Everyone likes music. It doesn't matter what type of music it is because it doesn't matter. Everyone likes what they like, be it R&B, pop, country, alternative, or even folk music. The goal of music is to allow people to express themselves in ways that they otherwise can't. Here are some reasons that people shouldn't be judged on the type of music that they listen to.
1. It's a coping mechanism.
People use music to escape the world that they're in. This may be due to factors such as introversion, lack of friends, or just because they want to get away.
2. It helps someone through a rough time.
This is also a good reason that music is a coping mechanism. When people are bullied, disliked, or isolated, some turn to music to make themselves feel better. They join communities of people that like the same things and find a sense of inclusion.
3. It comes off as pretentious.
Most often seen on YouTube, people are regularly judged because they like Top 40 Hits, music in a different language (like K-POP), or because someone just doesn't like the style. Either way, a person likes what they like. Their choice in music has nothing to do with anyone else.
4. No one likes a troll.
People in music fanbases hate when others bash their favorite artists. This is especially true of when it comes to the more radical side of the fanbases, who, when they see a comment that offends them, converge on the person. Trolls often bash things that have large fanbases because they like getting a rise out of the audience.
5. No one likes when you say "so-and-so was better."
I personally find it off-putting when someone says that music in the '80s was better, even if I understand why they have that opinion. Unfortunately, there are some people that say that with malicious intent. They say it to enforce their opinion on someone who truly loves something different from their preference.
6. The radical side of the fanbase.
There are radical fans in every fanbase. This includes the ever popular Directioners and Beliebers. Some of these fans often go too far -- such as bashing one person on Twitter until they delete the account, stalking, and/or treating the singer or musician like a possession.
7. It may be nostalgic.
Everyone loves some form of older music, like music from the '90s, '80s, or even '50s. Older music shows how far music has come and how that music spans generations. People are still singing Queens' "Bohemian Rhapsody" and belting out Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You." There are still people listening to the Jackson Five, Creed, and Bon Jovi.
8. The artist may be unlikable.
Not everyone likes the artist. Sometimes, that isn't integral to liking the music. In 2014, Meghan Trainor said that she "wasn't strong enough to have an eating disorder." Now, that comment was wrong on many levels, with her getting backlash for trivializing an eating disorder, but people still like her music. They're not excusing her for comments that she made, even if they do like her music.
9. Music is universal.
Music spans the globe. Someone may not like music that's in their native language, but that doesn't matter. Translations of the lyrics can always be looked up, meanings can still be discerned.
10. Everyone likes a good song.
Music is great to dance to, help blow off steam and also to create an atmosphere in the environment. Each song may not appeal to every individual person, but there will still be someone who feels the effects of the song and fall in love with it. So, judging someone because they like something that you don't like or doesn't appeal to other people is just silly.
