Even chimps think Bieber is worse than Beethoven...

THEY may share much of our DNA – but it seems chimpanzees don’t share our love of music, scientists have found.

And fast-paced pop songs such as those by Justin Bieber are their least favourite, compared with slower classical music such as Beethoven and Mozart.

While previous studies have suggested chimps find music relaxing, researchers at the University of York found it has no effect on their behaviour, aggression or grooming habits.

In fact, the research showed that chimpanzees perceive all music as just noise.

In their research, in which 18 chimps at Edinburgh Zoo were played music, the team discovered they were more likely to leave their enclosure when exposed to pop music, including Justin Bieber and Adele.

And when classical music was playing they were more inclined to go into the enclosure, the research published in the journal Plos One reported. But lead author Dr Emma Wallace said this didn’t mean they liked classical music more, explaining: ‘While the chimpanzees were more likely to leave to the faster music, they did not show an actual preference for the slower classical music.

In fact, they seem to be indifferent to both types of music.’

The apes, studied for 14 weeks, showed no real alteration in their behaviour or wellbeing, leading the authors to conclude music is something they ‘potentially perceive in the same manner as noise’.

Dr Wallace added: ‘In humans, faster music tends to make people more excited, and so we think it is likely that chimpanzees have not evolved music appreciation in the same way.

‘It is likely people only started liking melody after our evolutionary path split from the great apes.’