A romantic break-up is one of the major triggers in life prompting people to seek out new music, according to research by global music streaming service, Deezer.
New research in Egypt found that music tastes change dramatically after a life-changing experience, with 78% of lonely hearts admitting that new artists and songs help combat heartbreak and 72% believing that music helps them during recovery from illness.
Deezer reached out to 2,000 adults in Egypt to identify big life moments that inspire discovery of new tunes. It found that 41% seek out new music to rebuild confidence after a romantic break-up or use music to move on and meet new people. Music can also set the tone for a budding new romance, with almost a third (29%) of respondents pretending to know a song or artist when asked on a first date.
It’s not just hearts that music can mend, as the research found in times of illness or unhappiness, 21% rely on new music to assist during recovery. It also works wonders for calming our nerves, as over 84% listen to music when feeling tense or nervous.
Whether happy or sad, “moods” are a good indicator of new music discovery. 70% of respondents have turned to ‘mood’ playlists to match their emotional state, with more than 40% looking to relax, 21% when feeling stressed, 31% of those experiencing bliss and 47% when feeling depressed.
New positive changes can also motivate music discovery, with 46% turn to music when starting a new job. Adventure also sparks the need to seek out new music, 34% seek out new music when traveling or exploring the world, while 35% use new music to help them find a new hobby.
Aurélien Hérault, Chief Research and Data Officer at Deezer, said: “Music is part of us and the soundtrack to our lives is always evolving. It’s fascinating to see from our research how music discovery is closely linked to important phases and events in people’s lives. I’m proud to say that with 56 million tracks available on demand, Deezer is ready to be the music companion that people need, bringing the music no matter what life moments await.”
Deezer has also reached out to 8,000 adults across five countries including Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Germany, France and the USA to identify big life moments that inspire discovery of new tunes.
Interestingly, the moments in our lives when we turn to music vary country by country, as 70% of Brazilians found comfort in discovering new music after a break-up. Brazilians & Saudi Arabians are also the most likely to pretend to have heard a song or artist on a first date (29% and 41% respectively) while the French tend to keep it real, with only 18% exaggerating their musical knowledge.
Germans are most inclined to turn to new music to help with recovery during times of illness or sadness, (68%) but are least likely to use mood generated playlists to discover new music (50%).