“Infected by Sound”: Results of Musical Preferences Research in Poland (Part III)

Once again, we return to the exceptional book released in Poland in 2023 by Stanisław Trzciński titled “Infected by Sound: The Music Market in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” (PWN, Warsaw 2023, pp. 939). It is noteworthy for several reasons, including the quantitative and qualitative research conducted on musical preferences in Poland.

In the third part, we present the responses of survey participants to two additional questions, thereby illustrating the musical landscape of Poland. Hopefully, Trzciński’s research reflects the musical status quo worldwide. Therefore, such studies are highly desirable for both the music industry and music consumers.

Question 11: What type of music and musical genres do you like?

Based on the collected data regarding the question about the type of music or musical genre respondents prefer in their lives, the following conclusions can be drawn:

1. Pop, Popular Music: Women: 32.4%; Men: 22.4% – Pop music proved to be the most popular genre among both women and men. However, a higher percentage of women prefer this genre compared to men.
2. Disco Polo (Polish musical phenomenon): Women: 20.4%; Men: 12.6% – Disco Polo enjoys greater popularity among women, although there is noticeable participation from men.
3. Rock (including alternative): Women: 8.6%; Men: 18.1% – Rock, including its alternative variant, gains more recognition among men than women.
4. Hip-hop, Rap: Women: 7.0%; Men: 7.1% – Preferences for hip-hop and rap are almost identical in both gender groups.
5. Electronic, Dance, Techno: Women: 4.8%; Men: 7.3% – Men show more interest in electronic, dance, and techno music compared to women.
6. Classical Music: Women: 5.4%; Men: 4.1% – Classical music attracts women more frequently than men.
7. Film Music: Women: 2.2%; Men: 3.3% – Film music enjoys moderate interest in both groups, with a slight male preference.
8. Blues: Women: 1.1%; Men: 4.1% – Blues has gained more popularity among men than women.

Key points to note in the conclusions:

• Diversity of preferences: Musical preferences are diverse among both women and men. There is no clear dominant genre, indicating the richness of musical diversity.
• Pop music as a leader: Pop music is the most preferred genre in both groups, but women show more interest than men.
• Similarities and differences in musical tastes: Differences in musical preferences between genders are evident. Preferences for hip-hop and rap are similar in both groups, indicating some similarity in musical tastes. Men tend to choose genres such as rock, electronic music, and blues more often than women.
• Potential for diverse musical offerings: The relative balance in the popularity of different genres suggests the potential for diverse musical offerings that can cater to varied listener preferences.

Question 12: Do you buy or subscribe to music content?

Based on the collected data regarding the question about purchasing or subscribing to music content in respondents’ lives, the following conclusions can be drawn:

1. Purchase of CDs: 9.1% – The purchase of traditional CDs remains relatively low, suggesting a gradual shift away from this format among respondents.
2. Paid Streaming Services: 16.5% – Streaming services are gaining popularity, indicating a trend towards accessing music in digital form and flexible access to a wide catalogue of songs.
3. Purchase through TV, TV Platforms: 6.2% – Purchasing music content through paid television or television platforms holds a moderate position in preferences, possibly due to the availability of other, more dedicated, and free solutions.
4. Purchase of MP3 files: 2.4% – The purchase of MP3 files has a low share, suggesting a decline in the popularity of this format in favour of streaming services.
5. I do not buy music content: 74.5% – The overwhelming majority of respondents declare that they do not purchase music content. This is a significant observation that may result from the availability of free streaming platforms or changes in music consumption habits.
6. Purchase of cassette tapes: 1.4% – The purchase of cassette tapes remains marginal, indicating minimal interest in this outdated format.
7. Purchase of vinyl records: 2.6% – Despite the low percentage, the purchase of vinyl records enjoys some recognition, especially among analogue sound enthusiasts and collectors.

What do the above data tell us?

1. Dominance of the free model: The vast majority of respondents (74.5%) do not purchase music content, suggesting the dominance of the free access model to music on various streaming platforms and the internet in general.
2. Evolution of preferences: Paid streaming services are gaining popularity, indicating an evolution of preferences towards digital forms of music access, bypassing traditional physical formats.
3. Decline of traditional formats: The purchase of CDs, cassette tapes, and MP3 files remains at a low level, suggesting the decline of these traditional formats.
4. Importance of the vinyl format: Despite a small percentage, the purchase of vinyl records still garners some interest, especially among those appreciating analog sound and building collections.
5. Need for adaptation in offerings: There is a need to adapt music offerings to changing preferences, with particular attention to streaming platforms.

In summary, the analysis of music purchasing habits indicates dynamic changes in the way music is consumed, with a dominance of digital access and a decline in traditional formats. Understanding these trends can be crucial for adapting marketing strategies and musical offerings to the expectations of contemporary consumers.

Conclusion

It appears that there is a need to adapt music offerings to evolving preferences, especially considering the growing popularity of streaming platforms. Additionally, despite the dominance of the free model, there is a niche for the vinyl format, which the music industry can leverage to tailor offerings to diverse audience needs and preferences.