There was an interesting article in the Dec. 18th issue of the Economist, regarding some possible explanations for the evolutionary development of music. One of the scientific ideas suggests that must fulfills an essential human appetite that nature is unable to quench.
This is no surprise to us as musicians and lovers of music. We know that music, both the creation and enjoyment of it, fulfills a part of our lives & minds that is essential. Now, several scientists are researching the physical needs that music provides.
What if we, and society as a whole, were to take this viewpoint seriously? How much would the music industry change if music were valued as an essential human need, basic to our survival, as opposed to inexpensive entertainment or background noise? Would we as music creators & performers take our jobs & our tasks more seriously, or with more care in the importance of what we are doing?
I think this is a natural instinct on the individual level– most musicians are utterly serious about their craft and the care with with they write or perform music. This happens naturally as music is such a long- term, life-long pursuit. I wonder how much the business side would change, though, if the idea of music as essential human need was discussed and appreciated in general.