Peak music experiences are a recurring feature of popular music
journalism, biography and fan culture, where they are often credited as
pivotal in people's relationships with music and in their lives more
generally. Ben Green investigates the phenomenon from a social and
cultural perspective, including discussions of peak music experiences as
sources of inspiration and influence; as a core motivation for ongoing
musical and social activity; the significance of live music experiences;
and the key role of peak music experiences in defining and perpetuating
music scenes. The book draws from both global media analysis and
situated ethnographic research in the dance, hip hop, indie and rock 'n'
roll music scenes of Brisbane, Australia, including participant
observation and in-depth interviews. These case studies demonstrate the
methodological value of peak music experiences as a lens through which
to understand individual and collective musical life. The theoretical
analysis is interwoven with selected interview data, illuminating the
profound and everyday ways that music informs people's lives. The book
will therefore be of interest to the interdisciplinary field of popular
music studies as well as sociology and cultural studies beyond the study
of music.