Researching Music
Author: Hannah Turner | Major: Marketing, Supply Chain Management | Semester: Fall 2024
Music has been a central part of my life for as long as I can remember. Growing up, my parents always had music playing—whether it was during long car rides, lazy Sunday mornings, or family celebrations. Their love for music became the foundation of my own appreciation and curiosity. Over time, I found myself wondering why certain songs resonate so deeply and how our musical tastes are shaped. As someone who dreams of working in the music business, this topic felt like a perfect blend of my passions and aspirations. I am especially fascinated by how our preferences evolve over time, influenced by our upbringing, experiences, and even societal trends. This curiosity led me to explore the cross-generational aspects of music: how tastes are formed, the roles music plays in our lives, and the emotional connections we develop to certain artists or genres. It is not just about the songs we like but the deeper question of why we like them.
Every great research project starts with a strong support system, and I was fortunate to find mine in Dr. Molly Rapert. I first met her during my study abroad experience at CIMBA in Italy, where I took one of her classes. From the beginning, her teaching style stood out to me—engaging, thoughtful, and always encouraging students to think beyond the surface. When we initially spoke about my thesis, she not only agreed to mentor me but also became a pivotal figure in my academic and personal life. Over time, she has guided me not just as a mentor but as a friend, helping me stay organized, focused, and inspired. Her own experiences with music have also added depth to my research, offering insights I might not have considered otherwise.
Delving into this research has been an eye-opening journey. I have come to appreciate just how much of my own musical preferences are tied to my upbringing. My parents’ love for music shaped my tastes in ways I had not fully realized before. It is fascinating to see how music can create a sense of nostalgia, anchoring us to specific memories or phases of life. On a broader level, I have learned how the music industry faces ongoing challenges in staying relevant. With each generation, tastes shift due to cultural, technological, and emotional factors. Nostalgia plays a significant role, with older generations clinging to music from their formative years while newer generations constantly seek fresh, innovative sounds. This delicate balance creates opportunities and challenges for the industry as it tries to cater to a diverse audience. Personally, I have discovered that music is not just a source of entertainment for me—it’s a lens through which I view the world. This research has deepened my appreciation for the emotional power of music and its ability to connect people across time and space.
One of the biggest challenges I faced during this research was the lack of definitive answers to some of my questions. Music taste is incredibly personal, and even researchers in the field often have conflicting hypotheses about how preferences are formed. For example, while one study might suggest that musical tastes are predominantly shaped during adolescence, another might highlight the impact of childhood exposure or cultural influences. This ambiguity was initially frustrating because I wanted clear, concrete answers. However, I realized that the subjective nature of music is precisely what makes it so fascinating. To address these challenges, I leaned on my own experiences to help fill in the gaps. I also made a point to include every perspective I encountered, even if they contradict one another. Presenting multiple viewpoints allowed me to approach the topic from every angle and embrace the complexity of the subject. I also had to remind myself that music is deeply personal, and there will always be nuances and variations in how people perceive and experience it. Accepting this reality helped me focus on creating a well-rounded analysis rather than striving for a single, definitive answer.
Dr. Rapert has been instrumental throughout this process. She has not only provided academic guidance but has also shared valuable resources, such as articles and studies that have helped me build a strong foundation for my research. Additionally, her personal stories about how music shaped her own life have enriched my understanding of the topic. She has also helped me stay on track—something I have struggled with as a natural procrastinator (though I am working on it!). Her ability to balance encouragement with accountability has been exactly what I needed to push through challenges and stay motivated. Beyond my mentor, I have gained incredible insight from friends and fellow students. Their perspectives on how their own musical tastes have been shaped added a personal dimension to my research. Each story and opinion helped me see the diversity in how people experience music, which has been invaluable for my study.
As I move forward, my next step is to administer a survey to gather more data and insights for my thesis. This will help me explore broader patterns and trends in how people form their musical preferences. I am excited to see how this next phase of research will unfold and how it will shape my final conclusions. Ultimately, this project has reaffirmed my dream of working in the music industry. Whether it is through marketing, operations, or another role, I am eager to be part of an industry that brings so much joy and meaning to people’s lives. This research has been a labor of love, and I can not wait to see where it takes me next.