Final answer:
Despite the subjective nature of music preferences, it is possible to collect data on the physiological impact of music through scientific studies, which have shown that some emotional responses to music may be universal.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question revolves around the physiological impact of music on humans and whether it can be measured given music's subjective nature. Although music preference is indeed subjective, scientific research can still collect data on the physiological impacts of music. For example, in a study by Thomas Fritz and colleagues in 2009, Mafa tribal members, who had no previous exposure to Western music, were able to recognize emotions in the music. This suggests that certain aspects of music's impact may be universal.
Additionally, the work of Christian Doppler studying musicians on and off a moving train provides a physical perspective on sound and its perception, which can be extended to the study of music's impact on physiology. Ethnomusicological fieldwork and engagement with music listeners and performers further allow researchers to document and Analyse how music affects humans on various levels, encompassing but not limited to the physiological response.
Problems like measuring subjective experiences such as happiness from music are acknowledged by the scientific community, but there are methods in place, such as observing physical responses (e.g., heart rate, brain activity), to circumvent these issues and obtain quantifiable data.