Building on current findings from sociological and social-psychological research on music reception, this volume explains the societal functions that listening to music fulfills today and the role that the new conditions of Web 2.0 play in this context. Based on representative empirical surveys, it illustrates musical attitudes and behaviors, as well as characterizes clearly distinguishable types of music listeners who engage with the current possibilities and challenges of digital media transformation in unique ways. Special attention is given to the question of the significance of primary socialization as a counterbalance to musical self-socialization on the Internet. In particular, age, educational background, and the size of the place of residence emerge as decisive influencing factors in the individual musical practice in Austria.