Da'wah, music, and rational actions: the survival of aligo vocal music through Max Weber's theory of social action

Abstract

Nasyid music has become the focus of discussion as one of the Islamic musical arts that has grown and developed in Indonesia. The use of nasyid as a medium of da'wah and character formation has been a concern for researchers for a long time, but the survival of nasyid groups has not been the focus of researchers' attention. This study addresses this gap. This study aims to examine how Wertrational (value-rational action) and Zweckrational (instrumentally rational action) are manifested and interconnected in Aligo Vocal Music's efforts to sustain the group amid changing musical tastes and a segmented market. This study uses a qualitative method with a single-case study approach. Data were collected through observation, document studies, and interviews. Data analysis was carried out with Miles, Huberman, and Saldana versions, complemented by pattern matching between empirical findings and Weber's theoretical categories. The findings show that Wertrational is manifested in the religious belief that nasyid constitutes a legitimate medium for conveying da'wah and messages of goodness. Wertrational is reflected in strategic practices such as group management, performance management, regular rehearsals, and promotion aimed at maintaining organizational continuity. This study contributes to nasyid research by demonstrating that the survival of a religious music group is sustained not merely by religious commitment or managerial strategy independently, but through the interplay between Wertrational and Zweckrational, in which value commitments provide normative direction while instrumental actions provide practical means for organizational continuity.