Genres and Types in the music industry

Musical Genres and Styles

Exercise One (in class)

You are in charge of a CD department in a music store. You must decide whether the following selections go in--

the Classical sectionThe Popular sectionthe International section

Official Music Industry Genres and Categories

* African* Blues* Caribbean * Children's * Classical* Country* Electronic* Folk/Traditional * Jazz

* Latin * March * Middle Eastern * Military * Musicals * New Age * Novelty * R&B and Soul * Rap and Hip-Hop * Reggae

* Rock/Pop* Theme Music* World Fusion* Religious/ Devotional

Pop CategoriesPop Categories

* Country

* Alternative * Christian * Classic Rock * Disco * Doo Wop

* Gothic * Indie * Industrial

* Lounge * Metal * New Wave/Synthpop * Oldies * Progressive * Punk and Hardcore * Rockabilly * Ska * Surf Rock

How do we decide which category to use?

Intention or Use

1. “Entertainment” (read “money making”) All categories of Pop music Musicals Movie sound tracks

Intention or Use

2. Listening/Performing Classical Jazz Fusion Opera Musicals

Intention or Use

3. Inspiration/Therapy/Motivation Religious Marches/Disco New Age

4. Storytelling Folk music Children’s songs

Intention or Use

5. Artistic expression Any music that mainly serves that

purpose-

• Composed music

• Outsider music

• Fringe music

How do we decide…?How do we decide…?

Instrumentation

Orchestra/Band/Choir Combos Folk Instruments Electronic


Rhythm/ Style

2 beat, 4 beat, 3 beatSimple vs. complexSwing vs. straightVolumeHarmony-- simple vs. complex


How music was created

Oral Tradition

•Written “by ear”

•Passed on “by ear”

•No rules except custom

“Paper” Tradition

•Written down as composed

•Passed on through written music

•Written according to rules but often experimental

A few examples

Oral Tradition Folk music, Rock, Blues, Rap (some),

Country, Alternative, “Pop” (some),

Children’s songs, Gospel (some), New Age Written Tradition

Classical, Jazz, Movie scores, Opera, Video Games, Musicals, Muzak, some Rock, Pop, Rap, and Gospel.

International MusicInternational Music

Most International Music is Oral with some exceptions

IM sometimes has the same conventions as Western music but most often not

Intention is usually the most important aspect of IM--e.g., work songs; music for

rituals, celebration, and storytelling; a very small percentage is for

“entertainment.”

A Final Word

These categories are not hard and fast. Some music falls into several categories and some can even change categories over time.

There are two other categories that we also need to think about-- professional and amateur.

A Final Word

All of these categories were developed for the convenience of the music industry

In other words, they are “made up.”

Genres and Types in the music industry

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