English

Noun

ethnic music ‎(countable and uncountable, plural ethnic musics)

1. Used other than as an idiom: see ethnic,‎ music.
   • (Music in a style characteristic of foreign-born people.): As an American, I enjoy listening to American music like jazz and country, but I don't like ethnic music.
   • (Any kind of traditional or folk music.): Popular and classical music are so stuffy, I prefer listening to the rootsy sounds of ethnic music.
   • (Music in a distinct style associated with an ethnicity.): Hungarians produce a lot of good rock and hip hop music, but it's their ethnic music that I find especially interesting.
2. (music, US) The classic body of recordings of Central and Eastern European immigrants to the United States from the early to mid-20th century, and music in that style.
   • 2012. Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World Volume 8. "Ethnic Music". Martin Stokes. Pg 204.

     By 1920 Columbia and Victor had issued around 21,000 copies of ethnic music each.

   • 2003. Horn Man: The Polish-American Musician in Twentieth-century Detroit. Laurie Palazzolo. Pg. 83.

     This period marked the beginning of a wonderful, if short-lived, era for ethnic music.

   • 1992. [A Passion for Polka: Old-time Ethnic Music in America]. Victor Greene. Pg. 245.

     Welk is much better known for his immensely successful programs over television, which began in the early 50s after the era of "ethnic music" acceptance

References

• 2001. The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music: North America. Garland Publishing. Ellen Koskoff (Ed.). Pgs. 517.
• 2012. Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World Volume 8. "Ethnic Music". Martin Stokes. Pg 204.