poll: decision process in music listening - how much time?

It totally depends on the type of song. I'd say usually around half the track, but if you have an awful sub-Coldplay drivelly sniveller then it'll turn me off almost instantly. Even then, though, I'd like to think I'd give it half the track the first time, just in case it did something so amazing during that time I could forgive it its appalling beginning. But in reality it would probably be under 10 seconds and then stabbage in the face.

10-30 seconds

I usually listen to songs all the way through the first time unless they're totally unbearable. Or really really long.

ten seconds to know that I don't like it, though I usually need to hear all of it to know if I like it

after some days of intense listening in places like junodownload & beatport, my observation is:
2-second-pieces at different positions. if i spent money on a cd, its probably 30 seconds per song/track. kind of self-deceptive :P

ten seconds to know that I don't like it, though I usually need to hear all of it to know if I like it

^ this. outside of the odd song that sounds so right I love it almost immediately, it usually takes a few full listens to know how much (or if) I like something.

HOWEVER, there are sounds and signifers that are dealbreakers almost immediately: pop-punk vocals, overcompressed production, etc.

one or more 10-second-pieces at different positions in track. voted for 2 second version of that, but this is the honest answer

one or more 2-second-pieces at different positions in track

then I listen to it all the way thru

whole song, about four times

oh wait, duh, didn't read the question

about 3/4 of the song

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.