Any music lover knows that a great song transcends borders and languages. Now, that unifying power is being leveraged as a diplomatic tool.
On Monday , YouTube announced a partnership with the U.S. State Department as part of the Global Music Diplomacy Initiative, a programthat aims to use music to promote peace and diplomacy around the world.The project centers around a group of genre-spanning artists who will act as musical ambassadors.
The Global Music Diplomacy Initiative is an extension of the PEACE through Music Diplomacy Act, which was signed into law bylast year and directed the State Department to facilitate public-private partnerships that would support music-related diplomacy.YouTube was selected as a partner given its global reach and influence on music culture worldwide.
wrote, “Music is a unifying force — it transcends language, cultural and national differences. It helps us understand and appreciate each other in ways almost nothing else can. During the height of the Cold War, the United States launched the Jazz Ambassadors program to send artists like Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie and Sarah Vaughn overseas to bridge cultural gaps and cultivate goodwill across the globe.
“We’re excited to be a part of the next chapter in music diplomacy, helping to amplify the voices of artists and strengthen our community bonds across borders,” the statement continued. “Music reminds us more of what we can have in common than what separates us. That is the message we intend to echo around the world as we embark on this partnership, using the power of music to inspire peace for all.