Interesting article...there is a link at the end if you want to take part in the study.

Musical taste "defines personality" Fri Sep 5, 5:38 AM ET



Fans of classical music and jazz are creative, pop lovers are hardworking and, despite the stereotypes, heavy metal listeners are gentle, creative types who are at ease with themselves.

So says Professor Adrian North of Scotland's Heriot-Watt University who has been studying the links between people's personalities and their choice of music.

"People often define their sense of identity through their musical taste, wearing particular clothes, going to certain pubs, and using certain types of slang," North said.

"It's not surprising that personality should also be related to musical preference."

In what North said was the largest study ever conducted into individuals' musical preference and character, researchers asked 36,518 people from around the world to rate how much they liked 104 different musical styles before taking a personality test.

"Researchers have been showing for decades that fans of rock and rap are rebellious, and that fans of opera are wealthy and well-educated," North said.

"But this is the first time that research has shown that personality links to liking for a wide range of musical styles."

The study concluded that jazz and classical music fans are creative with good self-esteem, although the former are much more outgoing whereas the latter are shy.

Country and western fans were found to be hardworking and shy; rap fans are outgoing and indie lovers lack self-esteem and are not very gentle.

Those who like soul music can take heart as the research concluded they are creative, outgoing, gentle, at ease with themselves and have a high self-esteem.

And if you've ever wondered why people driving expensive sports cars often have music blaring from their vehicle, North could have an explanation.

Those who choose to listen to exciting, punchy music are more likely to be in a higher earning bracket, he says, while those who go for relaxing sounds tend to be lower down the pay scale.

North is still looking for volunteers to take part in the research. Details on http://www.peopleintomusic.com/

They described me perfectly (the soul fan).

I like all the music listed above except heavy metal, I can tolerate classical


where would I fit in?

muse87 said:

I have a similar problem, but you can take part in the study and maybe find out?

muse87 said:

Maybe it'll be an all-around thing: creative, nice, self-esteem, ya know? I hardly think it'll be bad.

Timmy84 said:

Dig the avatar btw: Freddie Mercury?

What about people who listen to just about everything?

COMPUTERBLUE1984 said:

Timmy84 said:

My alltime fave front man for my all time favorite band! I really like there pre synth stuff, but its all good.

COMPUTERBLUE1984 said:

The emo kids just got owned!
[Edited 9/6/08 13:49pm]

COMPUTERBLUE1984 said:

I SMELL BULLSHIT

Wowugotit said:

I smell an emo!

FuNkeNsteiN said:

meow85 said:

I was going to ask the same thing. As long as it sounds good to my ears I will listen to it.

FuNkeNsteiN said:

I dunno about that. What's referred to as "indie" usually doesn't cover emo. They're not the same genre at all.

COMPUTERBLUE1984 said:

True dat.

EmeraldSkies said:

Same here.

When I put my music on shuffle, I'll get combinations like Rage Against the Machine back to back with Backstreet Boys, after Chuck Berry, after Gustav Mahler, after The Moldy Peaches, after Public Enemy, after T-Rex, after Zappa, after Peaches.....etc.


I don't understand people who only dig one or two styles of music.

meow85 said:

I like the blues (of yesteryear and today), I like rock, I like soul, I like pop, I like funk, I like pre-late-'90s pop (1960-1995), I like disco, I like house, I like gospel, even classical music and heavy metal turns me on and jazz. And doo-wop.

I consider myself a jack of all trades though soul/R&B/funk and Motown are my main things, lol. Ya dig?

Timmy84 said:

Oh, everyone's got their favourites, but some people ONLY dig rock or punk or country or whatever. It's weird.

meow85 said:

I got ya, I was just stating.

meow85 said:

There really missing out,I know that!

EmeraldSkies said:

Especially thsoe that are hostile to other styles. How can a person write off an entire genre as crap?

interesting. I'm outgoing, but USED to be a HipHop Head. I now need Jazz in the car on long trips.

I think that's just me getting old!

COMPUTERBLUE1984 said:

that's all we get?

Cinnie said:

It seems that the study was a braod generalization based on who participated.

Most of the rap fans I know are across the board in their personalities. Outgoing in regards to being showy/flashy? More often than not from the people I know, it holds true.

FuNkeNsteiN said: