The British Journal of Ethnomusicology is the refereed journal of the British Forum for Ethnomusicology. The journal seeks to provide a dynamic forum for the presentation of new thinking in the field of ethnomusicology - defined broadly as the study of "people making music", and encompassing the study of all musics, including Western art music and popular musics. Music ethnography may be synthesised with a variety of analytical, historical and other methodologies, often entering into dialogue with other disciplinary areas such as music psychology, music education, historical musicology, performance studies, critical theory, dance, folklore and linguistics. The journal, like the field, is therefore characterised by its breadth in theory and method, its interdisciplinary nature and its global perspective.

Each volume comprises two issues, the first focusing on a specific theme and prepared by a guest editor, the second including a range of articles covering a broader field of interest. From Volume 13, the journal will be published by Routledge journals under the name Ethnomusicology Forum.