Can the music industry associate with society?

Music has been non-vacuously coexisting for the longest time. From Ancient Greek to orchestra to modern pop music, it has surrounded society regardless of classes. With a spectrum of genre, it’s particularly intrigued by how the topic yet content is somehow redundantly overlapped and narrowed.

We all know that artists can put their works on different platforms such as producing CDs or uploading music onto various streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music or online platforms via YouTube. It enhances the free flow of arts, as well as information but these platforms are actually commercializing the music as a product. For example, some platforms need to pay for a monthly subscription in order to consume music or having advertisements that lure us to pay artists indirectly. Take IU donated around ₩1.00 Billion to different charities in 2020 as an illustration. Even artists provide their work for charity and they are not receiving money, they still gain fame and popularity which is very valuable.

Also, artists who create music are aiming for relatability or synchronisation instead of resisting the problematic society. Usually, the majority of the content in those songs around the world is related to romantic relationships or entertainment but not related to politics. Also, artists are not allowed to post songs about politics if they are affiliated with companies as it may offend the opposite stance. This could therefore result in lowering the artists and the company’s popularity which will hinder their revenue. Instead of adapting and correcting the issues from society or politics, the agency tends to raise the popularity for grabbing more money. Irrespective of that, there have songs aimed directly at politic such as the presidency, Commander in Chief by Demi Lavato is shouting out toward Trump. Also, personalities are more likely to show their support toward one candidate by speaking publicly instead of making a song regard to this matter. In the 2020 presidency, Jennifer Lopez and Lady Gaga performed at Joe Biden’s inauguration ceremony as support.

Many songs mentioned problems in the world like environmental pollution and inequality. For instance, Different World by Alan Walker explained environmental problems like pollution and extreme weather led by global warming. This song raises much awareness of environmental protection. From the comments, we can see people are changing their behaviour on environmental protection after listening to the songs. However, the music is only reshaping people as an individual. Music cannot reverse the damage to the environment as well as avoid the pollution or emission of greenhouse gases from the world for economic development. It is still appreciative that artists have taken accountability as public figure by expressing their thoughts on social issues with artistic motifs given in their creation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-PJmmvyP10

The song relates to environmental protection(Alan Walker - Different World feat. Sofia Carson, K-391 & CORSAK (Lyric Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-PJmmvyP10)

The comments about awareness of the environment

What We Can Do?

Undoubtedly, some artists donate their income of the songs to charity or non-government organizations(NGOs) and raise awareness in society for easing the social issues. All in all, artists can be influential towards society hence issues can be pinpointed. Yet, they are not the only stakeholders and ultimately their role is not the ambassador. So, we needed to cherish what they have done but not dethroning them if there is none.