Classical music devotees embrace digital media

Classical music lovers are high-tech as well as highbrow, says a survey for Gramophone magazine.

Three-quarters of classical music fans are listening to their music through 21st-century media such as MP3 players, digital television or their personal computers, the researchers found.

Nearly three-fifths have ripped - converted to digital format - at least some of their classical CD collection and one in five download their music legally from the internet.

Age was no deterrent to embracing the modern world, the survey found. Downloaders aged 50 plus bought as many tracks as younger classical fans.

The over-50s also proved more adventurous in their downloading tastes than younger listeners. Their first download was as likely to be Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, the 72-year-old Master of the Queen's Music, who offers his music on his own website, as Beethoven.

Across all ages, Beethoven and Mozart were the most popular choices for a first download. It is likely that many of those questioned took advantage of the free Beethoven downloads offered by Britain's Radio 3 which proved so popular they made the recording industry sit up and take notice.

Classical music listeners not already in the vanguard of the technological revolution appear keen to join in. Three out of 10 music buffs who do not already own an MP3 player say they will buy one in the next year, and another third say they will at some point.

More than half the people who have already downloaded music intend to do so again this year, and 22 per cent of those who have not yet tried downloading aim to begin in the next 12 months.

However, more than 80 per cent of respondents still use traditional audio equipment such as the radio and CD players.

- INDEPENDENT