‘Senior pop music?’ The role of folk-like schlager music for elderly people

Based on a qualitative study, this article discusses the role of folk-like schlager music for elderly people in Germany. Music preferences and aspects of fandom are analysed from a cultural studies perspective, and are elaborated through frameworks including stereotypical attributions, ascribed meanings of music content, taste history and functions of music. Additionally, cultural and group identities are analysed. Finally, the article discusses the possible age-specific forms of fandom and advocates for the abolition of fandom studies’ dominant, stereotypical distance towards popular culture preferences of elderly people.