The situation of music in Iran since the Revolution: The role of official organizations

This article consists of a brief description of the politico‐cultural situation of music in Iran, of the different official organizations that govern music, and of the importance attributed to “regional music”. The article also describes the emergence of a new cultural policy following the election of Khatami, the reformist‐minded president of the Islamic Republic, in May 1997. Although this description does not claim to be exhaustive, since the political situation in the country remains both volatile and fluid, it will give the reader a general idea of the place of music in contemporary Iran.’