Musicians vs Audience: The True Value of Music

T.L. Mazumdar Author

Sep 21, 2024 |

The complex relationship between musicians and audiences.

Introduction

Despite the rapid-fire changes our world keeps going through, music still (arguably) remains a universal language. Loved both by practitioners and audiences.

Whether you’re at a concert in the thick of it all, humming along to your favorite playlist on those commutes, or simply having it play in the background, there's an inherent bond between artist and listener that transcends words.

Often without us actively acknowledging it for the incredibly

powerful connection that is.

Beneath this connection though, lies a timeless and subtle tension that doesn't get talked about as much: the stark contrast in how differently audiences and musicians can perceive the quality and "value" of music.

Let's discuss.

Emotional Engagement vs. Technical Mastery

For many 'untrained' listeners, music is simply an emotional journey.

The quality of what they're listening to is measured subconsciously by how much it 'resonates'.

For better or worse, this tends to depend on somewhat arbitrary factors. This could range from how 'catchy' the melody is to random memories associated with the song, the social circles they keep, or just how well it matches their current mood.

It's a visceral experience revolving solely around an emotional impact, usually with only vague ideas about the behind-the-scenes of it all, at best.

The average audience will not be thinking about things like chord progressions, lyrical intent, voicings, arrangement, counter-point, micing techniques, production ethic, time signatures, or micro-timing …(just to name a few examples). The kind of aspects that can actually play a pivotal role in making a piece of music what it is.

The kind of thing we musos love nerding out on.

And here's the thing: as audiences, they don’t necessarily have to!

Music’s ability to connect emotionally is its own validation.

Unfortunately, the same can't really be said for musicians.

For us—especially the ones navigating more 'demanding' (for lack of a better term) genres that require years of training—restricting our relationship to music to an emotional connection exclusively, is not a luxury we can really afford.

The acute awareness we need about its intricacies, the theory, the nuances involved, not to mention the dedication and sacrifice needed for all of this...it informs our perception deeply!

The audience-centric perspective, on the other hand, will typically judge music based solely on how it makes them feel.

I'm going to take jazz as an example here (primarily cos that's where most of my musical grammar comes from).

For a lot of folks, jazz is mostly just a 'mood', rather than a genre.

The improvisational spirit and sense of fluidity will hopefully allow most people to enjoy it even if they don’t necessarily grasp the complicated structures it functions on, underneath.

The practitioner though, needs to be deeply attuned to an incredibly long list of technical and artistic demands.

Advanced harmonic progressions, inherently polyrhythmic time signatures, constant melodic variations, astute hearing abilities that aren't even apparent to the layperson....and these are just the tip of the iceberg. I'm not even going into the subtler areas like 'feeling the pocket', understanding comping skills, mastering ensemble interplay, dynamics...

And all of this trained to a point where you could play with anyone, anywhere in the world, based on a common repertoire of a few 100 tunes you've learned to interpret in your own way.

It's pretty mind-boggling if you think about it. Jazz musicians as a demographic, remain some of the most overworked and underpaid artists.

Meanwhile, what the audience is feeling is a specific brand of energy, exuding from a bunch of musical juxtapositions as a bunch of quirky musicians interact onstage with grimacing to smiley faces, playing these extended versions of tunes they may or may not be familiar with, (depending on the demographic).

As condescending as this might sound, the disparity between the two situations I describe above, as far as the depth of perception is concerned, is colossal.

Not Just Jazz

To be fair, this gap can be equally pronounced in other genres that are also demanding and less commercial.

Musicians working in experimental or avant-garde set-ups, independent classical music or even progressive rock music, may also find themselves met with blank stares or polite applause.

It’s not that the music is “bad,” but rather the intricacies specific to them require a level of understanding that only specific listeners will have.

And therein lies the tension.

The Myth of Accessibility

One of the demands often made of music (especially since the internet became its lead narrative) is it being accessible enough for everyone to be considered "good."

This is a very complex topic to navigate. The kind that can even end in a messy socio-political debate that ends up having very little with the music itself.

And as noble a sentiment it is, the more uncomfortable truth is that accessibility and quality are not synonymous.

They don't even always go hand-in-hand.

I realize that's a loaded statement to make, but I say this as a music-educator who spent over a decade (and more) mentoring in socio-cultural, ''accessibility'' projects where attempts to blur these lines and make worlds meet were incredibly fulfilling from a social lens. But often exhausting from a musical one.

They're just two very different themes.

One is using music as what is essentially a therapeutic learning tool where participants grow by learning new skills.

And the other is one where the incredible power of music is ‘emanated’ by practitioners by immersing audiences in the same, real-time.

Generally speaking, complex pieces will also get the occasional dismissal as "overly complicated" or "unappealing" simply if they don’t fit within currently popular sonic trends.

Trends which by the way, were the results of standards often set neither by artists' nor audiences, but industry gatekeepers with an agenda of their own.

(That's a different can of worms though).

And so emerges a timeless dichotomy with increasingly dire consequences for the practicing artist. One where the musician’s understanding and perspective of art and that of the audience’s and society's, diverge completely from another.

Emotions Are Relative: The Impact of Awareness on Musical Perception

Emotions are inherently subjective, and just as every listener experiences music differently, their emotional responses are shaped by their level of understanding at some level, with or without them realizing it.

A piece of music that feels mundane to one person might evoke deep feelings of awe in another, simply because of their awareness of the music's subtleties.

Once listeners develop a more keen sense about the intricacies of music though—whether through music appreciation courses, learning about composition, exploring new genres, or just actively listening—their emotional response evolves too. Or atleast changes anyway.

They begin to notice nuances they hadn’t, understand the relevance of the choices musicians make in their performance, and the layers that were once hidden deep beneath are now in plain sight.

And the best part? Contrary to cheap mythology, this increased awareness doesn’t diminish the emotional experience for listeners; it eventually enhances it exponentially.

With a greater understanding of what goes into the creation of music, listeners could potentially connect more deeply, finding beauty in places they previously overlooked.

The Jaded Musician: Artistry, Mastery, and the Risk of Misunderstanding

Ok not to get repetitive now, but just to revise context, for musicians, who dedicate their lives to honing their craft, music is both a passion and a discipline.

It’s a journey of constant learning, refining, mastering technique, mindset, spirit, navigating a complex inner landscape and building an entire lifestyle that most listeners do not get to see or find out about once the show’s over (despite social media shenanigans).

The result? A seemingly unsolvable struggle to balance the creators desire for authentic expression with the reality of it often being misunderstood or underappreciated by the listener.

A musician might spend years mastering complex techniques or pushing the boundaries of their musical form, only to perform for an audience that’s more interested in sing-along choruses or predictable structures.

This isn’t inherently the biggest problem—after all, music’s power does lie in its diversity—but for the artist, this can breed a lot of pain. There’s an unspoken vulnerability in music. It's as naked as it gets for us. We're putting our heart into something with no guarantees of it being received. It’s the normalization of a brand of rejection on a near-daily basis that most professions offer only a few times in their entire life-span.

The emotional toll artists bear as a result is unfathomable as mere theory. It needs to be experienced to be understood. And when not navigated mindfully, it could end up a breeding ground for feelings of long-term self-doubt and resentment.

At some point we will ask ourselves questions that sound like these:

“Am I not good enough?”

“Is my work too obscure?''

''Do I not deserve appreciation?”

‘’Is there something wrong with me?’’

This is when we are starting to qualify as the 'tormented', 'misunderstood' artist who feels unseen, unheard, irrelevant and speaking an alien language no one seems to get.

Usually followed by feelings of isolation, anxiety and depression.

And with most of us being introverts with unconventional to poor communication skills, navigating this fine line between feeling inherently misunderstood and coming across as condescending is a mammoth challenge.

The Impact of AI Music: Deepening the Musician's Dilemma

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A post shared by EveryNowHere (T.L. Mazumdar) SingerSongwriter/Producer/Educator (@everynowheremusic)

To add fuel to an already blazing fire. AI-generated music now introduces a new layer of complexity to the musician’s conundrum, further deepening the potential for frustration.

As AI tools become more advanced, they will replicate patterns, harmonies, and even compose entire pieces that mimic human creativity.

The questions this raises about authenticity, value, and what truly defines artistry will be a lot to unpack.

For musicians who have spent years mastering their craft, AI music can feel like a legitimate threat, as it allows anyone to create apparently ‘proficient’ music, albeit without the same emotional investment or skill development.

The audience, often unaware of the distinction between human and AI-created music, may not hear the difference, leading to further devaluation of the hard-earned expertise musicians bring to their work.

Now, musicians may not only face the challenge of having their work overlooked, but also being compared to or worse, replaced by technology that can simulate creativity without the emotional depth or life experience that fuels human art.

Bridging the Gap: Empathy, Awareness, and Mutual Understanding

I realize it's a bit of a bleak picture that just got painted up there.

But I'm just going out of my way to open up some BTS narrative here that audiences don't usually have access to, with the hope that more space opens up for a dialogue between the two.

There’s some good news though.

The relationship between audiences and musicians? It doesn’t have to be one of disconnect.

In fact, ideally it will be one of a mutual learning process.

This is also the primary driving force behind my passionate conviction in why practicing artists need to be more active as educators in some capacity or the other.

That way, audiences get more access to information that helps them develop a greater awareness of the effort and skill behind the music they enjoy.

And musicians contribute to a more realistic form of accessibility that isn’t synonymous with mediocrity.

It’s the kind of empathy that could transform the experience for both sides.

For listeners, appreciating music at a deeper level doesn’t have to mean studying music theory or harmony or becoming musicologists.

But just an improved awareness of the incredible amount of knowledge and dedication needed could go a long way in a more holistic listener-creator relationship.

Being open to different forms of expression and understanding that not all music is made for instant gratification. Understanding that some music needs time grow on us over time. That some music reveals its deep beauty only after repeated listens or with a better feel for its context.

If listeners consider asking themselves questions like "What is this piece trying to convey?" or "What’s happening beneath the surface?" more often, the benefits society walks away with as a result is infinitely more powerful than most of us realize.

For us musicians on the other hand it’s equally essential to remember that music is, at its core, is a shared experience.

Even when not fully 'understood', a piece of music can still evoke powerful emotions and connections which we reserve no right to dismiss or diminish.

Accepting and acknowledging that audiences connect with music in ways that can be simpler yet equally profound in their own way, will go a long way in helping musicians feel validated in our work, even if the technical prowess, passion or lesser flashy forms of virtuosity go unnoticed.

And as far as AI is concerned

1. I simply don’t think that AI in music is as foreign as it is in other fields. We’ve been using AI under different names for decades now in the form of DAW’s and other digital tools. It’s never deleted the artist. Just demanded adaptation.

2. I strongly advocate using it to enhance musical awareness and appreciation for audiences and musicians alike. Through AI-assistance, artists can now help listeners can gain insights into the structure, harmonies, and techniques that took a lot more time to curate and prepare in the past. AI could be a powerful tool to enhance and accelerate education and outreach.

Actionable Steps for Musicians: Taking Charge of the Situation

Before we taper off here, here are suggestions for proactive steps to improve and broaden communication with our audiences.

1. **Be an Active Educator**

Embrace the role of an educator in some capacity to enhance your connection with audiences. The outdated belief that teaching is only for “failed musicians” has not been relevant for a while now. If anything, sharing your expertise elevates both your artistry and your audience’s appreciation. Use your online presence to break down and offer insights into your creative process. Do your bit to facilitate an enhanced understanding to engage with your music on a deeper level.

2. **Understand PR!**

PR is one of the most misunderstood aspects of a musician's job. Investing time in learning it properly to build lasting relationships with your audiences is an incredibly important skill.Good PR will build and share your unique narrative that emphasizes the depth of your work. One might even argue it's the only way to ensure that your voice doesn’t get hijacked amidst the noise. This way, you’re creating a stronger connection with your listeners.

3. **Get Coached**

Your coachability will be a marked deciding factor in the sustainability of your career. No matter how experienced we are, having an external, qualified, and experienced perspective is invaluable. Hire a coach or mentor who can offer insight not just into your craft, but gives you a holistic perspective that helps you navigate challenges like audience engagement, branding, and emotional resilience when dealing with criticism or misunderstanding.

4. **Collaborate with Other Artists and Educators**

Teaming up with like-minded peers can amplify your message. Collaboration allows you to share audiences and introduce your music to new listeners who may not have encountered your work otherwise. Educators, in particular, can help demystify technical aspects of your music, providing educational content that makes your work more approachable.

5. **Use AI Tools to Your Advantage**

Rather than seeing AI as a threat, consider using AI-driven platforms as the assistant you couldn’t afford in the past. Additionally, AI can be a powerful tool in helping you communicate more effectively with audiences and simplifying cumbersome admin tasks that clear up more space for you to focus on your art.

6. **Create Interactive Experiences**

Engage your audience directly by creating interactive experiences, such as Q&A sessions, virtual workshops, podcasts, or live listening parties where you break down tracks and explain their elements. This creates a more personal connection with listeners and gives them insight into your work that goes beyond passive listening, making your music feel more accessible and personal.

7. **Choose Your Audience Consciously**

As an artost, it's essential to be intentional about who you’re trying to reach with your art. Not all feedback is created equal, and if your music is landing in front of an audience that doesn't appreciate or understand its depth, leads to unnecessary feelings of rejection or frustration. No matter what kind of music you play, in a billion-strong planet, there will be enough people who will appreciate your music for what it is. Instead of chasing mass appeal, focus on finding the demographic that aligns with your artistic vision. This can help you avoid the draining impact of ill-informed criticism. 

Conclusion: Two Sides of the Same Coin

At its heart, music is a language with one intent (connection), but many dialects.

While musicians and audiences may often speak it differently, both perspectives are essential to the complete appreciation of its beauty and power.

So instead of viewing the gap between these two perspectives as a divide, here’s a simple reminder that concludes this conundrum rather quickly:

We all need each other.

So if you’re the audience the next time you listen to a song, consider taking a minute to show your appreciation for the artist making it happen in your own way.

And if you’re a musician, take comfort in knowing that your work speaks to people in ways you may never fully understand either.

Neither makes the other any less meaningful.

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Categories: : mental health, music business, music education