Stereo stereotypes : a qualitative investigation outlining the stereotypes that individuals attribute to different types of music

Abstract

The aim of this research is to investigate the existence and the role of musical stereotypes in relation to different musical genres and the listeners of these musical genres. A focus group comprised of seven youth was carried out exploring the said topic. Thematic analysis was used as the method of data analysis. Relevant research indicated that music is used as a medium of message conveyance and how different music genres have specific stereotypes attributed to them. Five main themes were identified, appearance and music genres, age and music genres, lifestyle and music genres, linking musical genres to their attributes and discrimination in music. The results illustrate how musical stereotypes in fact do exist and how they do indeed have an influence on youth’s perspectives of different musical genres.