Globalization and Popular Music. Explaining Global Success of Pop Music Acts in Nine Countries, 1960-2010

• In Event: 306 - Regular Session. Cultural Studies 4: The Production and Circulation of Culture

Abstract

While many studies into the globalization of culture offer macro perspectives on how to explain transnational cultural flows, little attention is paid to how individual cultural agents attain global success. Advancing on previous studies, this article examines which pop music acts are most likely to chart outside their home country by simultaneously testing explanations at the societal level, field level, and individual level. Empirically, the study sets out to (a) describe trends in pop music single charts in nine countries in the period 1960-2010, and (b) explain global success using a double comparative design in which multiple origin groups are observed in multiple destinations. The results show that pop charts are increasingly globalizing, with the exception of the US, and with considerable fluctuations. Field level factors (in particular cultural centrality) have the strongest impact on achieving global success, followed by cultural country traits (cultural proximity, language), and individual star power. We find little evidence for more politically oriented explanations. These findings suggest that whilst cultural globalization is by no means a relentless and homogeneous process, it is strongly shaped through existing cultural structures at various levels.

Authors

• Marc Verboord, Erasmus University-Rotterdam

• Amanda Brandellero, University of Amsterdam