| Tecno brega | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) | |
| Stylistic origins | |
| Cultural origins | Early 2000s,North Brazil (particularlyBelém,Pará) |
| Typical instruments | Synthesizer,sequencer,keyboard,sampler |
Tecno brega ortechnobrega (technotacky) is a form ofmusic fromnorthernBrazil, particularlyBelém,Pará.[1] Music of the genre is created primarily throughremixing and reworking songs frompopular music and music from the eighties.[2] While there is a large amount of famous music used in tecno brega, the majority of it is original material (80%).[2] SeveralDJs and music producers from the tecno brega movement were featured in thepeer-to-peer filesharing documentaryGood Copy Bad Copy.[3]
The music is created by producers in makeshift studios, whether in bedrooms or other unused spaces. Rather than being sold in a traditionalCD format, techno brega is characterized by new distribution methods. Rather than selling a CD in a store, tecno brega CDs are sold for a minimal price (averaging US$1.50)[4] bystreet vendors, who often make the actual CDs themselves.[4] Often producing their music with little concern forcopyright, the music is "born free".[4] The street vendor is then in charge of making more copies and using the CDs asadvertisements.[2] These advertisements are for largereggae sound systems style parties, very similar to arave. It is at these concerts that producers will make money, whether by entrance fees or by selling CDs produced that night from live music.
The sound systems themselves become a competitive point, encouraging producers to have the most up to dateelectronic equipment. They may attract as many as 12,000–15, 000 people to a show. With typical attendance, they may sell an average of 77 CDs and 53DVDs after a performance.[2] At these shows a performer may also do "shout outs" to friends, family, or neighborhoods, making the CDs more valuable to the audience.[4] Shout outs can also be bought by pre-purchasing a CD of the concert prior to the beginning of the show.[1] A performance can earn the performer on averageR$2,200 (approx. US$1250 as of March 2012) a show.[2]