World Music Day or International Music Day is observed every year on the 21st of June to honor singers, artists, and musicians. It originated in France and is also called the ‘Fête de la Musique,’ meaning music festival. World Music Day is celebrated in over 1,000 cities across 120 countries. On this day, artists hold concerts and events worldwide, which the public can access for free.
World Music Day or International Music Day is observed every year on the 21st of June to honor singers, artists, and musicians. The day encourages amateur, young, and new musicians to showcase their talent to audiences.
World Music Day originated in France and is also called the ‘Fête de la Musique,’ meaning music festival. On this day, many free music concerts are held all over the world to encourage artists and help them come forward.
The History of World Music Day
The first World Music Day was celebrated as a national musical holiday in France in 1982. It was initiated by Jack Lange, the country’s former minister of art and culture, who thought of the idea along with French music composer, radio composer, and journalist Maurice Fleuret.
The concept of the festival was to have a day of live music and free concerts wherever people wanted to in the city. It was to mark a day when everyone could participate in the celebrations, organize musical events, and play music.
Since its inception, World Music Day has been marketed with the motto “Faites de la musique,” which means “make music.”
Activities on World Music Day
World Music Day is celebrated in over 1,000 cities across 120 countries. On this day, artists hold concerts and events worldwide, which the public can access for free. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival’s celebrations aren’t the same as before, but here is how some countries have celebrated the day.
Argentina
In 2019, Argentina had more than 200 free musical events, including workshops, open classes, and events in studios, bars, schools, and outdoor spaces. The festivities in the nation were live broadcasted on radio stations and TV.
Australia
On 21st June 2019, World Music Day in Australia organized more than 150 events in all its territories and states. The celebrations even included a flash mob choir of 500 people that performed in the biggest train station in Sydney.
Brazil
In Brazil, World Music Day was a week-long event with free music lessons offered all over the country to individuals of different ages. The nation even saw over 1,000 “balcony” and online events.
China
World Music Day in China in 2019 had 4,000 events in 160 cities with 160,000 performers from across the nation. The festival was celebrated with traditional Chinese music at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, performances of school bands, along with the issuance of the Make Music China stamp by the government.
France
France has over 17,000 concerts all over the country each year on the 21st of June. As per a 2017 survey, more than 60 percent of the French population takes part in the World Music Day festivities either as performers or as listeners.
Last Few Words
We hope this article helped you learn more about World Music Day. You can celebrate this day by discovering a new genre, learning a new instrument, or enrolling yourself in a music class. Also, don’t forget to look up the events and make sure to attend them.
Eric Dalius is The Executive Chairman of MuzicSwipe, a music and content discovery platform designed to maximize artist discovery and optimize fan relationships. As the host of the weekly podcast “FULLSPEED,” Eric chats with pioneering entrepreneurs from diverse sectors. Through the “Eric Dalius Foundation,” he offers four scholarships to US students. Stay updated with Eric on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Entrepreneur.com.