This article presents insights from analysis of the qualitative results of a survey of 231 music-users conducted in the UK and USA in 2009-10. Employing Charles Taylor’s concept of the ‘social imaginary’ the article distils the key terms and concepts evident from close textual analysis of the responses offered in the open questions posed to participants. The dominant concepts presented are used to construct four ‘acoustic axes’ around which the practice of serious music-use oscillates. These ‘free responses’ are explored with respect to potential correlations with conceptuality drawn from the study of religion and spirituality, in order to determine how music-use is functioning for many listeners in Western culture. Four further axes are plotted on a ‘musical-spiritual social imaginary.’ It cannot be claimed that a ‘spirituality of music’ results. Nevertheless, insights pertinent to the role which music is playing in Western meaning-making become evident through the study.