What is World Music?

World music is extremely difficult to clearly define as it could mean and has been argued to be two completely different things. Firstly, world music could be popular music due to its global exposure and popularity. Popular music tracks are commonly spoken in English due to the two music dominating countries being the USA and Britain. The most widely spoken language in the world is English, therefore for a song to truly penetrate global markets and become a profitable investment for record companies it must be expressed in English and then translated thereafter.
On the other hand, world music is not popular music but traditional music produced by indigenous musicians whom express sounds from their regions culture. In music stores the world music section is a mix of music from non-English spoken countries. The sounds produced are learnt from decades of artists, the instruments used are indigenous, unique and provide diverse rhythms that are far from the norm. World music could simple mean ‘music of the world’.

Is popular music a mass produced commodity or a genuine art form?

Adorno argues, “The popular music industry is an all consuming production line that churns out mass produced, inferior commodities” (T. Adorno, 1941). Adorno also believed that the whole structure of popular music is standardized, these can be split into ‘part interchangeability’ used to streamline production costs and ‘ pseudo individualization’ used to illustrate uniqueness to a product that is essentially the same as others. However, Adorno has mad a key error with his judgment because standardization can be applied to other genres for example Jim Connell’s ‘The Red Flag’ is influenced by the 18th century folk song ‘My Love Was Born in Aberdeen’.
On the other hand, Bernard gendron believes that the song is ‘universal’ and the playable format is ‘particular’. Therefore the original pop music produced is certainly an art form, its just the CD/vinyl it’s recorded on turns into a mass-produced commodity. The X Factor streaming of pop talents diminish the clarity of art form, however previous artists such as Elvis restores the art form argument due to his notable creativity.

How useful is the production of culture perceptive in understanding the birth of Rock n' Roll?

Richard. A .Peterson constructed 6 key factors for the emergence of Rock ‘n’ Roll, all factors clearly identify major economic and sociological influence to its success in the 1950’s. The successful emergence of rock ‘n’ roll was certainly influenced by factors such as technology, where television transmitted image and sound to 65% of US homes. With teenagers captured by television and the sex appeal of artists such as Elvis Presley, Rock ‘n’ Roll appealed to the masses. However it isn’t fair to say that these were the only reasons for its success, Peterson most defiantly isn’t wrong but he hasn’t taken in to account the music itself. Why didn’t blues, jazz or R&B have the same success if these factors were so significant to Rock’s success? The diverse creative nature of Rock ‘n’ Roll stood out compared to any other genre at the time and it’s the mix of blues, hillbilly and jazz makes the sounds so unique.

Is it resonable to consider rock music is gendered 'male'?

The recent Rolling Stones magazines top 50 guitarists feature only two women, whom are both not even in the top 50. The Roll of Rock music in their social life has never been a key element and as girls grow up they are taught “to be feminine and not engage in masculine activities” (Bayton). Rock music is predominantly viewed as a male gendered music industry with guitars seen as women or an extension of there gentiles.

The influence of commercial media and peers are properly the most notably reasons to why there aren’t enough female guitarists. “Lead guitarists are made, not born. The reasons for women’s absence are entirely social” (Bayton). Where females aren’t as influential in rock music they are predominantly dominant in other genres such as POP music. I believe that their success in other genres will merge into Rock and lead female instrumentalists will emerge as inspirational figures like Linda Perry.