Globalization and Popular Music in the Digital Age

By Shikhin Sazali

Globalization is defined as the increase of relationships between culture, economy and people. Music globalization refers to the impact on economic and social level for a country that affected by way of consuming diverse music that is offered by the global market. Popular music means music that is appealing to the popular taste including rock, pop, soul, reggae, rap and dance music.

Popular music is typically distributed to a large number of audiences through the music industry. This term was first applied to Tin Pan Alley (the collection of New York City music publisher’s songwriters who dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th century.

There are so many developments and changes that we have been through along with globalization. From the one function machine to a multitask robot, we have been positively, most of it, received great changes that makes everything much more interactive, easy and most importantly adaptable to our social life. New high technology that was invented in the field of music such as the invention of MP3 Player and up until now most of us tend and able to consume music simply through online streaming. We no longer needed to physically buy CD or vinyl to enjoy our favorite tune. Through this development, it helps to provide a convenient environment for the music listener in consuming music wherever and whenever they like.

The new communication transportation, which is the Internet, has helped a lot in increasing people’s interests into liking music/new music that we offer in the music market now. People from all over the world are able to listen or watch live concert and performances by their idols no matter where the actual event is being held.

Availability to reach new music styles that come from different country/region will directly makes the experience of enjoying music or event new music much more interesting for all these listeners. Especially for music students who need materials/elements of music from other country, the internet simply makes it easy for them to get the sources without the need to spend extra money or time to get the material that they need to accomplish their assignment.

Interchange of music styles create a new mixture of world music thus new culture is born. “ Thanks for the development of transportation and high technology, the music-related products can be sold everywhere in the world. The artificial music sound is becoming not as important as before; as a result of the worldwide teenage as the main consumers of pop music share the same view of pop music. Today’s world is more likely to become a global village, thus the globalized popular music is produced in order to fascinate the global market.”

There are a few elements involved as the effects of globalization that is happening around us these days such the economy and traditional local music. Well, it is undeniable that along with the rapid development of music in all aspects, it directly helps with the growth of economy status in most country. It is proven that some countries are depending on the revenue collected from music events and how it directly involved the costs that comes in from the tourism aspects when concerts and live performances are organized in their country. But apart from that, some people are arguing on how pop music effects the quality and existence of local traditional music in their country. Since most people especially young adults are constantly idolizing pop music that comes from outside of their country, most of it are scared that local music might be forgotten.

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