Music’s experiencing a nice run right now. It’s gaining lots of attention through numerous forms of media, and money is being made by lots of people associated with music, which makes it unoriginally and assuredly an American phenomenon.

That is, unless you’re involved in music via compact disc production. According to Entertainment Weekly, the top selling CDs are “I Dreamed a Dream” by Susan Boyle and Andrea Bocelli’s “My Christmas.” Not exactly the 25-54 age demographic most entertainers are looking to score with.

Based on scientific data collected by my entertainment industry sources — which will remain nameless except to say they are me, myself and I — getting the message across through song is just that much more fun and effective.

Just ask my wife’s sixth-grade students at Austin Ellis Middle School, to whom she often scolds in song. Imagine how much more effective the words “I wish you’d open your book and begin your homework” are when sung to the chorus of “Defying Gravity” from the musical “Wicked”?

HBO has a hit comedy series called “Flight of the Conchords” about two New Zealand transplants living in New York City who make fools of themselves trying to make it as a band. Each episode includes at least two sections done in song, always original songs, always in the vein of Adam Sandler, Jimmy Fallon and Tenacious D. Some of the most popular Saturday Night Live clips in recent years have involved singing.

Comedy isn’t the only reason TV is breaking out in song. Fox has made a mint out of singing television with “American Idol,” about to begin its ninth run in January. The new kid on the Fox block is “Glee,” a comedic drama — or dramedy, as is the combo name — about a high school show choir group. No, it’s not a musical, but music is certainly the key element. Fox also has “So You Think You Can Dance.” One of the shows this trio are beating out? ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars.” NBC recently got in the mix with its a cappella group singing show, “Sing Off.” CBS is doing a family sing-off on its morning show. Sigh. Maybe members of Congress should sing their ideas on health care and see if that helps them reach some consensus.

Our nation’s political system has never been in a sadder state, so it makes sense that people are grasping on to whatever uplifting escape they can. Notice how much more fun pictures are to look at when put to music. Music is a must for pre-game warm-ups in sports. Fact: showers were invented so people could sing like rock stars. I sound like Eddie Vedder behind the shower curtain.

Whether we can outwardly vocalize it or not, we’ve all got a built-in soundtrack to our lives. That inner music can be soothing in times of rage, rapturous while in search of glory and unfortunately sanctimonious when that’s the last thing we need. The needle on the record may not always be set to the appropriate song, but it’s always set. Certainly, songs are added and deleted, but our inner soundtrack never ends.

While it’s not figured into the Nielsen or any other ratings, I must add that locally we are blessed each year by the high school’s fall musical. Under the tutelage of director Molly Wilken and musical coordinator Diane Heaney, the high school musical is soaring.

This year they did “Seussical.” I originally assumed they were simply trying to drum up interest among elementary-aged children so they’d be assured talent for musicals in the next decade. In fact, my wife and I searched for a child to bring, thinking we may need one just to avoid standing out. Our nieces and nephews live too far away and there weren’t any walking by our house as we were preparing to leave. Nevertheless, we attended based simply on past performances.

A couple hours “Seussical” had become one of my favorites. I’m a sucker for catchy tunes and all things sappy and happy. I realized I didn’t need a child to attend with me. These high schoolers’ performances revived the child in me, and “All the thinks you can think” has been stuck in my head for weeks. Such a satisfactorily happy and sappy song.

If only we could find a way to stick in the heads of Washington politicians.

Albert Lea resident Riley Worth is a teacher at Albert Lea High School. He can be reached at rileyworth@gmail.com.