Whiting, Chris (2023) Valuing in Songwriting. International Association for the Study of Popular Music Journal, 13 (1). pp. 140-156.

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Abstract

Valuing is a sub task of the creative process (Zembylas and Niederauer 2018) where the agent of creativity evaluates the possibles afforded to them by the domain and field (Csikszentmihalyi 2014). To make such evaluations the agent must apply their domain knowledge and an internalised system of the field (Csikszentmihalyi 2014; McIntyre et al. 2016a). This paper explores how the songwriter, as agent, constructs a criterion of appropriateness based on such knowledge through which to assess their creative possibilities.
Through autoethnographic studies, triangulated with ethnographic sources (primary and secondary), this paper offers a structuralist perspective of how songwriters develop and apply these criteria of appropriateness. These criteria conceived by the songwriter through an imagined audience which operates as a ‘competent yet fallible audience’ (Trivedi 2015). Songwriters demonstrate their awareness of these imagined audiences through the application of reference tracks and research of the current audiences. The valuing process is progressive, moving from the imagined audience of the songwriting agent to be refined by developmental interactions with songwriting, production and record label teams (Hennion 1989; Thompson 2019).
In understanding the criterion of effectiveness, we can further develop our understanding of how other creative practices develop and apply their own creative knowledge. We may also transfer such a criterion to the audience, as a criterion of effectiveness, in which the chosen ideas are evaluated.

Item Type:	Article
Status:	Published
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.5429/2079-3871(2023)v13i1.8en
Subjects:	L Education > L Education (General) M Music and Books on Music > M Music M Music and Books on Music > MT Musical instruction and study > MT0018 Music in colleges and universities M Music and Books on Music > MT Musical instruction and study > MT0040-67 Composition. Elements and techniques of music
School/Department:	Vice Chancellor's Office
URI:	https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/8123

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