Skip to main content

You Should Listen Responsibly: Don’t Separate the Artist from the Music

I used to work a lot of weddings at a popular winery. One of the songs I heard most — and I mean most, as in regularly, even as a first dance track — was “Every Breath You Take” by The Police.

For those who don’t know, this song is pretty blatantly about infidelity and the ongoing surveillance of a former lover. Sure, it’s got a catchy melody and Sting is, well, Sting, but even the musician has wondered why the hit has been treated so positively. It’s a sad, sad song that chronicles cheating, stalking, and more … a wedding classic.

Yet, in the wake of revelations about pop music stars like the late Michael Jackson, R. Kelly, Ryan Adams, and more, the above seems pretty petty — forgivable, even. The real issue lies with artists attached to really disturbing, criminal behavior. Culture critics have wrestled with this for decades: Can we separate the artist from their actions?

michael jackson
Michael Jackson has been accused of multiple accounts of sexual abuse of a minor. The 2019 documentary ‘Leaving Neverland’ reignited the conversation. Jean-Marc Giboux / Getty Images

In the post #metoo era, the answer should be a resounding no. Is Thriller still a musical triumph? Undoubtedly. Is “It’s Your Birthday” a guaranteed party-starter? Sure is. But they’re also the work of predatory people who have seriously hurt a lot of people.

I’m not asking you to flee a clothing store because “Billie Jean” is playing or cancel your lunch at an area restaurant because “Same Girl” is emanating from the speakers. But I am suggesting that we acknowledge the larger picture, especially when it comes to pop culture icons. These are public figures that need to be vetted not just because of the massive optics they gobble up but the relative power their camps wield and the monetary value they hold.

We pick at politicians daily, why not the same for the most popular musicians? Unfortunately, the worst people are also capable of attracting the most diehard of fanbases. Toxic souls attract the same and they often like to crowd the same ship, even if it’s sinking (I’m trying mightily not to get into politics here).

Sweeping things under the rug never works, which is why, in the modern era, we simply can’t separate the music from the artist. There’s too much at stake. Hearing the work of troubled artists on your favorite streaming outfit should spark lively conversation. It should invite debate. It should welcome questioning.

But the line must be drawn at some point. Some elements of bad boy culture will likely always exist in music, at least some genres. A fist-fight or drug-related run-in with the law doesn’t warrant a complete change of faith. But when your favorite act repeatedly breaks the law and builds up a barrier to protect and perpetuate those actions for ages, it’s time to listen differently.

Standing by a favorite musician with a questionable past should always be for a better reason than “I don’t know, I just do,” or, worse, “they’re misunderstood.” The latter is often offensive, especially in retrospect. If a particular track conjures up some past memory of a charming school dance, an adventure with a friend, or cross-country road trip, great. Make that memory the music video to that particular song and file it away accordingly. Just don’t lose sight of the overarching context that that particular artist now inhabits and recognize that when you first adored the song, you didn’t know better.

But you know better now. Sweeping things under the rug never works, which is why, in the modern era, we simply can’t separate the music from the artist. There’s too much at stake. Hearing the work of troubled artists on your favorite streaming outfit should spark lively conversation. It should invite debate. It should welcome questioning.

I find it interesting that we tend to struggle with music more, myself included. It’s as though because we still hear the songs, the spirit is still alive and well, whatever the dark subplots. We have little trouble tossing past big names aside—Pete Rose, Lance Armstrong, Dick Nixon, Bill Cosby, etc. A song is timeless, some argue, regardless of the writer. I would almost argue the opposite. Because a popular song recirculates so often, it practically provides cover for poor behavior.

Kesha
Kesha spoke out against her former producer, Dr. Luke, on several accounts of abuse. Jeff Kravitz/AMA2019/Getty Images

What to do then? Listen not passively, but with conviction. Rid your playlists of these types. It’s a matter of pennies in most cases, but the decrease in plays does send a message. You can also hoist up those in the industry that have been on the wrong side of a lot of this madness as a conscious form of countering. The Kesha’s, Amber Coffman’s, and the MILCK’s of the music realm (sadly, this list could go on and on). If you like an artist like Anohni, back them not only for their sound, but the greater context they perform in (in this case, the decidedly tougher task they have navigating the industry as a transgender person).

Know that it’s an industry that spawns tremendous hearsay and rumors but as soon as verdicts are dealt out and real testimony becomes established fact, your hero on stage may no longer be fit for the job. Track the work of organizations like Calling All Crows and Women In Music. Listen to the social media cries of your favorite indie artists working within a framework that’s historically toxic and see where they lead — ideally, if serious enough, to court, leading to some form of change within the industry.

And listen responsibly.

Editors' Recommendations

Mark Stock
Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. He fell into wine during the Recession and has been fixated on the stuff since…
Everything You Need to Create the Ultimate Man Cave for Music Lovers
listening room

People who have a true passion for music know that it’s not enough to listen to songs on the radio. You’ve got to have the right atmosphere when indulging in your favorite artist’s latest album (on vinyl, naturally). So creating the right space in which to enjoy your tunes is just as essential as what you’re listening to. Here’s our roundup of our favorite pieces to put together the ultimate music lover man cave.
Listen
Sonus Faber Speakers

Putting together a music man cave has to start with the right audio system. And the key to a great audio system is the speakers. No one does speakers better than Sonus Faber. Not only is the sound out of this world, the Venere Line is sleek, stylish, and masculine — exactly the look you want in your space.

Read more
7 New Year’s Resolutions That Don’t Suck

Folks have been making (and breaking) New Year’s resolutions for millennia. The trend apparently kicked off with the Ancient Babylonians, who rang in the new year by promising their gods to right wrongs and return stolen goods. Medieval knights also got in on the fun, re-committing themselves to their lords every Christmas with a special “peacock vow.” And though a lot has changed since then, many still view the new year as a time for self-reflection and self-improvement.

But that doesn’t mean it’s always easy to do. More often than not, ambitious promises to work out more, eat healthier, and change toxic habits are abandoned long before spring has sprung. So, how do you make resolutions that’ll actually stick?

Read more
Learn Guitar (and Don’t Give Up) With the Fender Play App
fender play app hutton hotel 5

As with any instrument, the guitar isn’t something that’s easy to master, nor are there any shortcuts to make it happen overnight. The learning curve for string instruments can be a strenuous journey that will pick at your ambitions and present frustrations that may drive you to put down the strings for good. The biggest challenge, however, isn’t beginning; it’s persistence. 

Fender, one of America’s most famous manufacturers of guitars and amplifiers, has taken notice of this retention issue and created a bold solution that’ll make the learning process easier and more enjoyable: the Fender Play app.

Read more