Uncovering Implicit Associations in Intimacy-Related Playlists: An Exploration of Gendered and Ethno-Racial Patterns in the Realm of Music

Contemporary sex, love, and heartbreak playlists exhibit gendered and ethno-racial patterns that predominantly favour male artists and display a prevalence of White artists in heartbreak playlists, while sex playlists are dominated by Black artists. These biased structures perpetuate gender and ethno-racial biases, demanding an investigation into the underlying factors and emergence of these patterns in intimacy-related playlists. Therefore, the current work aimed to uncover the implicit cultural associations that underpin the gendered and ethno-racial patterns observed in love-related playlists. Through the creation of self-constructed playlists in the three themes and subsequent in-depth interviews, this study sought to highlight the implicit culture at play. This approach revealed a variety of implicit associations involving vocal preferences, sexualisation, historical connotations, and external influences, accentuating the multifaceted nature of the matter. By and large, this study provides insight into the underlying structures that reinforce deeply ingrained biases, emphasising the necessity for critical interrogation of these mechanisms to foster a more inclusive musical landscape.