It was difficult to choose which affects one more than the other. I have decided to give my view on how music in many ways reflects society. As we have discussed , music in the past was a black or white choice. It was made for a particular race of audience. This is just one instance in which music reflects society. Society basically made the selection for people regarding which music they could acceptably listen to. Later as social changes came about one could choose what one wanted to listen to but not without pressure from your parents or peers of your race. Sadly enough there is still some of that around today. Some adults look down on young people today for what they listen to such as gangsta rap and hip hop. I personally do not enjoy either but I am sure my parents were not fond of Led Zeppelin or Queen during my younger years.
Other social factors have affected music as well. Such things as the civil rights movement, women’s lib, and the Viet Nam war were all issues that affected everyone of that time in some way. You were either for or against these issues. When great changes are happening in people’s lives it invokes feelings. The feelings experienced inspire the type of music that is being created. It is an outlet of sorts from the problems of life.
Technology is another way in which music reflects society. With the invention of new and better instruments music has changed in many ways. Electronic instruments created a way for musicians to play their music at a much higher volume and in ways never before imagined. Today music can be created with simply a computer and the right software. Technology has also affected the way we are able to obtain music. My parents certainly never had a cd player, an mp3 player or were able to download music from the internet.
In essence the energy that drives musical changes are caused by a mixture of technology and socio-economic factors.