How the coronavirus pandemic has changed what we listen to

[zakiyatasnim]

Remote work has freed many of us from the need to commute and given us more free time. According to MRC Data and Nielsen Music, 60% of consumers have engaged with entertainment technology more frequently since the start of the global lockdown in March 2020. This has also affected the way we listen to music, with streaming services gaining ground over traditional radio.



The large-scale transition to a remote work format has radically changed the habits of millions of people: if earlier they listened to pop music and talk radio on their way to work, now they ask digital assistants to turn on a playlist according to their preferences.

Working from home also gives you more time for entertainment.

According to MRC Data and Nielsen Music, after the start of global isolation in March 2020, 60% of consumers began to interact more often with entertainment industry technologies.
About a quarter of those surveyed have signed up for at least one service subscription, and 38% of them have signed up for a new music platform.
Not only have listening habits changed, but so have popular music styles. As fewer new albums have been released, older songs have taken over the top positions of Spotify’s pop charts. This reflects not only a decline norway number data in new releases, but also a desire for more comfortable and familiar music.

According to Alpha Data, a week after the start of the global lockdown in March 2020, the popularity of pop, rap, R&B and Latin tracks fell below average. On the other hand, listening to classical, folk and children's music increased. As Spotify reported, people are now much more likely to include playlists for cooking and cleaning, rather than those designed for meetings and parties.

According to eMarketer, the growth in home listening is also due to the active use of smart speakers - in April 2020, it increased by 34%. Smart speakers are most popular among young people aged 18 to 29 - 42% of representatives of this age group say that they have become more likely to use speakers. For services such as Spotify, Amazon Music and Apple Music, this has provided significant advantages.

On the other hand, radio broadcasters have been hit hard: their audience numbers have fallen as people have become less likely to use private transport, while the crisis in sectors such as travel and hospitality has led to a drop in advertising revenue.

The coronavirus has also affected the podcast industry. According to Voxnest, at the beginning of the pandemic in the US, the number of podcasts listened to, defined as one minute of playback in a 24-hour period, decreased by 20%. This was due to reduced travel. However, at the same time, in Europe, the figure increased by 53%, due to the fact that local audiences support the format in the home environment.

In addition, recording a podcast at home is much easier than creating music, and listeners have access to even more new content.