Simone Münz: Current research in the context of the research group "Music, Conflict and the State"

The Role of Music in Radio Broadcasting from the Cuban Diaspora in Miami/Florida to Cuba

Since the Cuban revolution in 1959 and the subsequent mass exodus of Cubans to the United States, and especially Miami, radio transmissions have been used to try to influence politics on the island of Cuba. Today, some members of the Cuban diaspora in the U.S. A. still try to influence their homeland and the inhabitants in Cuba by broadcasting various radio shows to the island. Their main goal is the overthrow of the Castro government, either by an internal revolt by the population and dissident groups in Cuba or by a military intervention from the outside.

My work focuses on the role and function of music in these radio broadcasts. The questions I will try to answer are manifold and not yet covered by other studies done on this topic. These questions include the following: What music exactly is played in the radio shows and why is this specific music chosen? Are there any particular artists/ musical genres/songs that are broadcast, and why? Who is the target group and is there any direct response or feedback that would testify to the success of the broadcasts? Which organisations/ institutions/ associations of the Cuban diaspora conduct and control the radio stations? Is the government of the United States directly involved?
In order to answer these and other questions I will conduct interviews and archival research, and other analytical methods, during a fieldwork trip to Miami.