Music helped the UK get through lockdown with 50% listening to music to raise their spirits according to a survey commissioned by the BPI, the UK’s recorded music industry association. The survey to be published in All About the Music 2021, the 42nd edition of the BPI Yearbook shows that well over a quarter (28%) of all those surveyed said they had increased their music listening compared to pre-lockdown. Only 11% of those asked said they listened to less or no music at all. Music listening was most pronounced among 16-24 year-olds, with not far from half (45%) of all the respondents within this group saying they listened to more music since the first national lockdown.
The survey results reinforce a BPI market update which reported that recorded music consumption in the UK rose by 8.2% in 2020, with 155 million albums or their equivalent either streamed or purchased by fans, including 139 Bn audio streams, 16 million CDs, nearly 5 million vinyl LPs, and over 150,000 cassettes.
Key findings from the BPI Survey
Music Listening
- Over a quarter (28%) of all respondents said they had listened to more music compared to pre-lockdown. Only 11% said less/no music
- The proportion listening to more music rose to 45% among 16-24 year-olds
Perceived benefits
- 50% of respondent listened to music to raise their spirits
- 42% used music to relax or sleep
- 40% felt music helps to alleviate boredom
- 27% saw it as a concentration aid with work, study etc.
- Rising to 50% among 16-24 year-olds
- 25% regarded music as an ideal accompaniment to exercise
- Slightly higher among women at 27%
- 21% looked to music to keep the family/household entertained
Music as aid to coping with stress/anxiety
- A fifth of respondents reported feeling of anxiety or stress daily, with 60% on weekly basis.
- Of all those expressing feelings of stress/anxiety:
- Over half (55%) said that music helped ease those feelings
- Rising to 60% among 16-24 year olds
- Of all those using music to help with stress/anxiety:
- 94% said it helped lift their mood
- 91% said it helps them escape and forget their problems
- 78% said they felt more motivated after listening (rising to 81% among women)
- 73% said they felt better able to manage their stress/anxiety after listening
- 62% said it made them feel better about themselves/more confident (rising to 72% with 16-24 & 25-34 year olds)
Music as aid to exercise
- 72% of those running did so with music as an accompaniment
- 75% of those undertaking gym/fitness activities did so with music as an accompaniment
- Of all those exercising with music:
- 61% said it had a moderate or major impact on duration (i.e. exercising for longer)
- 54% said it had a moderate or major impact on frequency (i.e. exercising more often)
- 61% said it had a moderate or major impact on intensity (i.e. working harder)
- 71% it had a moderate or major impact on their enjoyment
