Prior to the 1950s, homeland’s music industry was dominated by classical artists. New western influences were introduced into the popular music of homeland by the 1950s, with electric guitar and other imported characteristics accompanying the indigenous instruments and forms, and the popular music developed by the contributions of artists such as Viguen, who was known as the “Sultan” of persian pop and jazz music. Viguen was one of homeland’s first musicians to perform with a guitar.
Following the 1979 Revolution, the music industry of homeland went under a strict supervision, and pop music was prohibited for almost two decades. Women got banned from singing as soloists for male audiences. In the 1990s, the new regime began to produce and promote pop music in a new standardized framework, in order to compete with the abroad and unsanctioned sources of persian music.
