Why no Arabic or Islamic music on the telly?

Question

I often see Indian or Chinese dancers used on the BBC as link pieces or part of programs (eg the kids' program 'Autumnwatch' on CBeebies in the morning). But if the beeb are so keen on multiculturalism, why do we not see much in the way of Arabic or Islamic music?

Not all Muslims adhere to the fundamentalist doctrine that music is sinful, but we only ever hear about the ones that do think so, and the lack of arabic music on tv surely adds to this one-sided perception and stereotypes all Muslims as fundamentalist.

Arabic and Islamic music has a rich and diverse history. Why no representation in the same way as other cultures?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_music
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_music

A nyone who thinks there is no such thing as Islamic music - please read the links I posted.....

Yes I know you can find arabic channels on Sky. I am taking about cultural representation on mainstream channels like the beeb!

luvfactory, you said 'if you go to their country'.

Which country would that be? 'Arabland'?

Have you been there?

So, James M, presumably you have already boycotted the BBC for playing Indian music?

Hey Lu, sorry if I gave the impression that I thought Arabs = Muslims. I understand the difference.

Answer 1

Ok FOR A START western music is played SO MUCH on arabic channels such as Nagham and Mlive etc etc and clearly as you are not arabic then you wouldn't know so stop acting as if you do know.
Furthermore, someone said because we aren't in pakistan - you dumb fookhead, pakistani people aren't arabic.

arabic music is really good, i mean it ranges from like nancy ajram and haifa wehbe who are probably like the britney spears equivlents i guess to fayrooz who sings classical beautiful songs.

I don't really think you can say that there is islamic music though, because there isn't really. I think people should stop assuming every arabic person is a muslim. Because there are 30 - 40 million arabic christians. There's also quite a few Jewish people though. Granted the majority are muslims, but seriously ththere are loads of christians.


nah its ok - common error made by loads of people!!
The first two paragraphs weren't directed at you by the way, they were to some of the idiotic posters above ^^^^^^

Answer 2

Interesting that you should ask that very question. I've also wondered whether they just didn't have any North-African/Mid-eastern music, or whether it was just me who hadn't gotten to see any of if.

The BBC is quite good at creating multicultural content and even their way of presenting it is very commendable.

I've come to trusting BBC on many issues cultural, so I wouldn't jump up and scream that they are missing something, or that they don't think the audience is there. It just might be they haven't found something that works for them.

While on the same topic, I also find it very interesting and encouraging that even in Scandinavia, the Disney Channel actually has they credits roll in both English and Arabic.

Say what you want, but I call this conducive thinking.

Answer 3

Oh man..can't the West be less prejudiced towards people who bleieve in Islam? It dowsn't mean that everybody in the Islamic world behaves like Osama Bin Laden..do you think they want an idiot like him twisting their religion to do stuff he THINKS is right?

Anyway..i guess the simple reason about there not being any arabic/muslim music on TV is just that there isn't a very strong demand for it..sure some people would love to hear it on air..but TV air time is limited..and they can only create so many tv channels..and i guess there aren't many pieces of music that comes to hand easily if the TV networks want to acquire it..




By the way..I am Chinese and believe in Buddhism..in case someone accuses me of being one sided..so stop all of these Islam-being-the-lesser-religion stuff on the Net..it makes things worse..

Answer 4

Certain kinds of music and vocals are allowed. eg in the first link below.

You only have to look at/listen to the modern music industry to realise that most "popular" music (including arabic music) is not according to islamic or even christian beliefs.

There are a lot of devotional songs and music available, but this may be regarded as religious programming that is usually relegated to the "god slot" on sundays. eg christian hyms/gospel.

I agree that there are very few positive images about islam on TV but when you look at the ownership (near bottom of second link) and current hysteria, this is not unexpected.

Answer 5

It's because Muslims are a minority, whether they like it or not. I, and many others, would boycott the BBC if they were to play such music as it is not what we wish to listen to. I think that minorities should subscribe to a suitable channel if they wish to listen to this sort of thing. I don't think it should be played on mainstream channels as it wouldn't appeal to the vast majority of people.

Answer 6

There are, just not on the BBC. Other channels have Islamic 'music', just flick though your remote on SKY.

Answer 7

I understood the term "Arabic music", but the heck is Islamic music?

Islam is a religion, not a type of a music, like hip hop or country.

Answer 8

I suspect the answer is the sensitivities of certain sects at depiction of the music. Also, probably no real market for this kind of music.

Answer 9

Because it's not very good maybe?! There is a few channels on SKY that have some funky arabic/islamic music programmes going on!

Answer 10

think there are a few channels on sky that u can listen to that kinda music on