Scientists have long debated the origins of human musicality, which also begs the question of the functions of music in the societies of our ancient ancestors. While many questions remain, emerging perspectives suggest that, rather than being a side effect of other aspects of our evolutionary history, participatory music-making may have been selected for by virtue of its role in the social bonding of group members.

We didn’t simply evolve our capacities for music through random genetic mutations. Rather, it appears that music has likely emerged through a co-evolutionary dynamic in which the very act of engaging in participatory musicality, and the resulting social benefits it brought, may have driven selection pressures that positively shaped our further capacities for the diversity of music we find in our world today.

All known human cultures engage in some form of music-making and dancing. Cultural musical diversity is as diverse as humanity itself. Understanding the origins and cultural evolutionary dynamics of modern music diversity offers a fascinating window into music as we know it, and the foundations of cultural change more broadly.

Music shapes our individual and social identities. It alters and regulates our moods and emotions. Lyrical storytelling propels our imagination and helps us reflect on our common humanity. Understanding the evolving functions of music in societies past and present gives us a unique perspective on this most meaningful of cultural characteristics. What is the role of music in the wellbeing and sustainable development of our species today and in the future?