Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Stock: Getty Images
As America pulls back from investments in traditional pillars of soft power such as international aid and broadcasting, one area stands out as a growing cultural export: music.
Why it matters: The forces that launched the U.S. to the top of the global stage in music can't be easily unwound by a single administration or policy. They are woven into the cultural fabric of America's history and identity.