The book stems from a decade of ethnographic research into practices of listening. I have been fascinated by our engagements with music, as they are multimodal, encompassing sonic, visual and bodily experiences. They can enhance moods, transform our perception of time but also be used as markers of social, national or generational identities. And, especially with the rise of streaming platforms and digital devices, a significant part of meaningful practices of listening is background or incidental.

Dr Rafal Zaborowski, Lecturer in Digital Culture

Highlighting intergenerational music consumption, yet showing that music and artists can have very different generational meanings, Zaborowski develops a new approach to music’s ‘circuit of culture’. Exploring parasocial relations and the fans of virtual idols, this book brilliantly documents how music generations produce pop’s sometimes surprising and always salient meanings. Listen to Rafal Zaborowski — you’ll think about music, culture and generational identities in a whole new way after reading this superb study.

Matt Hills, author of “Fan Cultures”