“We create a picture of an organization, or economy whatever you like, and on the basis of that picture (not some underlying reality of which no one is aware), people think and act. And by responding to that picture of reality they make it so: it becomes real in its consequences. And what is more, when people respond to that picture, and the consequences occur, they see it as proof of our having correctly conveyed reality. Clever, isn’t it. That’s how society works.

So you are saying to me that anyone charged with the responsibility of providing these pictures, has a lot of power, because people will respond to what they draw up?

That is so. It seems to me that your power is a hidden power, because people only think of you as communicating reality, but in communicating reality, you construct reality.

(Hines, R.D. 1988 , “Financial accounting: In communicating reality, we construct reality;”)

The Starting Point: What is Great music?

Applying financial concepts and arguments are usually akin to cats and dogs; that is they rarely mix. However reading the above statements in my CPA study materials, made me think on how this is so applicable to how the music scene/industry is in the world today especially in Penang and how people define Great Music

Too many times I wonder whether or not people actually listen to a certain song because they really dig or enjoy the music or whether they are listening to it just because it has been overplayed so many times through out the day and they are subconsciously told by radio, movies and MTV that the song is great.

Commercial radio stations and MTV bombard us everyday with Top 40 songs and they have the ability to create a certain aura about a song which makes it cool. Putting it in Hines concept as stated above, the music industry and the media are able to create a picture of Great Music by playing a certain song multiple times a day and making it sound popular or hip simply by letting Deejays make comments like ” This next hit is what is being played by clubs all over KL.“

When people turn on their car radio and allow themselves to be bombarded with the music played, the majority of the time people who do not have their own sense of independent thinking in music (will get on this a bit more just in a sec) will accept the song as being great, thus responding to the picture created. By responding to the picture created, that music has become real in its consequences and therefore defining the song as great or nice to listen to.

What is even more interesting to note is that when people respond to the picture by allowing the radio and the idiot box (TV) to tell them what music they should listen to, the music industry see it as proof that “Hey, see that was a great song” and they start creating so called “user charts” and claim that they are a radio station that plays what their listeners want to hear.

This is in line with what Hines mentions as he says:-

“…when people respond to that picture, and the consequences occur, they see it as proof of our having correctly conveyed reality. Clever, isn’t it. That’s how society works.”

The Challenge

Now some of you out there can argue with me that I am being over-theoretical about music. I can hear you scream at me telling me “Screw yourself Dan, it’s just about music. There is no such thing as a Music Concept Theory!”

But take a minute to think whether you actually like a song because you actually liked it? Or is it because your friend told you she liked it and after hearing it on the radio so many times you find yourself liking it as well.

I don’t think there is nothing wrong with that. But challenge yourself to have an “independent thinking” while listening to music. By independent thinking I mean to be free from the perceptions bombarded to you by the media.

If you are always listening to Mix Fm and sentimental stuff, try and find out why Metal heads love head banging. Find out how metal music applies and speaks to them. And if you actually really like Britney Spear’s pop music because you liked the beat of the song or you really feel the groove of her music, that’s totally deck/awesome/chun/koolll!

But maintain an indie thinking attitude and you might find yourself enjoying more music than what you are listening to now.