Classical music and heavy metal fans might not be different after all. New research by scientists at Heriot-Watt University has found that not only are peoples' personalities linked to their taste in music – classical and heavy metal listeners often have very similar dispositions.
"The general public has held a stereotype of heavy metal fans being suicidally depressed and a danger to themselves and society in general," explained Adrian North, the professor who led the study. "But they are quite delicate things."
Metal fans, like classical listeners, tend to be creative, gentle people, at ease with themselves. "We think the answer is that both types of music, classical and heavy metal, have something of the spiritual about them — they're very dramatic — a lot happens," North said to the BBC.
As part of North's study, researchers at Heriot-Watt University, outside Edinburgh, spoke to 36,000 people from six different countries. They found that music listeners had more in common with fans of the same music than with fellow citizens who listened to different styles of music.
Researchers also found a link between income bracket and musical tastes, with lower income music-listeners enjoying relaxing music while wealthier people preferred exciting, punchy tunes.
The study provides a wealth of new stereotypes. Jazz fans are creative and extrovert with high self-esteem, researchers said. Fans of country music are, on the other hand, introverted but hard working. Rap fans are outgoing and occasionally rough, and soul lovers are creative, outgoing, gentle, confident and at ease with themselves. In other words, they sound like good lovers.
As for fans of indie music, North's study found they lacked both self-esteem and a work ethic. Good to know they have us pegged.