A new survey suggests that music may help gym-goers stay motivated, even as financial concerns lead many to cancel their memberships. Conducted by PPL PRS, a UK music licensing organisation, the research highlights how music supports fitness commitment amid rising living costs.
The survey found that 21% of Britons have never had a gym membership. Of those who have, 78% cancelled theirs. The leading reason was cost, cited by 49% of respondents. A further 14% said they switched to outdoor or home workouts because of financial pressures. Other reasons for cancellation included not using the gym at all, reported by 17%, and overcrowded facilities, mentioned by 19%.
When asked what keeps them motivated to stay active, respondents ranked music as the top factor. A total of 58% said music helps them stay engaged during workouts. Other key motivators included setting fitness goals, which was important to 41%, and the satisfaction of weight loss, noted by 38%. Group exercise, the general atmosphere of the gym, and achieving personal bests were also mentioned as encouraging factors.
Marianne Rizkallah, a music therapist at PPL PRS, described how music contributes to a positive exercise environment. She said: “A silent gym does not sound like a fun place to be, so it is no wonder that music and atmosphere are two huge factors in creating a fitness space people want to spend time in.” She added: “Music can lift our mood, keep us focused and help us to achieve things that might seem impossible, including that sub-30 minute 5K. For gym goers as well as fitness instructors and gym owners, it is clear that music is integral and a mood-boosting and uplifting playlist can help to keep people in the gym and stay committed to their goals rather than avoiding or quitting instead.”
Rizkallah also pointed out that more than 70% of gym-goers prefer familiar, commercial tracks to enhance their workout experience. She said, “For gyms and fitness studios in particular, music wants to be upbeat, motivating and positive and anything else can see workouts cut short and people left disappointed as they struggle to feel the gym vibes they need to reach their best time or personal bests.”
Luke Hughes, a personal trainer at Active Careers, explained how music affects the body and mind during physical activity. He said: “Music plays a fascinating role in keeping yourself motivated when exercising. Music, especially songs that are rhythmic or familiar to you, can provide a positive distraction that diverts the mind from the feeling of fatigue and discomfort, especially when performing exercises that you perceive to be mundane or laborious in nature.”
He continued: “Receptors in your brain are getting negatively stimulated from the physiological effects of the exercise, but music helps prevent the body from giving up by acting as a positive stimuli competitor for the brain’s attention.” He also noted: “Music has also been shown to comparatively reduce cortisol levels, a hormone associated with stress induced when you exercise.”
Hughes added that music can help individuals remain focused and improve performance. “Additionally, it can actually aid performance by helping you obtain a focused mindset on the task in hand and can reduce your perceived effort levels, meaning you can exercise for longer durations and push harder without even realising it,” he said. “Furthermore, music that provides a consistent beat and high tempo can help regulate movement and boost your overall workout efficiency by offering a rhythm and cue that you can synchronise your workout to.”
