The bar chart illustrates the number of music recordings, in millions, purchased in the USA in 2010, categorized by age group and music genre. The genres included in the comparison are Rock, Pop, Jazz, and Classical music.
Overall, younger age groups tended to purchase more Rock and Pop music, while older groups showed a stronger preference for Classical music. Meanwhile, Jazz consistently recorded the lowest sales across nearly all age categories.
The 16-22 age group bought the most Rock music, at roughly 5 million units, representing the highest figure among all genres and age groups. Pop music was also popular within this group, though slightly less than Rock, whereas Jazz and Classical sales were comparatively minimal. Among those aged 23-31, Pop music reached its peak at approximately 4 million units, and Rock remained a major choice, though at a lower level than in the youngest group.
In contrast, total music purchases declined noticeably among the 32-45 and 46-57 groups. Rock and Pop sales dropped to around 2-3 million units, while Jazz and Classical remained relatively low. A significant shift appears in the 58+ category, where Classical music recorded its highest sales – around 3 million – making it the preferred genre among older listeners. By comparison, Rock and Pop music sales in this age group fell sharply to around 1-2 million units.
In summary, younger Americans in 2010 favored contemporary genres such as Rock and Pop, whereas older adults tended to purchase more Classical music.