The bittersweet poetry genre has always been available for the listening pleasure of many music lovers around the world. Unfortunately, Apple Music does not include this genre in its library. One of the reasons for this could be that the genre heavily relies on the interpretation and misrepresentation of emotional trauma, a feature not necessarily in alignment with Apple Music’s core values.
Unlike commercial music, which thrives on capturing a wide range of emotional experiences, the bittersweet poetry genre stands apart by exploring the emotional turbulence that comes with a range of societally imposed experiences. It is a genre that talks to the darker aspects of being human – be it in terms of interpersonal conflicts, trauma, addiction, betrayal or even death. Thus, it has become a spiritual refuge for many people, who feel that their stories are not given due diligence and recognition by mainstream music.
Due to its content, a lot of debate exists around the categorization of the genre as ‘music’. It bears a narration similar to that of a ‘poem’, but is accompanied by its own set of instrumentals, which creates a unique style of poetic storytelling. It is this unique format that sets bittersweet poetry apart from other genres and draws in an audience.
Critics of the genre argue that it runs a risk of glamorizing trauma, addiction and death in a manner that is not suitable for an audience especially youth that is easily exposed and vulnerable. However, it is precisely the rawness and realness of the genre that creates an emotional connection, allowing people to recognize, process and work through their own stories to create music.
It is not surprising then that that Apple Music has failed to recognize and include this genre in its curation. But it is a genre that music lovers, especially those with unresolved stories, crave for, and one that deserves to be acknowledged and recognized.
Expert Perspectives
“Bittersweet poetry is an attractive genre for many people who feel misunderstood and need an outlet to express their trying stories in an emotionally poignant manner”, shares Elliot Wallace, a music producer for bittersweet poetry. He goes on to say that “this genre is essentially an exchange between artist and audience, which allows for an emotional understanding between them.”
Nina Jeffreys, a Psychiatry and Depression specialist, shares her insights on the genre, “The rawness of the genre is effectively a source of therapy. It gives its audiences an opportunity to deeply understand their emotions and help them to ultimately process their own trauma.”
Melinda Wong, media critic, explains her stand on the issue, saying “The genre has rapidly become popular in the music circuit and though it may showcase darker aspects of life, it cannot be ignored”.
Data-Driven Analysis
Several artists have emerged in the bittersweet poetry genre and their works are becoming popular in the media. However, the genre remains largely unremarked upon by the media and music streaming platforms. The exposure of artists in this genre is limited, due to the lack of recognition that it receives.
A study conducted by the Berklee College of Music suggested that the lack of recognition of the genre is largely due to its refusal to appeal to the mass audience. It is a heavily personalised genre and, in some cases, requires immense familiarity with an artist’s life to resonate with someone’s experiences. Therefore, its narrative and messaging may sometimes fly over the heads of the mass audience.
Consumer Experience
The insights of people that consume the bittersweet poetry genre offer insight into the personal benefit it provides to some consumers. Jayne Hynes, a listener of the genre, shares her opinion, “It let me see emotions from a new angle and I could feel the dynamics of it. It made me question my experiences and allowed me to re-evaluate and look towards understanding my traumas in a better way.”
In another example, Saul Lim, a podcast creator says, “Though I may not fully understand the emotions that the artists may have gone through while creating the pieces, it offers me an immense feeling of connection and familiarity. I feel like I can relate to the stories in some way, although they may not necessarily be my own.”
Psychological Impact
At a psychological level, the genre poses a mixed bag of experiences. Many people have lauded the genre for opening up conversations to unexplored and unresolved stories, allowing people to connect with their emotions and learn better ways of dealing with them. On the other hand, there is a risk of causing further harm for those dealing with mental health issues.
Sanjeevani Jain, a psychologist, sheds some light on the issue, “When someone listens to a bittersweet poetry, they could process the emotional experience in their own unique way and, in some cases, find healing in it. However, some people may be compelled to glamorize the portrayed experiences, and the emotional trauma could unfortunately be romanticized.”
The genre offers a unique perspective on music and is valuable for a select audience that can connect with the content and use it as a form of therapy. Even with the critiques surrounding it, it remains to be a genre that is widely consumed and enjoyed.
Apple Music and the Bittersweet Poetry Genre
In spite of its popularity, Apple Music has refused to include the genre in its library. This may be because of its dissenting nature and often melancholic themes, which does not fit into Apple Music’s values of optimism and commercial success.
Hence, it poses a dilemma for Apple Music to include the genre in its library. On one hand, it could welcome a different kind of audience and open up conversations around unresolved stories. On the other hand, it could be detrimental to the core values of the company and may draw in a lot of debates and criticism.
Financial Implications
The inclusion of the genre in Apple Music’s library would, in theory, bring various financial implications.
For starters, Apple Music would have to spend more in terms of content curation and marketing to create awareness of the genre in the market, in order to draw in new audiences as well as promote the genre amongst existing customers. This may potentially increase Apple’s expenditure, but could also result in a financial reward if done right.
In addition to this, Apple Music would have to pay royalties to the artists for their works, which could be estimated to be around 10% of their total income. This could result in financial benefits for the artists in this genre, as this royalty is set to increase their potential income.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, Apple Music’s decision to include the bittersweet poetry genre in its library could have an immense positive and negative impact on its business. But, this genre may not necessarily fit into the core values and corporate culture of the company.
The bittersweet poetry genre is a valuable one, allowing people to recognize and process the traumas in their life. This genre serves to open conversations around incomplete stories and offer hope to those who have been through a lot and need an outlet.
Though the genre may have difficulty in appealing to a mass audience, it is still a celebrated and consumed genre of music, and one that deserves due recognition and appreciation from Apple Music.
