Summary

In a global society, the influences of mass culture are unavoidable. This presents both an opportunity and a threat to indigenous musical traditions around the globe. The popularity of western music and culture can overshadow the musical legacy of a people or region. Alternately, if the influences of popular or western music are successfully integrated into a tradition, they can also revitalize it and help it to evolve.

The music industry has created a successful marketing concept for selling and distributing indigenous music through the "World Music" category. At the same time, popular western artists like Paul Simon, Sting, and others have integrated different musical cultures into their own works. Enthusiasm for products related to world music will hopefully help in creating lasting documents of the music from endangered cultural traditions, while ensuring the extension and development of new ones. By developing an understanding of the social traditions and functions of different musics and an ear for the unique sounds they offer, we gain insights that can help us nurture and understand our own musical heritage. The resources provided in this section will help you head in that direction.