Virgil Griffith, a Caltech student currently studying the Information-Integration Theory of Consciousness (one of these computer nerds who are working at building conscious machines) has apparently a lot of time in his hands despite the seriousness of his research.
Two years ago, he computed this map (which exists under different formats) that links musical tastes of college students to their SAT scores, so in other words to their intelligence. Although I would very reluctantly see a direct correlation between I.Q. and SAT score, the results are kind of err… funny.
I really feel sorry for Lil Wayne or Beyonce’s fans, and hip hop or country fans in general are not doing very well, Jazz is astonishingly connected to a very low SAT score, and the ‘smartest kids’ listen to Norah Jones, Beck and Radiohead in the alternative category, U2 (really??) and Counting Crows in the rock category, Bob Dylan in the Classic Rock category, and Sufjan Stevens, The Shins, Guster and Ben Folds in the Indie category.
Beethoven listeners are almost off the chart, way above anyone else, but it was the only classical example taken into consideration.
I have seen this study commented in many places (even Pitchfork), this may be fun, but it is sooooo dangerous if taken seriously. So many factors enter into consideration, obviously many socio-cultural and economic ones, and finding a link between intelligence (because that was the intention at the end) and music taste cannot be that simple!
Still, I am completely amazed by the score of U2’s fans!