It would appear the classics are becoming more popular with the younger generation.

Recent numbers indicate that more millennial listeners are tuning into classical music stations and the New Classical FM appears to be the beneficiary.  Our audience has seen a 42% increase in the under-35 audience over the last two years – now drawing almost 220,000 younger listeners weekly.  According to our research, not only are more young people tuning in, but they’re listening longer.

Classical FM’s program and music director Paul Thomas puts it down to the explosion of soundtrack and video game music being recorded by more orchestras.

Kenneth McLeod, an associate professor of music history at the U of T, says it could be more than just a by-product of more programming choices.  He says it’s music that has depth, substance.and credibility, something that perhaps the younger demographic is looking for in this marketplace.