rio de janeiro is a musical hub and exemplifies the many varieties and styles on offer throughout brazil and latin america - many musical influences, from all over the world, h ave made a mark on the city's culture, especially african, european and indigenous amerindian forms.

latin american music encompasses such genres as salsa, reggaeton, tango,  merengue, and bachata a mixture of bolero, chá-chá-chá and tango - a number of artists exploring these melodies have made their name in rio de janeiro, as cariocas are constantly searching for a beat to dance to, creating and endless and very receptive demand for rhythms and styles.

the origins of much latin american music date back to when the spanish and portuguese first started to colonize brazil during the sixteenth century.