Ethical Philosophies: How Do They Apply to the Music Industry?
- Kierstyn Alysse
- Sep 13, 2024
- 4 min read
Many entertainers and those in the music industry, can agree that ethics go out the window when one receives the lifestyle they want. Frequently in any industry, people prioritize themselves and leave their morals behind. However, as a young entertainment publicist and music enthusiast, I hold on tight to my morals and the things that matter ethically. Ethics are important and if you don’t have any, I’d like to argue that it may be hard for you to hold on to anything you have. Ethics are equivalent to boundaries.
Hedonism
Hedonism has multiple relations to the industry and can be used to describe the tendencies of musical individuals. According to Ethics Unwrapped, this ethical philosophy is a form of consequentialism that approves auctions that produce pleasure and avoid pain. These pleasers could include sex, drugs, or other activities deemed as negative. Hedonism also promotes the idea that people only consider what would pleasure themselves and not others. Furthermore, both definitions can apply to the music industry. Many people within the industry push themselves to do life-threatening drugs due to the belief that they will help them make better music. The second definition can be applied to music industry managers and labels with egotistical characteristics. Often managers and labels help artists and encourage them to sign deals, however, they only have their own best interests at heart.
The Golden Mean
The Golden Mean is the idea that one idea or the other makes the most sense. Suggests that one can only either agree with one extreme or the other. For example, A person can either be arrogant or hate themselves, the golden mean of this would be confidence. There are a lot of arrogant people within the industry, but on the contrary, there are also a lot of humble and down-to-earth people.
Categorical Imperative
When I think of Categorical imperative I think of the laws surrounding copyright as it pertains to songwriting and production. When artists are in a room they are responsible for completing a split sheet after their session. However, there is no limit to how many people are creating the song. Meaning that by the time the session is over each person could be responsible;e for a part of that song. In many cases, some songwriters don't receive credit for their portion or get left with 2% of the song even if they created the topline or melody. A categorical imperative is the idea that moral society laws should be a part of everyone's motive. Laws ranging from one shouldn’t steal or one should brush their teeth to avoid bad breath are included.
Principle of Utilitarianism
This principle is a moral theory that the plan of action for a situation should be for the greater good of everyone involved. For example, the unfortunate death of the R&B princess can be used to create a fictional scenario of this. Aaliyah was told that her crew couldn’t fly together because there was no space on the plane for everyone and their bags. However, the princess knew that they all had to go back home for another stage appearance. The greater good for everyone wouldn't have been to cancel (loss of money for them) or reschedule (the manager or artist would look incompetent). The greater good for everyone at that moment looked like convincing the manager and telling the pilot that he must get everyone back to the States on time no matter what!
Veil of Ignorance
As a singer and aspiring CEO of a music agency, I have experience in both fields. Due to this transition, my mindset has changed on many things. Operating in a veil of ignorance for me before being a music executive would be seeing a friend of mine not taking a deal that I thought would be right for them. I might have said things such as “If I were you I would take it, you’re crazy.” However, now that I am a singer with more knowledge, if I were to get the same deal I would decline as well. The theory of the veil of ignorance, according to FS Blogs, suggests that our ethics and decisions are based on our personal experiences.
True Ethical Dilemma
One of the ethical philosophies that aligns with my morals the most is the Golden rule. The golden rule is the ideology that one should treat others as they would like to be treated. According to Effectiviology, an example of the golden rule would be that if you don't want people to be rude to you, then you shouldn't be rude to them. This means respecting others and treating them with care. This can be very difficult to follow in the entertainment industry. There are multiple ways that I follow this code. In this industry, I have had people attempt to mistreat me or “get over on me” as the older folk in my town like to say. People will withhold the money they owe you because they know you were young or try to keep you from getting an opportunity. However, I have managed to stay true to who I am, inform others of my boundaries, and still treat people as they would like to be treated through these challenges.
In the songwriting industry as a 15-year-old, there would be people attempting to use parts of my song without my permission. I responded to the challenges by speaking to them with poise, letting them know the consequences if they crossed me. Furthermore, as a former music journalist, there were multiple times when I didn’t receive payment. In these cases it may be hard to be nice to someone after you have recognized their intentions, however, I still manage to communicate effectively without anger and remain cordial with those who may have done me wrong. Not only does this show that I followed the golden rule ethically, but it also shows my faith. I am a strong believer in God and faith. I believe that situation is built to make me stronger regardless of how I am treated, I do not have to return that treatment because God will always protect me.
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