How and when does it influence songwriting?
Tensions have recently risen, particularly over the controversy surrounding the tour Loop of Songwriter and artist Ed Sheeran and his opening act, Macklemore.
Opening up the debate again: should music have politics? Social media now captures every second of what’s happening around the globe, which is why artist M.I.A became canceled and was dropped from Kid Cudi’s tour after she spoke out for the Immigrant community.
But should music hold political power? It has happened before, with Olivia Rodrigo becoming one of the few artists supporting sex care after the abolition of Roe v. Wade, or back at this year’s Grammys ceremony when Academy Award winner Billie Eillish spoke against ICE with the saying “No one is illegal on stolen land”, or back in 2020, when COVID-19 had everyone on lockdown. Artists worldwide came together for “Together at Home.”
How important are politics in music? How have they proven time and time again to be a tool of soft power between diplomacies?
Other questions arise as well. Do artists need to have political stands? According to a poll conducted by the Hollywood Reporter back in 2023, audiences used to prefer celebrities staying out of politics, and in 2025, in a new poll posted by the Independent, they claim there is “little appetite” among audiences to know the political insights of celebrities.
For the same reason, Isabel Hernandez speaks about her journey as a songwriter and how politics can affect an artist.
It cannot be denied that the relationship between music and politics is a current debate. Some view celebrities as people who should stick to the art, while others expect them to be more outspoken about where they stand.
And with that, the same question remains standing: Should music be a diplomatic tool?
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