Many of us were using focus music long before it had an official name or any trending playlists. Jazz and downtempo have been my go-tos for tuning out distractions and centering on the task at hand since my college days. Today, more people are gravitating toward this music and its ability to boost concentration—no question that it’s going mainstream. Focus music can be defined as anything that helps you pay attention, reduce distractions, and maintain productivity.
As a society, we have never been more distracted. According to the American Psychological Association, 86% of Americans say they constantly or frequently check their emails, texts, and social media accounts, leading to higher stress levels. A University of California, Irvine study found that it takes people about 23 minutes on average to return to their task after an interruption, highlighting the negative impact of digital interruptions.
To help combat the endless list of technological distractions, people are turning to music. Many stats showcase the ascent of the focus genre over the last few years. Spotify shared a 50% increase in listening time for focus playlists in their 2023 Wrapped report and Pandora had a 47% increase in focus music stations created in 2023 compared to the prior year.
Why is this music growing so rapidly?
The trend is not due to demographic changes—as the data shows, the interest is not confined to a single age group. We do know that the pandemic and the shift to working from home certainly play a part. The pandemic created a perfect storm of circumstances that allowed focus music to flourish, meeting the need to be more centered during challenging times. The music resonates with people who struggle to concentrate while studying or working from home with multiple stressors and disruptions.
The genre was also well aligned for musicians who weren’t able to get into studios. As more people were tuning in to focus music, it paved the way for more artists to create it. The styles of music typically found in these playlists are instrumental and often lo-fi. Since there were no tours happening, there was no need to fill large venues and festivals with vocal-fueled anthems. Many artists found opportunities to experiment with these instrumental soundscapes from the comfort of a socially-distanced studio.
How does it impact our productivity?
We know that sustained attention is required for performing creative and business tasks, but sustaining concentration on task-relevant information over an extended period of time is mentally rigorous. People tend to experience attention lapses that fall into two general camps: mind wandering (hypo-arousal) or external distraction (hyper-arousal). The power of focus music is its proven ability to sustain attention by reducing both types of lapses.
A 2020 study from Goldsmiths University of London “provides evidence for music’s ability to improve focused attention and performance—by increasing arousal to an intermediate level optimal for performance—and suggests that people can derive benefit from music listening while performing low-demanding tasks.”
Mike Savage, artist relations lead for our Feed Originals science-backed music catalog, works closely with producers to create effective focus music. He has a well-researched set of criteria he’s looking for when commissioning music. “One of the most important components is a stable rhythmic groove that keeps your mind engaged enough to be productive, but not so engaged that it is distracted from the task at hand. We look for repetitive rhythms and steady melodies that don’t demand too much attention, which can be counter-intuitive for artists, but really work in this context,” he shares.
Why is focus music being embraced by more brands and businesses?
Wellness trends such as mindfulness, yoga, and functional medicine are gaining popularity as people across the globe fight burnout and anxiety. Brands in every sector are incorporating these trends into their offerings to stay relevant and appeal to health-conscious consumers. Recent examples include Whole Foods, which started offering wellness clubs and classes on topics like stress management, meditation, and holistic nutrition. Even Urban Outfitters now sells a range of products from supplements and health foods to yoga mats and focus/study music.
As consumers are becoming more aware of the importance of overall wellbeing, they seek tools for stress management and increased performance. Focus music is a readily available tool with no side effects and massive upside.
There are reasons to expect that listening to music in this genre will rise even faster in the coming years. HR departments are looking for new solutions to help their remote workers stay productive and connected; advocating for focus music playlists is an easy way for employers to help promote sustained attention and create a shared experience among their employees. Consumer streaming services will meet the rising demand for this music by expanding the development and promotion of focus music playlists, further increasing consumption. As new research studies validate music’s effectiveness in enhancing concentration levels, the genre will become more refined and gain even more momentum to help combat the scourge of digital distractions.
Apply to the Most Innovative Companies Awards and be recognized as an organization driving the world forward through innovation. Early-rate deadline: Friday, August 23.
Source: https://www.fastcompany.com/91173682/the-rise-of-focus-music?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-intl
As a society, we have never been more distracted. According to the American Psychological Association, 86% of Americans say they constantly or frequently check their emails, texts, and social media accounts, leading to higher stress levels. A University of California, Irvine study found that it takes people about 23 minutes on average to return to their task after an interruption, highlighting the negative impact of digital interruptions.
To help combat the endless list of technological distractions, people are turning to music. Many stats showcase the ascent of the focus genre over the last few years. Spotify shared a 50% increase in listening time for focus playlists in their 2023 Wrapped report and Pandora had a 47% increase in focus music stations created in 2023 compared to the prior year.
Why is this music growing so rapidly?
The trend is not due to demographic changes—as the data shows, the interest is not confined to a single age group. We do know that the pandemic and the shift to working from home certainly play a part. The pandemic created a perfect storm of circumstances that allowed focus music to flourish, meeting the need to be more centered during challenging times. The music resonates with people who struggle to concentrate while studying or working from home with multiple stressors and disruptions.
The genre was also well aligned for musicians who weren’t able to get into studios. As more people were tuning in to focus music, it paved the way for more artists to create it. The styles of music typically found in these playlists are instrumental and often lo-fi. Since there were no tours happening, there was no need to fill large venues and festivals with vocal-fueled anthems. Many artists found opportunities to experiment with these instrumental soundscapes from the comfort of a socially-distanced studio.
How does it impact our productivity?
We know that sustained attention is required for performing creative and business tasks, but sustaining concentration on task-relevant information over an extended period of time is mentally rigorous. People tend to experience attention lapses that fall into two general camps: mind wandering (hypo-arousal) or external distraction (hyper-arousal). The power of focus music is its proven ability to sustain attention by reducing both types of lapses.
A 2020 study from Goldsmiths University of London “provides evidence for music’s ability to improve focused attention and performance—by increasing arousal to an intermediate level optimal for performance—and suggests that people can derive benefit from music listening while performing low-demanding tasks.”
Mike Savage, artist relations lead for our Feed Originals science-backed music catalog, works closely with producers to create effective focus music. He has a well-researched set of criteria he’s looking for when commissioning music. “One of the most important components is a stable rhythmic groove that keeps your mind engaged enough to be productive, but not so engaged that it is distracted from the task at hand. We look for repetitive rhythms and steady melodies that don’t demand too much attention, which can be counter-intuitive for artists, but really work in this context,” he shares.
Why is focus music being embraced by more brands and businesses?
Wellness trends such as mindfulness, yoga, and functional medicine are gaining popularity as people across the globe fight burnout and anxiety. Brands in every sector are incorporating these trends into their offerings to stay relevant and appeal to health-conscious consumers. Recent examples include Whole Foods, which started offering wellness clubs and classes on topics like stress management, meditation, and holistic nutrition. Even Urban Outfitters now sells a range of products from supplements and health foods to yoga mats and focus/study music.
As consumers are becoming more aware of the importance of overall wellbeing, they seek tools for stress management and increased performance. Focus music is a readily available tool with no side effects and massive upside.
There are reasons to expect that listening to music in this genre will rise even faster in the coming years. HR departments are looking for new solutions to help their remote workers stay productive and connected; advocating for focus music playlists is an easy way for employers to help promote sustained attention and create a shared experience among their employees. Consumer streaming services will meet the rising demand for this music by expanding the development and promotion of focus music playlists, further increasing consumption. As new research studies validate music’s effectiveness in enhancing concentration levels, the genre will become more refined and gain even more momentum to help combat the scourge of digital distractions.
Apply to the Most Innovative Companies Awards and be recognized as an organization driving the world forward through innovation. Early-rate deadline: Friday, August 23.
Source: https://www.fastcompany.com/91173682/the-rise-of-focus-music?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-intl