Beyond the music itself: How the social bond of listeners with performers affects their music liking

Listening to preferred music can strengthen the social bond between listeners and performers. However, little is known about whether and how social bonds, such as shared group identity, affect music listening activities. In this study, we manipulated social condition (inclusion vs. exclusion) to influence participants’ group identification with music performers, after which they listened to six music pieces by the performers. The behavioral results showed that stronger group identification was associated with greater music liking. Machine-learning predictive models showed the effect of group identification on music liking beyond musical features. Notably, interpersonal brain analyses revealed increased inter-brain synchronization (IBS) in the temporal cortex between participants and performers. This IBS could mediate the relationship between group identification and music liking. The music-related IBS emerged earlier during listening, with participants’ brain activity preceding that of performers, suggesting anticipatory neural engagement. This study reveals the unique role of group identification in shaping music appreciation and the underlying inter-brain mechanisms. It highlights the performer-listener bond as a potential conduit for intergroup communication in musical contexts.