensation. AI is here to stay, but we need to be at the forefront, and DAF must be part of that fight.

Last, but not least, there is the big, obvious problem with streaming. It is the single biggest factor in how music is paid for – and the revenue models are not fair. We must continue to push for the money earned from our music to actually reach those who create it. And artists must have a stronger voice in the conversation, both nationally and internationally.

What motivates me about board work is being in a place where we can make a difference. And I think it's really exciting to be at the table where you can actually change things. I would like to be involved in building on that foundation for another term.

Thank you very much for reading. I hope you will vote for me.

Kh. Markus