Switching to Music Streaming Services: Understanding College Students’ Music Listening Habits on Music Streaming Services

Fei Jia

doi:10.29333/ajqr/16556

Fei Jia ¹ ^*

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AM J QUALITATIVE RES, Volume 9, Issue 3, pp. 229-244

https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/16556

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Abstract

Music streaming services have become the primary source for listeners to access music daily. Qualitative interviews were conducted to understand why individuals switched to music streaming services from CDs and digital downloads and how they utilized these streaming services. The results showed that college students switched to music streaming services for two main reasons: 1) the convenience of music listening, and 2) massive song choices for a reasonable price. Additionally, they used music streaming services for three main purposes 1) listening for the events, 2) listening for the memory, and 3) listening for new music discovery. The findings contribute to the existing literature on uses and gratifications and Technology Acceptance Model, suggesting that music streaming services provide a unique platform for music consumption that varies depending on different occasions, which trigger situational gratifications that highlight temporal and environmental factors. Furthermore, the number of songs and the shuffling feature can also affect listening habits and preferences.

Keywords: Music streaming services, playlists, music, individual differences, digital music

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Citation

Jia, F. (2025). Switching to Music Streaming Services: Understanding College Students’ Music Listening Habits on Music Streaming Services. American Journal of Qualitative Research, 9(3), 229-244. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/16556

Jia, F. (2025). Switching to Music Streaming Services: Understanding College Students’ Music Listening Habits on Music Streaming Services. American Journal of Qualitative Research, 9(3), pp. 229-244. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/16556

Jia F. Switching to Music Streaming Services: Understanding College Students’ Music Listening Habits on Music Streaming Services. AM J QUALITATIVE RES. 2025;9(3), 229-244. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/16556

Jia, Fei. "Switching to Music Streaming Services: Understanding College Students’ Music Listening Habits on Music Streaming Services". American Journal of Qualitative Research 2025 9 no. 3 (2025): 229-244. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/16556

Jia, Fei "Switching to Music Streaming Services: Understanding College Students’ Music Listening Habits on Music Streaming Services". American Journal of Qualitative Research, vol. 9, no. 3, 2025, pp. 229-244. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/16556

Jia F. Switching to Music Streaming Services: Understanding College Students’ Music Listening Habits on Music Streaming Services. AM J QUALITATIVE RES. 2025;9(3):229-44. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/16556