The music a person listens to has long been a personal definer for many, a course of self-expression that is unique to an individual. Even with changing technology and the ability to stream music, this has stayed true. Perhaps more than ever. The ability to stream music has given an incredible amount of content to listeners. As a consumer, it is easy to explore and  build up a large collection of music based on individual musical interest and enjoyment. This, for the most part, is a good thing. Giving a large number of people nearly unlimited access to all kinds of music and art is a complete game changer for musical artists and listeners alike. 

Gives way to endless possibilities of music exploration. When we add modern social media to the mix, however, this becomes much more limited in a way. As social media often does, it begins categorizing music. Categories and cliques centered around music have always existed in a modern society. However, with the addition of social media, micro groups are continuously added as new music is made. The music a person likes is beginning to define them completely. However, instead of it being based on individual preferences, it is based on the preferences of whatever sub-sub-subculture a person claims they fit into. 

This social media and streaming platform mix creates an echo chamber, where both platforms learn what is popular on eachother. This defeats the purpose of individual exploration of music to an extreme extent. One will never run out of music that is hand picked for them, not daring to explore any media that is outside of their hyper-personalized bubble.

I have heard friends, good friends whom I have immense respect for, have competitive arguments about the music that they like. These arguments, over differences in opinion, are to be expected no matter what is being discussed. However, these music-based arguments are completely different. They are ruthless competition for #1 fanhood. The phrase “you only know about this because of TikTok” being the finishing move. With music being more readily available because of social media, people become extremely protective of their interests. Rather than trying to accept the joy of music as an art form that is meant to be shared, swaths of people make tireless attempts to keep it from the grips of the mainstream. I have heard myself say so many times, “I hope this song doesn’t blow up on social media.” When I take a step back and dissect it, this thought seems so silly as it is the very thing that the artists I listen to want to have happen. 

Music has historically been a force that has the intention of bringing people together as a shared appreciation for art and self expression. We think of concerts as unifying events, where many different, though simultaneously like-minded people come to experience a shared interest. Social media and its relationship with music streaming platforms has regretfully impacted this ability, for us to accept music as a uniting force instead of a pointless competition.