Why Do Gyms Play Music?

Gyms play music because it creates an optimal environment for fitness.

6 Reasons Why Gyms Play Music

1. Background noise

Without music, gyms can quickly become awkward places to visit. Just think about the different noises that people make when they lift weights.

They grunt.

They breathe heavily.

They talk to other people who work out.

The machines themselves also make noise.

The treadmill hums.

Metal plates clang when they meet.

Everyone at the gym will become hyper-aware of these sounds if there is no music. Going to the gym will then be like going to a bad party.

One reason why gyms play music is that it helps drown out the unpleasant sounds in the gym. People can then pretend to be in their own world. They can just focus on working out.

2. Marketing

Music is a way for gyms, or any other business for that matter, to enhance their brand image. Think about the things that businesses do to create a unique brand.

First, they come up with a recognizable name. Then, they create a logo. They become selective with color schemes and paint their walls accordingly.

Music is simply another tool in that marketing toolbox.

For example, what do you do if you want your gym to be known as THE place that cool, young people go to?

You play the music that they regularly listen to.

You pay attention to what’s trending on music apps like Spotify and Pandora.

You give them an exceptional audio experience so that they can enjoy their workouts even more.

3. Motivation

Gym rats will know:

If you want your workouts to be effective, then you need to “get in the zone.” There is a huge mental difference between crashing on the couch after a long day and being at the gym pumping iron.

Exercising feels difficult when you don’t have any energy. This is the reason why people warm up. Listening to music can also help people get into the workout mood.

What kind of music?

Generally, anything that is fast-paced and upbeat. You wouldn’t want to listen to a lullaby when you’re trying to prepare yourself for physical activity, right? It would have the opposite effect.

Another reason why gyms play music is to get their members excited about working out. Fitness goals will then become easier to accomplish.

4. Classes

Besides workout equipment, many gyms also offer fitness classes taught by qualified instructors. These instructors play music as they teach because of a few reasons:

For one thing, music helps students to remember routines. Instructors might teach students a series of exercises to be done in a row.

Music will help students remember when to do each exercise. They can associate specific exercises with specific songs.

Music will also help raise the energy level in the room. Classes are group activities. Ideally, everyone in the group should be having fun. Memorable experiences are created when people leverage each other’s energy.

5. Intentional distraction

As previously discussed, music motivates people to start working out. It also serves a purpose during the workout.

Fitness enthusiasts know about the benefits of those last few reps in an exercise. Those last reps are the difference between good results and great results.

What can you do to help yourself push through the final seconds in a set? You can try distracting yourself by zoning into the music.

Don’t focus on how difficult the exercise is. Instead, focus on the beat of the music. Listen to the lyrics.

Studies show that listening to music can mitigate the effects of pain.

Therefore, music plays an important role when you’re trying to get into shape.

6. Convenience

(This is now less of an issue with the rise of wireless Bluetooth earbuds.)

Gyms know that their customers enjoy listening to music while they exercise. So, music is provided to make things more convenient.

What happens when gyms don’t play music?

Customers will most likely bring music with them on their phones. They will exercise while wearing headphones.

Wearing these listening devices can get annoying. Wires get tangled. They also get in the way when you’re trying to do an exercise with a wide range of motion.

It would be much better if the music was already available. This is how gyms can help.

Now, not everyone enjoys the music that fitness facilities play.

Gym owners get this.

Therefore, some gyms allow their customers to connect their music to the gym’s sound system.

The customers take turns plugging their phones into an auxiliary cable. This enables customers to jam out to different types of music when exercising.

What to Do When You Don’t Like Your Gym’s Music

At the end of the day, it all comes down to preference.

Some gym-goers don’t like listening to music at all. They don’t mind the grunts and other sounds that people make when working out.

Other people enjoy the popular music that the gym plays.

There is a third group of people who always wear headphones when working out, regardless of what the gym plays over the sound system.

Initially, you should be aware of a gym’s music policy before signing up for a membership.

See if there is a free trial that you can use before signing up. Get a sense of how loud the gym can get. You can also simply ask a few questions.

However, it may not always be convenient to switch gyms. The next gym may be miles away.

If this is you, then you should get noise-canceling earbuds. These earbuds will help drown out the sounds of your external environment.

You can then decide what you want to do with music. You can work out without listening to music. You can also listen to music on your phone.

In addition, see if your gym is open for feedback. For example, you can politely say something if you think the music is too loud.

You can talk to someone in person. You can also see if there is a way to submit feedback online.