Social Justice Cultural Divide Persists as Musical Tastes Shift New research from Britain finds music lovers are increasingly crossing genres, but they remain divided in their tastes. Tom Jacobs
Social Justice Musicians Hear Better Into Old Age Canadian researchers find playing a musical instrument delays the onset of age-related hearing decline. Tom Jacobs
Social Justice Visual Cues Impact Judgment of Piano Performances When it comes to classical pianists like Yuja Wang, what you see influences what you hear. Tom Jacobs
Environment The Exploitation of Muggles in Harry Potter’s World In this edition of The Cocktail Napkin, we look academics' fixation on the social and economic problems in the world of Harry Potter, and how music festivals impact the psychological and social well-being. Matt Palmquist
Social Justice Sensory Deprivation Boosts Musicians’ Skill Level Canadian researchers report floating in an isolation tank increased the technical skill level of young jazz players. Tom Jacobs
Social Justice Song Lyrics Reflect Our Narcissistic Age New research finds a shift in emphasis in pop song lyrics over the decades, from “we” to “me.” Tom Jacobs
Economics Marching to the Beat of A Different Drum Major In hunting for leadership potential, you might make sweet music by looking at marching bands — or at least the examples good ones set. Ritch K. Eich
Social Justice Classical Music Linked to High Intelligence An evolutionary theorist provides evidence that intelligent individuals are more likely to enjoy purely instrumental music. Tom Jacobs
Economics Song Lyrics, Twitter Help Chart Public Mood Trying to divine the mood of a group of people is hard and requires trust in their answers. A new method has researchers whistling a happier tune. Michael Haederle
Economics Putting Sustainability to Music Artists and industry insiders discuss how to make music green, both for fans and businesses. Michael Todd