What's Your Favorite Music Genre?

So, on the application for this work study position at the community radio station asks me to list my favorite genre of music, which is like asking me to pick a favorite type of food, or a favorite place to vacation or the five famous people living or dead I'd have dinner with. The possibilities for the answer of their question are so astounding, that I turned to my friends for answers via mass text. My specific distaste for this question has to do with working at three different record stores over the course of six years and KNOWING when someone says they like all music, it means they've really only ever heard what's on the radio. I wanted to tell those people I'd bet them all the money in the drawer that I could find something they didn't like. All of the answers were so awesome.


Q: "I'm applying for a work study job at WMPG. They're asking me to list my favorite genre of music. I've always thought this kind of question was bullshit. What do I do?"


A: "It is bullshit, but it's also just a work study job."


"Say rock and rollllll"


"Say all music except country and rap."


"Whatever you do, don't say anything but rap and country."


"Oh god, I hate that stuff too. Back when I was on the board at the radio station [at Bates] we really didn't read much into it, basically used it as a quick judge, eg, if someone liked adult alternative, we could immediately write them off. The best apps were the ones where people just listed bands they had listened to recently and were into."


"List a bunch of different ones- it'll show you have varied tastes..."


"Yacht Rock."


"Say local."


"Um, say you have broad taste in music and are a supporter of local artists?"


"Yeah, that sucks. Just putting 'indie' seems like a cop-out."


"BS, why? You don't have a favorite, or you don't expose yourself that way, or what? Usually that type of question is just meant to reveal some aspect of your humanity- which they'd probably like to see if you're going to work with them."


"Is this a mass text?" "I don't know, ask your bf."


"Pop." "Or pick something totally obscure, so they think they would be adding someone with a unique perspective...not that they wouldn't if they hired you, but you know."


"Being an asshole has always worked for me, so I would write: "Nothing you have ever heard of, you fucking square."


"Say something like, 'music that makes me think.' This ranges several genres."


"Blues rock." "No? Just a thought."


"Be honest! Add variety. I'm sure they're interested in the local music that you're into."


"Why don't you say, 'it's personal...more info available upon request.'"


"It's a freeform station - so go nuts. Alternatively, you could just write "chickens are people too."


"Eclectic is probably safe."


" I would write that you think this question is bullshit."


"just write "trolololololololololo"."


"Tell them you think it's horseshit, & that you should be paid as well. My favorite is "go fuck yourself" genre."


"How about something like "My first job was at a record store and I stayed there for four years, listening to practically everything. I've also made mixtapes that had successful transitions between Billie Holiday, Weezer, Snoop Dog, and Bruce Springsteen.""