That new pop song on the radio… did a human even write that?
It is becoming more difficult to know whether the music was created by humans or machines. Artificial music production programs allow users to input simple audio or text ideas, adjust a few settings, and the artificial music producer creates an amazing song recording. This highlights the powerful interaction that exists between technology and listening to music.
Psychologists are interested in how people process music, how music is associated with memories, or why a piece of music evokes emotions in us. Researchers have confirmed that listening to music activates different brain systems music psychology offers insight knowledge, memoryand emotions. Evidence-based music therapy used to improve alertness, speech, movement, pain or even mood changes. There is evidence that listening to music engages key neurological reward circuits and helps shape our personality personality. Studies show that the music we listened to when we were young helped shape our sense of self. (1 – 4)
But without technology that allows us to listen to music, we did not have this intellectual-musical connection. Technology is changing and with it, changing the ways we access music that music has affected us for decades.
How does technology shape music? First of all, the technology of the musical instruments themselves. Each instrument is made of wood, brass, leather and strings to produce the unique timbres that musicians use to create music. For thousands of years, music had to be experienced live. We could only listen to music composed by musicians, bands and orchestras, or perform it ourselves. Performance venues – from dance halls to churches and theaters – were the high technology of their time, designed to best deliver live music to audiences in these venues.
Almost 100 years ago, electricity entered our homes and offered a significant technological leap in the way we access and shape our relationship with music. Recorded music has made it possible for people to enjoy it in our homes. From wax cylinders to gramophones, from vinyl and tape to digital streaming formats, we now listen to our personal playlists at any time. Similarly, with the spread of radio, technology has allowed us to listen to a wide range of music and take it with us wherever we go. Music has become the support sound of our life and personality.
Today’s digital streaming platforms provide an almost endless variety of streaming music and artists. Digital audio is now streaming to our devices 24/7, providing almost unlimited global media content. In 2024, there will be over 200 million music tracks on streaming services, growing at 10% per year. The sheer number of online music choices available now is far greater than what was available to previous generations, and there is more music content than anyone can listen to in a lifetime! (5-7)
What does music mean to you? What are the most influential songs in your life? It’s possible that some of the most meaningful songs you’ve heard in ages puberty and maturity. (3 – 4) Many songs have become central to what we call our “sense of self” and have influenced the way we think about ourselves.
According to the psychology of music research, adults listen to music for three reasons: 1) To regulates alertness and mood2) To achieve self awarenessand this applies to music as a part of our identity and 3) As an expression of social connection. (8) Thus, it appears that music not only influences the development of individual personality, but also acts as a means of social identity and group cohesion. Whether we identify with classical or jazz, punk, rock, rap or heavy metal, these choices are a sign of our identity as well as our group and culture.
What is the future of music technology? Robot musicians who sing and dance? Stream music directly to your brain’s music interface? Maybe it’s finally possible to download a musical skill, like playing the violin, directly into our brains in a matrix fashion? These achievements remain science fiction for now…but maybe not for long. Technology continues to change and influence the way people integrate music and continues to shape our lives and identities.
