Final research paper for 1900 class

GLOBAL AND LOCAL MUSIC Student’s Name Class Information Date Introduction Music has remained an integral part of human society since the beginning of human civilization. It portrays the distinguishing characteristics of human society across the globe. From earlier times, it has been a source of entertainment and sharing the accounts of love, sadness, tragedy, and sorrow with each other. Music slowly emerged from restricted gatherings or performances only held within a culture or community. Country songs and folk music became available globally in the early eighteenth century. However, it was not readily available for everyone because of limited connectivity, language barriers, and cultural diversity. Since the inception of the nineteenth century, human dwellings across the globe have started to become dense, and there is an increased sense of interconnectedness because of radio. The connectedness increased with the invention of television in the middle of the nineteenth century, which resulted in the revolution of the way music is preferred or consumed by people. People’s preferences regarding music also started to alter because of the availability of various options. The changes in the dissemination of music have led to the broadening of musical choices and transformation in the ways people choose their peculiar music styles. In addition, the fusion of traditional styles with contemporary influences and the confluence of different musical genres has created diversity in music. This paper sheds light on the distinguishing characteristics between local and global music and how meaningful this distinction is. It also describes the ways in which globalization has resulted in creating homogeneity in music. Although globalization has led to the creation of music’s homogeneity, its forces are also responsible for encouraging diversity in the musical domain by discovering local music.[Kramer, Lawrence. Musical meaning: Toward a critical history. Univ of California Press, 2021.] [Turow, Joseph. Media today: Mass communication in a converging world. Routledge, 2019.] [Ibid] [Hijleh, Mark. Towards a global music history: intercultural convergence, fusion, and transformation in the human musical story. Routledge, 2018.] Difference between Local and Global Music Multiple influences and traditions have come together to form the musical world. Despite the robust presence of global music, local music continues to coexist. The coexistence of global and local music has led to a beautiful diversity in the musical realm. However, there are differences between the stylistic elements of global and local music. Global music reaches a wider audience and transcends the borders of countries, thereby targeting people across the globe. It has been found that global music is not restricted to a single genre. It incorporates elements from different cultures and genres, generating a universal appeal. Popular music genres such as hip-hop, electronic dance music (EDM), and Pop have borrowed styles and sounds from various musical genres, generating a fusion that resonates globally with numerous listeners and is not restricted to one part of the world or a certain continent.[Ibid] [Miller, Terry E., and Andrew Shahriari. World music: A global journey. Routledge, 2020.] [Carr, James. "Genre collisions, culture collisions: identifying and understanding different types of cross-cultural influence in music." (2021).] Global music differs from local music as extremely professional and polished companies produce it with an extensive distribution network through international record labels and streaming services. These production houses have accessibility to globally available mediums that help in making their music reachable to audiences globally. The lyrics of global music are usually composed in English or any other language that is widely spoken or understood by a wider audience. The popularity of music in one language also leads other artists and production houses to produce music in the same language. The rise of KPop in contemporary times is a pertinent example of the way in which music starts to flourish and is received well by the audience. Global music usually features lyrics based on relatable topics for the audience and is focused on trendy melodies that become easily popular in the audience.[Afzali, Paiman. "Entering music market through digital distribution channels: independent artist." (2018).] [Ibid] [Parc, Jimmyn, and Shin Dong Kim. "The digital transformation of the Korean music industry and the global emergence of K-pop." Sustainability 12, no. 18 (2020): 7790.] On the other hand, local music is highly rooted in the tradition and culture of a particular region or community. It reflects the traditional elements of a region that are evident in the music. The stylistic elements have also evolved owing to the changes in situations of the community and multiple influences cast on the culture of that society. The music is conventionally passed from generation to generation and portrays that region’s beliefs, history, culture, and lifestyle. Examples of local music include Fado, Gemelan, and Bluegrass. Fado is the local music of Portugal, consisting of highly expressive and melancholic melodies and songs sung with the Portuguese guitar. Gamelan is local Indonesian music that creates a unique symphony through an ensemble of drums, metallophones, gongs, and other instruments. The American local music is called Bluegrass, rooted in an Appalachian folk musical tradition that features different instruments such as fiddle, mandolin, and fanjo.[Nicolas, Arsenio. "Traditional Music and Contemporary Trends: Music in Asean Communities." Sorai: Jurnal Pengkajian Dan Penciptaan Musik 12, no. 1 (2019): 54-56.] [Garcia-Falgueras, Alicia. "Possible Gender Differences in Classical Music, Flamenco and Fado." Neuroscience Insights 18 (2023): 26331055221147009.] [Spiller, Henry, and Elizabeth A. Clendinning. Focus: Gamelan Music of Indonesia. routledge, 2022.] [Krakauer, Benjamin. "A “Traditional” Music Scene and Its Fringes: Experimental Bluegrass of 1970s New York City." American Music 36, no. 2 (2018): 163-193.] Local music typically utilizes traditional singing styles that are peculiar to that area. The region’s conventional music genres and melodies are used in the local music along with the conventional musical instruments of that area. The production companies are less polished and do not have a highly extensive distribution network. They try to capture the region’s traditional spirit and raw energy in the music, along with showcasing the stylistic elements of the region. The purpose of the production companies is to keep the music authentic and original so that the communities can connect with the style and it does not sound alien to the community. The lyrics are composed in the regional language, depicting folklore, local stories, and social issues.[Nicolas, Arsenio. "Traditional Music and Contemporary Trends: Music in Asean Communities."] [Krakauer, Benjamin. "A “Traditional” Music Scene and Its Fringes: Experimental Bluegrass of 1970s New York City.] Despite differences between local and global music, globalization and multiculturalism have led to a blurring of distinction between both types of music. There are multiple reasons why stylistic features of global and local music are combined in multiple ways. In contemporary times, the difference between these types is being eliminated due to various endeavours being undertaken. Global artists incorporate local instruments or singing styles of the region in their songs, creating a unique blend. The collaboration of Pop artists with traditional musicians hailing from different regions is a pertinent example. This increases global music’s reach and introduces innovation in local music.[Miller, Terry E., and Andrew Shahriari. ] Another way local music becomes global and highly accessible is through technology. It has become highly convenient for local music to become available and reachable to a global audience through the Internet. Musicians worldwide are sharing their music from any part of the globe through music streaming services and platforms such as YouTube. With the heightened travelling among people from different parts of the world, global styles impact local music and vice versa. A diversified and richer musical landscape is being created due to the cross-pollination of global and local music. Despite the differences and blending of both musical styles, both musical types play a crucial role in society. Local music is associated with keeping traditions alive, while global music connects people across cultures.[Rojo, Joanna Juvyjoy Alcantara, Gia B. Flores, Kaeser Franz O. Bunagan, Perly Jade G. Dela Cruz, and Jayvee Russel V. Dionisio. "Influence of Digital Media Advertisements of KPOP Industry on Selected Young Adults in Manila, Philippines." International Journal of Social Science Research and Review 5, no. 10 (2022): 29-45.] [Miller, Terry E., and Andrew Shahriari. World music: A global journey.] Impact of Globalization on Homogeneity of Music Technology and media have helped globalize the society. According to UNESCO, the cultural cycle has been highly impacted by greater societal interconnecte...