Global Popular Musics I: Emergence of Recording Industries and Major Styles

Exploration of what pop music is, how it became global, and what globalization and glocalization are. Pop music here is defined not just as music which has a wide audience base (which is popular), but music whose existence is result of technologies of recording, mass production, and mass distribution. Examination of rise of music industries and mass-produced music in countries across world in early 20th century, exploring issues of technology, capitalism, industry, trade, and migrations associated with colonialism. Study of how pop music from U.S. and numerous countries across world was global, transregional, and globalized before era of globalization in 1990s, as recording gave music new potential to travel.

P/NP or letter grading.