14 DAY TRIAL // Now, we all know we choose our music to suit our personality and the mood we're in. Interestingly, a recent study in the journal Canadian Review of Sociology proposes that our taste in music also speaks loads about our social class.
The study, authored by researcher Gerry Veenstra at the University of British Columbia, argues that, as a general rule, upper class people enjoy other musical genres than lower class individuals.
True, there are exceptions to such generalizations that sociologists have made it a habit to posit. Even so, specialist Gerry Veenstra insists his claims are spot on. “Class filters into specific likes and dislikes,” he said in a statement.
Documenting how class influences musical taste
As part of his investigation into how social class correlates with musical likes and dislikes, University of British Columbia researcher Gerry Veenstra carried out about 1,600 telephone interviews and questioned people about their taste in music.
Specifically, the telephone interviews focused on what the nearly 1,600 study participants thought of 21 musical genres. Naturally, Gerry Veenstra was also interested in these people's social and educational background.
To make sure no variable would remain unaccounted for, the specialist also questioned the study participants about their age, their gender, their ethnicity and immigrant status, all known to shape musical taste.
Here's which musical genres correlate with which class
The scientist says that, once he was done compiling and analyzing all the data gathered while chit-chatting with people on the phone, he found that guys and gals in the upper class typically listen to rock, reggae, pop, opera and classical.
People in the lower class, on the other hand, appear to enjoy country, easy listening, disco, heavy metal, rap and golden oldies, the University of British Columbia sociologist argues. Still, both classes showed a clear interest in jazz.
“What upper class people like is disliked by the lower class, and vice versa,” Gerry Veenstra commented on the outcome of his investigation in an interview.