Introduction
Music disparity is the literal difference in music based on various grounds such as social and geographical background of the music, its producer and listeners, the genre of the music, age factor and the social class associated with the music industry. Music serves many purposes in the society today, and it is because of these disparities that people tend to classify music according to the suit to its fans and lovers. Equally, different genres of music have risen today in the music industry that tends to identify and create its own group of followers. Everyone likes music but one fact that we can throw behind ashes is the fact that not all types of music is pleasant and enjoyable to all. It is also based on this preference and choices of music that this essay is tended to examine.
Discussion
History has it that one of the fundamental means of communication was music. This has remained to the present day in this 21st century. Music speaks through its message and entertains through its lyrics. These describe the need and importance of music within our society. Equally, on the same grounds, the very reasons for music has for many decades shaped the type of music in circulation, to which is considered generational. Music industry has greatly expanded since music has been very specific in their themes and has led to the many classifications of music and genres.
Music genre is a distinct unit or class of music to which in its wholeness contains the unique style in it as well as a well define fanatic. Of the world music genres, the most popular is the famous pop music genre. Pop music is the currently identified genre of music with almost every corner of the world listing to it. The Pop is occasionally recognized as the New Generation Music, which implies its music associated with current world growth. Every state of the world has its own unique pop music. This is because of existence of disparities in the state music industries, geographical and cultural differences.
The differences have lead to the rise of many types of pop music. Just to mention, Europe has the Euro-pop, America has Hip-pop while the Asian countries, for instance Korea has the Korean-pop, commonly referred to as the K-pop. The Korean K-pop and the American Hip-pop have faced off each other in a very stiff competition both in the style, taste and popularity in the music industry. Similarly, because of their intense competition, there has been able to emerge differences between the two competing groups of pop music. Korean K-pop has been able to exhibit distinct and diversified differences to the American Hip-pop that has contributed to the sudden raise in its popularity in the music industry, but it is quite evidential that the latter and the first have been able to outweigh European Euro-pop due to their globalized move.
Asian K-pop is quite different from American Hip-pop. K-pop music has incorporated vigorous and tactical dances and body motions accompanied by handshakes. American Music on its side has tried to maintain its lyrics together with its original ascent and wording. A good example is the difference in music of the between the Korean musician Rain or the music group, the Factory Girls and Native American musician, for instance Jay Z. A number of issues as discussed below causes these differences in pop music.
Generational change has contributed to the difference in music genres. Generation is the periodical growth of nations that is normally associated with distinct life styles and way of doing things of its own. Pop music is one new example of changes that has been in music industry as a result of change in generations. The pop music that played in 19th century is quite different from the 21st century pop music. This is the reason why some people call pop music the generation music. Since lifestyle also differs from place to place base on geographical and social life of people, this has also been one of the reasons why Asian K-pop is different from the American Hip-pop. K-pop is a blend of American Hip-pop and Korean culture. K-pop is also more technologically in its way of production than the Hip-pop due to the generational change in technology.
The geographical background and culture is also another reason for the difference in pop music and music industry in general. Music is custom based and to this effect, it is expected to depict the culture and origin of the producers and origin (Chua, Beng, and Iwabuchi 33). The American culture and lyrics is very evident in the Hip-pop from their America musicians such as American musician Jay Z. in contrary ,the Asian K-pop is composed of the Asian culture and lyrics which occasionally is combined with bit of the Asian languages. This different cultural background is very quantitative to the difference between the two musicians and the music they pay.
Another case of disparity in the pop music industry is the political boundary, fans motivation, and Government promotion and protection mechanism of the musical industry. When there exists no barrier in political boundaries in the manner of state interrelations and tolerance of others cultures, then spread of music popularity will be very high (Chua, Beng, and Iwabuchi 67). This has been the case for the American Hip-pop where it has emerged a global logo of the pop music genre.
Music industry just like in any other commodity trade, it would need protection by the relevant authorities against menaces such as piracy, robbery and safety of the concerts and fans. A good developed anti-piracy regulations and mechanism do boost the musicians morale as well as increases to the earnings of the musician and the nation at large. Korean music industry is grown recommendable because of the strict regulations set against piracy and easy make-away robbery. On contrary China has a largest population defaceable for music industry but is doing very poorly in its music industry because of the high piracy (Russell, Mark, Pop Goes Korea 178). This has seriously demoralized the musicians hence its popular music can be compared on the same platform as developed ones such as American Hip-pop and the Asian K-pop.
Music fans equally contribute greatly to the popularity of a music genre and musicians. Most fans are geographically, socially and culturally biased. For instance, Jay Z has got the Native Americans as his best fans while Rain’s support group is mostly the Asian-Americans.
Conclusion
Music is taste and it is this taste that determines the popularity of it. Taste on its self is affected a number of issues of which some are discussed above. It can also not be refuted that social class and age affects music industry. Certain music genres are associated to specific social class of people just like age also determines on the selection of music genre. For instance, pop music is linked to the youths and the modernized new generation. Music industry requires a lot of check and balance by the concerned authorities for it to excel in the near future.
Works Cited
Asia in a Globalization Era: Its Modernity and Way of Life. Gwangju, Korea: May 18 Memorial Foundation, 2009. Print.
Bok Review Digest cultural geographies in practice (annual Cumulation). Minneapolis: The H.W. Wilson Company, 2005. Print.
Chua, Beng H, and Kōichi Iwabuchi. East Asian Pop Culture: Analysing the Korean Wave. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press, 2008. Print.
Russell, Mark J. Pop Goes Korea: Behind the Revolution in Movies, Music, and Internet Culture. Berkeley, Calif: Stone Bridge Press, 2013. Print.
