The effect of authenticity in music on the subjective theories and aesthetical evaluation of listeners: A randomized experiment

Abstract

This study evaluates the influence of cultural and personal aspects of authenticity on the cognitive elaboration of music. Cognitive elaboration of music is comprised of a recipient’s subjective theories about and aesthetical evaluation of (a piece of) music. Subjective theories are based on information from different sources including oneself and the media. They can, for example, be used to explain the liking and perceived aesthetics of a piece of music. We suggest a theoretical model of the positive effects of authenticity on subjective theories and aesthetical evaluation. The model was tested in an online experiment with a randomized 2 × 2 between-subjects design, with cultural authenticity (high vs. low) and personal authenticity (high vs. low) as experimental factors. The levels of authenticity were manipulated in three musical excerpts and musicians’ images induced through album reviews of fictitious bands. Cognitive elaboration was measured by number of ideas related to the music whereas aesthetical evaluation of the music was measured by ratings of liking of the music. A sample of 492 subjects participated. Results indicate a positive effect of cultural authenticity on the function- and affect-based aspect of aesthetical evaluation. The data did not support a positive effect of authenticity on subjective theories.