Polish Music

Why does Polish music have difficulties when being exported? And how does it try to introduce itself in the international music market?

12 DECEMBER 2008

The Polish music has always played an important role in the musical evolution.

The world reputation of number of composers, virtuosos of the interpretation, conductors and Polish musical groups contributes to the radiation of Poland in the international musical life. A plurality of choirs and manifestations allow an almost permanent contact. In this report I will explain why Polish music have difficulties when being exported and after I will tell you how Polish music try to introduce itself in the international music market.

1. Why Polish music have difficulties when being exported?

The Polish music always influenced Europe, whether it is by the classical music such as Chopin, Karol Szymanowski and Grzegorz Fitelberg or by the jazz with Krzysztof Komeda (Melomani). Today nevertheless, it meets some difficulties becoming known abroad. For me, there are three main reasons which could explain it: the language, the lyrics and the omnipresence of the Anglo-Saxon music (English and American) on the musical market.

a) Language

For me, the main reason for which the Polish music has difficulties to being export could be explain by the language. Indeed, the music in national language generally has difficulties being exported, except English indeed on. In general the people prefer listen music in English or in their own language rather that one other, so it is the reason why it’s very difficult to export music in language other than English. But to counter it, certain Polish group, as Hunter and Sweet Noise make their album in two versions, a Pole and an English, to widen their public. Nevertheless, they are not very popular and they meet all the same difficulties becoming known except their border.

b) Lyrics

The lyrics of the Polish song could be a second reason of the problem of export. Indeed, in the Polish...