Through the Swedish voluntary education organisations called studieförbund bands get access to musical education, rehearsal space, gear and gigs. It is a modest but long time funding without any demands on return. Studieförbund are considered to be one of the most important factors for the success of the Swedish music industry due to the educational role they plays for amateur musicians. As musicians gain experience they tend to “outgrow” the studieförbund.There are often no institutional aids to continue their progress, since arts policy regards pop genres to be commercial by default. Recently, former musicians and festival arrangers have developed regional coaching programs for pop bands, leaning on policies of “cultural and creative industries” instead of arts policies.
Drawing on Michel de Certeau’s concept of tactic and strategies (1984), as well as Ruth Finnegan’s pathways (Finnegan 1989), this paper discusses these efforts as tactical manoeuvres by music creators as they navigate regional spaces of education, arts policies and industry strategies.