Americans' preferences for
music are surveyed by the
NEA in the
Survey of Public
Participation in the Arts. Here are the
1997 results (sample size: 4452
people, all over the age of
18, in
households that had a
telephone).
In order, including percentage of respondents who "like" the music, followed by the
percentage of all respondents who said it was their favorite:
- Mood or easy listening 67%, 5.9%
- Country-Western 65%, 20.7%
- Blues or R&B 63%, 4.8%
- Rock 60%, 18.2%
- Hymns or Gospel 58%, 13.8%
- Jazz 48%, 4.9%
- Classical or Chamber Music 47.5%, 6.7%
- Big Band 45%, 2.8%
- Operettas or Show Tunes 44%, 1.8%
- Bluegrass 42%, 0.7%
- Soul 40%, 1.4%
- Contemporary Folk 38%, 1.1%
- Reggae 32%, 0.8%
- Parade or Marching Band 32%, 0.2%
- New Age 31%, 1.5%
- Ethnic/national tradition 31%, 0.8%
- Latin, Spanish, or salsa 29%, 3.9%
- Choral or Glee Club 26%, 0.1%
- Barbershop 22%, 0.1%
- Opera 19%, 0.6%
- Rap 17%, 1.9%