Using Music as a Platform for Diverse Conversation, Community, and Change

Finding Common Ground Through Art

Music brings people of different backgrounds together to enjoy some common ground. This makes it an incredibly important art form. Artists have a point of view from which they build their art—a topic that could be an emotion or an entire story. Then, you have an audience that, more often than not, is divided into various groups following separate ideals for life. This gathering of different minds is a beautiful thing!

Breaking Through the Modern Divide

In this age of the internet dividing us into various subgroups and stereotypes, alongside an inflammatory political system, the media and politicians would have us believe that we are divided into groups with no common ground. As a result, it is a rare thing to get people who think differently in the same room to discuss anything.

The Scale of Musical Influence

Think about it: some bands bring thousands together for the common enjoyment of music. Think about the diversity represented by a stadium of people all enjoying the same art form. There is precedent for music changing whole political movements and, therefore, governments. Beyond governments, entire cultures have been motivated by music. Metallica once played a show in Moscow, Russia, that is estimated to have had 1.6 million people in attendance. More recently, Taylor Swift performed a concert for 96,000 people in Melbourne, Australia.

Historic Moments of Global Support

In 1985, there was a fundraising concert blasted across the airwaves to raise support for starving people in Ethiopia. The show featured many artists, including The Who, Elton John, and Queen. It is estimated that the concert was broadcast to over 2 billion people across the world and raised millions of British pounds destined for the aid of Ethiopia.

More Than Just a Hobby

So, the next time someone tells you that you shouldn’t waste time studying music and tells you to “go get a real job,” remind them of this: throughout history, music has been a platform for change, support for those in need, and enjoyment for the rich and poor alike.