A study carried out by UK Music found that 57% of people said music helped them cope through lockdown.

The survey is the largest of its kind carried out since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and also found that 42% of people listened to more music during the crisis than they had done previously.

People listening to more music could be because of the extra spare time they had or perhaps them missing the live music experience that was forced to stop as a result of lockdown.

The study also discovered that close to 1 million adults in the UK had taken up a musical instrument during the 16 months of the lockdown period, and 71% felt that music made them more productive at work or when studying.

It was also revealed that many people also used music to help manage their emotions, 31% used music to ease anxiety, and 56% to improve their mood. Furthermore, 59% of respondents said they felt music helped both their health and emotional wellbeing.

Survey participants were also asked some questions about live music, and over two-thirds said they planned on either going to the same amount or more events than they did before the pandemic. Among the age group of 18 to 24-year-olds, 38% consider a music festival or performance to be one of the main things they are looking forward to after restrictions are lifted.

Understandably, 45% of people from all age groups felt worried about their local music venues, and if the businesses would manage to financially survive, following their long period of closure during lockdown.

Jamie Njoku-Goodwin is Chief Executive of UK Music, and giving a statement on the survey said: “These results demonstrate just how important music is to our nation and the critical role it has played over the course of this pandemic,” then continues “Combined with the huge economic contribution the music industry made pre-Covid-19, this is further evidence that the UK music industry is a key national asset that should be protected and supported by government.”

“People are clearly missing going to festivals, gigs, and concerts and eagerly awaiting the return of live music without social distancing. While the announcement of an end to restrictions from July 19 was very welcome, there remains one crucial last piece to the puzzle: action on insurance,” he added. “Suggestions that restrictions may be reintroduced later this year creates huge risk for event organisers and the inability to obtain commercial insurance means many live events have already been called off this year. Many more are still at risk of cancellation, so we need the government to introduce an insurance scheme that enables organisers to plan events with confidence.”

You can read the full survey results HERE