Just like the Olathe North student body, music taste is diverse. Today, students listen to a wide variety of music, all in different ways and places. A small group of students were surveyed about their music preferences, such as their favorite genres, and even if music helps them study. Also included are the most popular artists among students!

The abundance of streaming services and popularity of different musical artists in culture proves that music plays a central part in lives of everyday people. Most might not realize it, but any significant event in life often has a song, album, or musical artist associated with it.

People are constantly bombarded by music through commercials, movies, and other forms of media. Throughout the past, teenagers have held great influence over the music industry, as they are the group who listens to the largest variety and amount of music when compared to other age groups.

Young people are also usually one of the largest demographics at any concert. In Ticketmaster’s 2014 U.S. Live Event Attendee Study, Baby Boomers made up 22 percent of concertgoers, while millennials accounted for 35 percent. The middle-aged made up 43 percent, causing this age group to be the main financial support for most musical artists, with millennials right behind them. Since music is so important to young people, most allow what they listen to define who they are, and they often surround themselves with people who find the same music appealing.

Due to music’s prevalence within society and especially among young people, a survey was conducted among Olathe North students regarding how they listen to music and who they choose to listen to, among other questions. Most students listen to their music through streaming services such as Spotify or Apple Music. Methods of listening to music have become quite innovative over the last few years, and teens have kept up with the diverse mediums. However, some mediums such as vinyl have experienced a revival over the last few years, which was also reflected in our survey. Pop remains the top genre among teens, explaining why “pop” is abbreviated for “popular music”. Nevertheless, rap and alternative music were close in popularity, validating the range in students’ music preferences.

What was most notable, however, is that 90% of those surveyed listen to music every single day. This reveals that for most teenagers, the music they listen to becomes a part of who they are. No matter the streaming service or genre teens choose, music is and will continue to be.