World music
World music is a term that covers all music that is not part of mainstream popular music or classical music and has some kind of "ethnic" component. The connotation of the term is popular and folk music from the third world, European popular and folk music that uses influences from the third world, and traditional music especially but not only from the third world. The term is used primarily as a marketing/classificatory device, sometimes referring to any kind of foreign music, especially in a foreign language. Obviously, the various kinds of ethnic music that are included under the rubric "world music" do not have anything in common genetically or musically in virtue of which they are called "world music." However, since ever more artists (and the general public) gain access to communication devices, travel becomes easier day by day and sending music through the Internet is now almost a stansard practice, the mutual influence of musicians is now more comprehensive than ever. This trend will extend into the foreseeable future. This has given rise to a phenomenon named cross-over: musicians from everywhere enriching and influencing musicians from everywhere. This is a double-edged sword: whereas creation of original works and crosss-fertilizing are going on at an unprecedented rate, there is also the danger of 'all types of music becoming more or less the same.' The artists'competence should, ideally, be able to ward off the latter phenomenofn from happening, although commercial and marketing pressure works agains this.The term was coined by Wesleyan University to describe their World Music Department.
Music labels:
- Luaka Bop, David Byrne's music label
- Real World Studios, Peter Gabriel's music label
- Rough Guide series
- Folkways series