Music Across America
Music can be defined as "an art of sound in time that expresses ideas and emotions in significant forms through the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, and color"(dictionary.com). Researchers have studied the roles of music in our lives from its connections to our personalities, age, and also our geography. "Across
all but five music genres, adults residing in urban areas are more likely to
report a preference for a given genre than their counterparts in rural areas.
In two cases (country and gospel music), fans are more likely to reside in
rural areas. In three other cases, the urban city is not associated with music
preference (bluegrass, folk, and heavy metal). For some genres, there are
strong regional associations. Adults living in the South are more likely to
report a preference for hymns/gospel than any other region. The same is true of
musicals/operetta music in the Northeast, and jazz in the West" (McLoughlin, 2009).
In this blog, we explore the idea that where you live affects what you listen to. We approach the four major regions, the Northeastern, Southern, Midwestern, and Western Regions of the United States, and bring together previous knowledge to explain the preferences of millions.
Below there are links to other websites that show the musical diversity across America.
