84% of respondents reported that they find new artists through playlists made by streaming services (think: Spotify's Discover or curated public playlists), compared to 54% who self-search through streaming services’ music library. In fact, Spotify (80%) and Instagram (80%) are the most popular platforms used to keep up with artists. Meanwhile, 51% find them through their favorite artists promoting other artists.
This may come as a shock, but radio is still alive and well! Nearly half (46%) of those surveyed found new artists through the radio. And (surprise, surprise) TikTok has emerged as a ripe platform for discovery for 42% of respondents.
According to our survey, our music tastes extend beyond the mainstream. 83% of people report listening to a mix of lesser-known and mainstream artists. And for the majority, music isn’t a popularity contest; 72% say popularity isn’t important when finding new artists.
There's nothing better than finding a new artist. When asked, more respondents (36%) revealed that discovering lesser-known artists was more important than emerging artists’ unique sound (19%). However, the biggest reasons for not listening to emerging artists over mainstream ones is the extra effort needed to find them (34%) and not knowing where to look (30%).
We all love a good throwback song — and by all, we literally mean 99% of those surveyed listen to music and artists from other generations.
When asked about the appeal of listening to music from other generations, almost two-thirds of our respondents said they enjoyed listening to a variety of sounds.
Do you have a go-to pick me up playlist? Or maybe a set of songs to cry to on a rainy day? You're not alone; 88% listen to music to match their mood and 75% of people listen to music to evoke a mood. And, more than half (55%) listen to music to experience something vicariously through an artist — falling in love, breaking up, you name it.
Turns out, popular music is popular for a reason — and readers pointed out that the prevalent pop jams they listened to growing up is what most influences their music tastes (83%). Friends (80%) and family (72%) also play an important role in shaping someone's music tastes.
What personality traits do you love about your favorite artist? Our participants' top three responses were: Authentic/Genuine (77%), Passionate (65%), and Hard Working (43%).
Live events create a deeper bond — 43% became a fan of their favorite artists after going to their concert for the first time, compared to the 30% who said that watching performances online caused them to become fans. And contrary to popular belief – no, looks aren't everything. 54% of our participants believe physical attractiveness is not important while 35% are indifferent.
Empathy is music’s most powerful force, 70% believe that music has the power to create a more empathetic society.
While music can rally people together behind a cause (60%) and bring light to social issues (56%), participants were more skeptical about its power to bring about policy change (22%) and create a more equitable society (20%)
Music has the power to strengthen our relationships and deepen our bonds. Nearly half (46%) of participants say that music has helped them open up about a personal matter to someone else, and 43% use music to stay in touch with friends, acquaintances, and family.
Our favorite artists have an effect on us. 62% of participants say their favorite artists introduced them to new styles and aesthetics, and nearly half (46%) of participants believe their favorite artists made them more confident in who they are — which is always a good thing.