Critics share their journeys of exploring and reevaluating artists and genres they previously dismissed, including Joni Mitchell, Kendrick Lamar, Neil Young, Diamanda Galás, and Radiohead, highlighting how open-minded listening can deepen appreciation and understanding of diverse musical styles.
Spotify Wrapped's new 'listening age' feature estimates users' ages based on their music tastes, leading to humorous and sometimes embarrassing mismatches, especially for those who listen to music from different eras than their actual age.
Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) exhibit distinct music preferences, favoring reflective and complex genres such as classical and jazz over intense, rebellious ones, with the severity of BPD symptoms influencing these preferences and the psychological functions of music. This insight opens new avenues for tailored music therapy interventions, promising more effective therapeutic outcomes. Understanding the specific music preferences and the psychological needs that music fulfills for individuals with BPD can inform more tailored and effective music therapy interventions, potentially enhancing therapeutic outcomes.
A recent study published in PLOS One has found a connection between people's moral values and their musical preferences. Researchers analyzed the musical preferences and moral values of 1,480 participants, using machine learning algorithms to predict moral values based on lyrical content and audio features of preferred songs. The study revealed that individuals who value care and fairness tend to prefer songs with lyrics revolving around themes of care and joy, while those who prioritize loyalty, authority, and purity are drawn to lyrics discussing fairness, sanctity, and love. Surprisingly, the study also found that the musical attributes of songs, such as danceability and acoustic qualities, can reflect an individual's moral values. However, the study's findings may not be universally applicable due to the data primarily coming from Facebook users in Italy and the focus on English-language songs.