Music Genre

This category encompasses music genres associated with a distinct aesthetic. This can manifest through shared visuals in cover art, lyrical themes, music videos, graphic design (e.g. band logos), and community culture. Some music communities often include fashion and activities modeled by the music and bands, hence the crossover with subcultures and stereotypes. (e.g. City Pop, Grunge)

In music-based subcultures or aesthetics, listening to a specific music genre is the most important part of participating in its community. People in these groups are music enthusiasts and often engage in activities like discovering new bands, attending concerts, creating playlists, and collecting albums or merchandise.

However, the internet has facilitated the rise of internet-based genres, whose communities exist primarily online. Genres such as Lo-Fi or Vaporwave may exclude the concert-going aspect, and their visual aesthetic often manifests through online platforms like social media and music streaming services.

The categorization of music is arbitrary, so musical genres can be broken down in countless ways. There is no definitive list of genres, and new ones are constantly emerging as musicians experiment. As of 2017, music streaming services such as Spotify have identified over 1,300 music genres from all over the world.

Music Genre[]

A music genre is a label or category that identifies pieces with shared musical characteristics. This can include instrumentation, tempo, rhythm, and harmonic structure. For example, Rock music is characterized by guitars, drums, and bass, while classical music might use a full orchestra.

Subgenre[]

Within genres, there are subgenres, which are subdivisions that refine their parent categories. They are sometimes also described as "styles" of a broader genre. Within Rock music, there are subgenres such as Punk Rock and Alternative Rock, which have traits that distinguish them from the rest of rock.

Microgenre[]

Even more specific categories can emerge, known as microgenres or niche genres. They are hyperspecific classifications typically associated with online communities and can be based on very nuanced differences in sound, production techniques, or simply lyrical content and aesthetic.

Fusion Genre[]

Fusion genres are genres that arise from the combination of elements of two or more pre-existing genres to create a new sound. Some examples include Trap Metal (combining trap with influences from nu-metal and heavy metal) or Ska Punk (combining Ska with Punk Rock).

Cultural Genre[]

Regional or cultural genres are music genres that are traditional to a specific geographical area or cultural group. They often use indigenous instruments, rhythms, and lyrical themes. Examples include Country from the Southern United States, Reggae from Jamaica, Tango from Argentina, Flamenco from Southern Spain, or Klezmer music from Eastern European Jewish communities.

Regional Category[]

Regional categories are distinctions based on language, culture, region, country, or city. They often arise when established genres (such as rock, rap, pop, etc.) are adapted within a specific place. They share the same core characteristics as their global counterparts, but they also develop unique traits influenced by local culture, language, musical traditions, or even politics.

Music services often categorize music in a "X Culture Y Genre" format. This practice is meant to acknowledge their distinct cultural identity, and mostly stems from the music industry's tendency to treat British and American music as the default. This leads to the addition of regional markers when music originates from elsewhere. For instance, house music from the United Kingdom is often simply labeled "House," while house music from France is categorized as "French House." Other examples include "Eurodance," "Balearic Beat," "Ex-Yu Rock," "J-pop," "K-pop," "Latin Pop," "Brazilian Phonk," or "Afrobeat." Many of these categories are distinct enough to be considered genres in their own right.