Psychology of Music · 2013 · 184 citations · 24 references
HumanitiesCommunicationPsychologyAudience StudiesMass CommunicationMusic PsychologyMedia ConsumptionMusic AudiencesMusic ConsumptionMusic ListeningMusic PerceptionMusic PreferenceEveryday Music ListeningMusic ChoiceMusic Consumer BehaviorMusic Consumption HabitsMusic In Everyday LifeMusic Listening PreferencesPatternsSampling
The study used experience sampling to examine how people encounter music in daily life. Participants received two random text prompts daily between 8:00 and 23:00 for a week and reported any music heard in the preceding two hours; analyses examined device use, music ratings, mood, and perceived consequences. Listeners predominantly used radio, MP3 players, and computers; public broadcast music was linked to lethargy while personal collections and input‑enabled devices were associated with contentment, motivation, and other positive effects, indicating that greater control over music technology leads to complex usage patterns and active consumption.
Utilizing the Experience Sampling Method, this research investigated how individuals encounter music in everyday life. Responding to two text messages sent at random times between 8:00 and 23:00 daily for one week, 177 participants completed self-reports online regarding their experience with any music heard within a two-hour period prior to receipt of the message. Overall, the radio, mobile MP3 players, and computers featured prominently. Detailed analyses revealed significant patterns in device usage based on time of day; ratings of the music in terms of choice, liking, arousal, and attention; mood; and the perceived consequences of the music. While feeling lethargic associated with recorded music broadcasted in public, in contrast personal music collections promoted contentment. Similarly, devices allowing for personal input were met with positive consequences, like motivation. The current findings imply that the greater control that technology affords leads to complex patterns of everyday music usage, and that listeners are active consumers rather than passive listeners.
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