Why do people like to listen to different music?

Dec 17, 2008 at 4:29 PM Post #32 of 55
Because we can!
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Dec 17, 2008 at 5:34 PM Post #33 of 55
That is the same thing as asking why people do anything differently. There are a huge number of psychological factors as well as the fact that we are all different and our brains interpret music in different ways, leading to pleasure in different places for different people.
 
Dec 17, 2008 at 11:49 PM Post #35 of 55
Everyone's different, hence different musical preferences. I like the fact that no-one else seems to have my exact taste in music, makes it more personal somehow.
I'm more curious to know why I don't like certain types of music, even respected forms like romantic and modern classical, though I absolutley love Baroque and early classical. Not to mention most 'popular' music. I may never know/care...
 
Dec 18, 2008 at 12:56 AM Post #36 of 55
I deliberately try to get into different bands and genres. Music is like literature (or most art forms, for that matter) where the more you're exposed to, true more you understand what you're already familiar with. You gain a deeper understanding of the whole. Not that I'm horribly philosophical while listening - the insights and parallels creep up on you. Half the fun is when a realization sets in.
 
Dec 18, 2008 at 2:43 PM Post #38 of 55
It is generally well accepted that musical tastes are culturally determined - even the tendency to "explore" new genres. This works at a micro (family, peers, local institutional environments) and a macro (country, society, world) level.


The importance or centrality of music in an individual's life is most likely also culturally determined, though at the micro level.
 
Dec 18, 2008 at 2:46 PM Post #39 of 55
Quote:

Originally Posted by ph0rk /img/forum/go_quote.gif
It is generally well accepted that musical tastes are culturally determined - even the tendency to "explore" new genres. This works at a micro (family, peers, local institutional environments) and a macro (country, society, world) level.


The importance or centrality of music in an individual's life is most likely also culturally determined, though at the micro level.


So what you suggest is that, for some of us head-fiers that like ALL kinds of music, is because we are simply more EXPOSED to different musics?
 
Dec 18, 2008 at 2:55 PM Post #40 of 55
Quote:

Originally Posted by Mellow Mushroom /img/forum/go_quote.gif
So what you suggest is that, for some of us head-fiers that like ALL kinds of music, is because we are simply more EXPOSED to different musics?


No, rather because a diversity of tastes is the new highbrow mode of cultural consumption. The old exclusivity of highbrow tastes (theater, opera, orchestral music and no jazz, rock/pop, etc) started to fade decades ago, and now members of high socioeconomic strata "slum it" with a variety of styles.


Since this is the sound science forum:

See Peterson and Kerns 1996 http://gignatow.googlepages.com/Pete...obOmnivore.pdf

In a similar vein, Chan and Goldthorpe: Social Stratification and Cultural Consumption: Music in England -- Chan and Goldthorpe, 10.1093/esr/jcl016 -- European Sociological Review

And, for contrast, Bourdieu (the argument they are refuting): Amazon.com: Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste: Pierre Bourdieu, Richard Nice: Books

Also of interest (though I haven't gotten around to anything more than a quick skim): Amazon.com: Music in Everyday Life: Tia DeNora: Books
 
Dec 19, 2008 at 4:40 AM Post #41 of 55
There's no doubt in my mind that it's cultural in nature, more than genes. We are the sum of our experiences, and musical tastes seem to generally be formed in our teenage years. Once that's ingrained, you are usually stuck with it for life.

I've seen too many examples of people I grew up with, people I work with, and the older generation, whose current musical tastes I can easily guess. Granted, there are exceptions - I think that one of the reasons I enjoy this forum is because a lot of the people here actually go against their "programming".
 
Dec 19, 2008 at 9:18 PM Post #43 of 55
I think it does have a lot to do with the mood that you are in. I listen to Acoustic when I'm bored and want to play a calm video game or something, or doing homework.

I listen to hardcore when I'm pumped up and feel like "rocking out".

People have different tastes also. The things you have experienced in life have a great impact on what you might like.
 
Dec 23, 2008 at 9:57 PM Post #45 of 55
Quote:

Originally Posted by ph0rk /img/forum/go_quote.gif
It is generally well accepted that musical tastes are culturally determined - even the tendency to "explore" new genres. This works at a micro (family, peers, local institutional environments) and a macro (country, society, world) level.


The importance or centrality of music in an individual's life is most likely also culturally determined, though at the micro level.


Not directly. It has to do with the type of person they are, and there are tons of psychological studies to determine how much of that is intrinsic or nurtured. No one I know around me is as explorative as I am in any area, and no one I really know listens to such a variety of music as I do. However, I did meet this one guy last year, but he didn't have an influence on my desire to explore, just let me explore more.
 
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