Beatles and Boomers: Music Fandom as a Resource for Well-being
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.28939/iam.debats-138-1.4Keywords:
gerotranscendence, Beatles fandom, well-being, music therapy, cognitive decline, boomer healthAbstract
This piece weaves together three separate areas of research and shows how baby boomers’ lifetime of
deep engagement with music and music fandom are resources that can be leveraged by fans, families,
and healthcare professionals to extend healthspan, mitigate loneliness, and otherwise improve
quality of life for this first generation of “old fans” and those that follow. First, drawing on an
in-depth qualitative study of Beatles fandom, I will show that the band’s constant presence in the
culture and in boomers’ lives through six critical years of development had a profound and enduring
impact, and that this experience has been a lifelong resource for resiliency and well-being. Then,
looking at research in neuromusicology and music therapy, I will show the many ways music functions
as a health technology for older adults. Finally, looking at these issues in light of current and
predicted decline in cognitive functioning and other indicators of well-being in this generation,
this article proposes that boomers are uniquely primed and positioned to benefit from the
therapeutic use of music for overall health and as support for the gerotranscendent
stage of adult development.
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