TY - JOUR
T1 - The Influence of Formats and Preferences on the Aesthetic Experience of Classical Music Concert Streams
AU - Wald-Fuhrmann, Melanie
AU - O’Neill, Katherine
AU - Weining, Christian
AU - Egermann, Hauke
AU - Tröndle, Martin
N1 - © 2023 American Psychological Association
PY - 2023/4/13
Y1 - 2023/4/13
N2 - Music is listened to in many different situational and media frames that can be expected to shape its experience. In this study, we were interested in the effects that different formats of audiovisual streaming of classical concerts can have on the aesthetic experience of their audience. We also investigated the effects of preferences for streaming features. A total of N =525 participants watched one of four chamber music concert streams and reported their expectations, appreciation, and experiences. Overall, participants liked the concerts and reported positive experiences. The immersive emotional and social dimensions of aesthetic experiences with music, however, were only rarely activated, showing the disadvantage of recorded as compared to live performances. Several experience dimensions were influenced by streaming format: a stream that allowed audience members to interact on a chat platform afforded a stronger social experience, but less concentration; while a stream that included an introductory talk led to a better understanding of the programming and increased feelings of melancholy. Effects of the preference for certain stream types were only found in the stream that most resembled a standard audiovisual concert broadcast but were leveled out in other stream formats explicitly designed to counterbalance known disadvantages of nonlive performances. From our study, we draw conclusions regarding the importance of an experimental approach to frame effects not only on the aesthetic experience of music but also on the future of concert streams as a new musical medium in its own (aesthetic) right.
AB - Music is listened to in many different situational and media frames that can be expected to shape its experience. In this study, we were interested in the effects that different formats of audiovisual streaming of classical concerts can have on the aesthetic experience of their audience. We also investigated the effects of preferences for streaming features. A total of N =525 participants watched one of four chamber music concert streams and reported their expectations, appreciation, and experiences. Overall, participants liked the concerts and reported positive experiences. The immersive emotional and social dimensions of aesthetic experiences with music, however, were only rarely activated, showing the disadvantage of recorded as compared to live performances. Several experience dimensions were influenced by streaming format: a stream that allowed audience members to interact on a chat platform afforded a stronger social experience, but less concentration; while a stream that included an introductory talk led to a better understanding of the programming and increased feelings of melancholy. Effects of the preference for certain stream types were only found in the stream that most resembled a standard audiovisual concert broadcast but were leveled out in other stream formats explicitly designed to counterbalance known disadvantages of nonlive performances. From our study, we draw conclusions regarding the importance of an experimental approach to frame effects not only on the aesthetic experience of music but also on the future of concert streams as a new musical medium in its own (aesthetic) right.
KW - aesthetic experience
KW - classical concert
KW - liveness
KW - music streaming
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85158878047&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1037/aca0000560
DO - 10.1037/aca0000560
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85158878047
SN - 1931-3896
JO - Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts
JF - Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts
ER -