A study by Uskudar University's Department of Sociology, which examined the music habits of university youth in Turkey, presented striking results. According to the comprehensive research conducted with 469 students from 72 universities, 9 out of every 10 young people listen to music every day, and some even dedicate more than 5 hours a day to music. The research indicates that while young people embrace music as a lifestyle, they keep their distance from playing instruments and producing music.
Young people primarily access music through their mobile phones, with self-curated playlists, or via platforms like YouTube and Spotify. It was also determined that 66.4% of participants listen to music while studying or doing another task.
Emphasizing the importance of shifting young people's relationship with music from a listener to a producer position, Sociologist Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı stated, “Art and music culture not only support individual development but also play a significant role in building social harmony and peace.”
A comprehensive study conducted by Uskudar University with 469 students from 72 universities revealed a striking truth about young people's relationship with music in Turkey. While young people embrace music as a lifestyle, they keep their distance from playing instruments and producing music.
The study, conducted by Uskudar University Department of Sociology faculty member Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı and sociologist Melike Demir, showed that young people love music as "consumers" but remain distant from being "producers".
71.3% of Participants Do Not Play Any Instrument
In the study, conducted with the participation of 469 students from 72 universities, the most preferred Turkish music genres among participants were pop, rock, and rap; while in foreign music, Western pop, rock, classical music, techno, and jazz stood out. These preferences indicate that young people are openly oriented towards both local and global music culture. However, the data reveals that despite students' intense interest in music, this interest is not reflected in practice. 71.3% of participants stated that they do not play any instrument, and 63.7% stated that they have not received any music education.
Research Methodology and Demographic Findings
A significant portion of the participants in the 32-question study are enrolled in state and foundation universities in major cities such as Istanbul and Ankara. In addition, university students from various geographical regions like Izmir, Kırklareli, Kocaeli, Sakarya, Muş, and Rize were also included in the research. While 44.2% of the students stated they live in a metropolitan area, 38.8% indicated residing in a large city.
In terms of gender distribution, women constituted 66.2% of the participants, and men constituted 33.8%.
9 out of 10 People Listen Every Day!
The research results show that music has become an indispensable part of students' daily lives. Responses to the question, “How often do you listen to music during the day?” indicated that music is no longer just a hobby but has become a lifestyle. According to the data; only 1.4% of participants stated they never listen to music. While 22.5% said they spend a large part of their day listening to music, 19.5% reported listening for an average of 1 hour, 20.9% for 2 hours, and 11.1% for 3 hours daily. Furthermore, 5.4% of participants listen to music for more than 5 hours a day.
Mobile Phone Ranks First in Digital!
Young people primarily access music through their mobile phones (40.9%), with their own curated playlists, or via platforms like YouTube (28.3%) and Spotify (17.7%).
Data obtained from the research revealed that 52.6% of participants do not choose a specific environment for listening to music. Those who prefer listening to music with headphones in a solitary environment constituted 17.6%, while the number of those who prefer listening to music with a speaker in a solitary environment was determined to be 13.6%. Among participants, 10.3% listened to music with headphones in crowded environments.
Data regarding students' preferred emotional states for listening to music showed that the vast majority (81.3%) listen to music according to various moods. Additionally, 8.9% of participants preferred music specifically when they were relaxed, while a smaller group stated they listened to music when they were happy, angry, or bored.
They Listen While Studying and Even While Asleep!
Research findings suggest that 66.4% of participants listen to music while studying or performing another task, while 27.9% do not. Regarding the time of day music is listened to, 57.5% of participants stated they listen to music all day long. The proportion of those who listen to music mostly in the evening hours was 16.5%, while those who listen mostly in the morning hours was found to be 8.4%. Another finding of the research is that 51.8% of participants sleep with music on some nights. While the proportion of those who sleep without music at night was 34.4%, those who fall asleep listening to music was determined to be 13.8%.
Music: Beyond Entertainment, The Key to Emotions
Research findings reveal that for university students, music is not just a background sound; it is the language of emotions, a mirror of identity, and the strongest bond with the inner world: 35.1% of participants associate music with “emotional intensity.” While 18.2% define music as “a lifestyle,” for 17.1% music is an “entertainment” tool. For 12.5% of participants, music carries the meaning of “rest and relaxation.” 8.4% directly associate music with “peace.”
Over 50% Say "I Listen to All Kinds of Music"!
Research results reveal that young people are not confined to specific genres; they embrace a wide range of both Turkish and foreign music. While 17.1% of participants preferred listening to pop, the rate of those who preferred rock music was determined to be 10%. Genres such as rap (4.6%), Turkish classical music (4.1%), and Turkish folk music (3%) were represented at lower rates. The proportion of those who stated they do not listen to Turkish music (3%) also remained quite low. In foreign music preferences, Western pop music ranked first with 36.9%. This was followed by Western rock music (10.8%) and Western classical music (8.7%). While jazz and techno music genres had a limited audience, the proportion of those who stated they do not listen to Western music stood out at 20.6%. The data showed that university youth are open to diversity in both Turkish and foreign music, but certain genres stand out due to individual taste differences.
Who's on Young People's Playlists?
The research reveals that both legendary and current artists from Turkey's and the world's music scene hold a place in young people's hearts. Among the most loved Turkish artists, names like Sezen Aksu, Cem Karaca, Barış Manço, Teoman, and Mabel Matiz stand out; while among foreign artists, names like Adele, Lana Del Rey, Rihanna, and The Weeknd were preferred.
Contact with Instruments is Almost Non-Existent
Research findings indicate that young people consume music intensively but participate in the production process to a limited extent. A full 80.2% of participants stated they do not play any instrument. The majority of participants (71.3%) reported not playing any instrument. The research shows that among participants who do use instruments, they gravitate towards instruments such as guitar (7.6%), piano (4.1%), and saz (1.1%).
Among participants, those who had never received any instrument education were more common at 63.7%, while those who had previously received education at a music school/course were 14.1%, and those who took private lessons were determined to be 10%. A portion of 7.3% stated they learned to play an instrument through their own efforts.
Young People Closer to Music with Friends, Distant with Families
Research data indicates that university students mostly share music with their friend circles, while this interaction remains quite limited within the family environment. While 34.4% of participants stated they attend music events with friends a few times a year, the rate of those who frequently attend these events remained at 17.3%. In contrast, the rate of those who attend events with their families a few times a year was 8.4%, and those who frequently attend was a remarkably low 1.9%. 32.2% of students stated they do not participate in any music activities.
To the question, “Do you have a song you sing together with your family?” only 38.9% responded “yes,” while 59% said such a musical sharing had never occurred within the family.
Young People Open Doors to Turkic World Melodies
Research findings reveal that young people listen not only to Western music but also to the rich melodies of the Turkic world. While 44.7% of students stated they listen to music from Turkic Republics, 34.1% indicated that they had encountered these music types before but were not aware of it. When examining the answers to the question, “Which Turkic Republic's artists do you listen to the most?” it is understood that Azerbaijani artists receive more attention compared to other countries. While 36% of participants stated they listen to artists of Azerbaijani origin, artists from Kazakhstan (5.1%), Uzbekistan (2.2%), and Kyrgyzstan (1.6%) reach a more limited audience.
Among the artists most listened to by young people, Azerbaijan's famous vocalists Rashid Behbudov and Shovkat Alakbarova stand out, along with Dimash Kudaibergen, who gained worldwide fame with his powerful voice from Kazakhstan.
What is the Perception of Turkish Society's Music Culture?
The question posed to participants within the scope of the research, “What do you think is the level of Turkish society's music culture?” shed light on young people's subjective evaluations in this area. While 60.7% of participants stated that the music culture is at an intermediate level; this finding indicates that music is widely consumed in daily life but remains limited in terms of cultural depth and knowledge. While the rate of those who found society's music culture to be high was 20.9%, this rate suggests that a positive general perception regarding music still persists in Turkey.
Young People Remain Mostly Consumers
Uskudar University Department of Sociology Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı provided an evaluation of university youth's relationship with music.
Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı stated that young people establish a multi-layered and dynamic relationship with music, saying, “Young people diversify their music preferences according to individual emotional states and social contexts, adopting music as an important cultural area in identity formation. With digitalization, young people have become active participants interacting with music not only as listeners but also through social media and digital platforms. However, the low rates of music production and instrument playing reveal that young people largely remain in the position of consumers.”
Music: Not Just Art, but Also a Guarantee of Mental Health and Social Peace
Emphasizing the importance of shifting young people's relationship with music from a listener to a producer position, Prof. Dr. Süleymanlı concluded his words by saying, “In this direction, it is important for educational institutions and local governments to develop strategies that encourage young people's creative participation from primary school onwards. Expanding music education to be accessible to all segments of society and ensuring active family participation in this process are among the main strategic steps that will support young people in establishing a deeper and more productive relationship with music. Such a holistic approach will deepen young people's relationship with music, supporting them as more productive and sharing individuals. On the other hand, it should be emphasized that individuals with developed art and music culture are more creative and productive as they can express their emotions in healthy ways. These individuals can more effectively cope with negative emotions such as stress and anger through such cultural activities that support mental health; this also contributes to them avoiding risky behaviors such as violence. Therefore, art and music culture not only support individual development but also play a significant role in building social harmony and peace.”