An Orchestral Audience: Classical Music and Continued Patterns of Distinction. (December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Crawford, Garry; Gosling, Victoria; Bagnall, Gaynor; Light, Ben
• Is Part Of: Cultural sociology. Volume 8:Number 4(2014:Dec.)
• Page Start: 483
• Page End: 500
• Publication Date: 2014-12
• Subjects: apps -- new technologies -- audiences -- Bourdieu -- class -- classical music -- music -- sociology -- cultural omnivores -- digital -- distinction; Sociology -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals; 306
• DOI: 10.1177/1749975514541862
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1749-9755

Abstract

This paper considers the key findings of a year-long collaborative research project focusing on the audience of the London Symphony Orchestra and their introduction of a new mobile telephone ('app') ticketing system. A mixed-method approach was employed, utilizing focus groups and questionnaires with over 80 participants, to research a sample group of university students. This research develops our understanding of classical music audiences, and highlights the continued individualistic, middle-class, and exclusionary culture of classical music attendance and patterns of behaviours. The research also suggests that a mobile phone app does prove a useful mechanism for selling discounted tickets, but shows little indication of being a useful means of expanding this audience beyond its traditional demographic.