Can popular music achieve genuine political change?

Audiences try to convince themselves that they are not passive and that they consciously select what they take from music. Street suggests that in the west, the political right has been terrified that popular music will undermine capitalism, family life and traditional values. He also suggests that musicians from left to right have used political music as a vehicle for their politics. The truthfulness of the artists through their lyrics may influence the views of the listeners away from the lies of the politicians. Any form of art is expression, any form of politics is manipulation. Working for large scale capitalist companies, (rather than being hypocritical) allows artists to spread their views globally without being penalised for their opinions. Even though music can achieve political change it has yet to prove it on a large scale rather than small economic achievements such as live aids help in Africa.