In popular music, worldbeat refers to any style of music which fuses folk music from non-traditional sources (essentially, outside the Appalachian folk and Celtic traditions) with Western rock or other pop influences.
| Worldbeat | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins: | Rock and pop mixed with folk styles |
| Cultural origins: | Mid-1980s United Kingdom, United States |
| Typical instruments: | Widely variable, though drums are constant |
| Mainstream popularity: | Occasional, though not generally sustained |
| Subgenres | |
| Afrobeat | |
| Fusion genres | |
| Afro-Cuban jazz - Afro-juju - Alpine New Wave - Bhangra-wine - Bhangragga - Bhangramuffin - Biguine moderne - Burger highlife - Calypso-style baila - Campursari - Canto livre - Canto nuevo - Chicha - Chutney-bhangra - Chutney-hip hop - Fuji - Hip life - Lambada - Latin jazz - Merenrap - Mor lam sing - Nueva cancion - Punta rock - Rai pop - Rapso - Reggae highlife - Salsa - Sevillana - Slack-key - Songo - Zam-rock - Zouk | |
| Other topics | |
| World music - Folk music | |
Worldbeat is usually said to have begun in the mid-1980s when artists like David Byrne, Peter Gabriel, and Paul Simon began incorporating influences from around the world, especially Africa and Latin America. Within a few years, worldbeat became a thriving subgenre of popular music that influenced many more mainstream musicians. Some of the most commonly incorporated types of folk music include rai, samba, flamenco, tango, qawwali, highlife and raga.
More on [ Worldbeat ]
World Fusion :: Fusion
New Age :: N
Afrobeat :: Regional and Ethnic
Dub :: Reggae

Different Lands - An independent label specialized in world, world fusion, jazz and ambient music. With artist roster, catalog, and related links.
Meta Description: [ Different Lands Homepage, world fusion music independent label ]
Global Fusion Catalogue - Details and sound samples from a variety of traditional world, classical world, and world fusion music ranging from acoustic English folk, to Latin jazz, to cutting edge dance remixes.
Meta Description: [ Traditional World Music, Classical World Music and World Fusion Music ranging from acoustic English folk, to Latin jazz, to cutting edge dance remixes ]
Terre Differenti Records and Project - An independent record label aiming to explore new musical worlds extending to worldbeat, jazz and new instrumental music. Also featuring information on the musical project conceived and developed by Fabio Armani, an Italian composer who lives in Rome.
Meta Description: [ Terre Differenti Homepage, electronic, jazz and world music band ]
World Fusion Music Links - Links page for the world music and dance movements, courtesy of the band Ancient Future. Includes both traditional and world fusion music.
Meta Description: [ Links page for the world music and dance movements. Includes traditional and contemporary global music resources. Compiled by Ancient Future, the #1 Net World Music Band, who in 1978 coined the term "world fusion" for music that combines ideas from the musical traditions of the earth. ]
Worldbeat - History and description, key artists, essays, and other resources on the music genre from the All Music Guide.
| , fusing seemingly disparate genres into a whole new sound. Touching upon everything from worldbeat, funk, rock, hip-hop ... | |
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