From the periphery to the mainstream and back. The case of disco polo music in Poland

Abstract The main goal of this article is to show how disco polo’s entry into the mainstream disrupted the existing cultural hierarchy in Poland and how it influenced the attitudes and narratives surrounding the genre. Disco polo is a subgenre of Polish electronic folk music characterised by a simple rhythm and a clear melodic line. It is often criticised for its vulgar lyrics and simplistic musical structure, and its audience is commonly associated with lower class and poor taste. Drawing on empirical data from a qualitative study conducted in 2021, we demonstrate that disco polo’s temporary promotion to mainstream during 2016-2023 was superficial and, to some extent, artificial, driven by politically motivated programming decisions made by public media authorities. However, we argue that disco polo fans benefited from this phenomenon, as it strengthened their sense of self-worth, helped them cope with class-related stigma, and reinforced their integration as a community.