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Why background music doesn’t mean a harmonious workplace

ByHearology Publishing | Date: Tue Jul 22 2025

a cartoon image of three people sitting at a table working on laptops with music playing in the background distracting the workers

Research finds customer-friendly playlists can leave staff tired, distracted and demotivated

Background music – often chosen to please customers – could be harming staff wellbeing and productivity. 

The research from Ohio State University involved two studies. In the first, 166 full-time employees assessed playlists based on tempo, volume, complexity and emotional tone before completing a creativity task. 

One playlist featured upbeat, mid-tempo pop; the other was slower and moodier. Those employees who were listening to music that didn’t match their preferences or cognitive needs reported increased fatigue and reduced focus. The effects were particularly pronounced in employees who found it hard to filter out distractions.


Sound-based sabotage

The second study tracked 68 workers over three weeks. They answered daily questions about the music they were exposed to, their mood, energy levels and workplace behaviour. When the music didn’t suit their taste, workers became more irritable, less productive and even prone to minor acts of sabotage – such as passive-aggressive behaviour or pilfering low-value items.

Kathleen Keeler, co-author of the study and assistant professor at Ohio State, said: “Employers need to try to balance making their music appealing to both customers and employees because that is not a trivial matter. If employees are unhappy, it doesn’t do the business any good.”


Quiet zones

Experts suggest practical steps such as designating quiet zones, music-free breaks or offering noise-filtering headphones that allow staff to tune into customers while reducing background stressors. Another option is giving staff an element of control over playlists or allowing headphones in certain roles, particularly in open-plan or retail environments where ambient noise is otherwise unavoidable.

The idea that music boosts productivity is not new. A study by Mindlab International found that 81% of workers performed tasks more efficiently with music on, especially pop. But the benefits depend on context. Music that employees choose themselves can reduce stress and block distractions, but forced exposure to music that doesn’t match their preferences can do the opposite.


Harmonious workers

Other studies have shown that the right musical environment can boost cooperation. Staff exposed to upbeat tracks have been found to work more harmoniously in groups, suggesting that music can help shape not just output but workplace dynamics.

“Employers often underestimate how much a sound environment contributes to staff wellbeing,” said Laurence Coen, Co-founder at Hearology®, an audiologist with several clinics in the south-east of England. “Anyone who’s seen the Duettino – Sull’aria from The Marriage of Figaro transfix an entire prison inmate population in The Shawshank Redemption understands the profound impact that music can have on a group of people!

Alongside our audiology offerings - that include microsuction ear cleaning, diagnostic hearing tests and hearing aids - we also provide workplace acoustic optimisation services, so we are well aware how a poorly optimised working environment can contribute to noise-related fatigue or distraction. Often, small changes – like lowering the volume, repositioning speakers or alternating playlists – can make a big difference. I do however wish you luck with the decision-making process around playlist content if you have staff with a broad range of musical taste!”

As employers look to create appealing environments for customers, they would do well to consider their staff too. The background music that plays in a shop, café or office may seem trivial, but it can have a lasting impact on morale, focus and, indeed, the overall success of the business.


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