I literally cannot wait for the holidays to come, and one of the reasons is my Spotify Wrapped, giving me the music statistics I need to confidently walk into the new year. And it’s not just Spotify. Companies such as Apple Music, or Pandora have taken an interest to find out what music people listen to and turned it into a strategy to map out and serve similar music.
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Researchers from the University of Groningen found that ‘listening to particularly happy or sad music can even change the way we perceive the world.’ According to the same research:
Music has an even more dramatic effect on perception: even if there is nothing to see, people sometimes still see happy faces when they are listening to happy music and sad faces when they are listening to sad music.
But why do we listen to music?
Because we like it
Simple as that. Listening to pleasurable music activates the reward centre of our brains and thus releases pleasurable hormones in our bodies. The same hormones that are released from sex, drugs, and food, are also released when we listen to enjoyable music.
Because it affects our mood
For better or for worse, sometimes. Music helps us escape or re-live our reality. Music is a powerful emotional trigger. Certain music can help us relax in the sense that brain waves synchronize with the rhythm of a song.
Because it helps us ‘time travel’
As said earlier, music is a powerful trigger for memories, including nostalgia. A certain song can easily take us back to a certain time or life event that usually manifests with strong emotions. The music in itself does not bring emotions, but it helps trigger the memory which reminds us.
Because it is a *vibe*
A car ride looking out of the window would just be a car ride, whereas a car ride with music could make us feel like we are the main character of a movie. We live for the vibes.
Because it is who we are
It is common knowledge that people like to express who they are and what values do they represent by sharing the music they listen to.
No matter why we listen to the music we do, we have to admit: music is a powerful tool that unites us, regardless of sex, gender, ability, colour, or belief.
Sources used:
ScienceDaily: Music changes perception, research shows
Read more:
⋙ Your dog prefers classical music to the sound of human voices in audiobooks, study finds
