Those active on the alternative and indie music side of TikTok have probably seen the phrase "male manipulator music."
While the phrase has been around for a few years, it has recently gained prominence in online spaces and it is being integrated into our cultural lexicon.
Indeed, references to "male manipulator music" seem to be everywhere nowadays, with Reddit users relenting that they have been informed they have male manipulator music taste, to viral tweets poking fun at the concept in general; there are even entries on internet anthropology sites like Know Your Meme and Urban Dictionary describing and cataloging the phenomenon.
So what is "male manipulator music"? And what genres and artists constitute it?
Simply put, the concept of "male manipulator music" posits that certain types of music are, at least perceived to be, red flags in a romantic partner. However, it is first and foremost, a joke.
The meme's origins can be traced back to a now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter) by user @shortc1rcuit "ladies and lads, what are some music 'red flags'? for example: radiohead, slowdive, the smiths. male manipulator music, if you will."
While some users lambasted the idea, others mimicked the tweet to expand on the pantheon of the so-called male manipulator genre, with one tweeting "ladies and lads, what are some music "red flags"?? for example: carly rae jepsen, mitski, kero kero bonito. male manipulator music, if you will." The now commonly used phrase seems to be entirely nebulous in its categorization, though there are a few staple artists who are frequently associated with the term, such as Radiohead, The Smiths, Mac DeMarco, Mom Jeans, and Neutral Milk Hotel, to name a few.
Despite its origins as a joke and enduring presence online as a meme, the phrase has also seen an increased, unironic use, begging the question of its validity.
A column written for the Harvard Crimson laments "In almost all cases, the straight man who fits the [...] description is also an avid listener of 'male manipulator music.' A term which gained popularity on Tik Tok, male manipulator music refers to a subgenre of music enjoyed by manipulative men before ghosting and/or gaslighting you."
Is there any weight to these claims?
Not really - it is ridiculous to assume that a person's taste in music is indicative of their behavior, especially destructive and harmful behaviors like manipulation, which is why the increased and uncritical use of the phrase can be concerning. Still, it seems that many, if not most, of those who engage with the trend are privy to its tongue-in-cheek nature.
Now close to four years after its advent, the trend shows no indication of slowing down as thousands of TikToks and tweets decrying the "male manipulator" subgenre, though its descriptions are loose and subject to constant revision.
As the phrase continues to take root in our cultural context, one can only wonder how it will take shape in the future.
