About WAVELENGTHS

Global Music Conference at the Association for Performing Arts Professionals | NYC is an important gathering of global music professionals in the USA. Produced by globalFEST, the forum is held during the APAP conference in New York each January and serves as space for critical dialogues between artists and arts professionals. It is considered an accessible resource for career development, networking, and leadership opportunities for the next generations of NYC arts professionals with an emphasis on younger BIPOC colleagues. As the only global music conference in the USA, it has become a de facto place to block book, share contacts and information, provide professional development for independent artists, and bring the next generation of arts presenters and today’s leaders together.

'Tiny Desk Meets globalFEST'

‍January 11-14

Facing dual challenges of the pandemic, along with hardening of international borders, globalFEST, for the first time, teamed with NPR Music’s Tiny Desk concerts to present exclusive video performances by 16 artists via NPR Music’s digital platforms, in a series entitled NPR Music’s Tiny Desk meets globalFEST.

Thank you for 4 incredible nights of celebration and global music! If you were unable to watch all four nights, catch up now on YouTube:

Rewatch all four nights:

Night OneHere

Night TwoHere

Night ThreeHere

Night FourHere

Featuring 12 new artists, as well as 4 globalFEST Alums, the four-night series (Jan 11-14) was hosted by African superstar Angélique Kidjo, who performed at the inaugural edition of globalFEST in 2004.

“Since the early 2000s, globalFEST has been my high point for uncovering new music from around the world. The annual NYC gathering inspired me to bring many of my discoveries to the Tiny Desk,” said Bob Boilen, creator of NPR Music’s Tiny Desk series. “Korea’s SsingSsing, the Palestinian electronics of 47Soul, and Jamaica’s Brushy One String have been a few stellar discoveries. And though we can’t gather together in a club this year, I’m thrilled that team globalFEST will bring new remarkable talents to our Tiny Desk (home) concert series, and we can all celebrate the joys of these expansive talents together.”

You can support globalFEST's continuing work here.

"The importance of a buzzed-about show at globalFEST should not be underestimated"

-Billboard Magazine

photo by Sachyn Mital

The flagship festival at the core of globalFEST gives audiences the opportunity to experience extraordinary artists from all over the world – and around the corner – all in one night (in normal times). globalFEST promotes global and American regional music traditions, creates opportunities for artists, inspires discovery for arts professionals to present artists from diverse cultures, and introduces new music to the public. globalFEST believes that music can be a driving force toward a society that values cultural diversity as a source of unity rather than division.

Tours and cultural exchanges that result from globalFEST showcases have helped to build an ever-widening audience for global music and, by extension, an increase in international cooperation and collaboration. You can support globalFEST's continuing work here. globalFEST co-directors are Shanta Thake-Kriegsmann, Isabel Soffer, and Bill Bragin

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Read NPR Music's review of gF 2020: Our Top Discoveries From globalFEST 2020
‍Read the New York Times review of gF 2020: At Globalfest, Rowdy Sounds From Around the World
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‍globalFEST is supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Québec Government Office in New York.

‍globalFEST is part of JanArtsNYC.org and its media partner, the NYC Mayors Office of Media and Entertainment.