The Axe Files presents The Assignment with Audie Cornish
Digest
This podcast delves into the fascinating world of music in political campaigns, examining its historical evolution and its contemporary influence on branding, voter engagement, and the relationship between artists and politicians. The episode begins by highlighting the significance of music in shaping a candidate's brand and resonating with voters. It features an interview with DJ Cassidy, the first musical maestro of a convention roll call at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, who discusses the art of curating a political playlist, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, avoiding legal issues, and choosing songs with emotional resonance. The podcast explores the emotional impact of music, explaining how songs can trigger memories and create a sense of belonging, making them powerful tools for political campaigns. It delves into the history of campaign songs, tracing their evolution from early poems set to popular tunes to the use of contemporary pop songs in modern campaigns. The episode examines the impact of Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop" in Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign, highlighting how the song resonated with voters and became a symbol of his campaign. The podcast explores the changing dynamics between artists and politicians in the age of social media, discussing how artists are increasingly vocal about their disapproval of politicians using their music. It analyzes the use of music in recent campaigns, highlighting how candidates like Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have employed music to reinforce their political messages and connect with voters. The episode concludes by discussing the role of music in empowering voters to engage with the political process, providing a sense of belonging and allowing them to express their identities.
Outlines
The Power of Music in Political Campaigns
This episode explores the significance of music in political campaigns, highlighting how songs chosen for public events can shape a candidate's brand and resonate with voters. It features an interview with DJ Cassidy, the first musical maestro of a convention roll call at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, who discusses the art of curating a political playlist, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, avoiding legal issues, and choosing songs with emotional resonance.
The Evolution of Campaign Music
This episode delves into the history of campaign songs, tracing their evolution from early poems set to popular tunes to the use of contemporary pop songs in modern campaigns. It examines the impact of Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop" in Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign, highlighting how the song resonated with voters and became a symbol of his campaign.
Music and the Political Landscape Today
This episode explores the changing dynamics between artists and politicians in the age of social media, discussing how artists are increasingly vocal about their disapproval of politicians using their music. It analyzes the use of music in recent campaigns, highlighting how candidates like Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have employed music to reinforce their political messages and connect with voters. The episode concludes by discussing the role of music in empowering voters to engage with the political process, providing a sense of belonging and allowing them to express their identities.
Keywords
Political Campaign Music
The use of music in political campaigns to influence voters, build brand identity, and evoke emotions.
Convention Roll Call
A formal procedure at political conventions where delegates from each state are called upon to announce their votes.
DJ Cassidy
A Grammy-nominated DJ and record producer known for his work on the internet series "Past the Mike" and his experience as the musical maestro of the 2024 DNC roll call.
Emotional Resonance
The ability of music to evoke strong emotions and memories, making it a powerful tool for political campaigns to connect with voters.
Campaign Song
A song used in a political campaign to promote a candidate or their message, often chosen for its emotional impact and cultural relevance.
Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop"
A song used in Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign that became a symbol of his campaign and resonated with voters.
Social Media and Music
The impact of social media on the relationship between artists and politicians, allowing artists to express their disapproval of politicians using their music.
Political Messaging
The use of music to convey political messages and reinforce a candidate's brand identity, as seen in the campaigns of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.
Political Engagement
The role of music in empowering voters to engage with the political process, providing a sense of belonging and allowing them to express their identities.
Q&A
How does music influence a candidate's brand and resonate with voters?
Music chosen for public events can shape a candidate's brand by conveying their values and personality. Songs with emotional resonance can trigger memories and create a sense of belonging, connecting with voters on a deeper level.
What are the challenges of curating a political playlist?
Curating a political playlist involves navigating legal issues, ensuring the music aligns with the candidate's message, and selecting songs that evoke the desired emotions without alienating voters.
How has the use of music in political campaigns evolved over time?
Campaign songs have evolved from early poems set to popular tunes to the use of contemporary pop songs. The rise of social media has also changed the dynamics between artists and politicians, with artists increasingly vocal about their disapproval of politicians using their music.
How does music empower voters to engage with the political process?
Music can provide a sense of belonging and allow voters to express their identities, making them feel more comfortable engaging with the political process. It can also create opportunities to tell different stories and explore diverse perspectives.
Show Notes
Kamala Harris has “Freedom.” Donald Trump has “God Bless the USA” (and a lot of cease-and-desist letters). What makes for a good campaign song? And why do we respond so viscerally to the ones that work? Audie talks with DJ Cassidy, who DJ'd the DNC Roll Call. And Dana Gorzelany-Mostak, who studies the use of music in political campaigns.
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Table of contents
United States
