“Coworker music” is just a front to avoid looking like a pretentious hipster at work.
If someone at work asked me what my favorite band is I would probably say some radio rock like Metallica or The Cure. I’m not technically lying bc I do like those bands, but I don’t feel like spending 20 minutes explaining to someone what dungeon synth is, or that video game/anime soundtracks go hard as fuck and I’m not a weird neckbeard I promise. Your coworker with “NPC music taste” is probably just trying to look approachable and slightly less autistic.
EDIT: Comments proving my point. No, I did not make this post to brag. No, I don’t think everyone who likes pop music is a poser who should die. People liking a weird thing is not a personal attack on you. Holy bean soup. CHILL.