The Mozart Effect: Fact or Fiction? A demographic shift that began in the mid-20th century led to rising incomes, more women in the workforce, and a decreasing birth rate. This transition has occurred in many parts of the world. A particularly good example is China's one-child policy. Unlike before, 20th century parents were incentivized and recognized the value of investing more in their children. Furthermore, they now had the means to do so. This growing interest in child development has been a boon for research and an opportunity for marketers. Unfortunately, research is often repackaged or misrepresented by both the media and marketers. As a result, widespread misunderstandings may develop among the general public. Marketers often use curated research to promote or fake a product value proposition. The actual effectiveness of many of these products has been called into question. In recent years, research on the Mozart effect has been largely misrepresented or overstated. The Mozart effect is a supposed relationship between listening to Mozart's music and increased intelligence. From the point of view of a parent, who only wants the best for their child, the risk of disadvantages would seem minimal. However, upon closer examination of the literature there is little evidence to support a direct correlation between listening to Mozart and intelligence. Many of the popular trends occurring in society are a result of the bandwagon effect. The bandwagon effect is a form of groupthink while as many as adopt a belief there are; the more likely it is that others will also adopt that belief. Marketers intentionally employ this type of strategy to exploit… half of the paper… it is accurate to call it the Mozart effect since the effect can be induced through the use of music in general. The perception of any sound will stimulate the primary auditory cortex and therefore increase states of arousal. Different tempos between different types of music will logically impact the amount of arousal. In conclusion, it is clear that the Mozart effect does not actually exist in the way it has been promoted. The effect is linked to changes in arousal states resulting from listening to music. The initial results could indicate a researcher's predisposition and preference for Mozart's music. Further examination would have led the researchers to conclude that the effects are not limited to Mozart's music. Unfortunately this information has been misrepresented and has led to the widespread belief that listening to Mozart's music leads to an increase in intelligence.