Question for Discussion: Do you think the convergence of musical content with mobile listening technology has shaped our music preferences? Do we favor music production/genres that are more conducive to our increasingly mobile routines? What about sounds that challenge us and push back against the lifestyles featured in mobile tech advertisements?
I think that mobile listening technology has greatly shaped our music preferences. Ipods can store information about the music we listen to most and programs like Pandora determine which songs to play based on the songs we have “liked.” Then the technology offers us suggestions based on what we do and like. Thus, we no longer seek new music. It’s given to us. I find this problematic.
Also, I went to the ITunes Store as I was thinking about this question. I found it amusing that there is a new cd out by Erykah Badu called “But You Caint Use My Phone.” All of the songs are related to phones in some way. The title song has a dial tone built into the music (at least during the sample on itunes).
Question: Performing private listening in public spaces harmonizes the individual with their geographic locale. But the idea of harmonizing is a tricky concept. Some folks (like Attali) interpret musical harmony as an act of subjugation – a ‘going with the flow’ set forth by dominant political interests. Is private public listening an act of approval toward the public infrastructure that surrounds us? By individualizing our soundscape, do we also relinquish our agency?
Your opening statement in this question confuses me. Isn’t it the opposite? When I listen to music privately in public spaces, I feel the opposite of harmony with my locale. I feel discord and almost a sense of danger. The music puts me in my own mind and I become closed off to the world. Although I tend to listen at soft volumes, I can never hear all of the sounds around me. To me, this is disconcerting. I am not able to hear warnings or greetings. So, yes, I feel that my agency is relinquished. Inside an individual soundscape, I cannot act upon the sounds around me.
On another note, who buys ringtones anymore? I feel that there is a growing trend to have the phone on silent at all times. Since people are looking at their phones so much in general, they don’t need to hear a sound as notification. Also, the younger generation seems to thrive more on texts and photos as opposed to phone calls, another reason for fewer ringtones. In addition, phones today come with many ringtones….none of which connect to any music memories (at least for me).