Bendik Hofseth

Bendik Hofseth is a world-renowned Norwegian composer, saxophonist and singer as well as an active defender of creators’ rights and a Professor of music at Agder University College.

Hofseth worked for several years in the USA, writing and playing most notably with legendary jazz band Steps Ahead. He has released 8 Cd’s with his own music, a personal blend of genres and styles. On these records his collaborators have been as diverse as Tony Levin, Junior Wells, Talvin Singh, Django Bates, Ray Phiri and Nana Vasconcelos. His latest CD: “Itaka” was released in 2006 and contains lyrical songs recorded by jazz and classical musicians.

Bendik has performed extensively around the world, has written several commissioned pieces for different ensembles and has done many scores for feature films, theatre and TV.

Hofseth is a vociferous advocate of authors’ rights and actively involved in copyright organisations TONO and NcB. From 2007 to 2011, Hofseth has been the Chair of the International Council of Authors and Composers of Music (CIAM) within CISAC, the international organisation representing 229 copyright societies in 121 countries. Getting the creators’ voice heard in policy debates, forging alliances with other rights holders involved in the creative process (such as ECSA in Europe and PACSA in Fraica) and contributing to viable new business models in the online environment were high on his agenda for the CIAM.

Hofseth is also the chairman of NOPA (Norwegian Composers and Lyricists), Phonofile (on-line distribution), Artspages (internet technologies) and By:Larm (festival/seminars).