Hunting the Earworm

My PhD research explores how songwriting is connected to and interacts with the phenomena of earworms. Having earworms, or Involuntary Musical Imagery, is the experience of having a song or part of a song pop into your head, as if from nowhere, and repeat for a while. 

 

If you are a songwriter or work with or represent them in the music industry, please click the button below to share your experiences of songwriting and earworms in a quick survey.

 

It is hoped this research will shed new light on how songwriting creates catchy, memorable songs and how songwriters themselves utilise the music in their heads. This new knowledge could have implications for talent development, playlist curation, education and the creative songwriting process.