Why do we have different music tastes?
Music is universally beloved. Why are our tastes in music so different? The reasons include biology, psychology, culture, and personal experience.
One of the main factors that determine one’s musical taste is genetics. Everyone is predisposed to preferring certain sounds over others. Preferences for heavy beats, slow rhythms, or melodic noises are all wired into our brains. The brain releases dopamine when listening to music, people who are more sensitive to dopamine are more likely to prefer emotional music that triggers the release of it. Examples are classical music, romantic music, and dramatic music.
Many people find solace in their favorite songs, using them to wind down or bring up their mood. Music serves both as a powerful means of regulating emotions, and a way to express individuality. Studies show that music taste is directly related to personality and disposition. According to VerywellMind, (Cherry) People, “Those high in extraversion were more likely to enjoy genres like country and folk music”. The article also noted that people who scored highly in openness as a personality trait preferred experimental music and jazz. The study further suggested that “people tended to prefer music created by people with personalities similar to their own.”
Culture also influences musical taste. The genres one is exposed to in childhood, the meanings and values attached to the music. Music is often linked to social identity. People select songs or genres that identify them culturally, through family tradition, or within peer groups. Nostalgia plays an important role for us when listening to music. We often link emotional memories to sounds. Hearing songs from childhood can cause us to feel sentimental, leading us to prefer those sounds. Pop culture helps us expand our musical tastes by introducing us to new and upcoming artists every day. Social movements and current events shift our worldviews and change our music tastes to better fit in with broader society.
Music is not only important for individual development but also for building interpersonal connections. Friendships may form over having similar tastes in music, music tastes may be influenced by friends themselves. Music brings all people together and is an important part of entertainment and social life. Music has long been a way to align yourself with a certain set of values, a good example of this would be the “Riot grrrl” punk genre that emerged in the early 90’s, which advocated for women’s rights and feminism. In this way, music becomes a way to belong as much as having a certain fashion style might.
In recent years, increasingly advanced technology has allowed us to explore many different genres of music. This has helped build our personalities and preferences, allowing us to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Whatever reason you might prefer some music over another, be it genetics, nostalgia, personality, or culture, music is a wonderful tool that improves our lives every day.
Sources:
Bishop, D. (2025, February 6). Why do people have different tastes in music? A music education expert explains why some songs are universally liked while others aren’t. The Conversation.https://theconversation.com/why-do-people-have-different-tastes-in-music-a-music-education-expert-explains-why-some-songs-are-universally-liked-while-others-arent-216859
Harris, C. (2020, February 14). Musicologist explains the science behind your taste in music. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/better/lifestyle/musicologist-explains-science-behind-your-taste-music-ncna1018336
Pappalardo, L. (2019, May 3). Riot grrrl: A playlist that defined the feminist punk movement. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/05/03/arts/music/riot-grrrl-playlist.html
Cherry, K. (2020, September 23). How music affects your personality and emotions. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/music-and-personality-2795424