Can popular music be a genuine force for political change?

Many musicians and artists have written music that is concerned with politics and the way the world is being managed. This has been done for decades, whether subtle or addressing points in an open manner. I do not believe that these songs of protest have actually been a genuine force to change anything; however I do believe that they make audiences aware of certain situations. A clear example of this can be seen through Band Aid and Live Aid. The song and the event raised lots of money for Africa however was heavily criticised for being self serving for those involved, and generally being politically inappropriate. But we must ask ourselves whether this is a genuine problem. I believe that the benefits for Africa out-weigh the criticisms. It is hard to find an example of a song that has genuinely changed anything within politics but there are many that have influenced individuals’ views and opinions on certain subject matters.