Music Preferences across Different Socio-Economic Classes in Selected Urban and Sub Urban Areas of  Sri Lanka

Proceedings of ‏The 3rd International Conference on Research in Humanities and Social Sciences

Year: 2020

DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.33422/3rd.icrhs.2020.09.186

[Fulltex PDF]

Music Preferences across Different Socio-Economic Classes in Selected Urban and Sub Urban Areas of  Sri Lanka

B.I.L.M.Mendis, P.A.D.S Palihaderu, D.A.Satharasinghe, J.M. K. J. K. Premarathne, A.S. Dissanayake, H.Rajapakse, P.Karunanayaka, U.Senarath, W.Wijesuriya, and W.K.R.R.Dias

 

ABSTRACT: 

The preferences towards music have socio-psychological influences. Thus, this study was undertaken to investigate musical preferences across five different social classes; upper class, upper-middle-class, middle class, working-class and poor class in selected urban and suburban areas of Sri Lanka (N=75). The social classes were categorized according to the mean monthly national household income level of the Sri Lankans. Ten tracks representing the correspondent musical genres were selected namely: new age, romantic instrumental, gypsy music, jazz, folk, hip-hop, Indian classical, western classical, rock, and nature music. The preferences were evaluated using the frequency percentages of the most preferred track along with the mean scores of a 9 point hedonic scale. Moreover, the ART-ANOVA statistical test was conducted to determine the interactions between social classes and music preferences. The most preferred and mean of hedonic scale rated music genres in each class as upper class: jazz with 40%; 6.87(±2.00), upper middle class: nature music 33%; 7.20(±1.28), middle class: romantic instrumental 27%; 6.86 (±1.73), working-class: romantic instrumental 33%; 6.8 (±1.37), poor class: rock 40%; 6.53(±2.3), respectively. The interaction between social classes and genres was significant with a Pr(>F) value of 0.0036 (p<0.01). Despite the socio-economic status, the highest music preference was recorded as the romantic instrumental 23%; 7.02(±1.27) across all classes. The tonal and melodic elements of romantic instrumental genre may be the key fundamentals of music perception. Thus, the findings of this study warrant further studies in their music selection in the context, people across different socio-economic backgrounds.

Keywords: socio-economic background; musical preferences; genres; hedonic scale; music selection.