People under the age of 35 listen to orchestral music in their daily lives more often than their parents, a Royal Philharmonic Orchestra report has revealed.
Surveying 2,000 people, the 2022 report shows that 65 percent of people aged 18–34 listen to orchestral music regularly, compared to 57 percent of people aged 55+ and 56 percent for those aged 35–54.
Photo © Jonas Mohamadi/Pexels
Challenging the idea that orchestral music is falling out of fashion for younger generations, those under 35 are more likely than any other group to listen to orchestral music while cooking (25 percent), working (19 percent), sleeping (14 percent), exercising (17 percent), hosting a dinner party (9 percent) and while making love (11 percent).
Older people are more likely to listen to orchestral music in a concert hall and while in transit, doing housework or reading,
This shows a six percent increase in the musical listening habits of young people since 2018. The growing figure could be, in part, attributed to use of orchestral music in soundtracks for films, television shows and video games, as well as the greater accessibility and exposure that social media brings, including the rise of classical music influencers such as the recently-disbanded TwoSet Violin.
The survey also reveals that people aged under 35 are also more likely to engage with their interest in the performing arts in all reported categories other than listening on the radio.
Younger people are more likely to listen to music and podcasts, watch videos and TV programs about the arts, engage with artists and organisations online and teach themselves an art form than any other age group.
“The experience of engaging with orchestral music reaches far beyond the concert hall and into every part of people’s lives – from cooking to commuting, the workplace and the gym,” said RPO Managing Director James Williams.
“The effect of the pandemic, and the seismic shift in the way we now live our working lives, has meant a development in the way people are engaging with music. Listening habits fit with people’s changes in lifestyle, and while this will continue to evolve and change over time, engagement with music has become stronger. As our research shows, more people are spending time listening, reading about, watching, and performing music this year than ever before.”
More on the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra report can be found here.
