Pop Music Subcultures and Wellbeing

Abstract

This chapter focuses on whether pop music subcultures promote self-harming and other factors related to delinquency. Put simply, it considers whether listening to certain forms of pop music is related to a range of behaviours that society deems undesirable. It begins by briefly describing some of the instances where pop music has caused public outrage around the world. From here, it addresses whether there is a relationship between delinquency and an interest particularly in rap and rock music, before briefly noting how an interest in these musical styles is also associated with the commission by young fans of a range of other undesirable behaviours. The chapter then considers another possible consequence of musical taste that, in addition to delinquency, has also caused grave concern, namely self-harming and suicide. Finally, it addresses whether adolescents can accurately comprehend pop music lyrics, and whether pop music should be censored.