ABSTRACT
In this chapter, I describe books that are (1) either titled or subtitled “A Sociology of Music,” (2) have become readily available in the English language, and (3) can be categorized as macro, micro, and interactive approaches toward understanding music as a social rather than purely aesthetic phenomenon. At the forefront of topics addressed in these books are (1) the interactions that take place between performers and their audiences in particular performance settings, and (2) the role of music for its own sake as compared to its social purposes, that is, its use during recreational or ceremonial functions. Those functions are shown to relate directly to the image professional performers have of themselves as entertainer and/or artist, an issue that impacts on their occupational identity as well.
