Week 4 – What is World Music and why does it exist?

World Music is a category of music that many believe cannot be clearly defined. However, it has been put in its own genre: it has a separate section in music shops, specific magazines, record labels and radio and television programmes. It is argued that World Music has been institutionalised. In musical terms Jocelyne Guilbault states that ‘world music is usually described as the blending of modern and traditional musics’ and usually is associated with ‘the musics of the first and third worlds’. Although World Music has always existed as music that was specific to a country or region, it is argued that countries such as England and America now increasingly acknowledge it. This is because of the development of new technologies reaching much more of the world. Therefore artists from other countries can now record, sell and promote their music, which leads to World Music finding its way into America and England.