Audience1

AUDIENCE - why and how do you consume music?

How do you consume music?

Personally, I play music regularly throughout my day, either in the back ground of whatever I’m doing or to cheer myself up etc. I feel that having it in the background takes the boredom out of your activity be it homework, tidying up or driving home in the car. I play music through apple music o my phone, this is because it is easy to find the music I want, its portable and a lot cheaper than buying CD’s.

When? do you have a daily music routine? Is some music more suitable at a certain time of day than another?

The type of music I listen to is dependent on the mood I am in. Sad songs like ‘Someone like you – Adele’ I feel relate to my mood if I’m feeling sad, it makes you feel like you’re not alone. If I’m having a bad morning I also like to play music as I’m getting ready to go out, to cheer myself up. Plus every journey in the car I either have the radio on or my phone plugged in to keep myself focused whilst driving.

Where? clubs, bedroom, gigs, car?

I enjoy going to clubs to listen to music and have fun as the atmosphere is always positive and enjoyable. At my home, in the car and at school are another place I enjoy listening to music as it brightens up a dull moment.

Who with? do you share your music or is it an individual experience?

Me, my mum and my sister are all very close and have a similar interest in music. Because of this we have certain sentimental songs that we all enjoy listening to together. For instance, ‘Gone, Gone, gone – Phillip Phillips’ is a song that me and my sister connect to each other with and therefore when it’s played we always think of each other. Happy vibrant music always puts us in a good mood so we also listen to that all together. 

Why? What are the pleasures associated with music consumption? What does it offer the audience and what needs does it gratify?

Music can make you feel happy, sad, emotional, grateful and many other emotions which is why I like listening to it on a regular basis. It can cheer me up if I am in a bad mood, get me ready or hyped up for an even or make me concentrate if I’m revising or doing my homework. 

USES AND GRATIFICATIONS THEORY

Examples:

Personal Identification - when I used to get angry with my parents I used to blast songs that would express how I feel and that would make me feel better

Information - sometimes you learn something from a song? Oliver Cromwell by Monty Python taught me some history.

Entertainment - Madonna and her dance moves

Social Interaction - songs my friends and I would always request and dance to when we went out

For me:

Escapism - Sometimes happy really enjoyable songs make you feel like you’re living your life to the fullest. Especially when you’re driving along in your car with it on full volume as you feel as though you are the on performing the song. For example, ‘Without You – Avicii ft Rita Ora’

Create mood (romance, melancholy, upbeat) – Taylor Swifts old songs are based on romance and falling in love, they are really catchy and are great songs to sing along to if youre looking for an upbeat melody. ‘You Belong With Me – Taylor Swift’

Cheer you up - Personally I love really up beat happy songs that make you feel good about yourself. The songs that really make you want to sing to the top of your voice and just enjoy listening to the words…’Classic – MKTO’

Get you in the mood to go out - Songs that make you feel as if you’re perfect and can do anything as long as you have confidence. They set you in a good mind-set putting you in a good mood ‘Wild Thoughts – DJ Khalid, Rhianna and Bryson Tiller’

Add atmosphere to a gathering - Usually subtle back ground music that just takes away the awkward silence for instance Adele. 

Help you sleep - Quite songs that almost sound like a lullaby, usually heart break songs

Distraction - Good background music, I like it to have a beat as I can focus and keep on track with the beat ‘Like That – Bea Miller’ has a really nice tempo which isn’t too catchy.

Companionship - driving, travelling - my family and I are always going on weekends away and driving to and from everywhere with each other and we all like to listen to songs that are really up beat, catchy and that you can sing along too so that the journey doesn’t get boring.