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New Study Finds Best BPM To Study To, Popular Songs For Studying

A new report from the UK sheds light on the best music and BPM for studying. Here’s what artists everywhere need to learn from it.

New research has found that studying while listening to music remains a popular trend for students of all ages. The study, which was completed by UK-based marketing agency Digitaloft, analyzed more than 100,000 songs across thousands of playlists intended to help people study or complete homework. Their findings include the most popular artists and songs for studying and the most popular BPM (beats per minute).

According to the data, songs with an average BPM of 112 were most popular among those trying to study. That works out at about one beat every half a second, and in musical terminology, would fall in between andante (at a walking pace) and moderato (at a moderate pace).

The world’s most popular studying hits: 

RankTitleArtistPlaylists featured in 
1drivers licenseOlivia Rodrigo48
2SLOW DANCING IN THE DARKJoji39
3OpheliaThe Lumineers34
4FallingHarry Styles32
5Before You GoLewis Capaldi30
6CirclesPost Malone30
7lovely (with Khalid)Billie Eilish29
8RibsLorde28
9This TownNiall Horan28
10505Arctic Monkeys28

Of the hits analyzed, “Driver’s License” by actress-singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo comes out top with appearances in 48 study playlists on Spotify. The pop ballad debuted at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart and has broken multiple streaming records since release, including the record for most Spotify streams in a week.

The world’s most popular studying artists: 

RankArtistNumber of Playlists
1BTS905
2Hans Zimmer539
3Taylor Swift403
4Billie Eilish348
5Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart307
6Ed Sheeran287
7John Williams285
8Harry Styles283
9Thomas Newman269
10Ariana Grande253

BTS came out top, appearing in over 900 study playlists on Spotify. This is no surprise, given their phenomenal following of dedicated teenage fans who are likely to be studying.

Avery Morgan, Chief Communications Officer at EduBirdie comments on the research:

Music can be very beneficial for studying, as it allows students to create the right mood, relax and destress, improve focus and reduce boredom over long study sessions. In fact, listening to Mozart has even been suggested to help memorization.

The general wisdom is that the best songs for concentrating are atmospheric, ambient sounds. Therefore, it’s no surprise to see lo-fi beats come out on top as the world’s favorite studying songs. On the other hand, some students seem to be able to remain focused listening to popular artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, BTS, and Taylor Swift, whilst others may prefer to work in silence to avoid any distractions.

Although every student’s preferences are unique, we would recommend listening to songs without lyrics that allow you to focus on the task at hand, whilst blocking out any external distractions. The key is background music, keeping the volume at a low level, and choosing songs that you don’t have strong feelings about, in order to stay focused and productive during study sessions.

The lesson here? As much as a great hit may make your career, writing music that people can enjoy while doing other things matters as well. We have to be honest about consumption. The vast majority of consumers do not sit and listen to music while doing nothing else. Most people enjoy music while doing other things, including homework and studying. The tasks inform their music selection, so the easier it is to digest a song while doing something else raises the likelihood people will enjoy it while going about their tasks. The artists that find a way to become the soundtrack to everyday life are the ones who often have the most success.

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Why Should You Study Music Business? [Video]

Going to college is an option for aspiring professionals, but learning about the music business is not.

It takes more than being a fan of your favorite artists to build a career in entertainment, and in today’s Music Biz 101 video, we’ll give you tips on how to get ahead. 

But let’s back up. Why study music business? The answer is simple. Not a single person working full-time in the music business today got their job by accident. The idea of big fans becoming hardworking industry movers and shakers is a myth perpetuated by movies and other works of fiction to entertain dreamers. If all you want is to dream, that’s fine, but if you’re going to excel, you’re going to have to work for every step you take.

Learning about the business of music goes beyond understanding how your favorite artists built careers, though that is an excellent place to start. Today’s music professionals need to have a strong understanding of how the business works in every way possible. You need to know how streaming companies operate and what ASCAP does. You need to know how songs get on the radio and how to find a good publicist.

More importantly, you should WANT to know these things. The most successful professionals know this business better than anyone else. You should aspire to know as much as possible. That is what will help you excel.

Aspiring to work in music is like dreaming of starting a fight that never ends. You have to fight for everything you get in this business, and the weapons at your disposal are the pieces of knowledge you gain along the way. Education is the best way to make a place for yourself, and that can happen with or without student loans. There are a million ways to get ahead without spending more than a few hundred dollars, and we share a few of the best methods in this Music Biz 101 update. 

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