Music International?

Today the culture of America not only influences the citizens of the country, but the world too. Other countries seem to adapt many customs and ideas from American civilization. One of the biggest parts of American culture that has been spread throughout the world is music.

Music of America consists of genres such as rap, country, pop, classic, and rock. These forms of music are derived from different cultures and backgrounds of their creators but with a new twist. Why is it that these new forms of music are adapted in other countries than America, but other foreign music is not quite so popular with us? The most popular example may be reggaeton, which is now becoming a common music type in the country. Reggaeton is rap in Spanish, and many of the rappers in America today come from African and Hispanic descent. Therefore, the idea of rap in their native language is widely accepted, but is it a completely original idea from the Hispanic countries to have reggaeton? Was the style of music just adapted from African American rap, which was created by United States artists?

There is a sense that original cultural folk music is not nearly as popular among the people of today as the new original music. The biggest hits of native music in other countries many Americans do not even know exist. They are never played on a hit list and can be found in iTunes or the internet, but the searcher must already know they exist or else they will never find them. When an American turns on the radio, the most variety they may get is a Spanish station from big city radio stations. There are rarely any Japanese, Chinese, Indian, or any other denomination's cultural music played. The only other country that may get as much publicity in their music industry would be England. On the other hand, in foreign countries there are radios that play popular American music and American celebrities are famed there. It is always heard how Miley Cyrus is on tour in some foreign country, or Lady Gaga is headed overseas for some concert.

It seems that the United States borrows samples and styles of music from cultures and changes it into something original. In return, it can also be said that foreign artists use America's popular music and make it their own. Popular artists such as Tokio Hotel from Germany and The Ting Tings from England. These foreign artists are just as popular throughout the world as American artists, but is their style original? Are they a sort of American wannabees? The only thing that can be fully comprehended is that American music has borrowed from other cultural backgrounds to create something completely new. Just as America has done that, other countries' artists seem to be doing the same thing. Neither side is wrong by borrowing, because the whole world is enjoying the music. In the music industry, that should be all that matters. It is not, but it should be.