The Entanglement of Music and Politics
From President Ronald Reagan’s use of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless The USA,” to President Barack Obama getting down to Stevie Wonder in 2008, and now, in 2024, with Vice President Kamala Harris walking on to campaign rallies using Beyonce’s “Freedom,” music has had a profound impact on politics and the public perception of our nation’s leaders. With the end of the 2024 presidential election and the rise of artists such as Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Kodak Black making headlines for their endorsements of candidates, many have begun to reflect on the music industry’s role in guiding modern politics: Is it possible to separate the two, and do we want to?
Music and politics have always influenced one another: from folk and gospel songs during the civil rights movement promoting the virtues of equality, to punk rock in the 1970s questioning the authority of societal norms in defense of the working class. 2024 has seen its own revolution in the form of 30-second edits to catchy songs on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. Music has a long history of being influenced by political events while also giving marginalized groups a collective voice to call for action. Its power is immense, and the ability to get meaningful messages across a wide audience of people can’t be taken lightly. So how was the highly divisive 2024 election influenced by today’s artists? According to non-partisan platform vote.org, the 2024 election has seen over 1 million new voter registrations, with 34% of these registrations belonging to 18-year-olds. In contrast to 2020, when 18-year-olds accounted for only 8% of registered voters, young people are comparatively more active in politics than they were previously. Some speculate that this is due to some of Gen Z’s favorite musicians being more vocal in politics. 24 hours after Taylor Swift endorsed her pick for president, the organization HeadCount, which partners with musicians to increase voting registrations, saw a 530% increase in activity on their site. Similarly, who could forget when pop star Charli XCX and the declaration that “Kamala is Brat” kicked off VP Harris’s campaign this past summer and took the internet by storm? Artists are rallying a call to action: it’s time to start caring—and people are answering.
When discussing the impact of the music industry on today’s politics with members of the Riverdale community, it became clear that while musicians and celebrities can shape public discourse, their influence doesn’t always translate into changing individual beliefs. Dr. Zachary Hora-Moir, who voted in the most recent election, reflects on this complexity: “We’re all influenced by the stances people we respect take. Whether it’s our parents, whether it’s our teachers, whether it’s our friends… And we can’t all be incredibly informed on every topic. We have to follow a lead in some way.” However, the influence musicians have doesn’t necessarily dictate voting behavior. As 12th grader Audrey Miller puts it: “I don’t think it’s really changed my opinion. It’s what they think, not really about what I think.” For the vast majority, it seems, endorsements only play a small part, if they play a part at all.
It is important to remember that, as 12th grader Katherina Lu puts it, “there is a level of responsibility in having a huge platform.” When asked about the importance of musicians being politically vocal, 11th grader Adiya Malhotra shared that, “I believe that you can’t really separate the art from the artist. For me, to know where artists stand and to understand where they are coming from is really important to me.” Audiences want to hear from the people they look up to, and yet, it’s not always that easy, especially when public perception is key to one’s livelihood. Dr. Hora-Moir elaborates on this idea, saying, “If I see someone backing a policy, or a party that has a policy that I think is discriminatory or irresponsible, then you can’t help but think that reflects on that person.” Either way, it’s hard to be a musician that’s political, and it’s hard to be a musician that isn’t. You’re either criticized for having no opinion or you’re scrutinized for the beliefs you choose to share.
So where does that leave us? The answer isn’t clear. We’re not quite dependent on musicians shaping our opinions, and yet we want to hear from those we celebrate as the voices of our time. In our world, as Miller states, “Music is a reflection of culture, and politics is a part of culture”; it’s nearly impossible to separate the two, much less decide what music, and the people behind it should be about. It all boils down to people’s responses: will they register music as a platform for expression, discourse, and the opportunity to research and develop their own political ideals? Or will they critique musicians’ opinions, side with the popular consensus, and reject an interest in politics altogether? Ultimately, there’s no denying that music and social media will continue to shape our understanding of politics and world leaders, as well as voice issues and spread influence, both positive and negative. For now, we can just hope that the music industry guides us towards further progress in modern politics—as a tool for change and growth.