Ethical Virus

Ethical music

It seems self-evident that music plays more than just an aesthetic role in contemporary society. Its social, political, emancipatory, and economical functions have been the subject of much research. Given this, it is surprising that discussions of ethics have often been neglected in relation to music. The ways in which music engages with ethics are more relevant than ever, and require sustained attention.

The book Music and Ethics (Ashgate 2012, co-author Dr. Nanette Nielsen), being the result of my research on the relation between music and ethics, begins from the idea that music is not only a vehicle to transport ethical ideas, ideas that can also be articulated verbally or discursively; rather, the book demonstrates that music 'in itself' can, in a unique and purely musical way, contribute to theoretical discussions about ethics as well as concrete moral behaviour.

Music can teach us to listen carefully and without prejudice. It can also teach us to cooperate and interact with others outside preconceived goals and benefits. It can offer insights into expressions of selfhood, as a key player in the construction of subjectivity. However, on the other hand, music also plays an important role in the disciplining and controlling of human beings. In that sense, music has 'unethical' sides as well.

Music and Ethics does not offer a general musico-ethical theory, but explores ethics as a practical concept, and demonstrates through concrete examples that the relation between music and ethics has never been absent.

'What do you want to do when you'll be older?'

'I want to be a star!'

This is one of the most common answer that we get from a 6-year-old girl. Why?

Well, music is a big business, attracting million of people interest. It looks 'cool' to be a star and to sing in front of thousands of people.

According to the Digital Music Report 2017, the revenue of digital music grew by 8 per cent globally in 2016 that represents an estimated US$5.2billion. Music is everywhere and part of our daily life. Think about it: Can you notice one single day where you don't hear any music? Even on television ads, or films, at the cafeteria or from the ringtone of your phone? Your answer is certainly no.

Music interferes more and more nowadays and it is not just a matter of entertainment through concerts and spectacles. Indeed, music has different purposes, for example: accompany dance (jazz, contemporary, classic or hip-hop), accompany public and private social event (weddings, sporting events, parties), encourage employees to work, selling products or services (through commercials), cure some illness (music therapy phenomenon), relax (ambient music in restaurants, stores, airports), or give motivation to students to work!

As music is everywhere, it represents a BIG business. Hunter S Thompson, a well know American journalist known as Gonzo wrote, 'The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side.' Behind the sequined music business there is a reality.

Overall this business functions through lies, power, cheat, ego-self-orientated, non-talented people (but also talented people, the one I call Artists). Many people will give and do everything to succeed in their field. That is to say, for music producers, music directors, promotion or marketing managers, music journalist, music agent, etc., it is a real challenge to work in this domain. What's more, concurrence between one another is enormous and that is the reason why many people are mistreated, disrespectful, and sometimes inhuman. Why people have this behaviour? What encourage them to do so? What are their limits?

Do you think it is ethically right to have such a behaviour to succeed in the music industry?

Working in the music industry is a way to put oneself forward. It is a question of pride and self-esteem. One wants to show that he or she is important and has values and beliefs that have to be seen. One needs recognition so he or she can succeed in what he or she is doing. On top of that, what motivate is.. MONEY!

From what I have experienced and heard, intelligent people quickly or soon realise that being ethically honest, respectful and professional is the key to success in the long-term. That is why one has to build up a strong reputation in order to achieve a successful career. One builds trust on someone on the way he or she behaves on a daily basis. And that is the thing to bear in mind.

There are a huge number of characters in the music industry, some are ethically correct and even push you forward but some do the opposite by being self-fish, disrespectful and will do everything to kick you out. If you show a positive behaviour and treat people fairly that is definitely the right path to success.

Next
For the music fan with a social conscience, times have never been more complicated. Ethical issues have always faced those who insist on mixing their music with their beliefs...

From the '80s practice of boycotting artists who themselves broke the tour boycott of apartheid South Africa's lucrative Sun City circuit, to making a point of supporting smaller indie labels over the multinational conglomerates, or protesting at your Student Union disco playing the allegedly misogynistic Blurred Lines. 

But one ethical consideration is getting increasingly harder to ignore, in these times of 'extreme weather events', climate change and diminishing natural resources. To what extent can you minimise the harm done to the eco-system while continuing to love your music? Can you be a truly green muso or should you just rock out and leave the future of the planet to the scientists? Here is some inspiration and a few suggestions for things that might just make a difference. As any Muppets fan will aver, it's certainly not always easy being green, but perhaps it doesn't have to be downright impossible either.

Image from gettyimages
Father John Misty's sardonic 2012 album track Now I'm Learning To Love The War opened with the singer advising fans: "Try not to think so much about /The truly staggering amount of oil that it takes to make a record", going on to detail "... the shipping, the vinyl the cellophane lining, the high gloss / The tape and the gear". So the case for purchasing your recorded music as a digital download, aesthetics aside, seems clear. Vinyl – weightier than CDs – creates more emissions when transported, but the packaging tends to be less carbon-costly (cardboard, compared with the plastic cases for CDs).

Of course, many vinyl junkies collect second-hand records, which is a totally different, and significantly greener proposition.
Other ways to appease your conscience while keeping up your collection could include sourcing your pre-loved discs from a charity shop (double the ethical brownie points there), or using public transport, a bike or even walking (where possible) to make your purchases, so  avoiding racking up further carbon-black marks by taking a car.

Or you could even set up a record swap 'n' share group. Increasingly common for exchanging clothes among friends with similar tastes looking for a new wardrobe without having to buy new threads, how about an informal evening once every month or so where you exchange records (on a loan or permanent swap basis), replenishing your collection without increasing your actual consumption at all?
Appetite for Destruction? Sorry Axl, but these days we'll take the King of Pop's Earth Song instead...
There's no escaping the fact that going to see a live show or festival involves supporting events that are hugely carbon-grabbing. The basic rule of thumb here is that the larger the show or tour, the greater the carbon footprint. Small DIY gigs at your local venue (especially, as for record-buying, if you can get there without taking the car) are far more ethically sound than a mega-huge Arena event.

Some festivals try hard to reduce their impact: The Shambala Festival in Northamptonshire won the Greener Festival Award last year, and has reduced its carbon footprint by 81% in the five years it has been running, with a range of sustainability measures including recycling and re-using, subsidising coach travel for festival-goers and even powering the festival itself nearly completely from wind, sun and waste veg oil energy sources.

Image from gettyimages
And what about the bands and musicians themselves? Ought the eco-fan's commitment to the environment extend to choosing what to listen to based on the green credentials of the artist? A step too far, perhaps. But if your favourite band is already doing their bit – from Radiohead's championing of biofuel for their tour buses, Linkin Park's support for campaigns from green housing to anti-deforestation or Arcade Fire's recent pledge to decrease the amount of waste generated by their tours and shows – then that's definitely all to the good. If not, you could always try lobbying them to make changes, small or large, that could bring significant benefits for the planet.

Appetite for Destruction? Sorry Axl, but these days we'll take the King of Pop's Earth Song instead, along with a growing number of industry figures and, of course, grass-roots ethical music fans. Whatever their taste in music.