Publication Type
PhD Dissertation
Version
publishedVersion
Publication Date
6-2025
Abstract
This study investigates the multifaceted influence of cultural tightness and multiculturalism on the global commercial success of pop music. Addressing an under-explored moderating effect of multicultural factors on creative output under tight culture, this research analyzes Billboard Global 200 and Spotify Top 50 chart data from 2013-2021. The empirical analysis reveals that cultural tightness negatively impacts pop song’s success. Conversely, multiculturalism, specifically through diverse languages and performance teams, generally enhances global success. A key finding is that while multicultural production teams do not directly correlate with success, they critically moderate the detrimental effects of cultural tightness, a buffering effect unique among multicultural factors. This suggests that for organizations operating in culturally tight environments, embedding multiculturalism within the production process itself is paramount for stimulating creativity and achieving global success, beyond merely incorporating multicultural elements at the performance level. This research offers significant insights into leveraging cultural diversity for competitive advantage in the global music industry.
Keywords
Multiculturalism, cultural tightness, pop song, creativity, culture
Degree Awarded
Doctor of Business Admin
Discipline
Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Organizational Behavior and Theory
Supervisor(s)
CHUA, Yong Joo
First Page
1
Last Page
154
Publisher
Singapore Management University
City or Country
Singapore
Citation
CHOI, Jung Kiu.
Using multiculturalism to combat the negative creativity effect of cultural tightness: How it is done matters. (2025). 1-154.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/etd_coll/798
Copyright Owner and License
Author
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Included in
Business Administration, Management, and Operations Commons, Organizational Behavior and Theory Commons