Gratifications Theory

Obviously, all teenagers choose what they want to listen to for a particular reason. The main reason is because they like it. In the case of my topic, the teens who listen to hip hop may do so because they enjoy it. However the gratifications theory illustrates other ways in which we choose to engage with a certain media text. It is not simply for mindless entertainment, rather we expect to gain something from it. Personal Identity Being able to identify with a hip hop artist is one of the reasons why teens listen to an artist's music. Having similar characteristics and lifestyles as an artist will enable teens to engage with them on a deeper level. Information Teens are curious, they are constantly developing and hence, want to know more in order to satisfy their curiosity. Social Integration Listening to hip hop music may make a teenager feel sympathetic towards the artist and so are in effect relating to that character through their feelings. The music allows teens to engage with the artist enabling them to understand their predicament.