What is world Music?

Essentially, there’s two key areas of theoretical debate, primarily undertaken by Frith; initially it’s suggested world music is ‘created’ across the world, by individuals, and ranges in content, from; Australia’s indigenous music, Irish folk or Iceland’s Nordic music. Each known as local music due to its local creation, though as a combined form cover vast expanses of the world, however only a fraction may hear each style.

Opposing this, world music can be described as music recognised globally, for instance popular music such as Madonna. Popular music is generally being created in Anglo-American as the world standard, Shuker advocates, these dominant Anglo-American countries promote what consists of ‘their cultural values’ injecting their customs broadly across the world, and poses a risk of suffocating other genres altogether. It is my opinion that world music should be something that integrates both of the above, allowing all cultures to thrive, continuing music evolution.