Don't stop him now - a QUT researcher is looking for cross-generational Queen and Taylor Swift fans to discover if family and fandom go hand in hand.
Dan Padua, a PhD researcher and sessional academic from QUT's Creative Industries Faculty, is investigating how and why parents and their children become fans of the same music artist.
Mr Padua said though the majority of kids wanted to break free from their parents' musical tastes, and parents tended to be turned off by their children's choices, some found themselves drawn to the same artists.
"The purpose of this research is to understand why some young people are fans of old-school music that their parents listen to and why some adults are fans of youth-orientated contemporary music that their kids enjoy," he said.
"The findings will help to trace the changing relationships between parents and their children in relation to popular music fandom and popular culture more broadly.
"Popular music has become something they can share and I will investigate the role it plays in potentially breaking down barriers between parents and children."
Mr Padua said it had become more acceptable for children to like the same popular artists as their parents, for example Michael Jackson or the Rolling Stones.
"The internet has made it a lot simpler for kids to know about and hear artists their parents like and it is easier than ever for parents to find out who is popular with their kids," he said.
"We hear about helicopter parenting and parents wanting to be closer to their kids and more involved in their lives and music is one way they can bond.
"Children typically have a stage where they are embarrassed of their parents but, if they share the same taste in music, kids might want to show off their 'cool' parents."
Mr Padua is looking for parents and their young (aged 10+) or adult children who live in Australia and who both consider themselves fans of either Queen or Taylor Swift.
"Participants will be interviewed for between one and two hours about their love of either artist," he said.
"To compensate for their important contributions, they will be provided with up to $50 value of take away food and non-alcoholic drinks of their choice."
For more information or to participate, visit Mr Padua's Facebook pages (here and here) or contact d.padua@qut.edu.au or via Twitter @dan_padua
Media contact:
Rob Kidd, QUT Media, 07 3138 1841, rj.kidd@qut.edu.au
After hours, Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901
