Saturday, June 7, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. on KPBS TV / Stream now with KPBS Passport + Encores Saturday, June 7 at 11 a.m. on KPBS 2 and Sunday, June 8 at 6 p.m. on KPBS
Composer and musicologist Dr. Nolan Gasser (the architect of Pandora Radio’s Music Genome Project and expert in Music AI) explores the science and culture behind our musical preferences. Blending live performances, animations and insights from neuroscience, psychology, culture, emotion, and a pioneering mobile app that engages the audience in a new way, the program offers a one-of-a-kind immersive experience.
The show features a brilliant set of musicians, including Grammy-winning vocalists Ledisi and Aymée Nuviola and Grammy-nominated Malika Tirolien, along with jazz trumpeter Etienne Charles. It also features Dr. Gasser’s all-star band, The Mighty Mighty, comprised of luminaries such as Tim Ries (The Rolling Stones), Jamie Hadad (Paul Simon) and others. This show will change how you listen to music and increase the joy you experience with every song you hear.
WHY YOU LIKE IT: DECODING MUSICAL TASTE also features a groundbreaking first-of-its-kind mobile app that accompanies the show and offers viewers a simple-to-use, immersive experience. While watching the program, viewers can engage with the Why You Like It app to enrich their understanding of what shapes their musical preferences.
As the show unfolds, the app synchronizes in real time, presenting eight personalized questionnaires based on each individual’s personality, social tendencies, and unique traits. After completing all eight prompts, these responses fuel the creation of a custom playlist — spanning popular favorites to lesser-known gems — each track reflecting aspects of that viewer’s distinct musical identity.
If any selection doesn’t strike a chord with the viewer, it can be easily skipped, encouraging exploration of new sounds. Beyond the playlist, a “deeper discovery” section on the app offers access to additional insights, allowing viewers to delve further into the scientific, cultural, and creative dimensions examined in the program and stay engaged long after the show is over.
Watch On Your Schedule: "WHY YOU LIKE IT: DECODING MUSICAL TASTE is available to stream with KPBS Passport, a benefit for members supporting KPBS at $60 or more yearly, using your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, AppleTV, Amazon Fire or Chromecast. Learn how to activate your benefit now.
