As a music lover, you won't be surprised to hear how good music is for you. What might come as a surprise is just how far-reaching the benefits really are.
The opening line in an article on Johns Hopkins Medicine about this very subject says - If you want to firm up your body, head to the gym. If you want to exercise your brain, listen to music.
So, get yourself a drink and strap in because we are about to explore the benefits of music and exactly what it does to the brain.
How many people listen to music?
Music is such a broad term, meaning it has a huge scope. For example, while one person might be plugged into music all day, the next might only listen in passing.
Both have listened to music—just in different amounts. Surprisingly, both of these count. Although, most of the time, the longer someone listened and the more often, the bigger the impact.
It is impossible to get a solid figure, so using data from several sources, Nielsen reported that 93% of Americans listen to music.
And while we couldn't find the source, this is often quoted: "According to statistics, 90% of the world's population (approximately 7.11 billion people) listens to music."
How we listen to music has drastically changed. People can access and stream music anytime rather than treating it as a special occasion and heading out for the evening or turning on the radio for a few hours.
This is why listening to music is now something that almost every human does daily.
Has music consumption increased?
In short, yes. Along with the phenomenal growth of streaming services, the music consumption of the average person has also increased. With access becoming easier and cheaper, finding someone who doesn't have a subscription to a music service is harder.
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) reported that 43,000 users across 26 countries spent 20.7 hours listening to music, a 0.6 increase over the 20.1 spent the previous year.
The breakdown is as follows:
- Audio streaming is 32%.
- Video streaming is 31%.
- Radio is 17%, and purchased music is 9%.
- Live Music is 4%.
- Other is 7%.
The report was released in February 2024 IFPI's global study finds we're listening to more music in more ways than ever - IFPI.
It is not an exaggeration when people talk about having a soundtrack to their lives. Of those surveyed, 50% listened to music in their car, 45% listened to music while commuting, 41% enjoyed music while relaxing, 39% while doing housework, and 33% while working out.
There is a growing trend of people listening to music to get to sleep. From sunrise to sunset and everything in between, people listen to music.
Now that we understand the volume of music consumption better, it's time to examine what we get from music because your favorite artist is doing more for you than you might think.
What are the Psychological Benefits of Listening to Music?
Feeling stressed? Take music four times a day.
While it might not be that simple, listening to music can help reduce stress and anxiety—and not in a small way.
Research shows that your parasympathetic nervous system is activated when you listen to music. When this system is activated, it reduces the stress response.
When stressed, we have elevated cortisol levels in our system, and listening to music lowers those levels, giving us a feeling of well-being and relaxation.
One fascinating study found that people who were about to undergo surgery and listened to music for 30 minutes had significantly lower cortisol levels than those who had not heard music.
In the same vein, in a medical capacity, patients who had cancer when listening to music had a reduced level of anxiety.
One theory behind why music is so powerful in these situations is that it is known to trigger feelings. It can help bring us joy, calm, and comfort—partially negating negative feelings.
Not to mention that we tend to tune into lyrics and melody, which can further keep our attention off what is troubling us.
Note: While the music is excellent, professional help and support are recommended if you need it. No amount of Ed Sheeran can replace medical professional help.
Is there a best music for relaxation?
It would be remiss to discuss the relaxing benefits of music without listing some of the recommended music for relaxation. Usually, classical music is the most recommended.
Still, some experts say any songs that make you feel happy are the right ones.
A team of researchers, a music group, and sound therapists teamed up to compose a scientifically proven song to reduce stress.
Put it on a loop, and see how you feel in 30 minutes. Let us know in the comments if it worked!
What are the Cognitive Benefits of Listening to Music?
A fascinating study found that people with Alzheimer's respond to music long after many other functions stop. Music, specifically from childhood or periods in their lives when they remember being happy, lit up the areas of the brain associated with memory.
But that is just one part of our complex cognitive functions. Music therapy has been used to help individuals unlock and express emotions that they had been finding difficult to explain.
Further, Harvard Health Publishing discusses a survey that found people who listened to music had a higher overall mental well-being.
For those who had listened to music as a child, 68% rated their ability to learn new things as excellent or very good. In comparison, those who had not listened to music rated theirs at just 50%.
The study only included 3,185 adults over 18, a relatively small number. And while the study was self-reported, people who listened to music found it beneficial.
Placebo or not, there was a correlation between how people felt they performed and listening to music.
Regardless of the method, more formal research into music and neurology supports these findings.
For a start, music activates the brain's broadest and most diverse network. Music activating the auditory cortex is a given. However, more happens.
The parts of our brains that are activated during emotions light up, and even more so for anything we find emotional (this is often personal). What is fascinating is that they are synchronized.
It gets a little more complex here, so bear with us. As we listen, our brain patterns change in tandem with the music.
So, you have the auditory and emotional aspects. Still, people in the study started showing signs of visual elements in their brain patterns. So when listening to music, the auditory, prefrontal, limbic, striatal, and effective aspects are all engaged.
In other words, hearing, conceptual and interpretive cognition (thinking and reasoning), emotions, anticipation, and reward prediction (dopamine release in response to music) all light up - synchronized. In short, music lights up the brain in more areas than almost anything else we do.
Your brain just really likes music.
Brain pathways are weakened when unused, which affects efficiency. The brain doesn't work on anything it doesn't have to. Quite literally, use it or lose it.
The pathways will be used for something else. While it is not a whole solution, music keeps all those pathways in action - simply because it activates just about all of the brain.
The only other 'doing' thing that comes close to how many parts of the brain music engages in is participating in social activities (that you actually like).
Read more: Why is music good for the brain? - Harvard Health.
Does Listening To Music Make You More Productive?
To the studies, we go! Although many people will tell you they work better with music, just as many need silence. Binaural music and Lofi are often mentioned in 'productivity hacker' forums - the specific soundwaves 'unlock' an area of the brain that means you work better.
Or that Classical music is the only type of music that can give you better results.
So, to science, we look. While anecdotes are brilliant, research and proof are better.
A 2023 study, "Don't Stop the Music," Please: The Relationship between Music Use at Work, Satisfaction, and Performance, quickly mentions that research into this topic needs to be developed more.
However, music has been a motivational tool for years, including a BBC radio show called Music While You Work. The idea that music has always helped people be productive isn't new, but the research into it in a meaningful way is.
Keeping in mind that the workforce has shifted from factories and labor (manual) to desk jobs and more cognitive, the amount we listen to music has hugely increased.
Combine it with access, and the chances are you are more likely to listen to music at work than ever before. Music shifted from a commodity to something easy to access.
Contextually, people stated that they listened to music to focus on the task at hand and to 'escape' the work task.
Previous studies have conflicting results. Some studies suggest that music with lyrics is a huge distraction.
With some science to back both points, it comes down to personal attributes: ability to concentrate, natural focus levels, and type of music.
Can Listening to Music Have Physical Benefits?
We've mentioned several physical benefits of listening to music, such as lower cortisol levels. But what about taking part in physical activities?
For anyone who has even gone to a gym or works out at home - music tends to go along with it.
The National Center for Health Research has reported two profound reasons why listening to music while exercising works. The first is that working out can be boring. Running for 10km, going for max reps on weights, or sitting down to row for 30 minutes.
Each of these takes time, and while listening to nothing is fine, music keeps your mind off the activity. It allows your body and mind to switch into an almost automated zone.
You're more likely to continue what you are doing because muscle memory steps in.
But the most interesting reason to listen to music while you work out is that it can increase stamina. Music with the right beats per minute to match your activity will keep you motivated and help people working out push through fatigue.
When working out, we automatically synchronize our movements with the beats of the music we are listening to. We pedal faster or slower to match the music.
Studies show that this increases our athletic performance; distances run, the pace we use, and even the weights we lift all increase. There are even recommended bpms for each type of physical activity - because the correlation is so strong.
Are There Social Benefits to Listening to Music?
Although our musical experience is often alone and digital now, music used to be a live social event. Smaller groups came together to enjoy piano recitals, barn music, and other regional artists.
Over time, that expanded until the crowds are now thousands strong.
Science tells us that when harmonizing with others, we experience an influx of oxytocin - the happy hormone. But more than this, the lines of 'self' blur. The scientists likened this to the rubber hand illusion.
In short, the study states that when the actions of a group match our actions (in this case, singing to music), the engagement of the neural pathways makes it hard to separate ourselves from others. They noted this as a transient bond between ourselves and those around us.
This so-called self-other merging, aka bonding, is essential for social groups and social bonding.
Music and Cultural Connections
Culture is a means for a group of people to survive and thrive - and the power of music within that is massive. Music and Culture are entwined, far-reaching into the past. Stories of religion, culture, and folklore were woven into songs and sung to people.
We could call music, in some forms, storytelling, which aids in the survival of groups—understanding history and how the world has impacted that group.
Stories in many cultures are sung in a mother tongue, which can lay the foundation for communication for babies and toddlers. Also, when families move across the world, they stay connected with family history.
Eventually, it will be something that is passed down through generations. This is a bond to the past and the people that came before.
Now, with digital music and social media, we see cultural and regional music crossing borders, broadening the reach of cultural music, and deepening a connection between different groups of people.
For example, in a recent SongsBrew newsletter, regional Mexican music became one of the world's most popular types of music. Breaking records and entering 'mainstream' charts across the globe.
Music can give us insight into other cultures; when appreciated correctly, it can be something we enjoy regularly.
Music can magnify the message of diversity and inclusion by introducing people to new cultures, amplifying the voices of marginalized communities, and enhancing our understanding and appreciation for diverse communities.
Mental Health Benefits of Listening to Music
We mentioned some of the benefits of listening to music on our mental well-being. Music now has a firm place in mental health. In 2022, a study showed that music helped to reduce stress and anxiety.
Interaction with music, singing, or playing an instrument has been shown to help regulate mood.
In recent years, there has been an increase in Music Therapy.
Music creates a safe and supportive environment to help heal trauma. As a therapy, it is an evidence-based therapeutic intervention.
Music therapy is now offered in many school environments, hospitals, and privately.
Music-making and listening offer self-reflection, emotional release, and creativity.
It's not just for diagnosed mental health issues that music makes an impact. When it comes to marginalized groups, music can spread awareness and message.
It can help some groups of people be seen and, at the same time, be a celebration and advocate for social justice.
With a wider reach and more people listening, it can relieve some of the mental load that some groups suffer. This subject is much deeper than mentioned here.
But it is worth remembering that jazz, blues, folk, hip-hop, and reggae have served as music platforms to give marginalized groups a voice - with their own narrative leading.
Further, musicians who have been open about their battles with mental health and have lyrics that talk about it can help people to feel less alone. When millions of people relate to the lyrics, it is a community of people who 'get it.'
It's not just lyrics and singing about mental health, though. Big-name artists who speak about this and have a strong fanbase open up a wider forum for conversation.
High-profile artists talking about topics get more awareness, leading to more acceptance. Higher acceptance rates give people a more profound sense that someone understands them and millions of people support them.
Research continues into all the benefits of listening to music; this is just a light overview of how it impacts millions daily.
So really, it is no wonder that 616.2 million people have a subscription to a music streaming service. It plays such a big part of our lives. And to that end - only spend time on music streaming platforms that you love. Not happy right now? Change in a few taps.
