Diagnose

Unpacking Music Preferences Across Generations With Quilt.AI

Discourse

 👤

Client

🎯

Challenge

💡

Insight & Impact

Challenge

Understanding how music shapes generational identity

A leading music streaming platform sought to explore how music preferences and behaviors differ across generations, from Boomers to Gen Z. The objective was to uncover actionable insights into how music influences identity, emotions, and cultural connections, informing strategies for personalized engagement.

Approach

AI-powered analysis of music data across seven markets
Quilt.AI analyzed 8,397 top songs spanning 62 years, 40,000 rows of lyrics, and album artwork. Using AI-driven tools, the analysis focused on themes, emotions, and subcultures associated with music preferences across generations, including Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. This comprehensive approach uncovered how music reflects generational values and behaviors.

Impact

Enhancing listener engagement through generational insights
These insights enabled the streaming platform to refine its personalization strategies, curating playlists and features that resonate deeply with each generation’s unique values and preferences. By aligning content with generational identities, the platform is well-positioned to foster long-term user engagement.

Insights

Exploring generational music trends
Our analysis revealed three key insights shaping generational engagement with music:

  • Boomers – Optimism and Reflection: Lyrics from this era emphasize joy, peace, and social harmony, reflecting the cultural optimism of their youth, with favorites like Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles.
  • Gen X – Empowerment and Resilience: Known for their pragmatic outlook, Gen X resonates with empowering anthems like Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey, capturing their balance of work and play.
  • Gen Z – Raw Emotion and Individuality: Growing up amid global challenges, Gen Z’s music features themes of anger, empowerment, and authenticity, exemplified by tracks like Good 4 U by Olivia Rodrigo.

Quilt.AI’s expertise can guide your platform in tailoring content to multi-generational audiences. Contact us today to enhance your engagement strategies.

Sentiment

“If you have only daughters in the house, people will talk about it saying “these people don’t have a son, who will carry on the family name?”. Relatives and neighbors talk about it in a very negative way. They will not allow the parents to live in peace.”

Tweet from Nepal

“Actually daughters are fine as well, but a sense of security a safety can only be provided by a son, no?”

Tweet from China

Gen Z Next Door

This community minded segment enjoys a sense of belonging. As such, they care about how they are perceived by others, and try their hardest to fit in and uphold duties. They are most likely to follow trends and respect influential figures.

😎  Informality
👤 Individualism
🚀 Improvement

Idealists

Driven by a sense of purpose and responsibility, Idealists want to do good in the world. They put in the work to drive positive change and impact. However, there’s also an undertone of realism, as they know that action is limited.

👓  Ideology
🪞 Introspection
👤 Individualism

Explorers

Characterised by their expressiveness and independence, Explorers pride themselves on having a different approach or mindset to life. This includes spirituality enthusiasts, solo travelers, and freelancers, among others. They seek to live life on their own terms.

😎  Informality
👤 Individualism
🚀 Improvement

Forgers

This segment comprises of highly ambitious goal-getters. Their goals are not always conventional ones (i.e. graduating at the top of their class), but rather tend to be about finding their passion and excelling at it. They look for opportunities at every corner and strive to leave a lasting impression.

🪞 Introspection
🚀 Improvement
👓  Ideology

Signallers

Driven by a need to prove themselves to the world, signallers are hard-working and practical individuals. To them, success is about financial stability and external validation. As such, traditional status symbols are important to them.

📚 Information
👓  Ideology
🚀 Improvement

Passive Rebels

This passive segment are merely observers of the world: they don’t take things too seriously, they aren’t concerned with other people’s opinions on them, nor do they hold any strong opinions themselves. They are “here for a good time” and enjoy a nihilistic sense of humor.

📚 Information
🪞 Introspection
👤 Individualism

Orthodox Fanatics

Protective of traditions; Afraid of shame; Influenced by social norms.

🙅 Deniers

Natural Order Keepers

Protective of traditions; Afraid of shame; Influenced by social norms.

🙅 Deniers

Armchair Activists

Agrees with ideas of reducing meat intake when convenient.

😶 Passives

Early Eco-Switchers

Motivated by environmental challenges: making diet transitions.

💪 Actives

Animal Sympatizers

Believe in preservation of animal rights  and welfare

💪 Actives📢 Advocates

Holistic Seekers

Progressively incorporating lifestyle beliefs of wellness.

📢 Advocates

Top visuals

Top formats

Amazon RetroTron:
“Back in Time, Anytime”

💿

Amazon is launching a Gen Z offering that takes users back in time to explore and experience iconic moments or events of the Y2K era

🤖

This product will be an interactive Amazon Alexa skill, featuring content tailored based on user preferences and interests

🕹️

Through this trend, Amazon can provide customers with an immersive new product offering, as well as capitalize off the growing interest in retro-style products among Gen Zers

Airbnb Hustle Haven:
“Focus. Create. Succeed.”

💰

Airbnb is launching a Gen Z offering that celebrates the power of monetization

🌟

Highlighting inspiring stories of people
who have used Airbnb properties to achieve success

🎮

Could feature content creators, Roblox developers, and other individuals who have leveraged their side hustles while staying in an Airbnb property

✈️

Visuals should be evocative and captivating, portraying the potential of living life to its fullest while utilizing Airbnb's flexible and affordable options

Explore more...