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Persuasion

The Persuasive Impact of Music Critics

Kathleen M. Silva and Francisco J. Silva University of Redlands Abstract: The present study examined whether music critics can influence listeners’ opinions of music or whether these critics simply reflect listeners’ opinions of music. The results showed that listening to National Public Radio (NPR) critics favorably review artists’ CDs influenced listeners’ opinions of songs from those discs. This effect was observed across four artists of varying popularity, recognition, and musical styles (Stephen Malkmus, Nine Inch Nails, Radiohead, and Sloan), across three NPR critics (Will Hermes, Tom Moon, Ken Tucker), and across songs that were and were not referenced or previewed ...

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