EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This synopsis is on the Growth and popularity of Naire Marley songs amongst students. The chapter one of the research will extensively dwells on several variable such as background to the study, statement of the problems, objectives of the study, research questions, scope and significance of the study among others.The Chapter two shall provides a review of the literature related to the areas of songs preference, songs listening involvement, songs uses, and physiological and mood responses to songs. Chapter three shall describes the subjects, instrumentation, and data collection procedures and a description of the analysis of the data for the study. Chapter four shall contain an analysis of findings. Chapter five shall provides the summarized conclusions of the study.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Popularity is relative. It can take positive or negative directions. The major factor is to have activities that would generate interests. However, the human response to song has traditionally been the subject of philosophical thought. More recently, the human response to song has been the subject of psychological investigation. The notion that songs can and does affect people is more than mere conjecture, but the mechanisms involved in determining human response have not been clearly identified (Hahn, 1954). The basic problem centers on the question of whether human reaction to songs is primarily explainable in terms of characteristic properties of the songs itself or  psychological responses in the listener.

Research on how personality influences and predisposes the response of the listener to songs  has generally focused on individual preference for a type of songs. Although the bulk of the literature suggests that personality is related to songs preferences, generalizations about the magnitude of the relationship are not possible, given differential assessment of both songs preference and personality (Abeles, 1980). A number of studies investigated personality factors, which are determinants of songs preferences. Fisher and Fisher (1951) found that personal insecurities, anxieties, and fears influence songs preference. Intellectual introversion has been shown to be an influential personality factor in determining songs growth and popularity (Keston & Pinto, 1955). Bartha (1982) found significant differences between songs category groups and needs for achievement, deference, exhibition, autonomy, tolerance, change, endurance, and heterosexuality. Self-concept was shown to be related to songs preferences (Blackburn, 1983). Other studies identified differences in personality characteristics reflected in songs preferences (Cattell & Anderson, 1953; Hahn, 1954; Mayeske, 1962; Payne, 1967). A representative review of the research on the relationship between songs preference and personality factors will be presented in Chapter II

Another important dimension of the human response to songs is related to the meaning of songs. The bulk of the literature addressing the issue of the meaning of songs is presented in line with basic philosophical aesthetic positions regarding the affective response to songs. A description of the various aesthetic positions will be presented in Chapter II. The various aesthetic positions are primarily concerned with nonlyrical “serious” or art songs and have limited applicability to contemporary popular songs enjoyed by the majority of young people. Although the various aesthetic positions regarding the meaning of songs may lack sufficient validity when applied to popular songs, the major theoretical issue regarding the source of variation in attributed meaning may have some relevance in attempting to clarify the meaning of popular songs. Variables contributing to songs meaning can be classed under two broad categories: (a) those related to the structural characteristics of the songs stimulus and (b) those related to the listener. In terras of the second category, basic personality style, as well as state of motivation for interacting with songs, have received recognition as potential variables affecting songs meaning (Radocy & Boyle, 1979).

Several studies (Greer, Dorrow, & Hanser, 1973; Greer, Dorrow, & Randall, 1974; Radocy & Boyle, 1979) have shown an increasing preference for rock songs with advancing grade level, but little is known about why young people tend to prefer this songs style over others. Although songs listening is a primary activity for young people (Coleman, 1961; Frith, 1981; Larson & Kubey, 1983), little is currently known about how adolescents use songs and what functions songs listening serves for them. Insights into the role of songs for individuals come from both philosophical and psychological theories regarding the function of songs.

Merriam (1964) recognized 10 major personal and social songs functions:

1. emotions,
2. aesthetic enjoyment,
3. entertainment,
4. communication,
5. symbolic representation,
6. physical response,
7. enforcing conformity to social norms,
8. validation of social institutions and religious trials,(
9. contribution to the continuity and stability of culture, and
10. contributions to the integrity of society

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

With Naira Marley songs like “Am I a Yahoo Boy” and  “Jo Soapy” Naira Marley rose to popularity and great heights in Nigeria. However many Nigerians are not convinced that these songs bear a helpful message to the general populace, especially the youths who are easily influenced by Celebrities. Infact many are convinced that they help promote social vices such as 419 and Masturbation. This is even made more obvious due to his band of very motivated followers on and off social media who refer themselves as “Marlians”.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

The main aims of the study is to investigate the Growth and popularity of Naire Marley songs amongst students. The study specifically shall:

• examine the impact of media in the growth of Naire Marley’s Songs among students
•  to analyze the relationship between personality and students choice of music in Naire Marley’s Songs
• to investigate the communication channels and students preferences of Naire Marley’s Songs

LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

The study sample represents undergraduate students ranging in age from 18 to 28 years, who volunteered to participate in the study.

1 The sample shall not be random and shall not represent  all youth in Nigeria.

1. Subjects shall be volunteers and results cannot necessarily be generalized to nonvolunteers.
2. The independent variables selected for this study did not include all of the influences that might have been selected (e.g., the media, songs ,growth and popularity,communication channels).
3. The study data shall be self-report information and customary caution must be used when considering the findings.
4. The results of this study cannot necessarily be generalized to all youth in as much as cultural differences in songs preference might be expected to influence the relationship between popularity and growth of the song

 ASSUMPTIONS OF THE STUDY

This study assumed that:

1. Young people can identify and select a general songs preference .
2. Personality factors are related to songs popularity and growth
3. The study also assumed that Songs is a fundamental channel of communication: it provides a means by which people can share emotions, intentions, and meanings . Songs can exert powerful physical and behavioural effects, can produce deep and profound emotions within us, and can be used to generate infinitely subtle variations of expressiveness by skilled composers and performers, such that highly complex informational structures and contents can be communicated extremely rapidly between people.

  METHODOLOGICAL DETAILS

Research methodology is the organized inquiry which includes the planned and the systematic data collection, presentation, analysis and interpretation for solving identified problems (Ihemeje, 2006:15). The methodological details shall cover the following areas: Research Design, Population of the Study, sampling Technique and Size, Instrument of Data Collection, Validity and Reliability Test and Method of Data Analysis.

The field survey research method was used in conducting this study. Wimmer et al (2003:167-168), explains that the survey method presents the universe of the study by appropriating or reducing the universe in that it provides the study with the opportunity to check on the incident, distributions and interrelation of variables (demographic, information, attitude, motives, intentions and so on).

The study shall made use of the survey method. The survey design shall aimed at finding out primarily from respondents, Growth and popularity of Naire Marley songs amongst students. This design shall be adopted because the study sought to find out the opinion of respondents. Kerlinger (1973) supported this approach because the survey methods enable the study of a relative population needed to provide primary information or finding on a research.

REFERNCES

• Abeles, H. F. (1980). Responses to music. In D. A. Hodges (Ed.), Handbook of music psychology (pp. 105-
• 134). Lawrence, KS: National Association for Music Therapy.
• Bartha, R. E. (1982). Personality variables and musical preference. Dissertation Abstracts International,
• 43, 2700B. (University Microfilms No. 83-00,206)
• Blackburn, W. D. (1983). The relationship of self-concept to adolescents’ musical preferences and level of involvement with music listening. Dissertation Abstracts International, 44, 3549B. (University Microfilms No. 84-03,487)
• Fisher, S., & Fisher, R. L. (1951). The effects of personal insecurity on reactions to unfamiliar music.
• Journal of Social Psychology, 34, 265-273.
• Hahn, M. E. (1954). A proposed technique for investigating the relationship between musical
• preferences and personality structure. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. University of Kansas, Lawrence