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What Kind of Impact Does Our Music Really Make on Society?

Date accessed: dec 29


Musician Success Guide , Motivation & Inspiration
Aug 24, 2015 11:00 AM
Belinda Huang
As musicians, we are carriers of influence, whether or not we are aware of it and whether or not
we intend to be. The sound and messages we release through our art form directly impact our
listeners in powerful ways. This is especially true of the youth and adolescents of our society,
who are still extremely malleable to the world around them. I remember sitting in the car with
my two little cousins, ages five and eight, when "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk came on the radio.
They both started singing every word at the top of their lungs. And when Katy Perry sang during
the Super Bowl halftime show, the kids at the party sang nearly every lyric verbatim, putting me
to shame because I didn't know all the lyrics, and I'm aspiring to be a pop artist. It began to shock
me just how acutely youth are being impacted by the music they listened to, and how much
attention they're paying to the music being played around them.
I believe that those who really love and care about music are the ones who grew up listening to
songs that touched them and spoke to them in a profound way. I remember being in middle
school when the music I listened to defined so much of my identity. As professional musicians,
it's no doubt that so many of us can identify with music being a keen agent in shaping the person
we have become over the years. Thus, in return, it's almost our unspoken job to create a sound
that will be amplified to the next generation, impacting them and impacting our society in
return. If we can gain a more comprehensive awareness of how our art form is making a
difference around us, we will undoubtedly become better musicians musicians with a
purpose.
Cultural impact
The popular music of our day reflects the culture of our day. We can see the fingerprints of a
certain generation in the lyrics and sound of that time. One recent and almost outrageous
example of this is the song "#SELFIE" by the Chainsmokers. It's a pretty spot-on commentary
about the youth and media culture of our day. And in this present age, culture is changing far
more frequently than ever before, reflecting styles of music that are evolving and birthed just as
rapidly. Interestingly, it wasn't always so.
"There were times and places in the Europe of the Middle Ages, as an example where
music might remain largely the same for hundreds of years," writes Selwyn Duke in "Influential

Beats: The Cultural Impact of Music." "And it is no coincidence that in medieval times
something else also remained quite constant: culture. It is clear to me that changes in music hew
closely to changes in societys consensus worldview. This explains why musical tastes change so
quickly today: With no dominant cultural stabilizer, such as the Catholic Church (whose
medieval influence is undeniable); the ability to transmit ideas worldwide at a buttons touch via
modern mediasociety is prone to continual arbitrary change."
In other words, culture and music flow together. What our parents used to dig, kids of today
would deem as lame. And in a few years, the music we think is cool now will probably be
outdated. It's nothing against the music. It's just a representation, a manifestation of what's
constantly changing around us. With that said, we need to be very aware of our modern day
culture, but more importantly, we need to be intentional about the cultures we want to
create and cultivate with our music.
Moral impact
Merriam-Webster defines morality as "beliefs about what is right behavior and what is wrong
behavior." A quick Google search on the impact of music on morals will yield many results on
the negative impact it has on society, especially in the realm of rap and hip-hop music. But in all
styles of music nowadays, there are a plethora of songs with lyrics that glorify sex, drugs, and
violence. While research can't concretely link the cause-and-effect behavior of listening to these
songs with directly inducing this type of behavior, many researchers and people agree that it
surely encourages it.
I believe that morals and behavior, especially in teens, aren't completely steered by the lyrics
they're listening to, because there are so many factors to building a moral compass. However,
music can definitely play a significant role in determining what seems to be right or wrong, okay
or not okay, and good or bad. Because of this, we need to become wary about the messages
that we are putting out with our songs, but to take it a step further, what if the songs we
wrote intentionally carried positive messages? What if they became anthems that declared
hope and joy, triumphs over weaknesses, courage and love? We would have the influence to
empower the hearts and minds of the next generation, and that is something to truly take hold of.
Emotional impact
This is probably the most identifiable and direct impact music has on people in society. It makes
us feel a certain way. Music sets moods and creates atmospheres. And as humans, we're so
behaviorally influenced by the way we feel. That's why we throw on an upbeat playlist while
we're working out, put on jazz on a romantic date, or get up and dance when a four-on-the-floor
beat is going down. When I wake up in the morning, I know exactly what songs to play to get me
focused and ready for what's up ahead in my day. Now that's powerful.

Music has the potential to change a mood, to shift an atmosphere, and to encourage a
different behavior. In fact, the average American listens to four hours of music each day! Just
imagine what kind of an impact music is having on our emotions throughout the day, whether we
consciously realize it or not. With emotional impact, the most important thing to consider
is: What am I feeling, and how do I want my listeners to feel when they hear this song? Because
what you're feeling will help determine what your listener will feel, and that carries a lot of
weight.

So in short, music has the power to culturally, morally, and emotionally influence our society.
Thus, the more intentional we become with the sounds, messages, and moods we create and
release through our music, the more powerful we will become in making deep positive impacts.
We have the mandate and authority as artists and musicians to change the world around us
because of the influence we carry, and that truly makes music something worth dedicating a life
to.

NOTES:
As artists, we are transporters of impact, regardless of whether we know about it
and regardless of whether we expect to be. The sound and messages we discharge
through our artistic expression straightforwardly affect our audience members in
intense ways. This is particularly valid for the young and youths of our general
public, who are still to a great degree pliant to their general surroundings. I sat in
the auto with my two little cousins, ages five and eight, when "Get Lucky" by Daft
Punk went ahead the radio. They both began singing each word as loud as possible.
What's more, when Katy Perry sang amid the Super Bowl halftime demonstrate, the
children at the gathering sang almost every verse verbatim, putting me to disgrace
on the grounds that I didn't know every one of the verses, and I'm trying to be a pop
craftsman. It started to stun me exactly how intensely youth are being affected by
the music they listened to, and the amount of consideration they're paying to the
music being played around them.
I trust that the individuals who truly cherish and think about music are the ones who
grew up listening to melodies that touched them and identifies with them
profoundly. I was in center school when the music I listened to characterized such a
large amount of my personality. As expert performers, it's most likely so a
significant number of us can relate to music being a sharp specialists in molding the
individual we have ended up throughout the years. In this manner, consequently,
it's just about our implicit occupation to make a sound that will be increased to the
cutting edge, affecting them and affecting our general public consequently. On the
off chance that we can pick up a more thorough consciousness of how our work of

art is having any kind of effect around us, we will without a doubt turn out to be
better artists artists with a reason.
Cultural Impact
The prominent music of our day mirrors the way of life of our day. We can see the
fingerprints of a sure era in the verses and sound of that time. One later and
practically over the top sample of this is the melody "#SELFIE" by the
Chainsmokers. It's a beautiful spot-on discourse about the young and media society
of our day. Also, in this present age, society is changing much more as often as
possible than any time in recent memory, reflecting styles of music that are
developing and birthed pretty much as quickly. Interestingly, it wasn't generally so.
"There were times and puts in the Europe of the Middle Ages, as a case where
music may remain to a great extent the same for many years," composes Selwyn
Duke in "Powerful Beats: The Cultural Impact of Music." "And it is no incident that in
medieval times something else likewise remained entirely consistent: society. It is
clear to me that adjustments in music cut nearly to changes in the public arena's
agreement perspective. This clarifies why musical tastes change so rapidly today:
With no overwhelming social stabilizer, for example, the Catholic Church (whose
medieval impact is obvious); the capacity to transmit thoughts worldwide at a
catch's touch through present day media society is inclined to constant
discretionary change.
As it were, society and music stream together. What our guardians used to burrow,
children of today would regard as faltering. What's more, in a couple of years, the
music we believe is cool now will most likely be obsolete. It's nothing against the
music. It's only a representation, an indication of what's always showing signs of
change around us. All things considered, we should be extremely mindful of our
cutting edge society, yet all the more vitally, we should be deliberate about the way
of life we need to make and develop with our music.
Moral Impact
Merriam-Webster characterizes ethical quality as "convictions about what is correct
conduct and what isn't right conduct." A speedy Google look on the effect of music
on ethics will yield numerous outcomes on the negative effect it has on society,
particularly in the domain of rap and hip-bounce music. However, in all styles of
music these days, there are a plenty of melodies with verses that celebrate sex,
medications, and viciousness. While research can't solidly connect the
circumstances and end results conduct of listening to these melodies with
specifically inciting this sort of conduct, numerous specialists and individuals concur
that it without a doubt energizes it.
I trust that ethics and conduct, particularly in youngsters, aren't totally controlled by
the verses they're listening to, on the grounds that there are such a large number of

elements to building an ethical compass. In any case, music can assume a critical
part in figuring out what is by all accounts right or wrong, approve or not affirm, and
great or terrible. On account of this, we have to wind up vigilant about the
messages that we are putting out with our tunes, yet to make it a stride further,
imagine a scenario in which the melodies we composed purposefully conveyed
positive messages. Imagine a scenario in which they got to be songs of devotion
that announced trust and delight, triumphs over shortcomings, boldness and love.
We would have the impact to enable the hearts and psyches of the cutting edge,
and that is something to genuinely grab hold of.
Emotional Impact
This is presumably the most identifiable and direct effect music has on individuals in
the public arena. It makes us feel a sure way. Music sets temperaments and makes
climates. Also, as people, we're so behaviorally impacted by the way we feel. That is
the reason we toss on a perky playlist while we're working out, put on jazz on a
sentimental date, or get up and move when a four-on-the-floor beat is going down.
When I get up in the morning, I know precisely what melodies to play to get me
engaged and prepared for what's up ahead in my day. Now that is effective.
Music can possibly change a state of mind, to move an environment, and to
empower an alternate conduct. Truth be told, the normal American listens to four
hours of music every day! Simply envision what sort of an effect music is having on
our feelings for the duration of the day, whether we intentionally acknowledge it or
not. With enthusiastic effect, the most essential thing to consider is: What am I
feeling, and how would I need my audience members to feel when they hear this
tune? Since what you're feeling will figure out what your audience will feel, and that
conveys a considerable measure of weight.
So, music has the ability to socially, ethically, and candidly impact our general
public. Therefore, the more purposeful we get to be with the sounds, messages, and
states of mind we make and discharge through our music, the all the more intense
we will get to be in having profound beneficial outcomes. We have the command
and power as specialists and performers to change our general surroundings in light
of the impact we convey, and that genuinely makes music something worth
committing an existence to.

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