Sound Verdict

Music claim

Does music improve your workout?

One of the better-supported effects of music, working mainly by changing how hard the effort feels.

Updated 2 min read 10 citations

What the evidence actually shows

Trials consistently find reduced perceived exertion and improved endurance performance with music, with tempo and personal preference both contributing. [1]

This is about as settled as questions in this field get: consistent findings across multiple trials or a synthesis that pools them. Remaining disagreement is usually about size and applicability rather than about whether the effect is real.

How well supported each claim in does it work? is A bar chart grading 5 related claims from 0 (contradicted) to 4 (established), with Music and exercise highlighted. Music and exercise4/4Music for sleep3/4Sad music3/4Recommendation algorithms2/4The Mozart effect0/4
Music and exercise is graded "established". These claims are marketed with roughly equal confidence; this is the same list sorted by what actually supports them. Grading: our reading of the cited literature, not a formal GRADE assessment.

The catch

The effect is largest at low to moderate intensity. At near-maximal effort, physiological signals dominate and music stops helping much.

Does music improve your workout?
Well supported. Trials consistently find reduced perceived exertion and improved endurance performance with music, with tempo and personal preference both contributing.
What is the main misunderstanding about music and exercise?
The effect is largest at low to moderate intensity. At near-maximal effort, physiological signals dominate and music stops helping much.
How confident should I be in this?
This is about as settled as questions in this field get: consistent findings across multiple trials or a synthesis that pools them. Remaining disagreement is usually about size and applicability rather than about whether the effect is real.

What we are not claiming

This is general information drawn from published research, not advice about you specifically. Effect sizes in free-living people are usually smaller than headlines suggest, and an average across a trial population may not describe you.

References

Every citation below links to the original peer-reviewed record on PubMed or via DOI. Nothing here is a substitute for medical advice.

  1. Personalized Interactive Music Systems for Physical Activity and Exercise: Exploratory Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Danso A, Kekäläinen T, Koehler F, et al. · JMIR human factors · 2025 · Meta-analysis DOIPubMed 40921008Full text
  2. Musical Neurofeedback Advancements, Feedback Modalities, and Applications: A Systematic Review Bhavsar P, Shah P, Sinha S, et al. · Applied psychophysiology and biofeedback · 2024 · Systematic review DOIPubMed 38837017
  3. Music-based interventions for unilateral spatial neglect: A systematic review Long J, Zhang Y, Liu X, et al. · Neuropsychological rehabilitation · 2023 · Systematic review DOIPubMed 35980394
  4. The Use of Music to Manage Burnout in Nurses: A Systematic Review Finnerty R, Zhang K, Tabuchi RA, et al. · American journal of health promotion : AJHP · 2022 · Systematic review DOIPubMed 35633074Full text
  5. Effects of music in exercise and sport: A meta-analytic review Terry PC, Karageorghis CI, Curran ML, et al. · Psychological bulletin · 2020 · Meta-analysis DOIPubMed 31804098
  6. Effect of Listening to Music on Wingate Anaerobic Test Performance. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Castañeda-Babarro A, Marqués-Jiménez D, Calleja-González J, et al. · International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020 · Meta-analysis DOIPubMed 32599941Full text
  7. Music interventions for improving psychological and physical outcomes in cancer patients Bradt J, Dileo C, Magill L, et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2016 · Meta-analysis DOIPubMed 27524661
  8. Music for insomnia in adults Jespersen KV, Koenig J, Jennum P, et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2015 · Meta-analysis DOIPubMed 26270746Full text
  9. Effects of personalized music listening on post-stroke cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled trial Fan LP, Quijano-Ruiz A, Wang C, et al. · Complementary therapies in clinical practice · 2024 · Randomised controlled trial DOIPubMed 39098085
  10. A Personalized Music Intervention in Nursing Home Residents Living With Dementia: Findings From a Randomized Study Inoue M, Ihara ES, Layman S, et al. · Journal of applied gerontology : the official journal of the Southern Gerontological Society · 2024 · Randomised controlled trial DOIPubMed 38867708