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Issue Date: May 5, 2002
Annual Teen Survey Results: Music
Nearly 60,000 teens responded to our poll in the magazine, at our Web site and through this year's partner, MuchMusic USA -- and the role music plays in their lives clearly has never been more important.
"Our generation is diverse, and that's reflected by our tastes"
--Mandy Moore
Our survey partner, MuchMusic USA, is the nation's only viewer-driven all-music TV network, featuring videos and live concerts in an all-music-all-the-time format. Learn more at mmusa.tv.
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Singer-actress Mandy Moore looks at the results and gives her spin
I believe all of my music comes from me -- even if I'm singing a song I didn't write. That's why music is so important to young people -- more than movies, more than TV. When a song connects with the key and tempo of a young person's life, there's a special meaning there that lasts. On my most recent album, I wrote the song "When I Talk to You" about the ups and downs of friendships. Teens can relate to that. And now, as I continue to grow up, I want my music to progress and appeal to young people as they get older and more mature.
Our generation is very diverse, and that's reflected by our musical tastes. No single musical style defines what we like. We have pop, hip-hop and rock reigning on the radio. That diversity unifies teens more than it divides us. We can look back and appreciate a wide variety of influences from the past who are making an impression on artists today.
That's backed up by the survey results, which show 45% of teens frequently or occasionally borrow their parents' CDs to listen to. I grew up listening to show tunes, and today I can get inspired by an album even if it's 25 years old; I'll look to emulate its guitar sound or vocal effect. The more I listen, the more I'm inspired to write. Last year, I went through a Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, Jeff Buckley and even Lynyrd Skynyrd phase. Alicia Keys and Norah Jones are now on rotation in my iPod. That makes my music more rounded, just as teens listening to these artists are widening their musical perspectives.
Hip-hop is still hot
When it comes to the lyrics, I think some of the music teenagers listen to gets a bad rap. Some lyrics take on a new meaning because of the style of music that accompanies them. When students were asked which type of music they would listen to exclusively if they had to pick only one, 27% chose hip-hop/ rap. Kids are attracted to hip-hop and rap because of the infectious beats and contagious melodies. It's the cool thing to listen to. There are a lot of political discussions in those songs, too, and whether or not they agree with them, rap and hip-hop give teens an understanding that those issues exist. It's a forum for artists and teens.
Content, advisory stickers and downloads
The survey says 45% of teens do not believe that these songs contribute to violent behavior, and I agree. When violent acts happen and music is blamed, I tend to believe the music is just a scapegoat for the underlying cause. I'm not a big fan of the sexual content, though. It doesn't fit in with the music. That's why I absolutely agree with using parental advisory stickers. Artists have a responsibility to realize how people perceive their music. Artistic expression is great, but sometimes people overstep the boundaries of good taste.
More than half the teens surveyed, 54%, see nothing wrong with downloading music off the Internet. You may be surprised, but artists also have mixed feelings on the subject. People who wouldn't listen to top-40 radio may stumble upon my music online and discover they like it. I can reach a larger audience that way. But when a teen downloads or burns an entire CD for everyone in his class, that's going way too far. It's beyond unfair. I don't have an answer for this dilemma, though. Does anyone?
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Our teens speak out
When it comes to music, our guest editors and other prize winners all have definite opinions.
USA WEEKEND Magazine gives away prizes each year to readers who take our teen survey. This year we selected two guest editors, Kelly Williams, 18, a senior at Junction City High School in Milford, Kan., and José Villegas, 17, a senior at Valley High in Albuquerque, to spend two days in our McLean, Va., offices reviewing surveys and interviewing fellow teens. Maggie Peterson, an 11th-grader from Cambridge, Minn., won our special concert package, a limousine trip with friends to dinner and a concert sponsored by MuchMusic USA. And ninth-grader Kacie Doran of Deltona, Fla., won a computer package, including a webcam and an MP3 player.
Cub reporters Kelly and José, both avid music listeners, admit to being influenced by hip-hop and pop music. "I think we are all affected by the music we listen to," José says. He plays the violin and drums and likes the rock-rap group Rage Against the Machine. And he expects a techno or disco comeback soon. Kelly, on the other hand, is a die-hard Blink 182 fan, but she also enjoys the flow of artists such as Trick Daddy, Linkin Park and Sum 41. "I like a lot of different stuff, like rap and rock," she says. As they interviewed their fellow survey-takers, our guest editors found they, too, like to listen to a mix of everything.
Contest winner Maggie, 17, insists the music you listen to reflects your personality. As popular as Britney Spears is, Maggie says, "I don't like her. She's not a good role model, because she's degrading to women." Maggie prefers hard rock and believes the sounds of Janis Joplin, Pink Floyd and American Head Charge say a lot about her: "It says I listen to cool music!"
Our other winner, 15-year-old Kacie -- a punk-rock fan (think New Found Glory and Good Charlotte) -- disagrees. "People think that if you listen to rap or punk you're not a good person. But that's not true. That's really dumb to base who you are on music and your outlook from what you listen to."
Cody Pogale, a sixth-grader in Kasson, Minn., enjoys whatever sounds good. He'll listen to "just about anything. Right now I have Kid Rock's "Cocky" in my CD player." And eighth-grader Laura Stevens of Portageville, Mo., enjoys Christian artists such as Rachael Lampa and Point of Grace. "I don't like listening to pop," she says, "when I can be listening to Christian music and getting encouragement from it."
-- Tameka L. Hicks
Illustration above by Charlene Potts for USA WEEKEND
Also:
 Full results: breakout of survey questions
Educators: Classroom guides
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