During its period as a part of Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Herzegovina was covered in state-supported amateur musical ensembles called Kulturno-Umetnička Društva (KUDs) who played folk music and released a few recordings on local labels.
In the whole Balkan region, Bosnia and Herzegovina have perhaps retained the most marked Turkish infuence that can be seen in the popular urban music called sevdalinka. Sevdalinka is a mixture of Turkish and Bosnian music, especially Muslim religious melodies called ilahije alongside Jewish songs like "Kad ja podjoh na Benbašu", the unofficial anthem of the city of Sarajevo. Sevdalinke is traditionally performed with a saz (a Turkish string instrument). Though not as common as it once was, traditional sevdalinka singers like Kadir Kurtagič, Emina Ahmedhodzič, Hasim Muhamerovič and Muhamed Mesanovič-Hamič are still popular to the extent that their recordings are available. More modern performers like Safet Isovič, Himzo Polovina, Zaim Imamovič and Hanka Paldum have used non-native instruments, including the accordion, clarinet, violin and guitar, to some derision from purists.
Bosnian roots music, called izvorna Bosanska muzika, is a recent outgrowth of folk music from the Drina Valley and Kalesija. It is usually performed by singers with two violinists and šargija-player. These bands first appeared around World War 1 and became popular in the 1960s. Modern performers in this field include the Jelic sisters and Kalesijski Zvuci.