Relocating Music: Popular Music in the Streaming Era as Cultural Identity Shaper Among Israeli Immigrants to the United States

This study explores Israeli Americans’ use of popular music from country of origin (PMCO) as a cultural mediator, which assists in maintaining and imparting parents’ identity to their children. Highlighting a sociocultural aspect of music consumption in the streaming era, the study focuses on music as a personal and interpersonal tool among immigrants by addressing three main topics: Characteristics of Israeli immigrants to the United States; personal and social consumption of PMCO and its role in strengthening a sense of ingroup within the American culture; and effects of the digital age. Participants described PMCO listening as a routine, creating a cultural ambiance, significant for imparting language to their children, and second only to communicating in Hebrew. Related to self-identity via current Israeli culture, PMCO is often mediated through the children, community events, the Scouts, and Israeli TV.