People that live and work in Birmingham regard music to be core to the city’s identity and the heartbeat of the city’s cultural life.

 

New research commissioned by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO), among people that that live in and around Birmingham, revealed that:

 

·       While music tastes varied widely from metal to grime and orchestral to film music – a share loved of music united the city. A remarkable 96% of residents said they enjoy music as the soundtrack of everyday life in and around Birmingham. The situations where people enjoy are most likely to enjoy music include; relaxing after a busy day (68%), when cooking or doing domestic chores (57%), commuting to or from work (40%) and when gaming (20%). For 35% of respondents their daily enjoyment of music leads them to enjoy the magic of a live concert experience. 

 

·      Going to see live music in Birmingham is regarded to be one of the most important aspects of cultural life for people that live in the West Midlands. Live music ranked among the top three factors (33%) shaping cultural life in the region, alongside watching live sport (40%) and eating out in and around Birmingham with friends/family (43%). Supporting local theatres (32%) and museums (26%) also rated highly by survey respondents.

 

·      Nine in ten adults (92%) cite aspects of arts and culture that they believe Birmingham can be proud of on the national or international stage. Four in ten people (41%) felt the city’s art galleries and museums were something Birmingham could be proud of. Music was also a dominant source of pride – and on many levels, reflecting the musical and creative diversity of the city. Around a third of respondents highlighted the city’s track record for iconic rock bands (33%), the calibre of its orchestras and concert halls (32%), theatre and ballet (32%) and the richness of its creative and cultural festivals (32%).

 

·      The majority of Birmingham adults said they would like to see the UK Government invest more in music and culture locally: 44% say the top priority should be giving more children the opportunity to learn music at school – with support rising to 72% among parents of pre-school-age children. The success of the CBSO Shireland Academy shows what is possible here on the national stage, a local school where every student has the opportunity to learn music. 

 

 Emma Stenning, CEO at the CBSO comments: “As part of our ongoing listening campaign with communities across the city, we would like to thank the hundreds of people in and around Birmingham that took time to share their views with us. These new research findings underscore how Birmingham’s track record for music innovation is mirrored by the importance the residents attach to the music they love. For many, music unites people, it is core to the health of the city and – more many – everyday experiences result in people supporting the venues that delivery deliver outstanding concerts on people’s doorsteps. At the CBSO, we will be announcing our new season next month and, later in the summer, we will once again take to the streets for another week of free concerts for CBSO in the City.”