Musical Sociology and Sociology of Music: A Dialogue

There is a rich body of scientific literature on the sociology of music, with Adorno’s Introduction to the Sociology of Music being one of its finest and best-known works. For the most part, the sociology of music has focused on applying sociology to music as one of its objects of study. It has made significant contributions to our understanding of how music is experienced within the broader social structure and its various groups, institutions, and identities. However, the works of other sociologists such as Bourdieu, with limited musical knowledge, lead to oversimplifications, analytical errors, or the uncritical reproduction of cultural hierarchies and social inequalities. Musical sociology emerges as an alternative orientation that integrates musical knowledge and sociological inquiry. Musical sociology is the sociology that has music as one of its inspirations. Although musical sociology is not new and has been developed for centuries by diverse sociologists, musicians and citizens, this article elaborates its concept. Through an in-depth review of the literature in sociology, classical music, sociology of music and experiences of musical sociology, this paper formulates the concept of musical sociology to further promote its potential impact in improving music, sociology and society.