Vrije U. Amsterdam, School of Business and Economics, Netherlands
Creative ecosystems are at their core characterized by persistent tensions; contradictory yet interdependent elements. While prior literature has investigated the embodiment of these tensions, we are left to wonder about social reproduction and recursiveness of these tensions. To advance our understanding of persistent tensions in creative ecosystems, we explored these over time. In a 2-year long inductive case study we find rhythms of three specific tensions in the techno-music creative ecosystem: competition vs collaboration, compliance vs deviance, and hedonistic escapism vs social reflexivity. These persistent tensions are (re)produced by actors in rhythms of foregrounding and backgrounding the extremes in response to variation in the frequencies of value creating activities, regulations, and confronting incidents. Specifically, the rhythm of competition and collaboration is shaped by variability in the frequency of value creating activities. The frequency of regulatory activities influences the tension between compliance and deviance. While the frequency of confronting events influences the tension between hedonistic escapism and social reflexivity. These three rhythms harmonize at specific instances, giving rise to a major joint event. We discuss implications for creative ecosystem studies and the importance of extending a dynamic understanding of tensions and harmonies over time.