Question: Are you studying all genres of music, or a limited amount?

Steven Brown answered on 14 Jun 2017:

This is an interesting one. Recent research has successfully managed to reduce discussion of genre down to the features of particular styles, based on how they make us feel. It’s not about ‘rock’ or ‘hip-hop’, it’s about ‘arousal’ – how stimulating we find it, etc.

And you can sort of see this nowadays with music being marketed as ‘chill out’ music etc. It’s more about how music makes us feel which determines what we choose to listen to.

Importantly, for health research, we know that it is choice that counts – it’s not listening to calm, quiet music or anything to make you calm, it’s simply that you chose to listen to it. It could be really loud angry metal music! It does not matter. It’s that you chose to listen to it. This helps people manage their moods, control back pain, reduce anxiety waiting in strange hospitals, etc.

Technology has allowed us to choose what music to hear, and we now use this control to help us manage our way in the world. Amazing!