[FA Worldmusic] music chains and knowledge transfer

[Robert Weisberg]

Actually this totally makes sense...

I have to think a big part of that is Putumayo's success selling cds not 
just in traditional music shops - but in boutiquey shops, and I think that 
originated especially with them placing cds in New Age type shops (correct 
me if I'm wrong).

I have to admit, my whole modus operandi (particularly on the radio) is to 
work against that association in 'world music' in that I tend to focus on 
more rocking and, relatively speaking, edgy stuff.  And I've been bothered 
by the fact that so much stuff marketed as "world music" in the US used to 
be - and sometimes still is - rather saccharine.

Actually Real World is an interesting case because I feel that they 
managed to work that angle and still do some good things.  I did (and do) 
HATE the overall production values on some of their projects.  But they 
did manage to create an identity that could register with that New Agey 
market and still introduces folks to rocking stuff by the likes of Nusrat 
and the Musicians of the Nile!

Of course now under the cross-marketed "world music" umbrella you have 
Sublime Frequencies compilations, bands like Gogol Bordello on the one 
hand or Konono No. 1 on the other, Ethiopiques, etc. etc., and even 
Putumayo's comps often have a little more kick than they used to...

One opinion...


Rob W / WFMU / http://www.wfmu.org/tsp

************

On Mon, 13 Aug 2007, Gail Sidibe wrote:

> I have to chime in here!
>
> Being involved in music retail all these years one of the "trends" I noticed
> went like this...
>
> New Age listeners of the '80's became World Music listeners in the '90's.
> That's of course a generalization, but as New Age sales declined - World
> music sales increased. Think Loreena McKennitt. All the world influences on
> New Age music opened so many doors for many people. Deep Forest comes to
> mind. Enigma. Not necessarily New Age. But this was "accessible" cross over
> music to many.
>
> I know my next statement may be controversial to some... But I also believe
> Peter Gabriel and Realworld helped bridge the gap for many people many years
> ago as well. In some ways this represents my personal path.