How did industrialization and growing cities affect traditional folk music?

The rise of industrialization and the growth of cities significantly altered traditional folk music, which had historically thrived in rural village settings. As societies modernized, the importance of folk music in rural cultures declined, leading to several key shifts:1

• Shift in Transmission: Traditional oral transmission, which relied on small, informal social networks, was increasingly replaced by mass media and recordings.1
• Urbanization and Preservation: As folk culture faced threats from industrial growth, urban folklorists and scholars began collecting and publishing folk songs to preserve them, often emphasizing their national character.21
• Professionalization: The role of professional performers expanded, and folk music was increasingly institutionalized, performed in conservatories, or adapted for concert programs and amateur choirs.21
• Blurring Boundaries: The lines between folk, art music, and popular music became increasingly blurred, particularly as folk elements were incorporated into new genres like folk rock.21

Ultimately, while industrialization disrupted traditional rural musical life, it also spurred revival movements that repurposed folk music for political, social, and nationalistic agendas.21