World music is a term that refers to a collection of musical genres that originate in various indigenous cultural traditions. Folk music of various types is frequently linked to the histories and traditions of specific countries. As a result, various songs classified as world music can be quite diverse, with some dating back centuries and others being quite recent. World music instruments can range from simple hand drums to electronic synthesizers paired with turntables and computerized mixers, depending on the culture of origin and individual musicians’ artistic choices. Some listen to this music to reconnect with their ethnic roots, while others prefer it as an alternative to mainstream radio’s standard programming.
World music draws influences from all over the world, including the Caribbean, Africa, Ireland, Scandinavia, and the South Pacific, to name a few. When you look at the history of each of these folk music genres, you’ll notice that they all drew influences from others at different times. These sub-genres of music, like many other aspects of art and culture, are not static. They are constantly changing and evolving as world views and trends change.
Newcomers to world music frequently find that there are so many options that they can’t decide what to listen to first. One way they could narrow down their options is to listen to world music radio stations broadcasting in their native languages but from a different country. While an Australian station will still broadcast in English, it will often have a different folk music influence than a station from the United Kingdom or Canada, for example. The same rules for world music radio can be applied to other countries as well.
Although this type of music isn’t always played on local mainstream radio, fans of these genres of music have a lot of options for keeping up with their favorite musicians’ work and discovering new favorites. Every year, world music festivals take place in a variety of countries, providing opportunities for fans to connect with one another. Newer listeners can also sample genres and learn about the work of various artists by using online listening libraries and streaming radio stations.