This panel discussion will examine the current situation of transmission of traditional music in different countries and traditions. Four trends of transmission of traditional music have been identified, namely, westernization, modernization, formalization, and politicization in the 2010s. This presentation will update the situation with different countries, contexts and musical genres.Music AI as a global threat and opportunity for traditional musicDavid HebertMusic AI can be parasitic and distracting in its applications but may also lead to reactionary tendencies for greater appreciation of human creativity found in traditional heritage. This presentation reviews the pros and cons of applying Music AI in transmission of traditional music and sheds light on the future practices.Transmission of Cantonese Operatic Music Practices in Hong Kong:Evolving AestheticsBo Wah LEUNGDue to the modern technology, current Cantonese opera artists tend to learn the pieces with audio and video recordings, which are fixed and lack variations. On the other hand, artists and accompanists used figure notation to further fix the melodies of singing and accompaniment, which further changed the tradition. This paper examines the aesthetics changes of artists and discusses the audiences view on this change and argue if the tradition should be kept for transmission.Reshaping Traditions: The Global Transmission and Transformation of Japanese Music"Koji MatsunobuThis paper examines the global transmission and transformation of traditional Japanese music, focusing on instruments such as taiko and shakuhachi. These instruments serve not only as mediums for performing traditional and contemporary music, but also as catalysts for new forms of musical engagement and non-musical connections, including physical fitness, spiritual practice, and collective identity formation. Using the shakuhachi as a case in North America and China, I analyze the globalization of Japanese culture (Befu, 2002), highlighting how Leung’s (2018) four trends in the transmission of traditional music—westernization, politicization, modernization, and formalization—manifest differently across these regions. I also explore emerging phenomena of recontextualization related to glocalization, territorialization, individualization, and appropriation. This paper extends my earlier work (Hebert, 2022; Leung, 2018; Matsunobu, 2011) by presenting new insights into how Japanese music is continually reshaped on the global stage, creating new contexts for learning and engagement.Luk Thung Reloaded:A Cultural Study of Thailand's Musical Transformation in the Digital AgeNantida ChandransuThis study analyzes the dynamics of luk thung's existence as a mainstream popular music phenomenon in Thailand. Drawing on a cultural studies perspective, it explains how the genre, once defined by social class, has broken down these barriers through its flexibility and adaptability. The research focuses on the link between consumption and the genre's continuous evolution, which has led to changes in song composition and the creation of diverse micro-genres within a constantly evolving musical ecosystem. In the digital age, the politics of the music industry have played a key role in reshaping the musical landscape, enabling luk thung to reach audiences without past class limitations. This adaptation is more than just a musical change; it reflects profound social and cultural shifts, and as a result, luk thung continues to maintain its hegemony as a cultural music institution and through its presence in the education system as a vital force of Thai musical cultural heritage that shows no sign of fading.Between Political Leadership and Market Forces:Pathways of Traditional Music Transmission in ChinaJunge DuAbstractThe transmission of traditional music in China has long been shaped by both state leadership and local community practice. In recent decades, however, the aims and driving forces of transmission have shifted in response to the national strategy of building a culturally strong nation (wenhua qiangguo). This presentation investigates the evolving pathways of traditional music transmission through a mixed-methods design using a convergent parallel approach, combining policy analysis, field observation, interviews and questionnaire survey. Three case studies provide empirical grounding: Xijiang Miao Village, Sandu Shui Village, and Waizhai Buyi Village, where folk inheritance systems and school-based initiatives coexist and intersect. The study examines how political priorities, market demands, or their combination shape these processes, and how local practices adapt to broader social transformations. The paper contributes insights into the interplay of cultural policy, education, and community practice in sustaining traditional music.