
Brazilian music has been central to Brazil's national brand in the U.S. and U.K. since the early 1960s. From bossa nova in 1960s jazz and film, through the 1970s fusion and funk scenes, the world music boom of the late 1980s and the bossa nova remix revival at the turn of the millennium, and on to Brazilian musical distribution and branding in the streaming music era, Bossa Mundo: Brazilian Music in Transnational Media Industries focuses on watershed moments of musical breakthrough, exploring what the music may have represented in a particular historical moment alongside its deeper cultural impact. Through a discussion of the political meaning of mass-mediated music, author K. E. Goldschmitt argues for a shift in scholarly focus--from viewing music as simply a representation of otherness to taking into account the broader media environment where listeners and intermediaries often have conflicting priorities. Goldschmitt demonstrates that the mediation of Brazilian music in an increasingly crowded transnational marketplace has lasting consequences for the creative output celebrated by Brazil. Like other culturally rich countries in Latin America--such as Cuba, Mexico, and Argentina--Brazil has captured the imagination of people in many parts of the world through its music, driving tourism and international financial investment, while increasing the country's prominence on the world stage. Nevertheless, stereotypes of Brazilian music persist, especially those that valorize racial difference. Featuring interviews with key figures in the transnational circulation of Brazilian music, and in-depth discussions of well-known Brazilian musicians alongside artists who redefine what it means to be a Brazilian musician in the twenty-first century, Bossa Mundo shows the pernicious effects of branding racial diversity on musicians and audiences alike.
How does the transnational mediation of Brazilian music shape the country's national brand and influence the creative output of its artists within a globalized marketplace? K.E. Goldschmitt, a scholar specializing in music and media, examines the historical trajectory of Brazilian music's circulation from the 1960s to the present streaming era. By analyzing the intersection of political meaning, media environments, and commercial branding, the author argues that the industry's focus on racialized stereotypes often obscures the complex priorities of listeners and intermediaries, ultimately impacting the creative autonomy of Brazilian musicians.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Scholars and music historians recognize this work as a significant contribution to the study of how national identity is commodified in global media markets. Readers frequently note the academic rigor of the prose and the author's ability to synthesize complex media theory with specific historical case studies.
Page Count:
240
Publication Date:
2019-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190923547
ISBN-13:
9780190923549
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