Endorsements are rolling in for both candidates Trump and Harris as the 2024 election draws closer. Some of the most influential of those come from the music industry, an entity that holds a strong sway over many listeners.
Many household names have voiced their approval for Harris, such as Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and Finneas, Eminem, and, during a Housten rally, Beyonce. Others like Billy Ray Cyrus, DaBaby, Jason Aldean and Kanye West have pushed voters to lean towards Trump.
While the division between parties and people grows, it begs the question: should musicians get involved in politics?
I say yes, they should for many reasons that involve individual rights and voter outlook.
My first argument centers around the insistence that even though musicians are major public figures, they are still their own person with opinions and private lives. However, musicians may, and most likely will, promote an idea that you disagree with, and while you are permitted your own frustrations, that does not mean that musicians should be silenced just because they may alienate you.
People like Taylor Swift, who advocates heavily for LBGTQ+ and reproductive rights, has her own reasons behind her stance to support Harris. Since those reasons are not open to public debate, it does not mean that an obscure person within Swift’s millions of fans gets a say in her values. Celebrities, no matter how big their fanbase, are not entitled to appease people.
That being said, my second argument is actually a vital part of the Constitution, the very document that allows us to vote in the first place. The right to free speech and lobbying applies to all citizens, even the ones who may sway a large group of people with their endorsements.
Just as an everyday citizen may post on social media to encourage friends and family toward their views, a musician may do that exact same thing. The only difference is that their outreach is significantly more expansive than a community Facebook page. The same words that produce your favorite songs are also used to voice their support for their own political perspective.
To finish with one of the most important reasons why artists should get involved in politics, I want to emphasize the impact these endorsements have. Swift’s endorsement on Instagram following the presidential debate hurried over 400,000 people to voter.gov, which has voter registration information.
Celebrity endorsements improve voter turnout. When people who may be reluctant to vote, or have never decided to exercise that right see their favorite celebrity encourage voter registration, that may just be the push they needed to show up at the voting booths on Election Day.
Many artists are using the message to exercise your vote by posting endorsements and encouragement on Instagram. I encourage you to read or watch some of Trump and Harris’s celebrity endorsements.
However, while I think that musicians should get involved in politics, it is ultimately up to them. With speaking out comes the risk of losing fans, even their record label. But if they do decide to speak out, and in the process mildly or majorly jeopardize their careers, make sure you acknowledge the effort they are making instead of criticizing them for their views.
No matter your stance in this election, no matter if you disagree, just like any other American citizen, artists have the right to use their voice and influence to comment on politics.
