This May a 24-year-old New Yorker decided to ask people on the streets what music they were listening to at that specific moment and made a video of it. Eventually, this intriguing idea spread all over the world and now all major cities have a Ty Cullen inspired video consisting of people sharing their listening habits right in the middle of it.

In today’s world of content creation, the simple act of asking “What music are you listening to?” has become a global sensation. With millions of views, these street interview music videos highlight not only diverse music tastes but also reflect the unique vibe of each city. This trend, inspired by Ty Cullen’s original idea, has now become a staple on platforms like YouTube, providing a refreshing and genuine glimpse into what’s flowing through people’s headphones.

Music listening habits in these videos reveal both surprising and familiar artists, showing that even the everyday passerby could be vibing to anything from underground hits to global chart-toppers. What’s particularly intriguing is how these videos blend the personal with the public, giving a snapshot of someone’s day in a particular city. From New York’s buzzing energy to the laid-back rhythm of European streets, these videos have become a cultural phenomenon in themselves.

The best of these videos also serve as a small tour of the respective city, besides revealing a general musical vibe. And subjective as all these clips might be, one must admit it’s nevertheless a tiny voyeuristic pleasure to peep in people’s headphones asking them what they’re getting connected to as they walk past you.

But there’s one thing that bothers me, though. Why is it that most of these people have no idea what they’re listening to until they check their iPods?

Featured photo from here.