Stressed Britons tuning to classical music to cope with pressures

London, Aug 7 (ANI): British radio listeners are turning to soothing classical music to cope with traumas arising out of the ongoing credit crunch, gloomy weather and summer exams.

According to the figures from the industry body Rajar, national commercial station Classic FM has increased its listenership by 303,000 over the past three months.

Radio 3 has also increased its reach to more than two million, giving the network its biggest audience in two years.

During this period, Radio 3 showcased the work of Handel, Haydn and Mendelssohn, three of its designated composers of the year.

With a weekly reach of 6.14 million, Classic FM is also attracting children. It is popular with students and schoolchildren at examination time.

The number of under-18s tuning in to Classic FM has increased to 573,000 per week during the quarter, which is an increase of 70 per cent.

"The exciting increase in the number of children tuning in shows that we're helping to grow a brand new generation of classical music listeners," the Independent quoted Darren Henley, the station's managing director, as saying.

Among the most successful of its presenters is Myleene Klass, whose breakfast show audience have risen from 100,000 over the past three months to almost one million. (ANI)