Perspective – October 2025
Music has always been more than entertainment. It carries an invisible currency—one not measured in dollars or euros, but in emotions, memories, and shared experiences. A single song can transport us back to childhood, bring tears to our eyes, or energize us before a big challenge. This “emotional currency” of music is one of the most powerful yet overlooked aspects of human culture.
In today’s digital world, as artificial intelligence and software-driven systems transform how we create and consume music, this non-monetary value is coming into sharper focus. Music360 project is precisely pointing to the intersection of music, technology, and human well-being, taking the challenge of preserve, measure, and even amplify the no-monetary value of music while harnessing the power of technology and smart tools.
Traditional discussions around music often focus on economics—streaming revenue, royalties, ticket sales. But for listeners, the true worth of a song often lies elsewhere. A breakup playlist, a lullaby passed down through generations, or a stadium anthem sung by thousands in unison represents the music intangible currency that can be more important than money. This emotional currency shapes identity and community, serves as a memory trigger and mental health support, or can inspire creativity across disciplines. However, as music consumption shifts from physical ownership (vinyl, CDs) to digital abundance, the question becomes: How do we ensure that technology supports, rather than dilutes, these human connections?
Through real-world experiments in venues, hospitals, and cultural spaces, Music360 collects data on monetary and non-monetary dimensions. A supermarket study may show that music boosts sales (monetary value) while also increasing customer well-being (non-monetary value). A hospital study may quantify reductions stress and pain killers use in oncology patients. This integrated approach ensures that music’s impact is treated as a multidimensional asset, not reduced to financial flows alone.
AI as a Bridge for music Value
Artificial intelligence is often portrayed as a threat to artistic authenticity. AI models can now compose symphonies, clone voices, or generate mood-based playlists in seconds. But rather than replacing musicians or devaluing human expression, AI can be reframed as a bridge to emotional depth. Within Music360, we explore different living labs that analyze different playlist using smart tools in different contexts to measure the listening behavior and listeners emotional state, curating playlists that can be used to comfort patients, energize employees, or inspire cultural engagement.
Thus, software engineering plays a critical role in embedding emotional intelligence into music technology. The Music360 project integrates software design principles to ensure systems are able to support Transparency & ethics: Ensuring that users understand how their data is used to infer emotions, avoiding exploitation or manipulative recommendations. Also, for having scalable architectures: Designing cloud-native systems capable of processing millions of emotional and musical data points without losing personalization.
Music360 is about creating a holistic ecosystem where music’s economic and non-economic values coexist. The project will measure and make visible both monetary and non-monetary values of music, ensuring that artists, venues, policy makers, and society at large benefit from a 360-degree perspective on music’s impact
The non-monetary value of music—therapeutic, cultural, emotional, and ethical—has always been present, but rarely measured. By combining AI-driven analytics, secure distributed architectures, and participatory governance, Music360 transforms these hidden dimensions into shared knowledge.
The ambition is clear: a 360-degree perspective on music’s value, where creators are fairly rewarded, venues optimize experiences, policy makers act on evidence, and society recognizes music’s true wealth—not only in euros, but in well-being, culture, and fairness.
Music has always been more than money. With Music360, we can finally see, measure, and sustain its true value.
Music360 