site.bta21% of Bulgarians Listen to Music via Streaming Platform, Survey Shows

A total of 21% of people in Bulgaria listen to music via a streaming platform, the Bulgarian Association of Music Producers (BAMP) announced Monday, referring to a survey conducted by Research Center Trend in December.

The free version of the platforms is used by 16% of people, while 5% pay a subscription fee.

"Free use outweighs paid use among all demographic groups, including college graduates and people with higher incomes," BAMP said. Music streaming platforms are most popular popular with under-30s. The survey found that men, university graduates and Sofia residents rely on them most often.

Affordable subscription fees appear to be the topmost reason for 51% of respondents to switch from free access to paid subscription. Lack of commercials (41%) and access to the entire world catalogue (38%) were among the other top reasons for choosing a paid subscription. 

Approximately eight in 10 users of free streaming platforms rate the subscription fee as affordable, yet only half are willing to pay it. According to BAMP, this is one of the factors that still stop the Bulgarian music industry from achieving its full potential. The Association added there is a trend towards a gradual penetration of these new technologies into the everyday lives of Bulgarians, although not at the pace seen elsewhere in the world. "By comparison, according to the International Federation of the Recording Industry, an average of 22% of people in the EU subscribe to music streaming platforms," BAMP said.