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Decorative image — Sound advice: Fora puts music and productivity study to the test with a tailored playlist
Can background music help sharpen focus and fuel productivity in the workplace? Fora explores the latest research.
Written by
Ali Morris

“The topic of whether or not to play music in the office is particularly contentious, splitting most workforces 50/50.”

As more and more workers have gradually returned to office environments in the aftermath of the pandemic, age-old office debates and bugbears are beginning to resurface. The topic of whether or not to play music in the office is a particularly contentious one, splitting most workforces 50/50. According to research by Fora, 53% of us love to listen to background music as we go about our working day while 45% find it deeply distracting.

Of those in favour, two-thirds believe it creates a more fun work environment, over half report that it aids productivity while a similar number said they simply enjoy the background noise. For those against, the primary reason given was that music can be a distraction. As a result, over half of respondents said they use headphones more since returning to the office post-pandemic in an attempt to help focus – a habit that doesn’t foster a particularly friendly or collaborative working environment.

Further research into the link between music and productivity in the workplace carried out on behalf of Fora by sound design expert Brian d’Souza, founder of Open Ear and Swell Studios, appears to side with music lovers, proving that background music can increase focus and boost productivity, but it’s a fine balance.

"Contrary to what people might think, music has the ability to help us concentrate,” explains d’Souza, whose research explores the types of music that help with focus, limit distractions and increase productivity. “Music affects the brain in many ways, but in simple terms can be considered a duality: we listen and we hear. Hearing never stops, but we must decide when to actively listen through a brain process where we direct attention to the sound source we’d like to attend to. By dedicating a small amount of our brain power to listening to music while working, it can help us block out other thoughts and distractions, and focus on the task at hand.”

According to the research, background music should vary throughout the day to respond to people’s changing needs, which can shift from focused work – for example, answering emails or writing a report in the morning – to collaborative teamwork such as meetings and brainstorming in the afternoon. Music with a high or low tempo affects how quickly our motor systems work; fast-paced music can help us speed up, helping us to refocus during a post-lunch lull when our circadian rhythm is telling us to slow down.

In addition, the findings showed that consistent background music (65 dB is the optimum volume for coworking environments) also helps to mask random office noises such as phones ringing, the coffee machine and coughing that can make us jump and add to stress levels. D’Souza notes that playlists shouldn’t include familiar songs with catchy lyrics and ideally, a quiet focus zone should be provided for taking calls or work that requires deep focus. “Music is of course very subjective,” he states, “what may be relaxing to some may be jarring to others.”

“Dedicating a small amount of our brain power to listening to music while working can help us block out distractions.”

“At Fora, our spaces are designed to accommodate individual workstyles, catering to both bustling and quieter preferences,” says Jennie Farmer, Chief Marketing Officer at Fora. “We prioritise inclusivity, ensuring everyone can work in their preferred manner, boosting productivity."

Dan Gray, co-founder of Soho Radio, which has a purpose-built studio and podcast studio in Fora’s Broadwick Street location, can attest to this. "It's not just about the playlists, it's about the acoustic treatments of the rooms and the workspaces, which are vitally important because that can be just as distracting or as motivating," explains Gray.

"At Broadwick, the workflow and set up is designed with the worker in mind, from the different breakout areas, the phone booth rooms for taking calls and meeting spaces that bring the community together, it's all very considered."

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