Ask HN: Does music increase productivity at work?

For me, yes. Has to be instrumental, though, or I can't think. Faster beat to grind through mapped-out tasks or for a final push at the end of the day. Downtempo for thinking through a problem or mapping out tasks.

Discussion about programming music yesterday, with many resources mentioned: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12844434

Nine out of 10 workers perform better when listening to music, according to a study that found 88pc of participants produced their most accurate test results and 81pc completed their fastest work when music was playing.

>> http://qz.com/185337/the-complete-guide-to-listening-to-musi...

I belong to the part that really performs better while listening to some music. It works best when I’m working from an open office space with lots of distractions and unwanted noise that prevents me from concentrating. So the only solution is music in my headphones.

Important question here is to how exactly do you listen to some music at work. I think that one of the best options here are online streaming services (8tracks, Focus@Will)

>> http://8tracks.com/

>> https://www.focusatwill.com/

or recommendation and streaming apps like MuzApp https://muzapp.com/

I am always against listening to background music. It does not matter if it is during driving, workout, study, sleep, work, bathing or whatever. The music I listen to is the one which I highly respect and it is not in my habit to just play it in background. I consider this to be a disrespect of my favorite artist. Also, I don't like listening to a music if I don't respect and know about the musician and it is a noise to me. I find that more I respect the artist more empowering that music becomes to me. I love Cello and sometimes while between my study session I like to listen to any piece of music by Mstislav Rostropovich.

I know most of the people will differ with my opinion and habit but I just cannot do what is usual.

There is something called binaural beats which has lot of benefits and used for therapeutic cases. I don't know if this should be counted as music. But you can try it. You can look into its physics in Wiki page. It's simple. But I really don't know how does its psychological part works. It's mystery to lot of people.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binaural_beats

Hope my answer helps.

Not if someone else forces you to listen to the music of their choosing. I hate open plan offices and startup kool-aid

Only if I don't have the ability to pick the music.

Once that comes into play, any improved productivity from the music itself is lost to hours of clicking "Skip To Next Track".

It was Kant who called music "The Quickening Art"

and quicken, it does