ABSTRACT
In World War II, music was instrumentalized for propaganda purposes and as a weapon in a cultural fight that was closely entangled with the military conflict. This chapter focuses on American uses of music by the Office of War Information (OWI) and the military. Established in June 1942, the OWI used music in broadcasts to entertain and educate its listeners about the United States and its culture. The American armed forces turned to music in three ways in particular: music as building morale and community, music as entertainment, and music as therapy. Women musicians and musicians of color in the United States found new opportunities within this official structure, both as administrators and as performers.
