Digital media and the empowerment of Cuban musicians in tumultuous times: ¿Un nuevo amanecer?

Abstract

Digital technology has profoundly reconfigured state-society relations and Cuba’s recent broadening of internet access makes for a fascinating case in this regard. However, what this means for the country’s music sector is poorly researched. We explore the role digital media plays in the empowerment of Cuban musicians. While digital media allows musicians to work more independently from government institutions, the ability to benefit from the op-portunity depends on unequally distributed resources. Nonetheless, the government’s broad-ening of internet access goes hand in hand with increasing control over musicians’ autono-my and expression, leading to a cycle of protest and repression. Digital media provides a highly self-reinforcing tool for collective action.