There was a time when folk music had a grip on American culture. However, as society has changed and introduced new technologies, one wonders if traditional folk music still has a place. It is a peculiar thought. Folk music has played a part in all cultures. Grey Group International notes that folk music “is a reflection of the people” and acts as a way to keep the culture alive and as a bridge between generations.
With the invention of the internet, and social media, interest in traditional music has seen a noticeable dip among younger generations. Additionally, the common ways folk music has spread, including events like concerts and festivals, have fallen by the wayside. Plus, rising costs haven’t helped either. That said, folk music’s decline isn’t a recent phenomenon.
The fall of folk music was felt as far back as the late 1960s, after the second folk revival, thanks to the rise of rock music. According to the University of Washington blog post, doubt began to stir within artists at folk music’s ability to stir political change within the ongoing movements at the time. By the time the 1980s rolled around, folk music had largely fallen out of the mainstream. But for writer and folk music radio programmer Ron Olesko, the genre will never go away. In his 2023 article in Sing Out!, Olesko proposed that instead of laying down and dying, folk music and its older community should be adapting to the modern landscape.
“I sincerely believe that new generations are already creating their musical scene with venues and events that are different from what we experienced. It may be hard for us to see it, but it is happening. Young people are much smarter than we were, they benefit from the examples we set and now they need the space to create their settings. Folk music will not die because a folk festival ceases to be.” wrote Olesko.
Olesko isn’t wrong. Millennial and Gen Z artists like Bo Burnam have created their spin on folk music that tackles issues that have come out of the Internet’s rise. While traditional stringed and wind instruments have been largely swapped out for synth, as long as culture and political discourse remain, there will always be a place for folk music.
