Music is everywhere. Music exists throughout Rio streets and Kyoto temples and Berlin clubs and Lagos kitchens. Music exists as a universal language yet people experience listening to music through deeply individual and culturally distinct methods.

The following blog series examines the auditory customs which people use to listen to music throughout the world. People worldwide use music to form connections through their practices of vinyl bar activities in Tokyo and cassette-swapping in Nairobi as well as Gen Z YouTube lo-fi streams and grandparents listening to jazz records on Sundays.

Listening Rituals in Everyday Life

Listening rituals exist beyond grand ceremonies and dramatic events. These daily rituals exist as unobtrusive regular behaviors which people perform as part of their daily routines.

A parent humming while preparing breakfast. A student connects their earbuds to their walking route. A retiree turns on his preferred radio show at the same time each day. Our lives are accompanied by tiny rituals which serve as both time markers and emotional indicators.

Anthropologists have observed that repetition generates meaning and music repetition generates emotional rhythms. The brief actions of rewinding cassettes and tapping "like" on songs together establish patterns that follow ritual structures.

Listening transforms into a storytelling method which serves both personal and collective purposes.

Want to learn more? The following resources examine music and ritual from different viewpoints:

Explore Insights for Aspiring Musicians on the Impact of Music on Ritual Experience here.

The Guardian examines how rhythm transforms our daily existence.

The series begins by recognizing that every listening experience regardless of size possesses importance before it examines both large and small listening traditions.

Why Listening Rituals Matter

The eventful nature of listening before streaming became widespread has faded into memory through our reliance on algorithmic playlists. A ritual. The moment exists as a period of tranquility or happiness or interpersonal bond.

Some people light candles and sit in silence with a record.
The act of music performance occurs through balcony broadcasts which reach out to neighbours.
Some listeners build specific song collections according to their emotions but other people prefer the surprise of radio broadcasts.
These customs convey information about musical experiences while simultaneously revealing personal histories and cultural backgrounds.

Listening and Identity

The way we listen to music together with our musical choices determines our personal identity.

Our musical preferences develop into emotional imprints through the lullabies we hear in childhood and the first song that makes us cry. Our musical preferences contain the sounds of our past experiences together with the people we have loved and our personal development. Music genres serve as lifelong companions for some people but musical identity changes as individuals grow older and experience different places and life events.

The personal changes in life find expression through the development of listening rituals. A person starts their day with devotional music before switching to electronic ambient sounds at the end of their day. A particular artist holds special meaning for one person because of their relationship or particular life stage. Our sonic choices throughout time create a map of our developing identities.

Ethnomusicologists explain that music functions as an instrument which helps people build their personal identity. People use repeated musical choices to explore their gender identity and cultural background and memories and future aspirations.

Suggested reading:

How Music Shapes Our Identity and Why It is Important

The Role of Music in Personal Development 

Throughout this series we ask you to study worldwide listening patterns while examining your personal listening habits. Your daily music choices reveal your personality to others.

What to Expect in This Series

The following weeks will present the following information:

• Listening across continents – How different cultures experience music

• Generational habits – From boomers to Gen Z, how listening has evolved

• Personal rituals – The quiet, quirky, and sacred ways people listen

• Communal experiences – Music as a shared language in festivals, homes, and streets 

• Your stories – A global diary of listening, curated from readers like you

Share Your Ritual

Are there any special methods through which you listen to music? A memory tied to a mixtape, a family tradition, or a favorite listening spot?

We’d love to hear from you.
Comment below to share your listening ritual.
Tag us on social media platforms with the hashtag #ListeningRituals

Stay Tuned
Next we will embark on an exploration of music listening practices in Tokyo, Accra, Berlin, and Bogotá across various cultural backgrounds. Read here.

Until then, take a moment. Put on a song you love. And just listen.