{"id":40802232608,"date":"2018-11-08T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-11-08T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/?post_type=poll&p=40802232608"},"modified":"2019-04-22T09:19:41","modified_gmt":"2019-04-22T13:19:41","slug":"monmouthpoll_us_110818","status":"publish","type":"poll","link":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/reports\/monmouthpoll_us_110818\/","title":{"rendered":"Beatles Top All-Time Rock Band List"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

West Long Branch, NJ<\/em> \u2013 Nearly five decades after they broke up, the Beatles are the clear leader when Americans name the greatest rock and roll band of all time. The Monmouth University Poll<\/em><\/strong> finds that fully 86% of U.S. adults like the Beatles while only 8% dislike them. While the Beatles continue to have widespread appeal, the poll also finds that their standing has been touched by the current political atmosphere, with a dip in their popularity among Republicans over the past decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When asked to name the greatest rock and roll band or group of all time, nearly 1-in-4 (23%) U.S. adults say \u201cThe Beatles.\u201d  Trailing far behind are the Rolling Stones (8%), Led Zeppelin (4%), AC\/DC (4%), the Eagles (3%), Aerosmith (2%), Queen (2%), and dozens of other groups mentioned by no more than 1% of poll respondents.  These results have not changed much from a Gallup Poll taken nearly 20 years ago which found the Beatles named as the all-time greatest band by 29% of the public and the Stones in second place with 9%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Beatles enjoy remarkable longevity among music lovers of all stripes because of their time-eclipsing compositions and exquisite musicianship,\u201d said Ken Womack, Ph.D., dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Monmouth University. Womack is a noted Beatles scholar who recently authored a two-volume biography of famed producer George Martin. He is also organizing Monmouth University\u2019s international symposium on the \u201cWhite Album\u201d from Nov. 8 to 11 (www.monmouth.edu\/the-white-album<\/a><\/em>).  This gathering of Beatles contemporaries, scholars and fans is being presented in association with the university\u2019s Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music to recognize the 50th<\/sup> anniversary of this seminal recording\u2019s release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The poll finds the Beatles are the top band among every demographic group, including men (20%) and women (25%); those age 18 to 44 (17%), age 45 to 64 (24%) and age 65 or older (30%); white non-Hispanic Americans (24%) and Americans of black, Hispanic, Asian and other racial backgrounds (21%); and Democrats (24%), Republicans (16%), and independents (27%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nearly 9-in-10 Americans say they like the Beatles, including fully half (50%) who say they like the Fab Four a lot and 36% who like them a little. Only 8% of the public dislikes the Beatles.  These results are nearly identical to a Pew Research Center poll taken almost a decade ago which found 49% of the public liked the Beatles a lot, 33% liked them a little, and 11% disliked them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There have been some demographic shifts in who likes the Beatles \u201ca lot.\u201d Currently, 50% of those age 65 or older like the group a lot, which is up 7 points from 43% in 2009.  On the other hand, 56% of those age 45 to 64 currently like them a lot, which is down 7 points from 63%. Those age 18 to 44 who like the Beatles a lot is virtually unchanged over the same time period \u2013 43% now and 42% in 2009.  These shifts seem natural as Americans who were teenagers and young adults in the 1960s now move into the older age category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another less obvious shift in the Beatles\u2019 fan base is by political affiliation.  Opinion of the group has ticked up slightly among Democrats \u2013 54% like the Beatles a lot in 2018 compared with 51% in 2009 \u2013 and independents \u2013 53% like them a lot in 2018 compared with 49% in 2009.  However, highly positive views among Republicans have dropped by 10 points over the same period \u2013 40% like the Beatles a lot now compared with 50% in 2009.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Beatles are not the only act who has experienced a shift in partisan support.  The Pew Research Center found that 41% of Americans liked Kanye West either a little or a lot back in 2009. A recent CNN\/SSRS poll (May 2018) found that 23% of Americans have a favorable opinion of the rapper now.  While the actual questions asked in the two polls are not directly comparable, the differences in how partisan opinion has shifted are worth noting. In 2009, 32% of Republicans liked Kanye. In 2018, a similar number \u2013 35% \u2013 have a favorable opinion of him.  In 2009, fully half (50%) of Democrats said they liked Kanye. This year, just 12% of Democrats have a positive view of the man who claims to have the same \u201cdragon energy\u201d as President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEven popular music cannot escape being touched by the growing political tribalism of our times. Obviously, Kanye has directly inserted himself into this highly charged atmosphere.  But even the Beatles\u2019 legacy, which still maintains widespread appeal, has been tinged by this partisanship\u201d said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute. Murray will be presenting these findings and other polling results about the Beatles at this week\u2019s \u201cWhite Album\u201d symposium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The majority of Americans (58%) say that the Beatles appeal equally to people across the political spectrum today, but 1-in-4 (24%) say they appeal more to liberals and just 3% say they appeal more to conservatives. Majorities of Democrats (61%), independents (60%), and Republicans (52%) agree that the Beatles\u2019 appeal spans the political spectrum, but Republicans (31%) are somewhat more likely than Democrats (23%) and independents (22%) to say their appeal is geared more toward the left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking back to the Beatles\u2019 place in the turbulent history of their own times, 40% of the public see the group as being about as political as other bands from the 1960s, 30% say they were more political, and 14% say they were less political. Democrats (38%) and independents (32%) are more likely than Republicans (20%) to see the Beatles as being more political than other bands from the same era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Beatles\u2019 message of peace and hope continues to resonate into the present day. Songs like \u2018All You Need Is Love\u2019 and \u2018Blackbird\u2019 speak indelibly to our innately human need to establish community and persevere,\u201d said Womack, the Monmouth dean and Beatles expert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Monmouth University Poll<\/em> was conducted by telephone from August 15 to 19, 2018 with 805 adults in the United States.  The question results in this release have a margin of error of +\/- 3.5 percentage points. The poll was conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute in West Long Branch, NJ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

QUESTIONS AND RESULTS      <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(* Some columns may not add to 100% due to rounding.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

B1.<\/span> What do you think is the greatest Rock and Roll band or group of all time? \u00a0[LIST WAS NOT READ.<\/em>]<\/span><\/p>\n
TREND:<\/td>Aug
\n2018<\/strong><\/td>		March
\n1999*<\/td><\/tr>
The Beatles<\/td>23%<\/strong><\/td>29%<\/td><\/tr>
The Rolling Stones<\/td>8%<\/strong><\/td>9%<\/td><\/tr>
AC\/DC<\/td>4%<\/strong><\/td>1%<\/td><\/tr>
Led Zeppelin<\/td>4%<\/strong><\/td>3%<\/td><\/tr>
The Eagles<\/td>3%<\/strong><\/td>3%<\/td><\/tr>
Aerosmith<\/td>2%<\/strong><\/td>2%<\/td><\/tr>
Queen<\/td>2%<\/strong><\/td>\n

<1%<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

The Beach Boys<\/td>1%<\/strong><\/td>2%<\/td><\/tr>
Bon Jovi<\/td>1%<\/strong><\/td>\n

n\/a<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band<\/td>1%<\/strong><\/td>\n

<1%<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

Creedence Clearwater Revival<\/td>1%<\/strong><\/td>1%<\/td><\/tr>
Def Leppard<\/td>1%<\/strong><\/td>\n

n\/a<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

Elvis Presley<\/td>1%<\/strong><\/td>1%<\/td><\/tr>
Fleetwood Mac<\/td>1%<\/strong><\/td>1%<\/td><\/tr>
The Grateful Dead<\/td>1%<\/strong><\/td>1%<\/td><\/tr>
Guns N\u2019 Roses<\/td>1%<\/strong><\/td>\n

n\/a<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

The Jimi Hendrix Experience<\/td>1%<\/strong><\/td>\n

n\/a<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

Journey<\/td>1%<\/strong><\/td>\n

n\/a<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

Kiss<\/td>1%<\/strong><\/td>\n

<1%<\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

Lynard Skynard<\/td>1%<\/strong><\/td>1%<\/td><\/tr>
Metallica<\/td>1%<\/strong><\/td>1%<\/td><\/tr>
Pink Floyd<\/td>1%<\/strong><\/td>1%<\/td><\/tr>
U2<\/td>1%<\/strong><\/td>1%<\/td><\/tr>
The Who<\/td>1%<\/strong><\/td>1%<\/td><\/tr>
Other<\/td>19%<\/strong><\/td>17%<\/td><\/tr>
None<\/td>7%<\/strong><\/td>4%<\/td><\/tr>
(VOL) Don\u2019t know<\/td>14%<\/strong><\/td>23%<\/td><\/tr>
(n)<\/em><\/td>(805)<\/em><\/strong><\/td>(1,021)<\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n

    * Source:  Gallup Poll<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

B2.<\/span> Do you like or dislike the Beatles, or haven\u2019t you heard of them?\u00a0 [If LIKE:<\/em> Do you like them a lot, or a little?]<\/span><\/p>\n
TREND:<\/td>Aug
\n2018<\/strong><\/td>		July
\n2009*<\/td><\/tr>
Like, a lot<\/td>50%<\/strong><\/td>49%<\/td><\/tr>
Like, a little<\/td>36%<\/strong><\/td>33%<\/td><\/tr>
Dislike<\/td>8%<\/strong><\/td>11%<\/td><\/tr>
Not heard of<\/td>2%<\/strong><\/td>4%<\/td><\/tr>
(VOL) Don\u2019t know<\/td>4%<\/strong><\/td>3%<\/td><\/tr>
(n)<\/em><\/td>(805)<\/em><\/strong><\/td>(1,701)<\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n

    * Source:  Pew Research Center (results for age 18 and older only)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

B3.<\/span> Do you think the Beatles today appeal more to people with liberal political beliefs, more to people with conservative political beliefs, or do they appeal equally to people across the political spectrum?<\/span><\/p>\n
 <\/td>Aug
\n2018<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Appeal more to liberals<\/td>24%<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Appeal more to conservatives<\/td>3%<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Appeal equally across political spectrum<\/td>58%<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
(VOL) Don\u2019t know<\/td>15%<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
(n)<\/em><\/td>(805)<\/em><\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

B4.<\/span> Do you think the Beatles were more political, less political, or about as political as other bands from the 1960s?<\/span><\/p>\n
 <\/td>Aug
\n2018<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
More political<\/td>30%<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Less political<\/td>14%<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
About as political<\/td>40%<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
(VOL) Don\u2019t know<\/td>16%<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
(n)<\/em><\/td>(805)<\/em><\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

METHODOLOGY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Monmouth University Poll<\/em> was sponsored and conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute from August 15 to 19, 2018 with a national random sample of 805 adults age 18 and older, in English. This includes 400 contacted by a live interviewer on a landline telephone and 405 contacted by a live interviewer on a cell phone. Telephone numbers were selected through random digit dialing and landline respondents were selected with a modified Troldahl-Carter youngest adult household screen. Monmouth is responsible for all aspects of the survey design, data weighting and analysis. Final sample is weighted for region, age, education, gender and race based on US Census information. Data collection support provided by Braun Research (field) and SSI (RDD sample). For results based on this sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the error attributable to sampling has a maximum margin of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points (unadjusted for sample design).  Sampling error can be larger for sub-groups (see table below). In addition to sampling error, one should bear in mind that question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of opinion polls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DEMOGRAPHICS (weighted)<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
\n

Self-Reported<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

29% Republican<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
39% Independent<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
32% Democrat<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
 <\/em><\/td><\/tr>
48% Male<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
52% Female<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
 <\/em><\/td><\/tr>
41% 18-44<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
34% 45-64<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
25% 65+<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
 <\/em><\/td><\/tr>
65% White<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
12% Black<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
15% Hispanic<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
\n

  8% Asian\/Other<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr>

 <\/em><\/td><\/tr>
69% No degree<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
31% 4 year degree<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
 <\/em> <\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n

Click on pdf file link below for full methodology and results by key demographic groups.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

But even Fab Four\u2019s popularity can\u2019t escape the current partisan prism<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":40802232609,"template":"","geography":[18],"class_list":["post-40802232608","poll","type-poll","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","geography-national"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/poll\/40802232608","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/poll"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/poll"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/poll\/40802232608\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40802238317,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/poll\/40802232608\/revisions\/40802238317"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40802232609"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40802232608"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"geography","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/polling-institute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/geography?post=40802232608"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}