2. misc-audio
  3. 191250-671

YouTube Indicates What the Future is For Audiophiles - Interesting Demographics.

Howdy,

I just wanted to share some data from YouTube as I found it quite eye-opening and thought some of you might too.

I've posted a couple vids on YouTube recently and, as some will know, YouTube provides analytics data with every video, which is available to the channel owner.

The first video featured a Krell KSA 80 amp and at the time of writing this there have been 9,500 views:

Female - 0%
Male - 100%

13–17 years 0%
18–24 years 0%
25–34 years 0%
35–44 years 0.9%
45–54 years 13.5% 
55–64 years 44.4%
65+ years 41.3%

So, 100% male, and pretty much all of the traffic is from guys 45 years old and above, with 40%+ from guys over 65!!

The second video was a spoof (song) on Audiophiles that was shared a lot and watched by a lot of audiophile spouse, so the stats were slightly different, but not much. At the time of writing, 18,150 views:

Female 2.4%
Male 97.6%

13–17 years 0%
18–24 years 0%
25–34 years 0%
35–44 years 5.9%
45–54 years 18.6%
55–64 years 35.5%
65+ years 40.1%

The video was watched by a few females because it was shared and hit with a slightly younger audience but not by much. For all intents and purposes, the stats are the same for both vids.

Caveat - YouTube tends to attract an older audience and it's tipped up towards males. TikTok would show different results, but I think YouTube is really the platform of choice for most of us, so the data is more pertinent. 

Conclusion - we're a dying breed. 40% of us will be dead in a few years and there's not many 'yoots' coming through to replace us.

No real surprise here but we're all blokes - old, fat, sweaty, bearded, and about to kick the proverbial bucket. (Yes, I'm speaking entirely for myself).

Do you think there's more that manufacturers, dealers, reviewers etc. should be doing, or is it just the inevitable playing out?

Thoughts?

Here's the link to the two vids for reference: 
Krell KSA80
The Audiophile Song

128x128rooze
rooze's avatar
rooze OP
632 posts
 

@kennymacc 

I wish that all the old mediums from the past: CD, reel to reel, cassette, turn tables, and even 8 track, would make a huge comeback, and would also somehow start to resonate with the young on a much higher level, just to see the high end audio industry return to it's former glory!!!!  Happy listening.   

Thanks for your thoughtful post. I particularly appreciated the snippet above. I think there's a lot to be said for physical media ownership. I think in some small way it also drives the quality of the music, which is one of the big issues in all of this (as you mentioned earlier in your post). Buying an album used to be an experience beyond the actual music, and you don't get that to the same extent these days. 

I remember bringing home 'A Trick of the Tail' for the first time, and 'News of the World'. You have to think that a band who would put so much energy into the production of their artwork might also invest similarly in the creation of their music?

Cheers

 

PS - I'm old and senile but I never said in the OP that any of this was new or hot off the press.

krelldog
321 posts
 

I completely agree. I'm 62...I've been in this hobby for 40 years. I still have a great 2 channel system- Coda/Harbeth/Pass Labs/PS Audio/VPI/Auralic/Audience. My friends love my audio system. However when they ask my advice I tell them-buy a very good bluetooth speaker and get Spotify. I have no problem spending big money on gear, but in good conscience I can't recommend anyone I like do the same.

 

 

stuartk
2,764 posts
 

@rooze

Oh, I see... thanks for the clarification.

You’d think the industry would want to somehow adjust its marketing and business plan, knowing its aging customer base will only be around for a few more years.

 

12many
264 posts
 

I think the demographics would be the same 20 years ago and in 20 years.  When I was younger I was out doing active stuff and disposable income was spent on kids and pay off debt.  

russ69's avatar
russ69
3,497 posts
 

Ear buds and streaming music is pretty good. If you are more serious a headphone amp and headphones gets you there. Not sure the average person wants to spend any more money than that.

More to discover