Paris – In a move recognizing its global influence, French electronic music-often referred too as “French Touch“-has been officially designated a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. the decision, formalized this week, acknowledges the genre’s impact on both French identity and the worldwide music scene, following a campaign led by President Emmanuel Macron and building on similar recognition granted to Berlin’s techno culture in 2023.This designation elevates “French Touch” alongside 13 other French cultural elements now enshrined on the national inventory.
French Electronic Music Gains UNESCO Cultural Heritage Status
Paris – French electronic music, a globally influential genre, has been added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, recognizing its unique cultural significance. The designation, spurred by a campaign championed by President Emmanuel Macron, highlights the genre’s impact on French identity and its worldwide appeal.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) annually adds new “practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, and skills” to its growing list of intangible heritage. These additions must be geographically defined and recognized as cultural heritage by the communities that practice them.
Alongside French electronic music, also known as “French Touch,” 13 other elements of French culture were added to the national inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage, including Parisian haute couture, the “Dépa” song and dance style specific to Mayotte Island, and the Corsican poetic horseback jousting known as “chame ripsonde.”
The recognition follows a similar designation for Berlin’s techno culture in 2023, after a years-long campaign. You can read more about that here.
“French Touch” encompasses the styles pioneered by artists such as Daft Punk, Bob Sinclair, AIR, Étienne de Crécy, Cassius, Modjo, Justice, and Stardust. President Macron declared earlier this year, “We are the inventors of electro,” underscoring his support for recognizing the genre’s importance.
Tommy Voadkren, founder of the Paris Techno Parade and president of Technopol, an organization dedicated to promoting electronic music, shared his emotional reaction to the news with AFP. “I cried for the first time for electronic music when I was tear-gassed and treated like a troublemaker,” he said. “The small tears I’m shedding today are tears of joy, knowing that our music has finally been recognized as cultural heritage.”
Last year, French Culture Minister Rachida Dati announced that nightclubs would be officially recognized as “cultural venues” under new legislation. This decision came after extensive lobbying by groups like “Culture Nuit,” an association of iconic nightclubs including Rex Club and Le Badaboum. The UNESCO designation further reinforces this shift in perception.
While the UNESCO listing is a significant step forward, the practical benefits remain a subject of debate. The development underscores the growing recognition of electronic music as a vital component of cultural identity and its potential to contribute to tourism and economic development.
