"So, when you divide the world into music lovers, music fans and then those people who are just very casual about their music, it's wallpaper to them, it's elevator music, it's just the thing that's playing in the background that helps them through their day"

Michael Stipe's quote provides a nuanced expedition of how people engage with music, categorizing them into 3 broad groups: music enthusiasts, music fans, and those who interact with music in a more casual way.

The first group, "music fans", can be translated as those who have a profound, potentially even emotional, connection to music. For them, music is not just a background component however a central element of their lives that they engage with deeply. They likely spend considerable time checking out different categories, attending live performances, and maybe even producing music themselves. This group values the art type on a complicated level, often viewing it as an essential part of their identity and day-to-day experience.

"Music fans", the second group, while they might not have as intense of a connection as music lovers, are still significantly engaged with music. They may follow particular artists carefully, remain upgraded with new releases, and actively look for music that resonates with their tastes. Music fans delight in the cultural and social aspects of music and might take part in discussions, gather souvenirs, or participate in concerts when possible.

The final group explained by Stipe includes individuals who are "very casual about their music", for whom music belongs to "wallpaper" or "elevator music". This metaphor recommends that music serves a practical purpose instead of an artistic or psychological one. For these people, music might be a pleasant background noise that improves their daily activities but doesn't require their complete attention or psychological financial investment. This group doesn't look for music experiences actively-- music just accompanies their environment, similar to how wallpaper embellishes a room without being the central focus.

Through this classification, Stipe highlights the varied roles music can play in individuals's lives, from a deeply treasured art kind to an ambient enhancer of everyday regimens, showing the varied ways in which music is valued and experienced across different individuals and contexts.