Assignment on Recognized Social Institutions

Running head
Name:
Title:
Institution:

Music
2
Social structures can be defined as the stable and distinctive arrangements of organized
sets of institutions in a society where human beings live and interact together. The most essential
recognized social institutions include religion, family, media, politics, education, and the law.
(DiMaggio, 2019). On the other hand, pop music can be described is a music genre that produces
the most hits and sells most copies. However, not all popular music can be labeled as pop. Pop
music has evolved to a more defined pattern, style, and technique of music which is much similar
to jazz, rock, and classical music. (Warner, 2017).
In modern-day society, social structures have a key role in the music industry in that they
can influence the music made, popularize it, and influence the choice of music audiences to
listen to. For example, the media can popularize a certain song by playing it regularly,
advertising it, or even show casting an album which generally hypes it. Once hyped, audiences
especially the youth like to be associated with what is trending and thus will be motivated to
listen to the music. Good examples of media influencers are the USA billboard and YouTube. If
media is against a certain song, it gives the song little or no airtime thus audiences are not
acquainted with the song and end up as "underground" music.
Another good example of how social structures limit music is through religion. A
majority of people are strong believers of religion which have their cultures that clash pop music
culture. Thus, it restricts their followers form listening to such music terming it as secular or evil.
Also, the law may place a total ban on music which it feels is explicit or political. Thus, artists
are forced to walk on a thin line regarding the music to make. (Way, 2016).
Audience agency is the listeners’ freedom to choose what to listen to. Thus, audiences
can use this platform to challenge social structures on limiting of music. One option is forming