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CULTURE

‘Break up gaming monopoly’

Svenksa Spel’s gaming monopoly ought to be abolished in order to make way for new forms of cultural support, writes the Moderate Party’s Culture Committee.

‘Break up gaming monopoly’

Sponsorship, gaming revenues, and the Swedish Inheritance Fund (Allmänna arvsfonden) can serve as ways to channel more funds to cultural endeavors, write the committee’s six Moderate Riksdag members in a debate article in the Dagens Nyheter newspaper.

The authors believe that the same opportunities for sponsorship made available today within athletics ought to be used in the cultural sector, assuming that cultural sponsorship costs are accepted as tax-deductible marketing expenses.

By ditching Svenska Spel’s monopoly and charging a fee to both Swedish and foreign companies to participate in Sweden’s gaming market, the state could raise enough revenue to finance both athletics and culture.

The Swedish Inheritance Fund passes out 300 to 400 million kronor ($50 to 66 million) every year. More of these funds ought to be directed toward cultural purposes benefiting children, young people, and people with disabilities, the committee proposes.

Other proposals presented a written communiqué—Culture 3.0—to be presented by the committee in the Riksdag on Monday include free library book loans, maintaining Sveriges Radio and TV as two separate entities, and better conditions for private local radio.

The authors say their proposal amounts to “more money for culture and more culture for the money.”

CULTURE

Daddy cool: Swedish dads go viral as boy band

Five Swedish fathers singing capella pop songs while taking care of their young children have taken social media by storm, with their videos garnering tens of millions of views.

Daddy cool: Swedish dads go viral as boy band

The five men, all in their 30s, film their “Dad Harmony” sessions while hanging out with their kids at home in the northern town of Skellefteå.

“This story all started at my bachelor party” in the summer of 2022, Peter Widmark, a 33-year-old who works in sales, told AFP in an interview. “We were hanging out and singing as we usually do when we hang out… (and) my brother filmed it and put it on TikTok with his seven followers.”

The next morning the dads discovered the video had been viewed 40,000 times. The number had skyrocketed to 20 million hits worldwide within a few weeks.

The five friends decided to start posting videos regularly, shot in their kitchens or on their sofas, often holding their little ones on their laps.

Singing the chorus of Leonard Cohen’s classic “Hallelujah”, one of the dads can be seen holding his weeks-old newborn in his arms.

“It’s a soothing thing when we sing,” Widmark said, explaining why the children are usually so calm in the videos.

‘Typical Swedish guys’

“We are typical Swedish guys,” said Widmark’s brother Tomas, who is also part of the group, adding it was “not that unusual” for men in Sweden to spend a lot of time with their children.

“Almost every guy in Sweden is used to taking paternity leave so it’s not a big deal for us,” he added.

Each of the dads has two kids.

Dad Harmony’s repertoire includes hits by Michael Jackson, the Beatles and popular Christmas songs.

Since the end of November the group has been on a month-long tour criss-crossing Sweden to perform live shows each weekend – albeit without their kids.

During the weeks, they go back to Skellefteå and continue to work at their normal jobs and spend time with their families.

The members of Dad Harmony in an interview with AFP. Photo: Viken Kantarci/AFP

“I just stumbled on their video on Instagram and I was mesmerised,” said Louise Elgström, a 41-year-old fan who attended a recent show in the town of Norrköping.

She said their appeal lies in the fact that “they feel so natural and also (that they are) involving their children”.

The dads vow their success won’t go to their heads. “No televisions flying from the hotel rooms!” joked band member Sebastian Åkesson.

But the group has big dreams: they hope to line up tour dates in the United States and Asia, and say they would love to sing with Elton John one day.

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