Music helped 57% of people through lockdown, a new study finds

A new study has revealed several positive statistics. Throughout the various lockdowns, 57% of people turned to music to help process and deal with the effects of the pandemic. 42% increased the amount of time they spent listening. 

The latest data drive was a deep dive into the effects of lockdown on both the music industry and consumers, looking at how people felt about the future of music in a post-COVID restrictions world and how it was consumed over the period. 

A whopping 1 Million adults in the UK started to learn an instrument. 31% of those surveyed state that music helps to ease anxiety. 56% suggest that it helps to improve their mood. (The last stat is a no-brainer!) 

There is still anxiety around live music moving forward, with 45% concerned about their local music venue closing doors. Event attendance does not seem to be an issue. 43% of respondents are planning to attend a live music event this year, with 38% of 18-24-year-olds looking forward to attending a music festival when the restrictions lift. 

UK Music Chief Executive, Jamie Njoku-Goodwin, spoke out regarding the results of the study. 

“These results demonstrate just how important music is to our nation and the critical role it has played over the course of this pandemic, combined with the huge economic contribution the music industry made pre-Covid-19, this is further evidence that the UK music industry is a key national asset that should be protected and supported by the government.” 

Moving on to say: 

“People are clearly missing going to festivals, gigs, and concerts and eagerly awaiting the return of live music without social distancing. While the announcement of an end to restrictions from July 19 was very welcome, there remains one crucial last piece to the puzzle: action on insurance.” 

“Suggestions that restrictions may be reintroduced later this year creates a huge risk for event organisers, and the inability to obtain commercial insurance means many live events have already been called off this year. Many more are still at risk of cancellation, so we need the government to introduce an insurance scheme that enables organisers to plan events with confidence.” 

The saga continues…