History
In 1973, eight Aarhus bands got together and set up their own alternative booking agency, Musikernes Kontakt, where they booked jobs for themselves and each other. In 1976 Musikernes Kontakt was transformed into Århus Musikkontor and employed Sven Gaul of [a=Taurus (22)] as daily manager. From 1976 to 1982 Århus Musikkontor was located on the first floor of the original "Musikernes Hus - Vestergade 58”.

In December 1978, after the transformation into Århus Musikkontor, the agency consisted of twelve bands/owners: Shit & Chanel, Djursland Spillemænd, Kræn Bysted, Big Joe Band, Ballast, Hokus Poulsen, Hus Band, [a=Luna (44)], Minas, Solaris, [a=Taurus (22)] and Baldur. The daily work in the office was handled by Sven Gaul, Lone Poulsen (from Shit & Chanel) and Ulla Berg Andersen (from Folkstow), who also made booking agreements for 70-80 other Danish groups and soloists including well-known names such as Papa Bue, C. V. Jørgensen, Secret Oyster, Gnags, Gasolin', Skousen & Ingemann, Trille, Sebastian, Benny Holst and Arne Würgler.

The idea of a musician-driven booking agency quickly caught on in other Danish cities, and by 1980 several sister agencies had appeared in Copenhagen (see Københavns Musikkontor), Aalborg (see Aalborg Musikkontor), Odense, (see Odense Musikkontor) and Esbjerg. The Musikkontor agencies joined together in a national organization, Samarbejdsudvalget for De Danske Musikkontorer (DDM), which set up a secretariat in Copenhagen led by the former booker in Aarhus Musikkontor (and musician in Folkstow), Flemming Madsen, and, among other initiatives, launched a national transport support scheme and published the magazine "Rytmetryk".

However, in Aarhus it soon became apparent that the amount of paperwork and the requirement for fixed telephone time did not fit in well with life as a touring musician. For this reason, in 1982, the Aarhus board decided to professionalize the enterprise and on 1 September a young Bo Andersen was hired (with a commission salary) to manage the office with 100% free powers. Soon after, Bo Andersen took the initiative to move from the Vestergade 58 location to a more quiet address at Borgporten and employed his friend Stener Nielsen.

While Århus Musikkontor continued to grow, De Danske Musikkontorer closed in the late 1980's together with other Musikkontor agencies. Around 1988, Århus Musikkontor entered the management area and acted as artistic and business advisor for artists like tv-2, Lars H.U.G., Poul Krebs, Michael Falch, Fielfraz and Dicte (see World Perfect), and by the 1990's it was one of the three major booking companies in Denmark. In 1999, the agency together with tv-2 launched their own record company Vestergade 58 with the intention to support and promote upcoming Danish artists.

In 2004, Brian Nielsen, previously manager at The Agency Group, Malmö joined forces with Århus Musikkontor and it was renamed to Skandinavian in order to increase the international appeal.

Legal name
1989-2004: Århus Musikkontor ApS

Contact info
Addresses
1976-1982: Vestergade 58 1., 8000 Århus C
1982-1986/87: Borgporten 23, 8000 Århus C (*)
1986/87-1990: Sct. Pauls Kirkeplads 9, 8000 Århus C
1990-1995: Ryesgade 8, 8000 Århus C
1995-2001: Mindegade 10 A st., 8000 Århus C
2001-2004: Skolebakken 7 1., 8000 Århus C

(*) The 1986 catalogue (image) indicates the address Guldsmedgade 23 o.g,, 8000 Århus C.

Phone
1976-1989: (06) 12 77 22
1989-2004: 86 12 77 22 (main), 86 12 75 03