Many of you might wonder why one would start a music publishing company located in a small Swedish town like Lidköping. How can it possibly make a name for itself on the gigantic music market of today? Well, the question is justified. But there are a couple of reasons for this:
First: Lido music will only take on music that feels genuine, that touches something deep inside you. There is simply no time, or interest, for anything else. The number of composers and composing artists is huge and Lido wants to be clear about the way it looks at music. The music that Lido does take on should be able to fill a void in its respective genre. Or, if possible, why not be completely ground-breaking, making a whole new genre for itself!
Secondly: Naturally it's no disadvantage that Swedish music is bigger than ever on an international level. Over the last two decades Swedish artists, composers and musicians have proved themselves to belong to the absolute elite in the international music industry.
And third: The love of good music! Good and interesting music should get a decent and honest chance to reach the public.
Lido music is run by Michael Ellgren S:son who is a composer/song-writer himself, mainly in the fields of pop, film and media. He has earlier had a contract as a composer for EMI Publishing Sweden, thereby gaining a lot of experience.
In 1996 Michael decided to start Lido Music Publishing and to run it as an active publishing company aiming to find new musical talents, help them to produce good demos and finally to find a suitable record company.
One big reason why Michael started Lido was Tin Pan Alley, a band from his home town that had composed some fantastic music. With the contacts that he had at the time, he felt that he had to help the band to get a record deal. This happened and Lido Music Publishing was up and running. Within the first year Lido had signed three bands in various genres.
In the spring of 1998 Lido initiated a collaboration with Peermusic AB, and that's where Michael first met Peo Nylén who became a good friend and business partner. When Peo left Peermusic to start working as managing director at Edel Music Publishing Scandinavia, Lido followed and the collaboration with Peo Nylén continued, but now in the form of a joint venture between Lido and Edel. In 2002 Edel discontinued their publishing activities in Sweden. In the autumn of that year Lido signed a new administrative deal with Warner Cappell which in the spring of 2003 was changed into a co-publishing deal.
Finally it has to be said that Lido music consider it to be a privilege to be able to help spreading the universal language of music.
