ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the related issues of taste, cultural capital and the canon, and the question of what is 'collectable'. Taste' refers to our cultural preferences, and is often used in the sense of 'good taste'. Collectors will refer to a wide range of styles and their associated sounds, as informing and guiding their musical tastes. In relation to popular music, nostalgia and popular memory have been systematically explored by research into the social psychology of music, in cultural studies of popular music generally, and in Montano's study of record collecting. Music critics and the music press are major contributors to the construction of a musical canon. For many collectors, especially for the older fans of the group, The Beatles are the focus of their collection. 'Memorabilia' refers to 'memorable' things not to be forgotten, regarded as worthy of preservation and collection. Music magazines play a significant role in promoting popular music culture, linking consumption to lifestyles.
