ABSTRACT
One of the most defining features of audience research is its interdisciplinary character. This chapter seeks to reflect upon what can be perceived as the key contributions of sociology to this eclectic field. Sociology has been quite good at providing socio-economic profiles of arts audiences but also at explaining the lack of attendance via some invisible class-based mechanisms of self-exclusion. These approaches are now well-known. Yet, in the first part of the chapter, new avenues to explore are suggested, such as the barriers to more diverse audiences from an ethnic and racial point of view. In the second part, this chapter discusses two important current challenges for sociological audience research: the blurring of cultural classifications and the role of aesthetics. To conclude, the chapter puts forward ideas about how to develop a sociological approach that accounts for experiences and feelings but does so in a structured way. One way to do this is to seek help from other disciplines.
