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A Royal Philharmonic Orchestra survey for the Daily Express’s Strike A Chord Campaign asked about the situations in which people listen to orchestral music in their daily lives.
It found that just under two thirds (65 percent) aged under 35 were listening on a regular basis, a six per cent increase on 2018 (59 percent).
And it was significantly higher than those aged over 55, where the proportion was 57 percent.
James Williams, managing director of the Royal Philharmonic, said: “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.”
Looking at the situations in which people tuned in, there were again differences between generations.
For older people, listening while travelling – such as in a car or on public transport – stood out as the most popular setting (24 percent), compared to 13 percent of younger people. For those under 35, listening while cooking was the most common situation for a quarter quizzed.
Working, exercising, taking a bath and relaxing before going to bed also scored highly.
The results showed 11 percent of younger people turn to classical music during romantic moments – making it more likely than switching it on while having a dinner party.
Older people are more likely to listen via the radio, while streaming and podcasts appear to be the mode of choice for the younger generation.
The survey boosts the Express campaign which is calling for music education to be given increased importance under Government legislation.
The aim is to halt the haemorrhaging of student numbers choosing the subject. Earlier this year we exposed how studying music at A-Level has dropped 50 percent in a decade, while GCSE numbers were down 19 percent.
This is despite a clear desire from young people to access music and the career opportunities it provides.
