Human Generosity & Street Music: Insights from Study 🎶

What makes people stop, listen, and give? In this talk, Samuel Stäbler combines insights from a large-scale scientific study of more than 80,000 pedestrians with his personal experience as a street musician. He uncovers the emotional and behavioral triggers that drive generosity and donation behavior—and shows how the power of music can change everyday human interactions. Samuel Stäbler is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at Tilburg University and an internationally recognized keynote speaker. He combines deep academic insights with compelling storytelling, making complex topics accessible and impactful for diverse audiences. His research focuses on communication and marketing finance and has been published in leading journals such as the Journal of Marketing and Marketing Letters. Samuel has received numerous international awards and delivers workshops on impact and presentation skills for scientists, students, and professionals.

As a passionate hobby musician, Samuel’s background inspired an influential study on the success factors of street musicians and human generosity—central to his TEDx Talk. His work has gained international media attention, including features in The Times, Harvard Business Manager, as well as radio interviews and podcasts. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx