It was (at one point) literally the only thing that kept me hanging on. My favorite band making an album (for the first time in about 5 years) was what pulled me out of depression so music is 100% critical to my life.
I'd say it is Essential. Music itself is Life. I couldn't imagine it any other way. It's always around us one way or another. Any Sound, as trivial as it might seem could be considered a form of Music. A certain Melody. So, hard to live in a World where it's nonexistent in the first place. Personally, I find it to be of great value in any case. Spices up any situation occuring, relaxes, energizes, can comfort and also give me courage when moving forward. Any circumstance is applicable !!!!
It's so important, I never spend a day without my music. Everywhere I go, my tablet (filled with EDM) follows. Never. Plus, I wanna be one of the EDM juggernauts on Soundcloud.