The influence of formats and preferences on the aesthetic experience of classical music concert streams.

Abstract

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.

Cardiac interoception in the museum: A novel measure of experience

“…In-museum data collection is a new and promising method for capturing physiological change under ecological conditions where greater physiological arousal occurs in contrast to viewing artwork in the lab ( Mastandrea et al, 2018 ; Krauss et al, 2021 ). Recent research examining aesthetic experience has measured physiological responses during live concerts, for example ( Wald-Fuhrmann et al, 2021 ; Czepiel et al, 2023 ; Wald-Fuhrmann et al, 2023 ). Although experience sampling introduces a lack of controls, museums present a multi-sensory experience that extends the applicability of results to where they are most helpful (i.e., outside the lab).…”