The association

The Zone Franche association was founded in 1990, when the encounter between traditional oral music and the sounds of globalization was creating new languages and soundscapes. Today, 219 structures are federated around professional and political issues. The diversity of our members is united by the shared values set out in the World Music Charter. This diversity is a rare asset in that it enables daily interaction between different professions, different legal statuses and different territorial locations, in the service of an abundance of musical aesthetics, practices and inspirations.

Under French law, the association is administered by a Board of Directors elected by the members at a General Meeting held at least once a year.

A professional network

Zone Franche is a cross-disciplinary organization that brings together all categories of players in the sector : festivals, venues, labels and publishers, artists’ representatives, media, cultural associations, trade shows, and more. This diversity enables us to take a multi-disciplinary, 360° approach to the cultural, social and political issues linked to World Music in particular, and to the artistic field in general.

The heterogeneity of professions, aesthetics, heritages, innovations and philosophies that make up World Music remains a precious asset. While its specific missions are aimed at meeting the needs of its members, the association has always been open to dialogue and the exchange of experience with other cultural players, both within and outside the music industry. Zone Franche is as much a service and support platform for its members as it is a political player serving the general interest.

Music and cultures of the world

From traditional music to urban or electronic music, and including scholarly music, World Music is the focal point for network members, whatever their activities. All share the same passion for this music, that is to say, for this art form through which, according to diverse aesthetics, the multiple cultures that inhabit our world are expressed. They are the sometimes under-appreciated artisans, the “go-betweens” between artists and audiences. Their work is necessary for the artists and indispensable for the public. Without their “mediation”, many works of art would remain unknown, reserved for communities or a few curious connoisseurs. The formidable diversity of cultures would remain unknown to a vast public.

The missions

The network contributes to the growth of the World Music industry internationally, and more particularly in French-speaking countries, by focusing on 3 areas : structuring the network and the professional World Music sector (network meetings, presence at trade fairs, training, etc.); international actions (Comité Visas Artistes, structuring international collaborations, promoting artistic mobility, the French-speaking world, etc.); lobbying on issues affecting the industry (and beyond) and monitoring the sector.

The network is a place for initiative, reflection, experience sharing, information exchange, cooperation and pooling around innovative projects, as well as a laboratory for new ideas.