A new report lays to rest the decades-old stereotype of an aging and declining classical music audience.
The study found that 35% of adults listened to classical music. Classical music was the fourth most popular music genre, with more fans than R&B or hip hop.
Almost a third of the classical music audience was found to be under the age of 35, a statistic reflected among ABC Classic's listeners. Young people are dipping into classical music to take a break from popular music, helped by mood-based playlists and algorithmic recommendations on streaming services. Many listeners in the study were fans of the "relaxing piano music" genre without realising they were listening to classical music.
ABC Classic's station manager Toby Chadd sees more and more young people making classical music part of their everyday lives. While some are drawn to ABC Classic's Game Show, which is dedicated to video game soundtracks, "others just want to wake up with beautiful music in their ears or wind down at the end of a long day."
Why people listen to classical music
The study sheds light on listening habits in different countries, revealing a stark difference between countries where people listened to help them sleep or concentrate, and countries where people listened to take a break from their usual music.
Listeners in Mexico were most likely to listen to classical music to help them get to sleep. They were also the most likely to choose classical music when they wanted to concentrate. Conversely, listeners were in Denmark and Sweden — who are more likely to use steaming services — liked to listen to classical music as a change from their usual music.
Shut up and listen
Those surveyed were almost evenly split on whether they listened intently to classical music or played it in the background. Respondents in South Korea were most likely to be "purist" listeners, sitting down and listening closely.
Where and how people access classical music recordings
While recognising the popularity of radio as a means of listening to classical music, the report — which was commissioned by the classical music streaming company Idagio — paints a bright future for classical music on streaming services.
Radio remains the most popular way for classical music fans to access their favourite genre, but video streaming through YouTube is enormously popular, coming in third behind the traditional CD. 11% of classical music fans are still spinning vinyl records at home.
MIDiA surveyed 8,000 adults in the US, UK, Mexico, Sweden, Austria, Denmark, Germany, and South Korea.