Music 'beats faster' in the north

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People in the north of the UK listen to music with more beats per minute (bpm) than those in the south, a survey by a music magazine has suggested.

There is a difference of 110bpm between Scotland and the south of England, according to Uncut magazine.

Music taste varies as well, with country music hugely popular in Northern Ireland, while the Scots prefer anthemic Celtic rock.

European immigration has brought a eurodisco influence to the south coast.

Music journalist John Lewis, who did the research, said: "If you take jungle music, people tend to dance to it differently. It's supposed to be about 160bpm.

Clubbers will dance faster to the same track in the north

"But in London it's about half that speed with people dancing to the bass line. In Scotland they dance to it at the fast beat."

Mr Lewis researched sales at HMV shops around the country, compared regional music charts and analysed the music played at gigs and in clubs.

Music bought and listened to in Scotland has an average speed of 190bpm, but only 80bpm in Cornwall.

London has a relatively relaxed average of 90bpm, while it increases to 160bpm in Hull.

The breadth and variety in London wins hands down John Lewis, Uncut magazine

And Mr Lewis found that heavy metal was "the closest to a national genre of music".

"It's pretty popular everywhere," he said.

But he found wide regional differences in other types of music.

Country and Western music is on many people's stereos in the Highlands, while Wales shares a passion for Celtic rock but also appreciates metal, indie and folk.

But Mr Lewis said London's breadth and variety of music "wins hands down".

"Half the classical music in the country is sold from two HMV branches in the capital. It's a staggering figure."

In fact, more jazz and classical music is sold in London than the rest of the UK put together. But R&B, reggae and hip hop sells well too.

East Anglia 'most average'

A strong Afro-Caribbean community in the Midlands accounts for the popularity of reggae in Birmingham and Coventry. Elsewhere in the Midlands, Nottingham prefers heavy metal and hip hop.

More soundtracks are sold in Bristol than anywhere else. But people there also love jazz and world music.

Lewis reckons it is less exciting in East Anglia, and said: "Few bands emerge there. It's difficult to get a handle on the area. It's the most average."

Bloke rock is popular in large parts of the north and Yorkshire. Folk sells well in Doncaster, Sheffield prefers heavy metal and Leeds focuses on goth music.

In the north west music fans love indie, although Liverpool and Manchester have large sales of world and classical tracks too.