The 1950s saw a sudden change in popular music culture. The 1950s saw the rise of the electric guitar and vocal driven Rock and Roll, Pop, R&B, Blues and Country music. Doo Wop and Jazz also remained popular styles throughout the 50s.
The 1960s is considered as one of the most revolutionary periods in terms of popular music culture and the development of Rock music. The 1960s also saw Funk, R&B and Soul music continue to rise in popularity.
The 1970s saw the birth of Disco which would go on to be one of the most popular sounds of the 70s. Rock would also continue to grow in popularity with many sub-genres of it being formed such as Hard Rock and Punk. During this decade synthesized electronic music also began to grow in popularity.
During the 1980s contemporary Pop culture exploded and Rock music would still continue to grow in its popularity with styles such as Heavy Metal and Glam Rock emerging. Electronic music also saw a massive rise in popularity in the 80s with genres such as Synthpop, Electro, Techno and House being born. Urban R&B and Hip Hop would also become very popular during this decade.
During the 1990s Rock, Pop, Hip Hop, R&B and Urban music continued to grow and remained very popular. The 90s would see also the emergence of the hugely popular Indie, Britpop, Grunge and Nu-Metal genres. Electronic dance music saw a monumental boom in its popularity and would continue to expand in its own genres.
Acid House is a subgenre of House music which originated during the 1980's and was created by Chicago based DJ's. It would later spread to the UK and European rave scenes. Acid House took a minimalist approach to House musics 4x4 beat structure and was characterised by its use of squelchy sounding “Acid” basslines produced on the Roland TB-303 synthesizer.
Adult contemporary music is often very ballad driven. The music can range from 60s / 70s / 80s and 90s soft rock classic hits to the more present day emotional power ballads and pop
African popular music (or Afro Pop) covers multiple styles and the more present-day genres are also influenced by western pop music. Much of todays popular styles of music had originally derived in some form or another from African origin such as Blues, Jazz, Salsa and R&B.
Alternative Rock emerged from the underground Rock scene in the 1980s and went on to become very popular in the 1990s. Drawing an influence from Punk Rock, the term is given due to the genres non-mainstream ethos and its use of heavily distorted guitars and controversial lyrics.
Ambient music is often intended to induce a sense of calm and relaxation on its listener. It can incorporate elements from many other styles of music and also be quite experimental with the sole intention to enhance a listeners mood or create an atmosphere within an environment.
Americana is a mixture of various different styles of music such as Folk, Country, Rhythm and Blues, Rock and Roll and more. Its term is defined by the way it incorporates elements from various different types of American style Roots music.
Baroque is a form of Western music which was composed during the 17th and 18th centuries and followed the Renaissance music era. Baroque music introduced the use of tonality which is where music is composed in a particular musical key which would set the foundations for the Classical music era that would follow it and musical composition as we know it today.
Bass Music is a general term used to describe various styles of Electronic Dance Music (or EDM). Genres often included under this term are Drum and Bass, Dubstep, Garage, Glitch Hop and some forms of House music. The common characteristics that they all share is that they all place an emphasis on big basslines, groove and rhythm.
Bass House (or Bassline House) is a subgenre of House music that incorporates elements of other Electronic Dance Music such as Garage, Drum and Bass, Breakbeat and Dubstep. Bass House places much more emphasis on huge sounding basslines compared to some other types of House music.
Bhangra is a popular and upbeat form of music deriving from Punjabi culture. It originated in the UK during the 1970's from natives of the Punjabi region of India and Pakistan who had moved to the UK and who took their native folk music and experimented with its instrumentation whilst drawing heavily upon influences from other forms of popular Western music.
Big Band is commonly associated with the large multi-instrument Jazz ensembles which were very popular during the 30s and 40s. As a form of music it is largely identified with the “Swing Era” of that time.
Big Beat derives from Breakbeat music. It is known for its use of heavily distorted breakbeats and basslines and for also taking influence from other genres such as Techno, Acid House, Rock and Punk.
Bluegrass is sub-genre of Country music and a take on American Roots music. Its own roots come from a mixture of traditional Irish fiddle music and Scottish and English Ballad music whilst incorporating elements of American Jazz and Blues. Bluegrass was inspired by the music of Appalachian culture.
Blues musics roots were established in African-American history and it is known for having its own musical form. The use of adapted Blues scales, call and response patterns and twelve bar Blues chord progressions form a very important part of the genres sound and playing style.
Bollywood music (or Filmi which is Hindi for of films) consists of poetic lyrics set to music which is mostly intended to match the dance routine or script of a Bollywood film. Inspired by classical and contemporary Hindi music, Bollywood songs form a predominant part of Indian Pop music culture.
Breakbeat (or Breaks) is defined by its use of a syncopated drum pattern and big synthesized basslines. Other subgenres to emerge from Breakbeat are Big Beat and Nu Skool Breaks amongst others.
Breakcore incorporates elements of Jungle, Gabber, Hardcore, Techno, Ragga and IDM. Breakcore is very dynamic and fast paced, often with very complex drum patterns and edits based around the use of the famous Amen Break.
Breaks (or Breakbeat) is defined by its use of a syncopated drum pattern and big synthesized basslines. Other subgenres to emerge from Breakbeat are Big Beat and Nu Skool Breaks amongst others.
Britpop is a UK specific form of Alternative Rock music which was a very popular genre and culture in the UK during the 1990's. Britpop drew upon influences of 60's British Pop, 70's Glam Rock and Punk and 80's Indie Pop to produce catchy Pop Rock which epitomised "British" culture.
Calypso is a form of Afro Caribbean music that developed in Trinidad and Tobago in the early to mid 20th century and took its influence from African Kaiso music and the French creole language and music. It encompasses a range of different genres including Benna, Mento, Ska, Spouge and Soca music. It is characterised by its topical, witty and often satirical lyrics and Carnival style sound which uses instrumentation such as steel drums, Latin percussion and guitar amongst others.
Caribbean music is very diverse and draws its influence from African as well as American, Indian and European music culture. Some of its more popular styles include Reggae, Dancehall, Dub, Zouk, Calypso, Reggaeton and Soca.
Celtic music is derived from the traditional folk music of Western European Celtic people. Its contemporary form often still includes much of the traditional instrumentation used. Celtic music is often used to describe the music of Ireland and Scotland which both share a similar characteristic style.
Chamber music is type of Classical music that was written and arranged for a small of group of performers and instruments and in contrast to other Classical music which would be composed for larger ensembles. Chamber music would typically be performed in the intimate environment of a palace chamber during that era.
Chill (or Chillout) is a general term for electronic music thats purpose is to make the listener feel relaxed. Chill covers various styles including Ambient, Easy listening, Trip Hop, Lounge and Downtempo. It is characterised by its slower tempo and mellow sounds.
Chillout (or Chill) is a general term for electronic music thats purpose is to make the listener feel relaxed. Chillout covers various styles including Ambient, Easy listening, Trip Hop, Lounge and Downtempo. It is characterised by its slower tempo and mellow sounds.
Chinese music refers to the music of mainland China. It mostly uses traditional Chinese instrumentation and is in the Chinese language. More contemporary forms of Chinese music have also emerged in recent years which draw influence from Pop, Rock and Hip Hop.
Christian music is written to express either a personal or a communal belief in Christian life and faith. It is written and performed for a performers own personal pleasure as well as for religious and ceremonial occasions. Common motifs of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence and lament.
Christmas music consists of a mixture of genres played around the festive season. This may include the more traditional Christmas carols as well more contemporary seasonal pop songs.
Classic Rock formulated as a Radio format in the early 1980s. It features commercially successful Rock music and artists / bands from the 60s to the late 80s. The format is often referred to as Album-orientated Rock (AOR) which is defined by use of Rock album tracks with a large commercial appeal.
Classical music was established and is still written in the traditions of religious and non-religious Western music. Often described as Art Music, it covers a wide period from around the 11th century up to the present day. Classical music is played on traditional acoustic instruments or performed by large symphony orchestras.
Comedy Radio consists of various kinds of comedy sketches, talk and situation comedy shows. It may also include broadcasts of live stand up Comedy shows.
Community radio is a radio service that provides relevant and popular content which is aimed at certain geographical areas and also communities of interests. Community radio stations are run by the communities that they serve providing such content which is often overlooked by commercial broadcasters.
Complextro derives from Electro House. The term is formed by merging the words "complex" and "electro". Complextro is much like Electro House yet it is known for its more glitchy, heavier and complex basslines.
Country music is a form of American popular music that developed in the Southern areas of the United States in the 1920s. Its roots come from traditional American Folk and Blues music. Instrumentation often heard in Country music includes banjos, electric and acoustic guitars, harmonicas and fiddles.
Cumbia music is of Latin American origin. Cumbia fuses the music and culture of Colombias Caribbean region and Panama. Cumbia began as a traditional African courtship dance which later integrated with American Indian dance and the music drew influence from European musics characteristics and instrumentation.
Dance music is written and played with the sole intention to facilitate dancing (usually in a nightclub environment and mixed in sets by DJs). The vast majority of contemporary music considered as Dance is Electronic based. Dance music covers a large amount of different electronic genres.
Dancehall musics name derives from the Jamaican dancehalls at which popular Jamaican recordings were played by local sound systems. It originated in the 1970s and was to begin with a more sparse take on Reggae music. By the 1980s it would later go on to become more characterised with faster rhythms and a shift in the sound of the music which was mostly produced using electronic music instrumentation.
Dancepunk (or Punk Funk) originated during the 1970's when Post Punk and New Wave bands became influenced by Disco, Funk and other synth led popular Dance music of that time with some acts fusing Punk vocals with Disco beats. Contemporary forms of Dancepunk (sometimes referred to as New Rave) includes acts who fuse Electronic Dance music with Indie, Rock and Punk influences.
Darkwave music developed in the 1970s simultaneously with the rise of New Wave and Post - Punk music. Like New Wave, originally the genre was comparable in certain aspects to Punk Rock, but it would later go on to incorporate elements of Electronic music. Darkwave placed more of an emphasis on darker and introspective lyrics often with a theme of sadness to them.
Deep House is a subgenre of House music. Having developed in the 1980s, the genre took on elements of Chicago House and also drew upon influences from Jazz and Funk music and was to became known for its use of more Soul influenced vocals.
Desi music is a general catch all term used for the music originating from South Asian countries such as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Some modern Desi music fuses traditional Indian or South Asian music with Western Urban and Dance music.
Dirty South Hip Hop (or Southern Cost Hip Hop) is a regional subgenre of Hip Hop in the US which originated during the 1980's in the Atlanta, New Orleans, Houston, Memphis and Miami areas. It was created as a reaction to the Hip Hop which coming out of the East and West coast areas at the time. Dirty South is also often referred to nowadays as Crunk or Trap.
Disco music is a form of Dance music which saw its peak of commercial success during the 1970s. The term is derivative from the French word discotheque which means "library of phonograph records. Its roots were established in the US at night clubs that catered for African American, gay, Italian American, Latino and Psychedelic club goers. Its musical influences come from Funk, Latin and Soul music, often set over a "four-on-the-floor" beat. 2013 saw a Disco revival with many Pop artists achieving chart success with Disco inspired tracks.
Doo Wop is a style of Rhythm and Blues music that is much more vocal-based. The music is made-up of vocal group harmonies with very little or sometimes no instrumentation. A Doo Wop group is formed with a Tenor lead vocalist who would sing the main melody whilst a backing vocal group (usually a trio or quartet) would sing the background harmonys. Doo Wop derives from African American communities of the 1940s and it achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and 60s.
Downtempo music (or sometimes cited as Chill or Chill Out) is a style that is very akin to Ambient music and is often intended to induce a sense of calm and relaxation on its listener. Although it is generally quite similar to beatless Ambient music, Downtempo itself usually has a beat or a groove with its tempo often being slower than that of other types of Electronic music.
Drone music (or Ambient Drone) has a very minimalistic approach to its form. Its musical structure consists of very long sustained (or repetitive) notes, intervals or sounds that play through either most or all of a piece. The sounds are often heavily reverbed or echoed to atmospheric effect.
Drum and Bass (also called Jungle and is often abbreviated to D&B / DnB / Drum n Bass / Drum & Bass) is defined by its focus on fast syncopated breakbeat drum patterns and heavy sub basslines. It often encompasses influences from many other styles of music such as from Dub and Reggae to Jazz and Funk. Drum and Bass has various subgenres within its scene from Jump Up, Liquid and Minimal Drum and Bass to Neurofunk & Techstep.
Dub music developed from Reggae in the 1960s. It is known for taking an existing piece of music, removing the vocals and creating an instrumental with added emphasis on the percussive and bass sections of the arrangement. Extended use of echo delay effects and reverb are another big part of the sound.
Dubstep was originally a more rhythmically sparse take on styles such as Garage and Drum and Bass while drawing an influence from Dub music. More recent incarnations of the genre have seen it take on a much heavier form of sound with much more focus on very heavy and distorted basslines.
East Coast Hip Hop (or East Coast Rap) is a regional subgenre of Hip Hop in the US. It first originated in the New York area during the 1970's. The East Coast is considered to be where the roots of Hip Hop were first started. East Coast Hip Hop has its own particular sound and style which is defined by its use of aggressive sounding beats and the use of sampling compared to the Hip Hop from the West and Southern regions.
Easy Listening is a popular radio format and music genre. The radio format for the most part includes instrumental versions of popular songs as well as Lounge music and Orchestral Pop. Softer tracks with vocal content are also sometimes used in accordance to fit with a stations playlist schedule.
Electronic Body Music (EBM) first became notable in Belgium in the late 1970s. The genre combines elements of Industrial music, Electronic Dance Music and Synthpunk. It is characterised by its use of hard electronic beats, synthesizers and Goth / Punk inspired vocals.
Electronic Dance Music (or EDM) is written and played with the sole intention to facilitate dancing (usually in a nightclub environment and mixed in sets by DJs). EDM covers a very large amount of different electronic music genres and is often used as an umbrella term for them all.
Electro (or Electro Funk / Electro Boogie) is a genre of Electronic Dance Music (EDM). It is characterised by its heavier electronic sound and by the use of the TR-808 drum machine. Vocals are sometimes present in Electro music, yet these are often performed through vocoders and talk-boxes which create a robot type vocal effect.
Electro House is a harder take on House music. Although its of the same tempo and of a very similar style, it is known for its Electro influenced sounds and heavier and more distorted basslines.
Electronic music is music that for the most part utilises electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. Electronic music covers many styles and genres from Experimental music to other popular forms such as Electronic Dance Music (EDM).
Electronica is a broad term used for a wide range of Electronic music that is designed for a variety of purposes such as foreground listening and dancing. It also serves as background music for other forms of entertainment such as computer games, TV and film. Electronica is not always intended for the purpose of club music and for dancing, unlike with Electronic Dance Music (EDM). Some Electronica artists take a more Experimental approach to their music.
Emo is a form of Rock music that places emphasis on emotional and confessional lyrics. Emo music found prominence in the post Punk and Hardcore sound of the 1980s. But during the 1990s and by the time of its mainstream success in the 2000s, Emo musics sound had began to draw an influence from Pop Punk and Indie Rock.
Eurodance (or Euro-House) is a form of Electronic Dance Music (EDM) which achieved huge popularity in the 1990s across the world. It originated from Europe (notably Ibiza) and the genre combines many elements from various other genres such as House, Trance, Techno, Hi-NRG and European Disco.
Europop is a form of Pop music that originated in Europe during the late 1970s. Europop went on to top the mainstream charts throughout the 1980s and 1990s both across Europe and also in America. Towards the late 1990s and early 2000s, Europop generally became more orientated towards Dance and Trance music. Many highly successful Pop acts and groups (both in Europe and the US) have at some point been influenced in one or way or another by Europop.
Exotica is a form of music that is sometimes also described as Tropical Jazz or Easy Listening Lounge music. It was pioneered during the 1950's and draws upon influences from world music and identifiable ethnic sounds to make it sound exotic to a Western audience when mixed with the familiar Pop music format. It is intended to invoke the feeling or images of being in exotic foreign destinations.
Experimental music is a term often used for music that goes against the stylistic definitions and traditional boundaries within certain genres. Experimental music incorporates new and unconventional sounds, production techniques and rhythms. Its history can be traced back to the early 20th century when classically trained musicians began to experiment with instrumentation and their approach to composition.
Fidget House (or Fidget) is a form of Electro House that also draws some influence from Dubstep production. It is characterised usually by its use of more glitchy beats and fragmented and pitched vocal snippets.
Flamenco is a form of Spanish Folk music and art form dancing. Its is defined by 4 main elements which are singing (Cante), guitar playing (Toque), dance (Baile) and rhythmic punctuation from hand clapping (Palmas).
The term Folk music is usually used in reference to traditional music (often including World music and Roots music). However, it is also now used for more contemporary music that comes from the Folk revival of the 20th century.
Freestyle (or Latin Freestyle / Latin Hip Hop) is a style of Electronic Dance Music (EDM) which achieved popularity, particularly in the United States between the 1980s and the 1990s. Present-day Freestyle music is still popular amongst some of the Latino and Italian American communities.
Funk music originated in the United States during the 1960s. The genres African American musicians fused elements of Soul, Jazz and R&B into a more rhythmical and danceable form of music. Funk music places much more emphasis on a stronger groove with instruments such as the bass guitar and drums playing a more predominant role in the music.
Music that is classed as Fusion is where two or more styles of music are combined. Fusion genres are usually characterised by alterations in style, tempo and rhythm. An example of Fusion would be Rock and Roll which originally developed as a fusion of Blues, Gospel and Country music. The term Fusion is also used sometimes in reference to the genre Jazz Fusion.
Gabber (or Gabba) is a hardcore style of Techno. Gabber has a very aggressive sound and it is characterised by its very fast tempo and use of heavily distorted kick drums. Its tempo can range from 160bpm up to as fast as 220bpm.
Video Game music refers to the soundtrack or background music from computer games. In its early days the music was restricted by old technological constraints to low bitrate sounds and the use of simple monophonic melodies. Video game music has since developed hugely in more recent years to the same complexity and quality standard as to be expected from television or movie soundtracks.
Garage (or UK Garage) developed in the UK in the 1990s as a direct descendant of House music. Although of a similar tempo, instead of a straight 4x4 beat, the genre is characterised by its identifiable syncopated percussive rhythms Reggae, Rap and R&B inspired vocals are also often used in Garage music.
Glam Rock is a form of Rock music that originated in the UK during the 1970's. Musicians who were famed for wearing very flamboyant costumes drew upon a vast and diverse source of influences including Pop, 50's Rock and Roll and even to an extent Cabaret to create a very theatrical and unique form of Rock music.
Glitch Hop fuses the tempo and breakbeats of Hip Hop, the futuristic sound design of genres such as contemporary Drum and Bass and Dubstep whilst also incorporating the glitched elements of IDM.
Goa Trance (or just Goa) is a form of Electronic Dance Music (EDM) that developed during the late 1980s in Goa, India. The genre peaked in commercial success during the mid 1990s and was characterised as being Psychedelic Trance music. After this time many of the genres artists went on to form what would become the Psytrance genre whilst others went down a more commercial route with Trance music.
Gospel music is music that is written according to various cultural and social contexts. Commonly it is written to express either a personal or a communal belief in Christian life and faith. It is written and performed for a performers own personal pleasure as well as for religious and ceremonial occasions.
Gothic Rock (or just Goth Rock / Goth) is a form of Post-Punk and Alternative Rock which came to be in the later half of the 1970s. The Goth genre eventually became a separate movement from the Punk Rock scene in the 1980s and developed into its own subculture and fashion. Musically it had a much darker sound than that of Punk and featured synthesisers and darker introspective / romantic lyrics.
Gothic or Goth Rock is a subgenre of Alternative Rock and Post-Punk music. It originated during the 1970's from English Punk Rock and Post Punk and became a big subculture during the 1980's. It is characterised by its darker mood and introspective and romantic lyrics. As well as using conventional Rock music instruments, Goth music incorporated synthesisers and drum machines into its sound.
Greek music is of various kinds of forms and is as celebrated as much as the countrys history. It is still a big part of Greek culture and usually comes in the form of either Greek traditional music intended for dancing to at parties and festivals, or as Byzantine music which is used more in ceremonial occasions and religious contexts.
Grime emerged from out of London, England in the early 2000s. The urban style developed out of UK Garage with it inheriting the darker bass sounds of Drum and Bass and also Dancehall influenced rhythms. Its many influences serve as a backing to the Hip Hop inspired lyrical style.
Grindcore music is of an extreme nature and draws upon influences from other genres such as Thrash Metal, Industrial, Noise and Punk. Having developed in the late 1980s, its is characterised by its fast tempo, heavily distorted down tuned guitars and shrieking / growling style vocals.
Grunge is a form of Alternative Rock that emerged in the 1980s out of Seattle, Washington in the United States of America. Grunge would later go on to become very commercially successful in the 1990s. Its raw sound is inspired by Hardcore Punk and Heavy Metal. It is characterised by its use of heavily distorted guitars, growling style vocals and emotionless or angst filled lyrics.
Happy Hardcore music developed from Breakbeat Hardcore in the early 1990s. It is characterised by its uplifting and happy sound from the use major scale chord progressions and melodys. It is also known for its very fast tempo, four to the floor kick drum patterns, piano riffs and vocal hooks which were often pitched up to a cartoon like fashion.
Hard House (or UK Hard House / NRG) is a form of dance music that emerged in UK during the 1990s. It is generally faster than normal House music with tempos ranging from around 150bpm. Stylistically it is very similar to Hardstyle music although it has less of an aggressive sound and places more emphasis on bouncier basslines and melodic synth riffs.
Hard Trance is a subgenre of Trance music and a more harder take on the genre. Having originated in the early 1990s out of Western Europe, it was influenced by Hard House, Trance and Happy Hardcore. It also evolved from other forms of UK Breakbeat music such as Breakbeat Hardcore. As Hard Trance began to lose popularity in the later half of the 1990s it eventually went on to evolve into the Hardstyle and Jumpstyle genres.
Hardcore is a term that is generally associated with a variety of Electronic Dance Music (EDM) genres. It is however also associated with other genres such as Punk Rock and forms of Heavy Metal. In its use within EDM, the term is used in reference to Hardcore Techno which is a more extreme form of Techno which emerged in the 1990s from Europe in the Netherlands (sometimes referred to as Gabber). It is also used in reference to Breakbeat Hardcore which emerged in the UK from Acid House and Breakbeat. The term Hardcore is still often used to describe more extreme / underground styles in a variety of musical genres.
Hardstyle (or Hardbass) is genre of Electronic Dance Music (EDM). It draws upon influence from other Dance genres such as Hard Trance, Hard House, Gabber and Hardcore. Its heavier style incorporates a four to the floor kick drum pattern, an off-beat Gabber style bassline and Hard Trance inspired synth lines and chord progressions.
Hardtechno is a form of Techno music which developed post-2000 from Schranz and Hardcore Techno. In its earlier incarnation during the early 1990s, Techno music which was off a harder nature was known then as Hardcore Techno. The style later evolved over the years into a newer sound which was much different to its original Techno roots. Influenced by the Schranz genre, Hardtechnos new style incorporated a much faster tempo and more prominent and heavily distorted kick drum patterns.
Healing music is music that is performed or listened to during the act of meditation, relaxation and healing. This can include music that is performed as an act of meditation in itself, or music which is of a meditative, relaxing and healing nature to the listener.
Heavy Metal (or just Metal) is a form of Rock music. It originated in the late 1960s and early 1970s mostly in England and the United States. Although its roots originate from Blues music and Psychedelic Rock, Heavy Metal developed a much more heavier, louder and distorted sound with an emphasis on extended guitar solos and more upfront drum beats. Heavy Metal lyrics and the presentation of the music are of a much more aggressive nature than that of other forms of Rock music.
Hindi music is the music of India which includes various styles of Indian Classical music as well as Pop, Folk and RnB. Indias traditional music of the past millennium such as Carnatic and Hindustani still remains an important part of Indian culture and entertainment.
Hip Hop music (also referred to as Rap music) was developed in the United States in the 1970s and grew in huge popularity during the 1980s cementing itself into modern Pop culture. The production of the music originally was based around the sampling of other records to create backing tracks for MCs (rappers) to rap over. Hip Hop culture is defined by four main stylistic elements: rapping, DJing (and scratching), breakdancing and graffiti writing.
House music is a genre of Electronic Dance Music that developed in Chicago in the 1980s and has remained highly successful in mainstream Pop music and Dance music worldwide ever since. With its roots in Disco music, it is characterised by its repetitive 4x4 beat, off beat hi-hat cymbals and synthesized basslines. Over the years House music has developed several sub genres which encompass various other musical influences.
The term Intelligent Dance Music (IDM) was coined in the 1990s to describe Experimental Electronica. Stylistically, IDM does not adhere to the more common aesthetics of dance music and makes use of more experimental sounds, rhythm and structure.
The music of India includes various styles of Indian Classical music as well as Pop, Folk and RnB. Indias traditional music of the past millennium such as Carnatic and Hindustani still remains an important part of Indian culture and entertainment.
Indie music (or Independent) is often used to describe several types of musical genres such as Indie Rock and Indie Pop as well as other forms of music that do not fall into a defined type of music. It is also used as a term to describe music produced and released independently from the commercial major record labels.
Industrial music first originated in the late 1970s. It now incorporates many styles of music such as Rock, Experimental noise and Electronic music. It is often characterised by its aggressive and heavy nature with the lyrics often being inspired by Punk incitement. Heavily distorted guitars, drum machines and synthesizers play a big part of its sound as well as the use of other non-musical instruments for percussion such as scrap metal and oil barrels.
Instrumental music is where a piece of music is written and performed without lyrics or it has had the vocal tracks removed from the original piece. Such compositions are performed entirely with just musical instruments. Under this category may also fall other pieces of well known popular music that have intentionally had the vocals removed.
Irish music is a general term used for music of Irish origin. The traditional folk music of Ireland still remains very popular to this day and some forms have fused influences from other genres of music. Irish folk music has itself also influenced many other forms of music such as Country, Roots and Rock and Roll in the United States of America.
Japanese music covers a very wide range of different styles. Traditional Japanese music may include the ancient court music Gagaku or Minyo folk music. The more contemporary Japanese music may include styles such as Jpop (Japanese Pop) and other genres which have been influenced by Western music such as Rock, Metal and Dance music.
Jazz is a musical art form that originated out of the southern areas of the United States of America in the late 19th and early 20th century. Jazz incorporates African American musical influences with European musics techniques and music theory. Jazz is known for its use of blue notes, syncopation of rhythm and swing, call and response phrasing, polyrhythms and improvisation.
Jewish music is the music of Jewish people and exists in the tradition of religious music and secular music. In its religious tradition, this would be the music as sung at the Synagogue and in domestic prayers whilst in its secular nature, such as Klezmer music, it is enjoyed for entertainment and often used in celebratory occasions. Jewish musics style can be largely contrasting between the different Jewish communities and their geographical locations
J-pop is an abbreviation for Japanese Pop music. As a musical genre, J-pop fuses the Western musical influences of Rock and Pop with traditional Japanese music. J-pop made its way into the mainstream music of Japan during the 1990s and the term often now refers to most contemporary popular Japanese music.
Jrock (or Japanese Rock) is a form of Rock music from Japan. It's style is heavily influenced by American and British Rock and Punk Rock. Jrock became popular in Japan during the 1960's and in later decades would begin to incorporate other influences such as Heavy Metal.
Jumpstyle is a form of Electronic Dance Music (EDM) with associated dance routines that originated during the 1990s in Belgium and the Netherlands. Stylistically, the genre is very similar to Hardstyle and Gabber.
Jungle (or Old Skool Jungle) is a genre of Electronic Dance music that developed out of Breakbeat Hardcore and fused influences and the production methods from Reggae, Dub and Dancehall. The genre is renowned for sampling the famous Amen Break and creating syncopated and complex drum patterns at a tempo of around 170bpm over deep Reggae and Dub style basslines.
Kizomba is a style of music and dance that originates out of Angola. It is characterised by its slow tempo, African style rhythms and its romantic feel which is often sung in Portuguese. Kizomba combines traditional Angolan music with Semba.
K-pop is an abbreviation for Korean Pop music. K-pop originates out of South Korea and often refers to most genres of popular music such as Pop, Dance, Electronic, Rock, RnB and Hip Hop.
Latin American music includes the music that originated out of (or is related to) Latin America and also other respective European countries such as Spain and Portugal. As a genre, it includes various styles of music from Latin countries such as Salsa, Tango, Merengue and Bossa Nova as well as other Latin inspired mainstream genres such as Latin Pop and Rock.
Lounge is a genre of music that was made popular during the 1950s and 60s. It included genres such as Easy Listening, Exotica and Space Age Pop. More contemporary Lounge music is sometimes referred to as Chill Out or Downtempo and it is characterised by its slower tempo and mellow sounds.
Makina (also known as Bakalao) is a form of Electronic Dance Music (EDM) and a subgenre of Hardcore Techno which originated from Spain. Stylistically, is is quite similar to UK Hardcore and encompasses elements of Hard Trance and Bouncy Techno.
Manele is the music from the Balkans region of South East Europe. Manele originated in Romania but is also widespread in Bulgaria, Serbia, Albania, Turkey, Montenegro and Greece. Manele comes in the two forms of Classical Manele and Modern Manele. In its traditional form it is performed by L?utari (Romani musicians) whilst in its contemporary form it is a mixture of various South Eastern European musical influences and makes use of modern electronic instrumentation and beats.
Meditation music is music that is performed or listened to during the act of Meditation. This can include music that is performed as an act of Meditation in itself, or music which is of a meditative nature to the listener.
Merengue is a form of music and dance that is hugely popular in Latin America and several of the United States major cities. Merengue emerged in the Dominican Republic during the mid 19th century as the countrys national music but it would later go on to become very popular in the United States in cities such as New York by the 1930s. Stylistically it is characterised by its fast paced arrangement and 2-4 beat with the instrumentation traditionally including a diatonic accordion, a two-sided tambora drum and the guira percussion instrument. More contemporary instrumental changes now include the additional use of the bass guitar, keyboards, saxaphone and other percussive instruments such as congas and timbales.
Metal (or Heavy Metal) is a form of Rock music. It originated in the late 1960s and early 1970s mostly in England and the United States. Although its roots originate from Blues music and Psychedelic Rock, Heavy Metal developed a much more heavier, louder and distorted sound with an emphasis on extended guitar solos and more upfront drum beats. Heavy Metal lyrics and the presentation of the music are of a much more aggressive nature than that of other forms of Rock music.
Minimal music is primitively an American genre of experimental Downtown music from the 1960s. The characteristics of the genre include repetition of musical phrases / short motifs / figures and cells, consonant harmony, a steady pulse, stasis or a gradual transformation and sometimes process techniques (referred to as Process Music).
Whilst the term mixtape used to refer to home made compilations of music recorded onto cassette tapes, nowadays the term refers to album length releases written and produced by Hip Hop and Urban artists which are often given away for free for promotional purposes or to avoid any copyright issues from sampling.
Moombahton is a style of Electronic Dance Music (EDM). The genre is a fusion of House music and Reggaeton. Moombahton takes the rhythmic roots and the characteristic sound of Dutch and Electro House which is then slowed down to the tempo of Reggaeton. Moombahton is known for using Reggaeton influenced drum patterns and percussive elements over big Electro House style basslines and synths.
Middle of the Road (MOR) is a format of radio which incorporates several different styles of music. Traditionally the format would include a wide range of popular musical styles such as Easy Listening, Show Tunes, Jazz, Pop and Rock. Some more adult contemporary Pop and Rock artists are also now classed under the Middle of the Road style.
Natural sounds are real world sounds that are produced by natural sources. This can include the sounds of animals and their natural habitats. This can sometimes also include other natural real world sounds such as the ocean waves or rain.
Neurofunk is a subgenre of Drum and Bass. Although for the most part it relies on the same aesthetic as most Drum and Bass, it is characterised by its refined heavier sound, complex sound design and emphasis on alternative funk rhythms.
Neurohop fuses the tempo and elements of Hip Hop and Glitch Hop with the futuristic sound design of Neurofunk Drum and Bass. Whilst still very similar to Glitch Hop, Neurohop has a lot more emphasis on heavily distorted and warping basslines.
New Age music covers assorted styles, mostly of the Downtempo variety. It is intended to provide its listeners with inspiration, a sense of relaxation and optimistic feelings. Its use is often in meditation, yoga and massage as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful ambiance within an environment. The genre is often related to New Age spiritualism.
New Wave is a general term used for Pop and Rock music from the 1970s to the 1980s which had its links to Punk Rock. Originally the genre was comparable in certain aspects to Punk Rock, but it would later go on to incorporate elements of Electronic music, Pop, Disco and Goth Rock. New Wave was one of the commercially successful sounds of the 1980s.
Noise music is a form of music which conveys noise within a musical context. This avant-garde art of sound is made with the purpose to challenge conventional music. It covers a vast range of styles and experimental exercises. It is often characterised by its use of processed and manipulated audio recordings, field recordings, non-conventional instrumentation and electronically generated noise such as distortion, feedback and static hiss.
Nu Jazz is broad term which was created in the late 1990s to describe music that combines traditional Jazz elements with various other styles of music. This can include Funk, Soul and Electronic Dance Music (EDM).
Oldies is a commonly used term to describe a radio format thats playlists focus primarily on popular music from a period of 15 to 55 years before the present day. Commonly, the Oldies format includes classic and popular Rock and Roll from the 1950s up to the 1980s.
Opera is a part of Western Classical music tradition which originated at the end of the 16th century. It is a musical art form in which singers and musicians perform powerful pieces of work which is called an Opera. An Opera combines Libretto (text) and a musical score which is performed by an accompanying Orchestra or a smaller musical ensemble.
Orchestral radio relates to pieces of music that are performed by large instrumental ensembles. An orchestral ensemble is made up of sections of string, brass, woodwind and percussive instrumentation.
The Piano radio format relates to pieces of music that are performed on one of the worlds most familiar musical instruments, the Piano. The Piano is commonly used in Classical music for solo performances and also as part of an orchestral ensemble.
The Polka is a type of dance and a form of dance music which is acquainted with Europe and the Americas. Polka developed in the 19th century in Central Europe and as a Folk music genre it still remains popular in much of Europe in which it is performed by Folk artists.
Pop music (an abbreviation of popular) is a genre of popular music. Its contemporary form first originated in the 1950s from Rock and Roll. Pop music now covers a vast amount of different styles including influences from Rock, Urban, Dance and Country amongst others. Pop music is often written with the intention of a target audience and mostly features short to medium length songs which are written in a typical verse / chorus structure and often with some form of a catchy hook.
Progressive music may refer to several sub-genres of common types of music. Progressive music may include Art Rock, Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal, Progressive Jazz and Progressive House music for example.
Psybient is short for Psychedelic Ambient and is also known as Ambient Goa, Psydub or Ambient Psytrance. Psybient is a form of Psychedelic Electronic music that draws upon different elements of Psychedelic Trance, Ambient, New Age, Downtempo, World music and Dub. Psybient is commonly found in the chill out rooms / areas of dance music parties and festivals.
Psybreaks (or Psychedelic Breakbeat) is a form of Electronic Dance Music (EDM). It originated in the late 1990s and combines elements of Breakbeat, such as the rhythms and basslines with the complex melodic lines and high energy riffs of Goa and Psychedelic Trance (Psytrance).
Psychedelic music (or Psychedelia) is a broad term which encompasses a vast range of popular musical genres which are inspired by Psychedelic culture. Psychedelic music first originated during the 1960s in the UK and US Rock scenes and was intended to replicate or enhance the effects of Psychedelic drugs. Psychedelic music may include Psychedelic Rock and Pop through to Psychedelic Trance and Techno.
Psychobilly is a Rock music genre in which it combines Punk Rock and Rockabilly. Psychobilly often has a tongue in cheek lyrical reference to science fiction and horror films as well as violence and shocking sexual references. Commonly, instrumentation such as the upright double bass and hollow body guitars are often used in Psychobilly instead of electric guitars which are more common in Rock music.
Psytrance (or Psychedelic Trance) is a form of Electronic Dance Music (EDM). It originated in the early 1990s and evolved from Goa Trance, it later gained mainstream appeal by the late 1990s. Psytrance is characterised by its pounding 4x4 rhythm which is layered with complex melodic lines and high energy riffs.
Punk Rock (or Punk) is a genre of Rock music that was defined in the 1970s in the UK, US and Australia. Its roots lie in the raw form of Garage Rock and it intentionally went against the mainstream Rock music of the 1970s. With its own DIY ethic to recording and promotion, Punk Rock was defined by short, fast and raw sounding songs which were often of a political and nihilistic nature.
Ragga music (or Raggamuffin) is a sub-genre of Dancehall and Reggae music. It is differentiated by its use of Electronic instrumentation rather than traditional instruments and also for its Hip Hop style sampling. Ragga music originated in Jamaica during the 1980s and coincided with the increasing popularity of Electronic Dance Music (EDM).
Rapping (also known simply as Rap or MCing and Spitting Bars) is the rhythmical delivery of spoken rhymes and lyrics and is often associated with Hip Hop music and culture. Rapping loosely defines an area between speech, poetry and singing and is usually performed over a backing beat.
Rave music refers to a wide range of Electronic Dance Music (EDM) styles. It often refers to either genres from the 1980s and 1990s such as early House and Techno which were prominent at the raves of that time, or it refers to any contemporary form of Electronic Dance Music (EDM) that is played at rave parties presently.
Reggae music is a genre which was formed in Jamaica during the 1960s and developed from Ska and Rocksteady. Reggaes rhythmical style was more syncopated and slower than that of its influences and it placed more emphasis on the off-beat rhythm guitar chord chops which were often found in Ska music. Reggaes lyrical content maintained much of its focus on love as like with the lyrics of Rocksteady, but during the 1970s some recordings began to focus on more social and religious themes which coincided with the rise of the Rastafarian movement.
Reggaeton is a music genre which roots lie in Latin American and Caribbean music. It originated in the early 1990s and went on to gain widespread mainstream exposure in 2004. Reggaeton draws upon various musical influences and is a mixture of Jamaican Dancehall, Caribbean Soca and Latin American genres such as Salsa, Latin American Hip Hop and Electronica. Reggaeton is defined by its own particular beat and rhythm which is known as Dem Bow.
Relaxation music is intended for the purpose of inducing a sense of calm and relaxation upon its listener. Relaxation music may include and is not limited to any of the following; Ambient, Nature, Chill Out, New Age and Downtempo.
The Religious broadcast medium is broadcasting by religious organizations and groups, commonly with a religious message. Such content may include sermons and lectures or other religious based discussion.
Rhythm and Blues (also known by its abbreviations R&B or RnB) is a popular genre of African American music that was first performed in the 1940s. Rhythm and Blues combined elements of Jazz, Gospel and Blues music. The term however has seen a number of changes to its meaning. During the 1950s it referred to Blues, Soul and Gospel music, by the 1970s the term was used in reference to Funk and Soul music. However, by the 1980s and through to the present day R&B often now refers to a newer contemporary form of the genre.
Rock music is popular genre that first originated as Rock and Roll in the 1940s and 1950s. By the 1960s, it had developed into a number of different styles. Originally, it was a combination of Rhythm & Blues and Country music, but by the 1960s it had began to incorporate elements from Blues, Folk and Jazz amongst other influences. Rock music is primarily centred around the electric guitar and usually with a backing group of electric bass, drums, vocals and sometimes other instrumentation such as the piano and synthesizers.
Rockabilly was one of the earliest forms of Rock and Roll music. It originated during the 1950s in the South of the United States and combined American Folk music, such as Country and Bluegrass, with Rhythm and Blues. Rockabilly is well thought of as classic Rock and Roll. The term Rockabilly is a combination of the words Rock (and Roll) and Hillbilly.
The European country of Romania has a diverse and multicultural music scene. Whilst traditional Romanian Folk music still remains very popular, it also has other successful scenes which includes genres such as Pop, Europop, Hip Hop, Rock and Heavy Metal.
Romantic music is a term referring to a period of Western Classical music during the late 18th and early 19th centurys. It was directly related to the Romanticism period of that time which was the European artistic and literary movement against the Industrial Revolution. Many composers of this period were inspired by art, poetry, drama and literature and the music itself became much more emotionally expressive.
Roots music often refers to many different styles of music. This can include Roots Revival, Roots Reggae, Roots Rock, Folk, American Roots music, Americana as well as Traditional and World music.
Salsa music is a general term which refers to popular Latin Dance music. The term itself originated in New York City during the 1970s. Salsa incorporates various musical genres such as the Cuban Son Montuno, Guaracha, Chachacha and Mambo as well as the Puerto Rican Bomba and Plena. Stylistically, Salsa is mainly Cuban Son which itself is a combination of popular Spanish song form and guitars with Afro-Cuban percussion.
Schlager is a form of popular music that is widespread in Northern, Central and Southeastern Europe. The term Schlager itself is German for hit songs. Schlager music is commonly based around Ballads and Pop tunes with its lyrical content focused on love, relationships, sentimental feelings and melancholic themes.
Schranz is a form of European (particularly German) Hardtechno. Schranz is characterised by its harder sound and fast tempo with the BPM ranging from 150bpm up to 170bpm. Schranz places a lot more emphasis on the percussive side of things with very minimal (if any) melodic elements. Schranz Techno is driven by its heavy 4x4 kick drum pattern and percussion, atmospheric effects, and also distorted and filtered synth loops.
Show tunes are pieces of music that are from the score of a popular show or musical theatre. These pieces of music have become popular in their own right even when taken out of the context of the show or the particular scene for which they were originally composed for.
Ska music originated in Jamaica during the late 1950s and developed from Rocksteady and Reggae. The genre combined the Caribbean Mento and Calypso with American Jazz and Rhythm and Blues (RnB). Commonly, the history of Ska is divided into three periods of time: the 1st Wave being the original Jamaican scene of the 1960s, the 2nd Wave being the English 2 Tone Ska revival of the 1970s, and finally the 3rd Wave revival of the 1980s and 1990s which became popular in the United States and blended Ska with Punk Rock. Ska music is defined by its walking bassline which is emphasised with rhythms on the upbeat.
Skiffle is a genre that combines elements of Jazz, Folk, Country and Blues music. Its roots originated in the early 20th century in the US and it would go on to become popular in the UK during the 1950's and its influences can still be heard in today's modern Rock and Roll and Pop music. Skiffle is best known for its use of unconventional homemade instruments.
Smooth Jazz is a radio format (and as some would consider, a sub-genre) of Jazz music. It initially grew from Jazz Fusion and it is heavily influenced by Rhythm and Blues, Funk, Rock and Pop music. Although the term itself uses the word Jazz, musically the genre does not have all that much in common with traditional Jazz music, instead it is generally more orientated towards smooth Pop and RnB music.
Soca (or Soul Calypso) is a form of Caribbean Dance music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago. Soca developed from Calypso music and incorporated influences from Cadence-lypso, Soul and Funk. Soca is characterised by combining the melodic and uplifting sound of Calypso with repetitive percussion provided by Indian musics instrumentation which came as result of there being a large Indian population in Trinidad (known locally in Trinidad as Chutney music). Soca now often incorporates electronic instrumentation instead.
Soul music is a genre which originated in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s and combined elements of Rhythm and Blues, Jazz and Gospel music. During the period of the African-American Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, the music being released by record labels such as Motown, Atlantic and Stax became highly influential and Soul music would become very popular in the United States. The genre is characterised by its use of catchy rhythms, soulful vocals and its call and response technique between the soloist and chorus.
The term Soundtrack refers to music that is recorded to accompany, and be synchronised with a film, television program or computer game. It can also refer to any commercially released Soundtrack album of music that is featured in a film, television program or computer game.
Space music is a form of Ambient, Easy Listening and New-Age music. It is intended to invoke feelings of spaciousness, relaxation and peaceful moods. Stylistically the music can either be very simple or sometimes more complex, but more than often it will lack any form of melodic or rhythmic instrumentation and instead place the listener in drone like atmospheric soundscapes.
Spanish music has a long standing history which has had an influential effect on the development of music in Western culture and that of Latin American music. The music of Spain played an important part in the history of Western Classical music during the 15th to the 17th centuries. Spanish music is generally associated with its traditional styles such as Flamenco and Classical Spanish guitar. However, the music of Spain is actually very diverse across its regions.
Speedcore is a form of Hardcore Techno. The genre is characterised by its extremely fast tempo and aggressive sounding nature. Speedcores beats per minute can range from around 200bpm upto as anything as fast as 1000bpm. Speedcore contains elements of other similar genres such as Gabber and Breakcore and it is known for its use of heavily distorted sounds and aggressive / offensive themes.
Sports radio (or Sports Talk radio) is a radio format that is dedicated completely to the discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. It features analysis and debate by both the on-air hosts and inbound callers and also play-by-play accounts of live sporting events.
Surf music is a subgenre of Rock music which was very popular in the US during the 1960's and was associated with surf culture and the Southern California area. Surf music came in two forms of either purely instrumental tracks or vocal lead pieces of music. It was characterised by its use of heavy reverb on guitars.
Swing music (also known as Swing Jazz) is a form of American Jazz music that originated in the early 1930s and became its own identifiable style by the 1940s. Swing music places a strong emphasis on the rhythm section of a band. This rhythm section consists of a double bass and drums which act as the backbone for the lead section of brass instruments such as trumpets, trombones and the saxophone. Swing music is characterised by its swing time rhythm where emphasis is placed on the off beat (or weaker pulse) within the music.
Synthpop (also known as Electropop) is a genre of music that became popular during the 1980s. It came into its own as a genre in the United Kingdom and Japan during the Post-Punk era alongside the New Wave movements of the 1970s and 1980s. Synthpop features the synthesiser as its main musical instrument as well as the use of drum machines and sequencers.
Talk radio is a radio format in which it contains discussion surrounding current events and issues. Talk radio shows may be presented by just the one individual or by multiple presenters. The format often features live interviews with different guests as well as live listener participation in the form of inbound telephone callers. Other variations of Talk radio can include formats such as Sports Talk for example.
Tech House is a form of Electronic Dance Music and a subgenre of House music. The genre combines elements of Techno (in particular Detroit and Minimal Techno) such as its tough beats and basslines with the harmonies and laid-back groove of soulful and Progressive House music.
Techno is a form of Electronic Dance Music (EDM). The term itself derives from the word technology and was developed in Detroit, Michigan in the 1980s. The stylistic attributes of Techno are its repetitive 4x4 rhythms mostly created on drum machines such as the Roland TR-808 and TR909, the use of synthesisers / sequencers and tempos ranging from 120bpm up to 150bpm.
Technology radio is a radio format that is dedicated completely to the discussion and reviews of new technology. Topics discussed may include computing, software, video games, TV, media, gadgets and science amongst others.
Tejano music (or Tex-Mex / Texan-Mexican music) refers to many different forms of Folk and Popular music that originated in the late 19th century in Central and Southern Texas amongst its Mexican-American populations. Tejano would go on to reach a much wider audience come the late 20th century. Stylistically, it commonly features the accordion and combines The Polka with various types of traditional Mexican music. More contemporary forms feature electronic instrumentation and elements of Rock music.
Tekno (also known as Spiral Tekno, Hardtek, Tribetek) is a form of Electronic Dance Music (EDM) that is for the most part played at free parties across Europe. The spelling of Tekno with a k is deliberate to differentiate its style from that of traditional Techno music and it coincided with the Teknival (free party) movement of the 1990s. Tekno is of a fast tempo, usually around the 170bpm to 200bpm mark and it draws upon various influences such as Techno, Hardcore, Rave, Jungle and Gabber.
Thai music is the music of Thailand and can refer to either traditional Thai music or instead its more contemporary forms. Traditional Thai music may include two of its more popular forms such as Luk Thung and Mor Lam which itself is closely related to the Music of Laos. Contemporary Thai music has been highly influenced by Asian, European and American music such as Pop amongst various other genres.
Top 40 radio focuses primarily on playing contemporary popular music as determined by the top 40 music charts of the UK and USA. Top 40 music is for the most part made up of present-day Pop, Rock and Urban music.
Trance is a form of Electronic Dance Music (EDM) which originated in the 1990s. Stylistically, its tempo can range from 130bpm up to 160bpm. It also often features repetitive melodic phrases and a musical form that progresses with a crescendoing nature. Musical tension is created in Trance as a track will build up and down and often features some form of a mid-song breakdown. It is known for providing its a listeners with a huge sense of euphoria.
Trap music combines elements of the genres Hip Hop and Electronic Dance Music (EDM). It originated during the 1990's as a subgenre of Southern coast Hip Hop in the USA. Trap is now more commonly characterised by a tempo of around 140bpm, its use of 808 kick drums, double-time and triple-time hi-hat rhythms, EDM influenced synthesiser sounds and also other orchestral elements. Some Trap music is purely instrumental whilst other tracks feature dark and sometimes threatening lyrical content often referring to street life and its hardships from rappers.
Tribal music contains elements of ethnic or native musical percussion and vocals often associated with native African or South American tribes. Various forms of World and also Dance music incorporates Tribal influences.
Trip Hop is a genre of Experimental Electronic music that originated for the most part in Bristol, United Kingdom during the 1990s. Trip Hop is a Downtempo genre that developed out of the English Hip Hop and Acid House scenes and it fuses Electronica with Hip Hop whilst also drawing upon other influences such as Ambient, Dub, Soul, Jazz and Funk amongst others.
Urban (or Urban Contemporary) is a radio format which features music genres such as Hip Hop, Rap, RnB, Soul, Grime, Electronic Dance Music (EDM) such as Dubstep, Drum and Bass and UK Garage, as well as Caribbean music such as Reggae, Dancehall, Reggaeton, Zouk and Soca. The term Urban Contemporary is to a great extent associated with African-American music such as contemporary RnB and Soul, but over the years its meaning has extended to also include a wide range of other genres of music.
Vocal music is music that is performed by one or more singers and the vocal performance acts as the main central focus of the music. This may or may not include other musical instrumentation and is also refereed to as Acappella if no other musical instruments are present. A vocal performance may include sung lyrics or alternatively, sounds, noises and syllables that do not belong to any particular language.
West Coast Hip Hop (or West Coast Rap) is a regional subgenre of Hip Hop in the US and it first originated during the 1970's. Although generally Hip Hop is considered to have originated first in New York, many claim that the scene had also emerged in the West Coast during the same period in the LA and San Francisco areas. West Coast Gangster Rap would later become very successful in mainstream Pop music culture during the 1990's.
Western Swing is a subgenre of American Country music. The genre emerged in the late 1920s as an offshoot of Jazz in the Western and Southern areas of the United States. Western Swing is up-tempo dance music and combines elements of various other genres such as American Folk and Roots music, Western cowboy music, Polka, Dixieland Jazz, Bebop and Blues which are all mixed with Swing music. Instrumentation often used includes the steel guitar, saxophones, piano and drums.
World music is a musical category which covers a broad variety of different musical styles from all around the world. This includes traditional and non-traditional music, cultural folk music and the music of where different cultural traditions combine. It may also include other sub-genres such as World Fusion, Global Fusion, Ethnic Fusion and World Beat.
Zouk is an up tempo carnival style of music that originates from the Caribbean islands and it is influenced by other West African music. The word zouk means to party. Zouk is characterised by its consistent rhythmical chacha beat played on the rim of a snare drum and / or hi hat cymbal with accompanying rhythm guitar, horn section and synthesisers.