DubMC periodically poses questions to key players in the
global music scene to check the pulse of both the recorded music and live music
markets. Up first is Tom Pryor, editor of National Geographic's world music
website.
What are some of the patterns and trends that have
emerged in the global music recorded music scene in the past year?
3. Even though I see plenty of labels cutting promo costs
with slipcases, etc, very few have taken the plunge into fully-digital promo
kits - even though this is standard in other segments of the music market. I'm
not complaining - I still like physical CDs and they usually get first play
while I'm previewing new music - but it is surprising.
What about trends and patterns in the global music live performance scene in the past year?
1. One thing that surprises me is that large bands are
continuing to tour regularly - despite rising gas prices, increased airfares,
ongoing visa nightmares, etc. If Darwinian economics truly ruled the industry,
I'd expect to see less big bands like 17 Hippies touring and more
"laptop" artists and DJs.
2. I live in New York and it seems like we've got more
new spaces devoted to world music than we've had in a long time. With the
opening of Drom and Rose in the last two years plus the ongoing international
programming of places like S.O.B.s, Barbes, Joe's Pub, Zebulon – not to mention
all the venues that program occasional world acts (like Highline Ballroom) - it
seems that there are a lot more small-to-midsize rooms showcasing this kind of
music in New York now.
3. Homegrown American world music "fusion" acts
really came into their own last year. Everybody knows the list by heart by now
- Slavic Soul Party!, Balkan Beat Box, A Hawk and a Hacksaw, Beirut, Chicha
Libre, Cuban Cowboys, etc, etc. I think that having a national touring circuit,
however small, certainly helped incubate these acts and break them out of their
local scenes. Obviously the internet and social networking sites played a big
role in this, but don't discount the importance of live shows. MySpace only
lets your fans know when and where you're playing, but you still have to play
the gig to really connect (or at least get a fuzzy, poorly shot video to put up
on your page the day after the show).

