1. By Adam LaGesse

2.  One of the world’s leading nations in free-trade  More than half the economy relies on trade  Sweden has not adopted the euro system and remains outside the Euro Zone  450,295 sq. Kilometers, slightly larger than California  Capital is Stockholm  Population: 9,088,728 people  Longest life expectancy than any other country and lowest birth rate

4.  6.5 % of total U.S. Imports are from Sweden  This number is more than twice the amount that the U.S. exports to Sweden  Sweden imported 3.7 billion dollars worth of goods while exporting 8.6 billion dollars worth of goods to the U.S.  The U.S. is the fifth largest purchaser of Swedish goods.

5.  In 2009 an economic recession occurred; 2008 was a better year for the music products industry in everyway for Sweden.  Since then the economy has fully recovered and the products industry is back on the rise  The U.S. is Sweden’s number one provider of musical instruments.  With the Swedish economy fully recovered, buyers confidence is back and this bodes well for U.S. music manufacturers.

6.  Median age: 42 years  GDP: $354 billion  GDP Per Capita: $39,000  GDP-Real Growth Rate: 4.10%  Unemployment rate: 8.30%  Inflation: 1.40%  All of these numbers are much healthier than the 2009 year when the market had a slump

7.  Export partners: Norway, Germany and U.K. are the top three  Import partners: Germany, Denmark and Norway are the top three  Total export: $162.6 billion  Total import: $158.6 billion

8.  Sweden’s music market is worth $89.5 million dollars  Sales per capita is $9.88  In the entire music industry, the small country of Sweden only holds 0.60% of the global market

9. SWEDENJAPAN  Music Market: $89.5 million  Sales per capita: $9.88  Global Share: 0.60% Germany  Music Market: $1 billion  Sales per capita: $13.18  Global Share: 6.50%  Music Market: $2.1 billion  Sales per capita: $16.68  Global Share: 14% United Kingdom  Music Market: $627 billion  Sales per capita: $10.27  Global Share: 4.10%

10. PIANOSFRETTED AND STRING INSTRUMENTS Imports 20083.0 20092.0 20101.5 Exports 20081.1 20090.7 20100.9 Imports 20088 20097.7 20108.5 Exports 20082.3 20092.2 20103.0

11. WIND INSTRUMENTSPERCUSSION Imports 20083.8 20093.0 20102.8 Exports 20082.5 20091.6 20101.4 Imports 20085.8 20095.1 20104.8 Exports 20082.5 20092.5 20103.0

12.  1900 – 1978  Herman Carlson Levin  Produced over half a million instruments in the active 78 years  Guitars, Mandolins, Banjos, and Lutes  Biggest Scandinavian music company for a long time  Marketed Goya Guitars in the U.S.  Bought out by Martin Guitars in the early 70’s

13.  Luthman Soundability  $157 million in revenues in 2010  415 employees  Music retailer  EM Nordic AB  $39.5 million in revenues in 2010  110 employees  Music retailer

14.  Clavia Digital Music Instruments  $16.3 million in revenues in 2010  26 employees  Keyboard, electronic, and digital sounds  Propellerhead software  $9.7 million in revenues in 2010  40 employees  Music Software, Creators of “Reason”

15.  2009 effected Sweden’s music industry  Not for long because by 2011 the music industry is back on the rise  Electronic music industry is very popular in Sweden right now  Sweden exports much more than it imports  This is good for U.S. trade  Overall Sweden is only 0.60% of the Music products industry