Music Quote by Jacques Attali
“Fetishized as a commodity, music is illustrative of the evolution of our entire society: deritualize a social form, repress an activity of the body, specialize its practice, sell it as a spectacle, generalize its consumption, then see to it that it is stockpiled until it loses its meaning. Today, music heraldsregardless of what the property mode of capital will bethe establishment of a society of repetition in which nothing will happen anymore. But at the same time, it heralds the emergence of a formidable subversion, one leading to a radically new organization never yet theorized, of which self-management is but a distant echo.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Noise: The Political Economy of Music, Jacques Attali, 1977
Music reflects how society turns cultural practices into commodities, stripping meaning and creating repetition, yet it also seeds radical self‑organized change.
In simple terms: Music shows how culture becomes a product, but also hints at new, self‑managed futures.
Key Takeaway
Recognize music’s dual role as commodity and catalyst.
Themes
culture
economics
repetition
subversion
self‑management
Mood
critical
hopeful
Type
analytical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- urban nightlife
- online streaming platforms
- grassroots music collectives
- educational curricula
- political protests
Key Concepts
commodification
alienation
collective consciousness
autonomy
Questions to Reflect On
- How does commodification affect your personal music experience?
- What forms of self‑management could emerge from music culture?
A Different Perspective
The analysis may overstate music’s power to drive systemic change without broader structural shifts.
![“Downloading's the same as what I used to do. I used to tape the charts of the songs I liked [off the radio]. I don't mind it. I hate all these big, silly rock stars who moan. At least they're fuckin' downloading your music, you cunt, and paying attention, know what I mean? You should fuckin'…” quote by Liam Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0c7/liam-gallagher-12691_liam-gallagher_downloading-s-the-same-as-what-i-used-to_369.jpg)
