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French Electronic Music Joins Intangible Heritage
24 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Electronic music is now part of France's national intangible cultural heritage.
- Jean-Michel Jarre, a UNESCO Ambassador, advocates for cultural recognition.
- France's electronic music history dates back to the 1928 invention of the Ondes Martenot.
France has officially recognized electronic music as a vital part of its national intangible cultural heritage. This significant acknowledgment places artists such as Daft Punk, Air, and Justice among the country's cultural cornerstones. The Ministry of Culture, under Rachida Dati, has also designated clubs as "places of artistic expression and celebration."
This recognition highlights the artistic journey of electronic music, with pioneers like Jean-Michel Jarre playing a crucial role. His 1976 album "Oxygène" and subsequent works heavily influenced the global "French Touch" sound. Jarre, a UNESCO Ambassador since 1993, has consistently championed intangible cultural heritage on a global scale.
The roots of electronic music in France extend back nearly a century. Inventor Maurice Martenot unveiled the Ondes Martenot, an early electronic instrument, in 1928, which remains in use today. Jarre himself has performed electronic music at numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites, further cementing the genre's cultural significance.
