I think music now serves multiple purposes in a way that makes some judgements a kind of type error. When we judge whether music is "good" or "bad", we're eval

I think music now serves multiple purposes in a way that makes some judgements a kind of type error. When we judge whether music is "good" or "bad", we're evaluating it as a work of art. Being novel, smart, well performed etc are all naturally important considerations. But when you listen to music for hours while working, studying, workout out, either alone or through headphones ... music is no longer art exactly. Music becomes a tool which helps us guide our own moods or quality of attention. Music becomes a cognitive aid. My desk is bad as sculpture. My documentation is bad as literature. My thinking-music is generally bad as art-music.