What Impact Does Socioeconomics and Geographic free essay sample

Reana Brethen What impact does socioeconomics and geographic exposure have on musical preference? Music is derived from person’s roots and their history of said parties. Music evolves at the same fast paced rate as society and is typically influenced from previous genres. Music in specific geographical locations and socioeconomic environments are mostly created based on surrounding issues and hardships that face the parties involved. Many factors effect what musical preferences people enjoy such as ethnicity, background, the areas they reside within and basic income. There is a wide variety in types of music in different geographical locations. For instance, African music has had a long journey. The beat of the music that tribes created travelled with the Africans when sailing over to America. Eventually, reggae evolved in the Caribbean. In later years, African Americans started singing revolutionized versions of their previous music (Bebey 83). Using the beats of their ancestors, they eventually created gospel, blues, jazz, and etcetera. Even these genres would later branch off and evolve into more contemporary genres such as hip hop and rock n’ roll. Bebey) Other cultures also have their own music which have also evolved through time. The change seen in music can be attributed to the surrounding influences based on the creator’s musical preferences mixed with the influences of their socioeconomics environment as well as their geographical location. An individual growing up in a home with no support of a guardian and they must learn to be independent and they use music as an outlet due to the lack of no one to confide in. On the other hand, an individual who grows up in a stable home where they receive attention and may learn to be independent over time may use music to express themselves rather than the individual who uses music as an outlet. These two examples are composed of completely different surroundings of how music preference can be formed. From these two types of examples, one may develop an idea of which social class those persons may reside in. In the United States, people have created stereotypes for the social classes which exist within the country. In the United States, there are three major social classes: lower, middle and upper. The lower class has little education and the individuals live in poverty. Many associate this class to listen to rap, heavy metal and country. Whether it is a viable part in what musical genres people are involved with, they listen to music and the lyrics which express what their feelings are towards life. A stereo-type for people who work in the lower class are listening to various genres that express the anger that can be created through poor living conditions and unrewarding hard work. Rap and metal are two genres that are known to portray anger well. Some African American neighborhoods, that are considered the government’s property, have more rap music than any other area. Another example resides within the prominent whites who live in trailer parks. For these low income workers, they are considered to listen to heavy metal or country (Emmison 217). The music can be used as an escape from life and can radically change the mood of an individual. Music is also easily accessible and can be created with no basic formula. Music can be shaped and changed at ones will. Compositions of music can also be used to temporarily escape negative situations and channel energy and emotions. Whether that just be a part of their culture or whether it be something to do with their low income and their moods. This is one reason it is believed that some of the most talented musicians have troubled backgrounds. (Emmison) The middle class is considered to be eclectic. They listen to all types of music which includes rap, punk, country, electronic, pop, gospel, hip hop, blues, jazz, indie-rock, dubstep etcetera (Borthwick 156). This may be due primarily to the fact that the middle class encompasses the largest percentage of the American population. Middle class people generally are happy since they receive some rewarding attributes in their lives while the lower class usually receives none. The middle class is more likely to reside in the urban and suburban areas of North America. Another reason this is that the middle class may spend their money in different ways than the other social classes. They may spend more towards items such as expensive cars and other items instead of living conditions. For this reason, some in the middle class may still live in lower class conditions and thus they will primarily listen to music associated with that of the lower class. This can be seen in a very specific study created by Adrian North and David Hargreaves. Part of the study was to include the way people spent their money. It indicates that within the middle class, those that spent their money more responsibly listened to similar music to that of the upper class. This group of people is distinguished from the â€Å"less responsible† group primarily based on how they regularly paid off credit card bills each month. They were generally interested in opera, musicals and classical music. The group that did not pay bills and credit cards off on time as frequently associated more with the music of the lower class. Their preferred genres were DJ based music as well as hip hop and rap (North 481-483). These findings state that although money may affect musical preferences, the lifestyle led by the people within each group has one immense effect upon their preferences as well. (Borthwick) (North) As for the upper class, they are considered to listen to sophisticated music such as classical, musicals and operettas. During the eighteenth century, the aristocrats or the upper class, would attend the well known Mozart and Beethoven symphonies (Emmison 219). Unlike the lower class or middle class that live with less money, the upper class have either had their money handed to them from family members or have earned their money through a high college degree. (Emmison) In the U. S. A. , many people set stereotypes of musical preference with their social class. For example, lower income listen to rap, heavy metal or country, middle class people are eclectic and enjoy many types of music and the upper class enjoys musicals, operas, and classical music. These assumptions can be based off race. However, a study was conducted and stated that income is rarely associated with music preference. The study slims the stereotypes wrong. Yet it does not mean that most people in these classes do not listen to the types of music people associate them with such as blue grass, country, and hymns/gospel, parade, and rap/hip hop are all genres associated with the lower and middle class. (Mizell) Many people believed in the set and stone stereotypes of musical preferences and how they relate to social classes. However, in the study above, those stereotypes were slimmed down. Emmison stated that education was more influential than just the original stereotypes that individuals have created. â€Å"Manual workers and professionals may not like the same types of music†¦more highbrow in the case of professionals, more lowbrow in the case of workers† (Emmison 214). In North’s study, the relationship between employment status and music preferences was also studied. Here, the relationship between music preference and age can be indirectly linked and explained. People that enjoy rock, jazz, and pop were found to likely be employed. People that prefer the genres of opera, country, and classical music were mostly likely retired. Social status and age seem to be the largest determinates of how to associate a certain individual with a specific genre or group of genres. This is based mostly on how easily accessible certain types of music may be. Those in the upper class are more likely to be exposed to genres such as opera and classical genres due to their ability to be able to spend money on attending its performance. The lower classes listen to the types of music that are prevalent on radio stations and may thrive within their area. The middle classes are the most difficult to associate with any brand of music because they are mostly eclectic and enjoy such a broad array of musical genres and artists. People of all ages have grown up listening to different types of music. In the contemporary era, most teens listen to rap, hip hop and other popular music while the people from the seventies will most likely listen to bands such as The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and Grand Funk Railroad. Music is derived from different backgrounds of several cultures around the world. Music preferences are based off one’s social class and geographic location.