A groundbreaking study has unveiled the pivotal role radio broadcasts played in propelling Jean Sibelius, Finland’s most esteemed art music composer, to international stardom, particularly in the 1930s. This era marked a significant turning point for both the broadcasting industry and the legacy of Sibelius, as well as for Western classical art music at large.
Jean Sibelius (1865–1957), whose compositions had already earned him national acclaim, saw his global influence surge as radio became a prevalent medium across Europe.
The Finnish Broadcasting Company, Yleisradio, established in 1926 and becoming the monopoly broadcaster in Finland by 1934, was instrumental in disseminating Sibelius’s music to an international audience through AM radio technology and a series of coordinated concerts.
Janne Mäkelä, a visiting researcher from the University of the Arts…
