When TT reaches Viaplay Group's music chief Robert Sehlberg, he has just seen the new Gyllene Tider film "Sommartider" and reminisces about the 80s music industry. Back then, there were basically only two chances to spread their songs through media: on SVT's "Måndagsbörsen" and on P3's "Poporama".
A revolution has taken place since then. Radio is still very important, but we have a larger range now, he says, mentioning among others Spotify, Youtube, and Tiktok.
And depending on where you look, the summer's soundtrack is different.
On Bauer Media's Radio Epadunk, Angels' classic "Sommaren i city" from 1991 has been remixed by producer JOX to an (even) more cruising-friendly version, and is one of the channel's biggest hits right now. Even Bolaget's "Ikväll igen" is going strong there.
"Calma" biggest on the rap scene
On P3's Din Gata, it's a completely different sound that dominates the summer. There, Tinashé's RnB hit "Nasty" is the biggest, along with Swedish Y4ska and Dizzy's rap song "Calma". Even Spotify's Swedish department sees how "Calma" dominates among young, hip-hop interested listeners.
Bandit Rock is instead betting on hard rock group Ghost's newly released "Future is a foreign land". Additionally, Smash Into Pieces' Melodifestival bid "Heroes are calling" continues to go strong.
Emma Vikström, music responsible at Spotify, notices how the slightly older listeners like to dig into the archives during the summer: Ted Gärdestad, Gyllene Tider, and specifically Mando Diao's "Strövtåg i hembygden" are popular.
This year is actually the first time we see some of these artists on the top 50 for a longer period, even after midsummer, she says.
Classic summer hits back
At the same time, summer 2024 has brought a trend break: Robert Sehlberg notes that the previously declared dead summer hit seems to be back. People of all ages are approaching broad pop to a greater extent, with among others Sabrina Carpenter's "Espresso" and Benjamin Ingrosso's "Look who's laughing now" and the Purple Disco Machine collaboration "Honey boy".
P3's music editor Morgan Storesund Skarin is on the same track.
This summer has, unusually, been characterized by big summer hits, a bit in the classic summer hit spirit, something we haven't seen in the same way in recent years, he says.
Pop:
Sabrina Carpenter's "Espresso" is one of the summer's biggest hits on Spotify and several radio channels. Even Benjamin Ingrosso is going strong with the Purple Disco Machine collaboration "Honey boy" and the hit "Look who's laughing now".
On P3, Chappell Roan's "Good luck babe" is also going strong this summer.
Country pop:
Country pop has taken a strong position on the charts. Shaboozey's "A bar song (tipsy)" is one of the songs that Power Hit Radio plays a lot. On the radio station "Feel good hits", Post Malone and Morgan Wallen's country collaboration "I had some help" is popular.
Rock:
Several big rock bands have released new music recently. Ghost's "The future is a foreign land" is played a lot on Bandit Rock, as is Smash Into Pieces' "Heroes are calling".
Hip hop and RnB:
On P3's Din Gata, Dizzy and Y4ska have taken a strong grip on the playlist with "Calma". Even on Spotify, the song is doing well among a younger, hip-hop interested audience.
Tinashé's "Nasty" is also big on Din Gata.
EPA-dunk:
On Bauer Media's channel Radio Epadunk, JOX's remix of Angels' "Sommaren i city" has become a big hit. Even the band Bolaget is played a lot, not least the song "Ikväll igen".
The old classic:
Spotify also sees how listening to old classics increases clearly during the summer among an older target group. Among others, Ted Gärdestad, Gyllene Tider, and Mando Diao's "Strövtåg i hembygden" are played a lot.
