CREDIT: LAUREN DIETRICH
It is time to stop hating on people's musical tastes because music preferences are completely subjective.

There is no winner in the argument about which type of music is the best. Whether it be electronic dance music (EDM) or jazz, music is a completely subjective thing. I am sure that many of you have been in a situation where you have argued with someone about how one artist is better than another or a particular genre requires more talent. However, music is art and people see it and hear it in completely different ways.

If you think about music the same as you think about food, you may understand my point more. For example, some people love cilantro and some people hate it or some people can tolerate spicy food whereas some think water is spicy. It is all based on your taste buds and food preferences are completely subjective. If you shift your focus to the sense of hearing, the same thing applies. Music is based on how an individual hears something and that changes on a person to person basis.

I have been a victim of many people slandering my taste in music and I have also been an offender of telling people their music is crap. In all reality, I do not have a music degree and neither do the people who are arguing with me. We have never been educated on what type of music requires the most talent or how different instruments and vocals work. We are really in no place to say we think a certain genre or artist is untalented because it is solely based on our opinion.

On the other end of the spectrum, those who are educated in music and work in the music industry do have the right to be opinionated about music. If a record label did not have opinions about what is good music, they would end up signing every aspiring artist who walked through their doors. They have the training to know which music will make it on the radio and they are the people who are delivering the variety of music we have the ability to listen to today.

Although I strongly believe that music is subjective, there are some things to keep in mind. For those struggling musicians who do not understand that no one likes their music, it may be time to stop trying to make a career out of it. Even though it is your passion and I commend people for chasing their dreams, you may want to keep it as a hobby instead of trying to find your claim to fame.

Next time you hear someone listening to music that you can’t stand, simply ask them to put headphones in because your nagging is more annoying than any genre of music out there.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.