ABSTRACT
The tiny dot on the map that makes up the Dutch-speaking Low Countries is a relatively big music market. More distanced foreign awareness is needed to whet the sense of self-criticism that builds a mature creative field. In production terms it may well be relevant, as smallness implies the existence of a great big world out there where popular music sells in huge quantities. The commercial station Radio Luxembourg with its multi-lingual programming of popular music sent the message of country songs and rhythm and blues tunes as far out as Scandinavia and North Africa. Jazz Bilzen in Flanders is the mother of the pop festival phenomenon in the Low Countries. The usual neighbourly rivalry prevents insiders from seeing the Low Countries as one creative region. Prince's special rapport with the Low Countries began in the Netherlands on May 29, 1981 when he made his Amsterdam debut at the Paradiso, gateway to continental Europe.
