Music Is Power - by Brad Schreiber (Paperback)

About the Book

Music Is Power takes us on a guided tour through the past 100 years of politically-conscious popular music, from Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie to Green Day and NWA. Covering a wide variety of genres, including reggae, country, metal, and soul, Brad Schreiber tells fascinating stories about the origins and impact of dozens of world-changing songs.

Book Synopsis

Honorable Mention, 2019 Foreword INDIES Awards - Performing Arts & Music
Honorable Mention, Graphis 2021 Design Annual Competition​

Popular music has long been a powerful force for social change. Protest songs have served as anthems regarding war, racism, sexism, ecological destruction, and so many other crucial issues.

Music Is Power takes us on a guided tour through the past one hundred years of politically conscious music, from Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie to Green Day and NWA. Covering a wide variety of genres, including reggae, country, metal, psychedelia, rap, punk, folk, and soul, Brad Schreiber demonstrates how musicians can take a variety of approaches-- angry rallying cries, mournful elegies to the victims of injustice, or even humorous mockeries of authority--to fight for a fairer world. While shining a spotlight on Phil Ochs, Gil Scott-Heron, the Dead Kennedys and other seminal, politicized artists, he also gives readers a new appreciation of classic acts such as Lesley Gore, James Brown, and Black Sabbath, who overcame limitations in their industry to create politically potent music

Music Is Power tells fascinating stories about the origins and the impact of dozens of world-changing songs, while revealing political context and the personal challenges of legendary artists from Bob Dylan to Bob Marley.

Supplemental material (Artist and Title List): https: //d3tto5i5w9ogdd.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/24001955/Music_Is_Power_Supplementary_Artist_Title_List.doc

Review Quotes

"A stirring survey of the sometimes sad, sometimes joyful, sometimes angry but ever hopeful music that is the soundtrack for America's struggle to become a more fair and just society."
--Seth Rosenfeld "journalist, winner of the George Polk Award, author of Subversives: The FBI's War on Student Radical"

"An inspiring tour through the history of making change with music and an important call for retrieving music's intrinsic ability to challenge power."
--Douglas Rushkoff "documentarian, professor of Media Theory and Digital Economics at CUNY/Queens, author of Team Human"

"Brad Schreiber understands both music and politics, as well as the jagged lines where they overlap and intersect. His clarity, intelligence, and insight provide lasting rewards."
--Anthony DeCurtis "Grammy Award-winning journalist, for Rolling Stone, author of Lou Reed: A Life"

Music Is Power mention in Planet Proctor, December 2019 issue-- "Planet Proctor"

"Brad Schreiber Visits Madame Perry's Salon" podcast interview
https: //podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brad-schreiber-visits-madame-perrys-salon/id1063919048?i=1000465223311

-- "Madame Perry's Salon"

*Special episode * Music is Power: Donna and Dr Adam in conversation with author Brad Schreiber-- "Love's A Secret Weapon podcast"

"Music Is Power covers the socio-political history of important music, from Bob Dylan to hip-hop, including genres like punk, comedy, folk, psychedelia, RB/soul and major musicals, and encourages listeners to respond to this powerful music with real world activism. It's a timeless New Year's gift!"-- "Planet Proctor"

"A fun and informative read from first page to last."-- "Midwest Book Review"

"A fun read. It provides the old timer with a quick sail down the streams of memory and the younger reader with a useful and concise look at the music of the West that helped form the culture of today."-- "CounterPunch"

"An intensively researched yet rollicking tour of socially charged music...A compelling read on the intersection of popular music and social activism, from Pete Seeger to Zappa to Public Enemy and beyond."-- "American Songwriter"

"Brad Schreiber interview - Episode 288"
http: //readingandwritingpodcast.com/brad-schreiber-interview/-- "Reading and Writing podcast"

"Brad Schreiber talks about this topic perfectly...You did a lot of research."
https: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gaim6C8E3wfeature=youtu.be-- "The Allan Handelman Show interview with Brad Schreiber: Music Is Power""

"Brad Schreiber, 'Music Is Power: Popular Songs, Social Justice And The Will To Change'"
https: //www.wortfm.org/brad-schreiber-music-is-power-popular-songs-social-justice-and-the-will-to-change/-- "Madison Bookbeat"

"Chatting with Sherri," BlogTalkRadio interview with Brad Schreiber
https: //www.blogtalkradio.com/rithebard/2020/06/25/chatting-with-sherri-- "Chatting with Sherri - Blog Talk Radio"

"Coast to Coast AM" interview view Brad Schreiber, part 2-- "Coast to Coast AM, part 2"

"Coast to Coast AM" interview with Brad Schreiber, part 3-- "Coast to Coast AM, part 3"

"Coast to Coast AM" interview with Brad, Schreiber, part 1-- "Coast to Coast AM, part 1"

"Episode 37: "Music Is Power: Popular Songs, Social Justice, and The Will to Change" with Brad Schreiber"
https: //allmusicbooksdeepdive.podbean.com/e/episode-37-music-is-power-popular-songs-social-justice-and-the-will-to-change-with-brad-schreiber/-- "Deep Dive podcast"

"How Tom Odell's Another Love became an unlikely anthem for Ukraine," by James Hall-- "The Telegraph"

"In Music Is Power, Brad Schreiber argues that socially or politically conscious music emerges from practically every genre of popular music, and he takes the reader on a journey through the various ways that musicians have addressed the issues of their day."--Shalon Van Tine "Western Folklore journal" (7/8/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"In-Depth Interview: Author Brad Schreiber Talks..." interview on the Peter B. Collins Show
https: //www.stitcher.com/podcast/peter-b-collins-newscomment/e/66984975-- "The Peter B. Collins Show"

"INTERVIEW WITH BRAD SCHREIBER ON 'MUSIC IS POWER' PART 2--JIMI HENDRIX, PINK FLOYD"-- "Shadowproof, Part 2"

"Madame Perry's Salon" interview with Brad Schreiber, part two
https: //www.blogtalkradio.com/madameperryssalon/2020/05/14/writer-producer-brad-schreiber-- "Madame Perry's Salon, part two"

"Much has been written about these artists elsewhere, but Schreiber's focus sets this study apart. He goes beneath the surface to detail how their social consciousness evolved during the course of their careers, and how they came to understand their music's power to address social ills. This carefully researched book is suitable for fans and scholars alike. Recommended." -- "Choice"

"Music is Power: Author Brad Schreiber digs into he history and power of protest music" interview with Brad Schreiber
https: //wgnradio.com/2019/12/10/music-is-power-author-brad-schreiber-digs-into-he-history-and-power-of-protest-music/-- "Nick Digilio Show - WGN"

"Music Is Power - Part 3: Black Sabbath, Gil Scott-Heron, Public Enemy"
https: //shadowproof.com/2020/04/28/music-is-power-schreiber-gil-scott-heron-black-sabbath/-- "Shadowproof, Part 3"

"MWN Episode 144 - Music is Power (Part 2) with Brad Schreiber"
https: //midnightwriternews.com/mwn-episode-144-music-is-power-part-2-with-brad-schreiber/-- "Midnight Writer News"

"Passing Through" KAAD-LP 103.5 FM interview with Brad Schreiber -- "Passing Through"

"Talk with Ted" interview with Brad Schreiber
https: //www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-s3b37-e5cbf5-- "Talk with Ted podcast"

"Tuesday, December 8th: Andrea Gallo, Brad Schreiber"-- ""Talk Louisiana," WRKF"

"What's better than a book you didn't know you needed? Music Is Power is a history of the nexus of music and protest, from Wobbly-turned-musician Joe Hill to Green Day, from folk to hip-hop."-- "Razorcake"

Beyond Reality Paranormal Podcast - Hidden History episode interview with Brad Schreiber
https: //anchor.fm/brparanormal/episodes/Hidden-History---Brad-Schreiber---102020-elclvh-- "Beyond Reality Paranormal podcast"

Brad Schreiber interview on "Passing Through" on KAAD-LP 103.5 FM-- "Passing Through, part 2"

Brad Schreiber's Playlist for His Book "Music is Power: Popular Songs, Social Justice, and the Will to Change"-- "Largehearted Boy"

High Road to Humanity - Music Is Power! Popular Songs, Social Justice, with Guest Brad Schreiber
https: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=55j15fa54NIfeature=youtu.be-- "Nancy Yearout's High Road to Humanity"

Interview on "Deep Dish Radio with Tim Powers" with Brad Schreiber
https: //play.acast.com/s/deepdishradio/7424927b-bdc3-4183-a884-a84f4ba85c5f-- "Deep Dish Radio with Tim Powers"

Interview with Brad Schreiber on The Stuph File Program-- "The Stuph File"

INTERVIEW WITH BRAD SCHREIBER ON 'MUSIC IS POWER' PART 1--DIXIE CHICKS, MARVIN GAY
https: //shadowproof.com/2020/03/31/music-is-power-interview-schreiber-dixie-chicks-marvin-gaye/-- "Shadowproof"

Law and Disorder Radio interview with Brad Schreiber
https: //lawanddisorder.org/2019/11/law-and-disorder-november-25-2019/-- "Law and Disorder"

Louisiana Radio Network "Talk Louisiana" interview with Jim Engster and Brad Schreiber
https: //www.wrkf.org/post/monday-january-20th-faye-williams-daryl-glasper-brad-schreiber-- "Louisiana Radio Network"

Music's Connection to Societal Issues The Patty Hearst/SLA Case - interview with Brad Schreiber
https: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AHdxbXK6Ys-- "Beyond Reality Radio"

MWN Episode 136 - Popular Songs, Social Justice, and the Will to Change with Brad Schreiber-- "Midnight Writer News"

Parallax Views with J.G. Michael interview with Brad Schreiber
https: //parallaxviews.podbean.com/e/schreiber/-- "Parallax Views"

The Stuph File Program interview with Brad Schreiber-- "The Stuph File Program"

Unstructured Podcast interview with Brad Schreiber
https: //unstructuredpod.com/psychotically-eclectic-author-brad-schreiber/-- "Unstructured Podcast"

About the Author

BRAD SCHREIBER is an award-winning author, journalist, and screenwriter. His previous books include Death in Paradise, Becoming Jimi Hendrix, and Revolution's End. He has received fellowships and awards from the National Press Foundation, Edward Albee Foundation, International Book Awards, Independent Publisher Book Awards, and Los Angeles Press Club.