People used to sing as a social activity. Not just in church, but in the parlour Remember parlour songs? on the back porch, in the pubs, etc. Rembember parlour games? When was the last time you played charades?

We used to have to entertain ourselves socially, and we did so. The technologies of communication - radio, television, PA systems, etc. gradually changed that. The intimacy also changed.
Many social, technological and sociotechnological changes in societies.

Gains and losses.