Retail Analysts at KPMG say that the move is not surprising as more people are listening to music due to portable devices. They also claim that the demand for classic music could well drive a Hi Fi boom for high quality audio devices that an iPod can be attached to.
One Retail Analyst said "Last year and early this year we saw a boom in Classical music sales. Dowloads of classical music is up significantly and I am confident that as more high quality audio systems with an iPod docking station come onto tyhe market sales of two channel sound will start to grow significantly".
The demand for classical music has ben driven in part by a new breed of younger and sexier presenters such as Myleene Klass, Katie Derham and Lisa Duncombe on the station as well as celebrities like Simon Cowell, Richard E Grant, Sting and even footballer Graeme Le Saux appearing on the station.
Classic FM claims that a large number of children are also using the station as an accompaniment to their revision for school exams and homework as it helps them 'relax' and 'concentrate'. Figures are also boosted by youngsters learning musical instruments at school and those sitting music exams.
The station's overall figures for the first quarter of 2007 of over six million listeners a week released yesterday by industry body Rajar, does not include under-15's. If they are included the station boasts 6.5 million listeners a week.
The station has also been targeting younger listeners with two programme strands completely dedicated to children with Simon Bates during the morning school run at 8.10am and a kids request show at 3.45pm.
While Classic FM is flourishing, the BBC's more traditional classical music station Radio 3 is in the doldrums having been hit by a ratings slide which has seen it lose 10 per cent of its audience from the same period last year.
The slump in fortunes for Radio 3, which has seen it lose 126,000 listeners on the previous three months and nearly 200,000 on the same period last year, comes after the station made major changes to its schedules.
