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A genre is defined in Grove Music Online as "A class, type or category, sanctioned by convention"^[1] A music genre is a conventional category that identifies pieces of music as belonging to a shared tradition or set of conventions. It is to be distinguished from musical form and musical style, although in practice these terms are sometimes used interchangeably.

Music can be divided into different genres in several ways. The artistic nature of music means that these classifications are often arbitrary and controversial, and some genres may overlap. Some^[who?] do not believe that generic classification of music is possible in any logically consistent way. They argue that doing so sets limitations and boundaries that hinder the development of music. It is possible to note similarities between musical pieces, but it is difficult to do so in a systematic and universal manner.

There are several academic approaches to genres. In his book Form in Tonal Music, Douglass M. Green lists madrigal, motet, canzona, ricercar, and dance as examples of genres from the Renaissance period. According to Green, "Beethoven's Op. 61 and Mendelssohn's Op. 64 are identical in genre – both are violin concertos – but different in form. However, Mozart's Rondo for Piano, K. 511, and the Agnus Dei from his Mass, K. 317 are quite different in genre but happen to be similar in form."^[2] Some, like Peter van der Merwe, treat the terms genre and style as the same, saying that genre should be defined as pieces of music that share a certain style or "basic musical language".^[3] Others, such as Allan F. Moore, state that genre and style are two separate terms, and that secondary characteristics such as subject matter can also differentiate between genres.^[4] A music genre or sub-genre may be defined by the musical techniques, the styles, the context, and content and spirit of the themes. Geographical origin is sometimes used to identify a music genre, though a single geographical category will often include a wide variety of sub-genres.

Kembrew McLeod has suggested that, in electronic music, "the naming of new subgenres can be linked to a variety of influences, such as the rapidly evolving nature of the music, accelerated consumer culture, and the synergy created by record company marketing strategies and music magazine hype. The appropriation of the musics of minorities by straight, middle and upper-middle-class Whites in the United States and Great Britain plays a part, and the rapid and ongoing naming process within electronic/dance music subcultures acts as a gate-keeping mechanism, as well."^[5]

Among the criteria often used to classify musical genres are:^{[citation needed]} the trichotomy of art, popular and traditional; time period; regional and national origins; technique and instrumentation; fusional origins; and social function.

The art/popular/traditional distinction[link]

Musicologists have sometimes classified music according to a trichotomic distinction such as Philip Tagg's "axiomatic triangle consisting of 'folk', 'art' and 'popular' musics".^[6] He explains that each of these three is distinguishable from the others according to certain criteria.^[6]

Art music[link]

The term art music refers primarily to classical traditions, including both contemporary and historical classical music forms. Art music exists in many parts of the world. It emphasizes formal styles that invite technical and detailed deconstruction^[7] and criticism, and demand focused attention from the listener. In western practice, art music is considered primarily a written musical tradition,^[8] preserved in some form of music notation rather than being transmitted orally, by rote, or in recordings, as popular and traditional music usually are.^[8][9] Historically, most western art music has been written down using the standard forms of music notation that evolved in Europe, beginning well before the Renaissance and reaching its maturity in the Romantic period. The identity of a "work" or "piece" of art music is usually defined by the notated version rather than by a particular performance. This is so particularly in the case of western classical music. Art music may include certain forms of jazz, even though jazz is primarily a form of popular music.

Popular music[link]

The term popular music refers to any musical style accessible to the general public and disseminated by the mass media. Musicologist and popular music specialist Philip Tagg defined the notion in the light of sociocultural and economical aspects:

"Popular music, unlike art music, is (1) conceived for mass distribution to large and often socioculturally heterogeneous groups of listeners, (2) stored and distributed in non-written form, (3) only possible in an industrial monetary economy where it becomes a commodity and (4) in capitalist societies, subject to the laws of 'free' enterprise ... it should ideally sell as much as possible." ^[6]

Popular music is found on most commercial radio stations, in most commercial music retailers and department stores, and in movie and television soundtracks. It is noted on the Billboard charts and, in addition to singer-songwriters and composers, it involves music producers more than other genres do.

The distinction between classical and popular music has sometimes been blurred in marginal areas^[10] such as minimalist music and light classics. In this respect music is like fiction, which likewise draws a distinction between classics and popular fiction that is not always precise.

Traditional music[link]

Traditional music is a modern name for what has been called "folk music", excluding the expansion of the term folk music to include much non-traditional material. The defining characteristics of traditional music are:

• Oral transmission: The music is handed down and learned through singing, listening, and sometimes dancing;
• Cultural basis: The music derives from and is part of the traditions of a particular region or culture.

Critics of the axiomatic triangle[link]

Musicologist and popular music specialist Richard Middleton has discussed the blurred nature of these distinctions:

Neat divisions between 'folk' and 'popular', and 'popular' and 'art', are impossible to find ... arbitrary criteria [are used] to define the complement of 'popular'. 'Art' music, for example, is generally regarded as by nature complex, difficult, demanding; 'popular' music then has to be defined as 'simple', 'accessible', 'facile'. But many pieces commonly thought of as 'art' (Handel's 'Hallelujah Chorus', many Schubert songs, many Verdi arias) have qualities of simplicity; conversely, it is by no means obvious that the Sex Pistols' records were 'accessible', Frank Zappa's work 'simple', or Billie Holiday's 'facile'.^[11]

Automatic categorization[link]

Automatic methods of musical similarity detection based on data mining and co-occurrence analysis have been developed in order to classify music titles into genres, for electronic music distribution. ^[12]

Other criteria for categorization[link]

This section requires expansion.

Time period[link]

Music is sometimes categorized by its era of origin or greatest popularity, for example '50s rock, 17th-century music, or music from the Romantic era.

Regional and national music[link]

It is possible to categorize music geographically. For example, Australian music includes Australian rock music, Australian traditional music in the European style (such as "Waltzing Matilda"), Aboriginal Australian music, Australian classical music, and Australian jazz.

Technique and instrumentation[link]

Music can also be categorized by some technical aspect such as the instruments used. For example rock music revolves around the electric guitar, and club music is typically accompanied by synthesizers, drum machines, or both.

Fusional origins[link]

A genre can be labelled to express its origin as a fusion of other genres, like blues rock and latin jazz. Some names refer to fusion without identifying both styles. Examples are crossover and jazz fusion.

Social function[link]

Music genres can be identified by their social function. Trivial examples are wedding music and Christmas music.

Emergence of new genres and subgenres[link]

New genres can arise by the development of new forms and styles of music and also simply by creating a new categorization. Although it is conceivable to create a musical style with no relation to existing genres, new styles usually appear under the influence of preexisting genres. The genealogy of musical genres expresses, often in the form of a written chart, the way in which new genres have developed under the influence of older ones.^{[citation needed]} If two or more existing genres influence the emergence of a new one, a fusion between them can be said to have taken place.

New genres by fusion[link]

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In the West, nearly all music except traditional music arises from fusion.^{[dubious – discuss]}

A fusion genre is a music genre that combines two or more genres. For example, rock and roll originally developed as a fusion of blues, gospel music and country music. The main characteristics of fusion genres are variations in tempo and rhythm, and sometimes the use of long musical "journeys"^{[clarification needed]} that can be divided into smaller parts, each with their own dynamics, style and tempo.^{[attribution needed]}

Artists who work in fusion genres are often difficult to categorise within non-fusion styles. Most styles of fusion music are influenced by various musical genres.^{[clarification needed (tautology?)]} While there are many reasons for this, the main is that most genres evolved out of other genres. When the new genre is finally recognised as separate, musicians may find themselves in a large gray area. These artists generally consider themselves part of both genres. A musician who plays music that is predominantly blues but is influenced by rock, for example, is often labelled a blues-rock musician. The first genre is the one from which the new one evolved. The second is the newer and less dominant component genre in the artist's music. An example of a group that combined blues with the popular music of the time, rock, was Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble.

The originality of new genres and subgenres[link]

This section requires expansion.

What constitutes a genuine fusion between genres and what is merely the influence of one genre on another is debatable, as is the level of originality needed to create a completely new genre. But some genres, such as rock music, are certainly distinct from their predecessors. In some cases, many subgenres appear, and their originality and distinctness are dubious.^{[citation needed]}

When a certain level of individuality has been reached, especially when new styles diverge from more established forms, expressions like alternative rock and alternative country have been used. Such styles are often referred to simply as "alternative".

See also[link]

• List of music styles
• List of popular music genres
• List of radio formats

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Holt, Fabian (2007). Genre in Popular Music. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 
• Negus, Keith (1999). Music Genres and Corporate Cultures. New York: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-17399-X. 
• Larry Starr; Christopher Alan Waterman (2010). American popular music from minstrelsy to MP3. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-539630-0. 

Hunter Easton Hayes (born September 9, 1991) is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is signed to Atlantic Records Nashville, which released his debut single "Storm Warning" on May 16, 2011. His self titled album was released on October 11, 2011.^[2]

Biography[link]

Hayes was born on September 9, 1991 in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana to Lynette and Leo Hayes.^[3] He began his musical career at age two when his grandmother gave him a toy accordion. At age four, he began making appearances at local performances and on national television, including showings on Maury, Rosie O'Donnell, and Nickelodeon's series Figure It Out.^[4][5] At the age of 13, Hayes appeared on "America's Most Talented Kids," a show hosted by Dave Coulier. He performed the hit Hank Williams song, "Hey Good Lookin'."

In 2008, he moved from his hometown of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana to Nashville, Tennessee to be signed with Universal Music Publishing Group as a songwriter. He graduated in 2007, at the age of 16, and in 2010, co-wrote "Play" for the Rascal Flatts album Nothing Like This. In September 2010, Hayes was signed to Atlantic Records Nashville and released his debut single "Storm Warning" on May 16, 2011.^[6] It was the first single from his debut album, on which Hayes played every instrument and co-produced with Dann Huff.^[7] Matt Bjorke of Roughstock gave the single three stars out of five, praising the lyrics and comparing Hayes' voice favorably to Rascal Flatts' lead singer Gary LeVox, with whom Hayes toured from January to February 2012 on the Rascal Flatts "Thaw Out" tour.^[8][9] Hayes' debut, self-titled album, Hunter Hayes was released on October 11, 2011.^[10]

Hayes appeared as the opening act of ten dates of country star Taylor Swift's Speak Now World Tour throughout the summer of 2011 and concluded his leg of the tour in St. Louis, Missouri. He went on his own radio tour that lasted several weeks on which he debuted songs that would appear on his self titled album.^[11] Hayes concluded the first leg his debut headlining tour entitled the Most Wanted Tour. This leg of the tour began on October 8, 2011 in Beaumont, Texas and ended on December 4, 2011 in San Bernardino, California.^[12] Hayes and actress/singer Victoria Justice contributed a duet to the soundtrack of 2011's Footloose remake, recording a cover of Mike Reno and Ann Wilson's 1984 hit "Almost Paradise" from the original film. Hayes made a sneak appearance on the compilation album Now That's What I Call Music! 41 with his song "Somebody's Heartbreak," originally heard on his self-titled album.^[13] "Where We Left Off" is an original song, written by Hayes, that can be heard on the soundtrack for the 2012 war film Act of Valor.^[14] In late 2012, Hayes will be the opening act for Carrie Underwood's Blown Away Tour.

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

Singles[link]

• ^ACurrent single.

Music videos[link]

Other album appearances[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Home page
• Official Myspace
• Official Facebook
• Official YouTube

Ryan Lewis
Ryan Lewis (back) performing with Macklemore (front) at Sasquatch! Music Festival
Background information
Born	(1988-03-25) March 25, 1988 (age 24) Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Origin	Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop
Occupations	Producer, DJ
Years active	2006–present
Associated acts	Macklemore
Website	rlewis.com

Ryan Lewis (born March 25, 1988) is an American music producer, musician, music video director, photographer, graphic designer, rapper and DJ currently based in Seattle. He is best known for his collaboration with American rapper Macklemore (Ben Haggerty) producing Macklemore & Ryan Lewis — The VS. EP (2009), The Heist (2012) and a handful of other singles. Since the beginning of their collaboration in late 2008, Ryan has produced, recorded, engineered and mixed all of the music, directed music videos ("Same Love", "Thrift Shop", "And We Danced", "Otherside (Remix)"), designed visuals (album art, web design, posters) and DJed the live show.

In a recent mini-documentary, Lewis recalled meeting Macklemore for the first time. "When I met him, it was a really different time. It was less than a year after [2005's] Language of My World had come out. So he had buzz. For me being a young kid, it was very exciting to link with him. The bulk of our original relationship was photo shoots. I became kind of his photographer."^[1]

[edit] The Heist

On October 9, 2012, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis released The Heist. The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard charts and #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Top Rap Albums, selling 78,000 copies in the first week.^[2] The album also debuted at #1 on iTunes Digital Albums chart.^[3] The duo's album has received more than 1 million plays on SoundCloud, 70 million YouTube views and was accompanied by a sold-out 50-date U.S. and Canadian tour.^[4]

Discography[link]

(All credited to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis)

Studio albums[link]

EPs

Singles[link]

Notes[link]

• A ^ "Wing$" did not enter the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number 7 on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, which acts as an extension to the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.^[27]
• B ^ "Same Love" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 25 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the Hot 100.^[28]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website

de:Ryan Lewis

Lana Del Rey
Del Rey at a promotional event in Seattle
Background information
Birth name	Elizabeth Woolridge Grant
Also known as	Lizzy Grant Lana Rey Del Mar May Jailer
Born	(1986-06-21) June 21, 1986 (age 26)[1] New York City, New York, United States
Origin	Lake Placid, New York, United States
Genres	Indie pop,[2] adult alternative,[2] chamber pop,[3] sadcore[4]
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, fashion model
Instruments	Vocals, guitar[5]
Years active	2007–present
Labels	Interscope, Polydor, Stranger
Website	lanadelrey.com

Elizabeth Woolridge Grant^[6] (born June 21, 1986), better known by her stage name Lana Del Rey, is an American singer-songwriter. Raised in upstate New York, Del Rey moved to New York City at age eighteen, where she attended college and began writing music and performing in clubs.

In 2008, Del Rey contracted with an independent label and recorded a self-titled debut album which was briefly available on iTunes in 2010; Del Rey ultimately bought back the rights to the album and it was withdrawn soon after.

In June 2011, she released the song "Video Games" on the Internet, accompanied by a self-made music video that went viral in the following months. The song was later released as a single in October, leading up to Del Rey's major-label debut album, Born to Die, which was released on January 31, 2012 through Interscope Records. Born to Die debuted at number one in seven countries, including the United Kingdom^[7] and Australia. The album has spawned two worldwide top 10 hits: "Video Games" and "Born to Die".

Del Rey's music has been noted for its cinematic sound and its references to various aspects of pop culture, particularly that of 1950s and '60s Americana.^[8] Del Rey has been described as a "self-styled gangsta Nancy Sinatra",^[9] and cites Britney Spears,^[10][11][12] Eminem,^[13][10] and Antony and the Johnsons amongst her musical influences.^[10]

Biography[link]

Early years[link]

Del Rey was born Elizabeth Grant in New York City and grew up in Lake Placid, New York.^[14][15] When she was 14, she attended Kent School, a boarding school in Connecticut.^[16][17] She has Scottish ancestry, and is the daughter of domain investor Rob Grant, who supported her in her early career as a singer.^{[18][19][20][21]} Del Rey attended Fordham University in New York City, studying philosophy.^[22]

At age 18, her uncle taught her how to play guitar, beginning with basic chords: "It was G, C, A, D minor, A minor and some diminished chord as well. Some trick, some shortcut," Del Rey recalled. "I realized I could probably write a million songs with those six chords, so I moved to New York and I took a couple of years to just write whatever I wanted."^[5] She began performing in clubs while living in the city.

Her stage name was discussed in a Vogue interview, in which she said, "I wanted a name I could shape the music towards [...] I was going to Miami quite a lot at the time, speaking a lot of Spanish with my friends from Cuba – Lana Del Rey reminded us of the glamour of the seaside. It sounded gorgeous coming off the tip of the tongue."^[23] The name is reportedly an amalgam of the actress Lana Turner, and the 1980's automobile Ford Del Rey. ^[24]

"I wanted to be part of a high-class scene of musicians. It was half-inspired because I didn't have many friends, and I was hoping that I would meet people and fall in love and start a community around me, the way they used to do in the '60s."^[25]

Del Rey first released a three-track EP titled Kill Kill in October 2008 under the name Lizzy Grant, featuring the tracks "Kill Kill", "Yayo" and "Gramma (Blue Ribbon Sparkler Trailer Heaven)".^[26]

[edit] 2010: Lana Del Ray A.K.A. Lizzy Grant

Del Rey later released her first full-length studio album titled Lana Del Ray A.K.A. Lizzy Grant [sic] in January 2010.^[27] It was the singer's first professionally produced album, released under Lizzy Grant on an independent label with producer David Kahne.^[28] Del Rey stated that "David asked to work with me only a day after he got my demo. He is known as a producer with a lot of integrity and who had an interest in making music that wasn't just pop."^[29] Her father, Robert Grant, helped with the marketing of the album,^[30] which was available for purchase on iTunes for a brief period before being withdrawn. According to David Kahne, who produced Grant, Grant bought the rights back from her label, 5 Points, as she wanted it out of circulation to "…stifle future opportunities to distribute it – an echo of rumors that the action was part of a calculated strategy."^[31]

[edit] 2011–present: Born to Die

Lana Del Rey performing at Paradiso, Amsterdam.

Later in June 2011, Del Rey was signed with Stranger Records,^[32] to release her debut single "Video Games";^[32] in October 2011, she signed a joint deal with Interscope Records and Polydor.^{[5][33][34][35]} In October 2011, she won the Q award for "Next Big Thing". Del Rey's song "Video Games" was featured for the first time on The CW's TV-Series Ringer on September 27, 2011.^[36] Del Rey also promoted the album in a number of live appearances, including a show at the Bowery Ballroom, where, according to Eliot Glazer of New York, "the polarizing indie hipstress brought her 'gangsta Nancy Sinatra' swagu."^[37] Rolling Stone commented that, despite Del Rey being nervous and anxious while performing her songs live, she "sang with considerable confidence", although they noted that "her transitions ...could be rather jarring."^[38] Del Rey also performed "Video Games" on Dutch television program De Wereld Draait Door,^[39] on British music television show Later... with Jools Holland,^[40] and on an intimate show at Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood, California.^[41]

Born to Die was released on January 27, 2012 in Ireland,^[42] January 30, 2012, in the UK, and on January 31, 2012 worldwide.^[43]

Del Rey performed two songs on Saturday Night Live on January 14, 2012 to a warm reception from the audience, but mixed reviews from critics and the general public. NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams called Del Rey's performance "one of the worst outings in SNL history". Del Rey's performance was defended by the evening's program guest host, actor Daniel Radcliffe, despite not having seen her performance.^[44] He said in part: "It was unfortunate that people seemed to turn on her so quickly [...] I don't think [the performance] warranted anywhere near that reaction." Del Rey had earlier defended her spot on the program, saying: "I'm a good musician [...] I have been singing for a long time, and I think that [SNL creator] Lorne Michaels knows that [...] it's not a fluke decision."^[45] On February 4, 2012, Kristen Wiig appeared on the Weekend Update segment on Saturday Night Live parodying Del Rey and poking fun at the backlash.

The second single and title track "Born to Die" was released on December 3, 2011.^[46] The music video for it leaked on December 14, 2011,^[47] and was based on a concept created by the singer, while being directed by Yoann Lemoine.^[48]

In January 2012, Del Rey revealed that she recently bought back the rights to her 2010 album Lana Del Ray A.K.A. Lizzy Grant and will re-release it in the summer of 2012 under Interscope Records and Polydor.^[49] Contrary to Grant's press statement, her previous label (5 Point Records), and producer David Kahne have both stated that she bought the rights to the album when she and the label parted company, due to the offer of a new deal, in April 2010.^[50][51] On January 4, 2012, it was reported she had signed a deal with NEXT Model Management agency.^[52] In May 2012, Del Rey confirmed the song "National Anthem" as the fourth single from her album Born to Die. ^{[53] [54]} On May 30th, 2012, Del Rey's supposed debut album "Sirens" was leaked online under the name "May Jailer". The 15 track album includes the previously leaked song "A Star for Nick."

Artistry[link]

Music

She has been described as a "self-styled gangsta Nancy Sinatra",^[9] Del Rey is known to write and produce most of her own material and covers genres from Hip-Hop and Indie. Having first been discovered from posting viral videos of herself singing on the internet she quickly grew a significant fan base. She has been noted for using her allure to the celebrity lifestyle as an inspiration in itself, whilst at the same time maintaining an aura of mystique, this has reflected in the melodies and vocals she produces. Her sound as well as her videography has been described as eccentric, over the top and at times wild. However Noah Levy, senior news editor at In Touch Weekly magazine noted that her dedication and talent is undeniable, quoted as saying "I think she cares about the art that she is creating. I don't think that is fake at all."^[55]

Voice

Del Rey possesses a wide^[56] contralto vocal range,^{[57][58][59][60]} which has been described as unique, captivating and highly emotive,^[60] being able to transcend from sounding high and girlish in her timbre, down to a low and jazzy sound with great ease, although both these areas of the voice can be conflicting in their sound and polarise opinion.^[57]

When recording in the studio Del Rey is known for vocal multi layering, double tracking and overlays which has it has been noted is difficult for her to replicate within a live setting, especially with the lack of backing singers to fill out the original vocal style.^[59].

Influences

Del Rey cites Britney Spears,^[11][12] Elvis Presley, Antony and the Johnsons, Frank Sinatra ^[13] and Eminem amongst her musical influences. "[I really] just like the masters of every genre", she told BBC journalist Jo Whiley.^[61]

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

• Lana Del Ray A.K.A. Lizzy Grant (2010)
• Born To Die (2012)

Awards and nominations[link]

References[link]