SPECIAL EPISODE: Music is...

This special edition of Poll Hub represents a break from our past 299 episodes, not only because our student producers researched and wrote it all, but also because we focus on a single topic. We have special segments on earworms, one-hit wonders, and Americans' view of rock music, plus all this:

We start with "Why music?" How did a podcast that covers public opinion and survey science end up with a special episode on music?

Then, we explore the correlation between a person’s age when a song is a hit and how much they love that song years later. The scientific term for this is “music reminiscence bumps” and it occurs due to the intense emotional and hormonal development that happens during that age. Music creates strong emotional memories. In fact, the emotional attachment grandparents and parents have to the music from their youth carries on to their kids and grandkids.

Next, it turns out the music we listen to can tell us about our personalities. Musicologist Nolan Gasser (@nolangasser) tells us how music shapes who we are and how we feel. He's the author of Why You Like It: The Science and Culture of Musical Taste and the architect of the Music Genome Project at Pandora.

We follow with some science. It turns out that music can directly impact the chemicals in your body. Ellen Dissanayake, a former Affiliate Professor of Music at the University of Washington and the author of 5 books, describes how mother-infant songs help answer the question, "Which came first: music or language."

Then, we turn to the business of music. A lot has changed about the way we listen to music in the past few years, but not as much as the way we buy it -- or don't! Jason Lipshutz, the Senior Director of Music at Billboard, explains how streaming music has overturned the industry, potentially giving artists more control over the careers, while also depriving them of income. And, yes, Taylor Swift is a big part of this conversation.

Finally, we end, as always, with a sort-of "Fun Fact" -- this one involving the whole team and each of our brushes with music fame. One member of our team almost ran over the band she was going to see, and another stepped on the toe of a legendary singer but had no idea who he was.

Many thanks to the Athen Hollis, Eve Fisher, and Emily DuPointe for their hard work. And additional thanks to all the students over the last five years who've helped make Poll Hub a great show to be a part of...and hopefully to listen to!