INSCOP Research survey: cultural consumption and music preferences

According to the survey made by INSCOP Research at the command of News.ro in October –November 2023 only half of the Romanians (51.4%) state that they have read books over the last six months while traditional music is the kind of music most listened to.The survey was made by INSCOP Research at the command of News.ro. The data were gathered between 23rd October and 2nd November 2023. The research method: interview through questionnaire. The data were gathered through the method CATI ( phone interviews), stratified sample volume being 1100 people, representative for significant social-demographic  categories (sex, age, occupation) for non-institutionalized population of Romania, aged 18 and above. The maximum error admitted for the data is +/- 3% at a trust level of 95%.   The evolution of Romanians' music preferences in the last 10 years. 2013 vs. 2023   Remus Stefureac – manager INSCOP Research: ‘ The musical preferences of the Romanians have changed over the last decade, the most important being the significant drop of the share of those who prefer pop-dance, the increase in the share of those who listen to ‘manele’(Balkan-type music) as well as those who listen to classic music. The most significant figure is the reduced share of those who state they do not listen to music, under 5% of the population. Practically, approximately 95% of the Romanians listen to music, irrespective of the favourite musical genre.’   When asked what kind of music they listen to, 47.3% of respondents mention traditional music (compared to 49.7% in 2013), 29.2% pop-dance (compared to 41% in 2013), 28.3% classical (compared to 22.8% in 2013), 21.6% ‘manele’ (compared to 14.2% in 2013), 19. 2% hip-hop (vs. 18.2% in 2013), and 16.5% rock (vs. 19.5% in 2013). 10.8% mention another genre (vs. 2.7% in 2013). 4.8% of respondents say they do not listen to music (vs. 1% in 2013), and 0.9% do not know or do not answer this question. It is important to note that for this question, survey participants had the option to choose more than one answer option.   The socio-demographic analysis: traditional music is listened to mostly by older people, with primary or medium level of education, passive inactive, rural environment inhabitants, those with reduced income, those who do not use social media.They say they prefer pop-dance mostly: people under 45, those with higher education, white-collar workers, and private employees.   Higher-education people, white or grey collars state in a higher proportion than the rest of the population that they prefer classic music. Stating they listen to ‘manele’ (Balkan-type music) are younger people, aged under 45, primary education, potentially active inactive, small urban and rural dwellers, Tik-Tok users, those with lower income.   Hip-hop is listened to especially by younger people, aged under 45, grey collars or inactive potentially active, private employees.   Men, under 45, higher education, while collars, Bucharest dwellers or big city dwellers, higher income, private employees are the categories who mention most often that they listen to rock.   Cultural consumption of Romanians   Remus Stefureac – manager INSCOP Research ‘ Reading books seems to be the most appreciated form of cultural consumption, being probably the most accessible from the point of view of costs and acquisition effective possibilities and interaction. Visiting historical monuments, museums, art galleries, exhibitions or opera going, theatre or concert going means access to this type of infrastructure which is still unequal in Romania’.   51.4% of Romanians say that in the last 6 months they have read books (novels, poetry, etc.), 43% that they have visited historical or cultural monuments, 32.6% that they have visited a museum, an art gallery or an exhibition, and 21.4% that they have gone to the theatre, opera or classical music concerts. 0.1% do not know or do not answer this set of questions.   Socio-demographic analysis: Cultural consumption (for all the activities listed) tends to be higher among the following population groups: people under 45, those with higher education, white-collar workers, people living in Bucharest or in large urban areas, those with a higher income and state employees.