From the concert hall to the museum, from the street to private spaces, from live contexts to listening to recordings, from television to streaming systems, listening to music is today a subject that deserves our attention. Discussing music listening is crucial due to the diverse genres and sound art practices, as sound, music, and noise are omnipresent, shaping our environment and profoundly impacting our daily lives. In 2020, UNESCO recognized music’s role in cognitive development, learning, memorization, and skill acquisition. Listeners navigate a complex, saturated musical landscape with diverse streams and listening options.

In a performative context, new listening situations are on the rise. Audiences and performers are actively engaged in innovative auditory experiences, including multimodal, virtual, and immersive encounters. How do these listening modalities influence the appreciation of a musical piece? To what extent is the listening process influenced or restricted by the context in which it occurs? What role does music listening play in settings like museum exhibitions, sound installations, or sound art events? What are the purposes and potentials of music listening in public and open spaces?