Welcome to:
Hey, I’m Erik Steigen, and welcome to Reels & Riffs, where we explore Nordic creativity in music, film, and more through the lens of my years in Hollywood and the Los Angeles music and film scene.
Why subscribe?
Subscribe to get full access to the newsletter and publication archives.
Stay up-to-date
Never miss an update—every new post is sent directly to your email inbox. For a spam-free, ad-free reading experience, plus audio and community features, get the Substack app.
Share information
Be part of a community of people who share your interests about Norwegian and Nordic music, film, TV, gaming, culture and entertainment as it relates to the United States. Participate in the comments section and support this work with a subscription.
Once you are a paid subscriber, you can email us to request our sponsor deck:
Our sponsor deck contains rates and details about us sharing information with our 1,500+ subscribers and followers about your particular project, including:
Nordic artists and bands going on tour in North America
New releases by artists with an audience in the U.S.
Tips about new music, new films, new TV shows, even new video games that our audience in the U.S. would like to know about
News about Nordic artists with song placements in films or TV shows
Films from the Nordics with North American screenings and festivals
Films and TV shows from the Nordics now available to watch in the U.S.
Filmmakers, actors, music producers, artists and game developers from the Nordics who are working on projects in North America
Request a review of a Nordic film, TV show, game or album
Hello there, this is Erik Steigen. I am a Norwegian from Bergen and I’ve spent the past few decades here in Los Angeles working in the music and entertainment industry. I am a talent manager (Onward Talent Management), consultant (USA Media Rights and Biz In LA), and record label owner (SoCal Records). I am also the founder and president of the Norwegian chamber of commerce in Los Angeles (NorCham LA), and the first U.S. representative for Norway’s performing rights organization TONO, the only Nordic performance rights organization with a U.S. representative.
During my career, I have had a chance to work with American superstar talent in many capacities, including talent management, business management, music publishing, film/TV licensing, royalty hunting and royalties administration. I have looked after music rights for Lionel Richie, Mötley Crüe, Sheryl Crow, Pearl Jam, Blondie, and Brian Wilson, as well as songwriters and producers who have written for Justin Bieber, Britney Spears, Barbra Streisand, Demi Lovato, Pitbull, Jason Derulo, and Eric Clapton, among others. I have handled the financial and sales side of several American music publishing catalog acquisitions ranging from $1.5 million to $25 million in size. I have also had a chance to manage the careers of some notable Norwegian talent, including Alexander Rybak and Lisa Stokke.
Recently, I was the music supervisor for an American independent feature film called ‘Shattered Ice,’ which is the kind of work where I get to combine my love for music and for film while utilizing my contacts and experience in the industry.
I started Reels & Riffs in November 2024 because I saw a need for one go-to destination with information about current Norwegian and Nordic music, film and culture coming in to the United States today, such as bands on tour, films at festivals, art exhibits, etc. Let’s build Reels & Riffs together to be the platform and community for all things music, film and culture from Norway and the Nordics in the United States. If you have any tips about upcoming tours, concerts, exhibits, screenings, etc., please do not hesitate to:
My main Substack profile can be found at steigen.substack.com.
Happy reading!
Erik
