WORLD MUSIC

10 days, 14 concert venues, several thousand artists … The French careers of the numerous artists of theCeltic language, such as Galician Carlos Nuñez, were able to build and strengthen themselves in Lorient.The flamenco and the fado also have their well-established circuits. The craze for the flamenco, which isnot recent in France, has only strengthened these last few years, with an increasing demand for guitar andflamenco dance classes. Flamenco artists regularly occur on French scenes and excellent recordcollections continue to promote a flamenco of quality (Enrique Morente, Moraito, Diego El Cigala,Miguel Poveda, etc.). The French public is always on the lookout for new artists and new experiences. Thefado took a new dimension on the French scene thanks to the talent of the singers of the new generation(Katia Guerreiro, Cristina Branco, Mariza, etc.), tastefully and efficiently promoted by Frenchprofessionals. The opening of the former eastern block allowed the best of gypsy music from the Balkansto settle down in the French market. The most interesting artists in this domain are produced by Europeanstructures (German or Dutch), which knew how to perfectly play their cards on the French market.Except for these important musical currents already well appreciated in France, other aesthetic genres witha strong potential, are much less well represented. Scandinavian music, in spite of the attempts of artists tobreakthrough such as Kimmo Pohjonen or Värttinä, still remains weakly broadcasted and badly known.The new Hungarian and Polish scenes also have all their chances with groups such as BeshodroM andWarsaw Village Band. As for Greek music, they could take advantage of the charm that the French publichave towards music from Mediteranean islands … Music of al European countries find a wide place onshelves or catalogs of record shops, whether physical or virtual.Tips• in order to beter understand the French market and the functioning of it, it is useful to:- Consult institutional bodies interested in international exchanges- Get close to networks of European operators• in order to put al chances on one’s side to penetrate the French market, one shall watch not to neglect to:- Track down the various networks, resource places and regional structures likely to supply informationabout the realities of the country as well as the contacts- Find relays or supports within the cultural community of the artist- Associate the trip of the artist in France to his or hers implication in projects in which the localpopulations are actively involved (stage, master class, conferences), or in a meeting with cultural actorsand public• Generaly speaking,the forms of collaboration in partnership with French professional operators appearamong the best means to positively approach the French market.3.4 THE RECORDSOn the phonographic level, world music approximately represented, in 2003, 5,6 % of the market invalue*. It took place in front of classical music (approximately 5 %) and surpassed a little more widely theFrance Export Handbook–World Music