Bach in fashion as new streaming figures reveal a classical music boom
Bach’s music is back in fashion 334 years after the composer was born, new figures show.
The research released by the Royal Albert Hall and global music streaming s er vice deezers how sa boom in millennia ls listening to classical music.
In the last six months, there has been a 270 per cent uplift in streaming of Deezer’s most popular classical playlist, with those under 35 accounting for 4 per cent of listeners.
The data showed that music by Johann Sebastian Bach – who was born 334 years ago on Sunday – has surged among under-35s.
The jump in popularity is attributed to several factors, with surges including a 5 per cent uplift immediately following Princess Eugenie’s wedding and another boost during exam season, as 20 per cent more 18 to 25-year-olds turned to classical music during May and June.
Yannick Fage of Deezer said: “From our streaming data we can see that classical music has definitely enjoyed something of a revival recently, particularly among younger streamers, fuelled by events like the royal wedding.
“Our most popular classical playlist has experienced a huge surge in streams in the past six months alone. Interestingly, almost half of those streams are from users under 35 – discrediting the widely made assumption that it’s a genre favoured by older listeners.”
Lucy Noble, artistic and commercial director at Royal Albert Hall, said: “It’s exciting to see from the streaming data the growth in under-35s enjoying classical music and in particular Bach. Over the last century, Bach has influenced everyone from the Beach Boys to Lady Gaga and Muse and it’s clear his appeal is now growing once again.
“The Royal Albert Hall’s world premiere of Bach Evolution responds to this appreciation. The show reinvents Bach’s music for a modern audience and talks to the diverse tastes of millennials by bringing together the great composer with some of the most exciting contemporary musical talent today.”
Bach Evolution premieres at the Royal Albert Hall on 1 May.