Italian beat

Italian beat (Italian: beat italiano), also called bitt, was the 1960s genre of Italian popular music called beat music (musica beat). It began to spread in Italy as early as 1963, when the spread of British popular music inspired many young people to form new musical groups. Hundreds of bands achieved small local hits, and some had songs that resonated with the nation. Numerous groups and soloists started and achieved success during the rise of Italian beat; record companies and music magazines dedicated to the phenomenon were founded, in addition to the creation of specialized venues throughout Italy such as the Piper Club, a nightclub launched in 1965 in Trieste, Rome, and La Perla in Turin. Musical competitions were also organized, including the famous radio and television singing competition, the Rapallo Davoli National Tournament. Over time, these groups were influenced by the spread of folk music and psychedelia, blending these influences into the genre. Towards the end of the decade more sophisticated forms of rock music gained ground, and 7-inch singles by beat groups disappeared from the national charts.