“Infected by sound”. Results of research on musical preferences in Poland. (Part I)

In 2023, a unique book by Stanisław Trzciński titled “Infected by Sound: The Music Market in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” [Zarażeni dźwiękiem. Rynek muzyczny w czasach sztucznej inteligencji] was published in Poland (PWN, Warsaw 2023, pp. 939). It stands out not only due to its intriguing title (“Infected by Sound”) but also because of the conducted quantitative and qualitative research on musical preferences in Poland.

In this section, I will present five questions to which survey respondents provided answers, offering an insight into Poland’s musical landscape. I hope that Trzciński’s conducted research, similarly (or approximately), reflects the musical status quo not only in Poland.

Question 1: How important is music in your life in general?

The collected data on the overall importance of music in respondents’ lives allows us to draw the following conclusions:

1. Very important (41.7%): The largest group of respondents (41.7%) considers music a very important element of their lives. This suggests that for this group of people, music plays a significant role and may be a key aspect of their daily experience.
2. Rather important (40.0%): Another significant group of respondents (40.0%) views music as rather important. This indicates that while it may not be the most crucial element in their lives, it still plays a significant role, perhaps positively influencing their mood and experiences.
3. Neither important nor unimportant (15.5%): More than one-seventh of the surveyed individuals (15.5%) do not consider music either very important or rather unimportant. This may suggest that music has little impact on their lives or is one of many equally important elements.
4. Rather unimportant (1.8%) and not important at all (1.0%): For a small group of respondents, music is considered rather unimportant or not important at all. This could mean that music does not play a crucial role in their lives.

In summary, the majority of respondents seem to acknowledge that music is important to them or at least holds some significance in their lives. This could be an important observation for the creation of music culture, organizing music events, or promoting activities related to music in the community.

Question 2: How often do you listen to music

The survey results on the frequency of listening to music lead to the following conclusions:

1. Every day (66.6%): The vast majority of respondents (66.6%) listen to music every day. This suggests that for most participants, music is a regular part of their daily lives, perhaps acting as a companion, source of entertainment, or source of relaxation.
2. Several times a week (22.0%): A large group of respondents (22.0%) listen to music several times a week. While this is not an everyday occurrence, it is still a common activity, suggesting that for this group, music plays an important role in their lives.
3. Several times a month (6.4%): A smaller group of respondents (6.4%) listens to music several times a month. This may mean that for this group, music is a less regular part of their routine, but it still has some importance.
4. Never or almost never (2.3%): A small percentage of respondents (2.3%) never or almost never listen to music. This may be due to personal preferences or a lifestyle where music does not play a key role.
5. Less often (1.6%) and several times a year (1.1%): A very small number of respondents listen to music less often (1.6%) or only a few times a year (1.1%). These may be people who do not attach much importance to music in their lives.

Overall, the results suggest that for most participants, music is a regular part of their lives, and listening to music daily is common. Differences in the frequency of listening to music may result from individual preferences, lifestyles, or everyday duties.

Question 3: In what situations do you listen to music most often?

Analyzing the results of the survey regarding situations in which respondents most frequently listen to music, the following conclusions can be drawn:

1. At home (65.5%): The vast majority of respondents (65.5%) prefer listening to music at home. This suggests that for many people, home is a place where they can consciously and peacefully enjoy their favorite music, perhaps creating an atmosphere of relaxation or entertainment.
2. On the way to work (13%): Another significant group of respondents (13%) listens to music on their way to work. This implies that music serves as a companion during the journey, may improve mood, and help start the day.
3. At work (10.4%): Approximately 10.4% of respondents listen to music at their workplace. This may indicate that for this group, music is also important in the context of the professional environment, perhaps aiding in concentration, motivation, or creating a positive atmosphere.
4. During longer journeys (4%): A small group of respondents (4%) listens to music during longer journeys. This suggests that music may be a means of entertainment for them during travels, helping to relax or pass the time.

These conclusions suggest that preferences for listening to music are diverse and depend on the context of life. For many individuals, home is a crucial place for listening to music, but various situations such as travel or work also provide opportunities to engage with this medium. This information could be significant for the music industry, streaming platforms, and event organizers to better tailor their offerings to different contexts of music consumption.

Question 4: How listening to music help you?

Analyzing the results of the survey regarding the benefits of listening to music, the following conclusions can be drawn:

1. Relaxation (61.9%): The vast majority of respondents (61.9%) emphasize that listening to music helps them relax. This suggests that, for many individuals, music serves as a form of relaxation and can be used as a tool to reduce stress and improve well-being.
2. Focus (31.9%): For almost one-third of respondents (31.9%), music is a tool that helps them concentrate. This may indicate that for this group, listening to music is applied to enhance attention and effectiveness in tasks requiring focus.
3. Background Ambiance (33.8%): For over one-third of respondents (33.8%), music serves as background ambiance. This suggests that some use music as an accompaniment to other activities, perhaps to create a suitable atmosphere.
4. Party Atmosphere (24.0%): For one-fourth of respondents (24.0%), music is important during parties. This confirms that, for many individuals, music plays a social role, creating a fun and integrative atmosphere during social gatherings.
5. At Work (28.8%): Almost one-third of respondents (28.8%) use music at work. This suggests that music may be a motivational tool for them or helps maintain a positive atmosphere in the workplace.
6. Energize (14.8%): A smaller but significant group of respondents (14.8%) indicates that music helps them wake up. This may mean that, for some individuals, music serves a stimulating function and helps them start the day or sustain energy.

In summary, the results suggest that music serves various functions for different individuals, meeting needs related to both relaxation and activity. This can be crucial for artists, music producers, and streaming platforms to tailor their offerings to different expectations and benefits that people seek from listening to music.

Question 5: Who chooses the music you listen to?

Based on the survey results regarding music preferences, here are the findings:

1. Mostly by myself (75.7%): The vast majority of respondents (75.7%) usually choose music independently. This suggests that autonomy in selecting music is important for most individuals, reflecting their unique musical preferences and the desire to control their own music experience.
2. Mostly someone else (16.3%): However, approximately 16.3% of respondents rely more on someone else’s choice of music. This may result from the desire to share the musical experience with others or trust in someone else’s musical taste in a given context.
3. Hard to say (8.2%): A small percentage of respondents (8.2%) found it difficult to determine whether they usually choose music by themselves or someone else. This could be due to the diversity of situations in which they listen to music and variable preferences regarding independent choice in different contexts.

These conclusions suggest that the majority of individuals value autonomy in selecting music and find satisfaction in making their own choices about what to listen to. This insight can be crucial for streaming platforms that offer personalized music recommendations to meet the expectations of those who prefer individual music selection. At the same time, it’s worth noting that there is a group of people who appreciate the choices made by others, which can be important for music promotion and social recommendations.

Summary

Trzciński’s research offers valuable insights into Poland’s musical landscape, highlighting the diverse roles and preferences that music holds in individuals’ lives. These findings have implications for the music industry, streaming platforms, and event organizers, providing a foundation for understanding and catering to the multifaceted aspects of music consumption.