Music making on the rise in U.S.

A new U.S. Gallup Poll reveals that Americans of all ages are continuing to pursue music making and offers insight into the attitudes behind this passion as part of the 2006 Music USA: NAMM Global Report. The report, which covers a broad spectrum of industry segments from grand pianos, to DJ gear, to violins, to electric guitars, reveals interesting data on the industry and attitudes toward music making.

While guitars are currently the highest-selling musical instruments in America, with approximately 3.4 million sold in 2005, more Americans play the piano (31 percent) than the guitar or bass (28 percent).

The poll also shows that Americans are making more music than any other nationality. The U.S. market accounts for 42.7 percent of musical instrument purchases, followed by Japan at 15.6 percent and the United Kingdom at 6.7 percent. More than one-half of U.S. households (52 percent) have at least one person, age 5 or older, who currently plays a musical instrument--a sharp contrast compared to the United Kingdom at 37 percent and Australia at 36 percent. Forty percent of U.S. households have two or more musicians; 85 percent of Americans believe that music is a very important part of their life.

The fastest-growing segment of music makers is between ages 18 and 34, an increase of 5 percent since 2003. Also, more people are encouraged by their parents to take up an instrument (37 percent) than become interested on their own (29 percent), or are encouraged by a teacher (17 percent) or someone else (16 percent), with almost three-quarters of survey participants started playing before age 11. The number of people participating in school instrumental music activities and private lessons increased by 11 percent since 2003.

More than 80 percent of Americans wish they had learned to play a musical instrument, and 67 percent expressed an interest in learning to play. Nearly all respondents (94 percent) believe music is part of a well-rounded education, and that schools should offer instrumental music instruction as part of the regular curriculum; 85 percent believe participation in school music corresponds with better grades and higher test scores.

The music products industry's 16 million unit transactions last year in the United States alone show that the industry reaches a broad swath of the population. As more people learn about the benefits of playing music, the industry expects to see America's fondness for music making continue.

For more information, contact NAMM.