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Why is background music important to gyms?
For National Fitness Day on September 24th, we teamed up with leisure centre group, MyActive, to find out more about the benefits of music to staff and customers
From healthy eating to workout schedules, fitness goals don’t always come easy. But for gym-goers and employees, the experience could be enhanced with the right soundtrack, according to our new survey conducted on a sample size of MyActive staff and customers.
Music to improve the gym experience
The survey found that 2 in 3 members said they enjoyed listening to background music at MyActive gyms, while over three-quarters (76.2%) agreed music is important when participating in exercise classes.*
66% said hearing music at MyActive leisure centres helps them to feel more motivated, and over half said they would be more inclined to visit a gym where music was playing. *
What music is best to play?
When asked about what type of music people enjoy, the majority of the members we surveyed (57.6%) said they prefer to hear recognisable music while working out, with only 5% preferring ‘royalty-free’, unrecognisable music. *
Pop (54.2%), Rock (44%), and Dance (27.1%) were voted the top three most enjoyable genres, while Country (16.9%), Folk (15.2%), and Indie (15.2%) followed close behind. *
As Heather Djuranovic, Marketing and Communications Lead at MyActive, explains:
“Songs can spark memories, help people feel more at home, and elevate an experience – we wanted to tap into that! We want people to walk in and hear songs they actually know and love. We hope that recognisable music will add energy and perhaps give people that little extra push in their workout.”
Overall, 2 in 3 responders said hearing music at MyActive gyms makes the experience more enjoyable, while almost 40% (37.2%) said they would be less inclined to visit a gym where no music was playing. *
As Heather adds:
Music makes a massive difference. It lifts the mood, sets the pace, and just makes the whole place feel more alive. Whether you’re in the gym, at a class, or walking through reception, the right music can change how you feel.”
Music for staff engagement
Unsurprisingly, staff members who completed the survey mostly agreed that music can help to create a positive working environment too.
80% said they enjoy listening to music at work, with 92% saying that hearing music helps them in their day-to-day role.**
This includes over half (55.2%) saying that music helps them feel motivated while at work, while over 2 in 3 (60.5%) said music makes them feel happy. **
Almost 2 in 3 (57.9%) also said music makes them feel more upbeat, while around a third (36.8%) said music makes them feel more focused – particularly when hearing music they know and are familiar with. **
The majority (81.6%) of staff surveyed said they would rather hear recognisable music while at work, with 92.1% saying they believe that it is important for businesses in the leisure industry to play music. **
As Heather adds:
Music helps our staff just as much as it helps members. A good playlist keeps energy up, makes busy shifts more enjoyable, and adds to the positive vibe across the centre. When staff feel good, members feel it too.”
Do I need a music licence to play music in gyms and leisure centres?
TheMusicLicence is usually needed to play music in gyms or leisure centres.
Under The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, permission is needed from the relevant copyright holders – those people who create music – in order to play or perform music in public.
Obtaining TheMusicLicence gives you this permission, in relation to the vast majority of commercially available music. This ranges from grassroots and independent artists and composers through to the biggest names in the business.
Find out more about TheMusicLicence by visiting our Fitness and Dance page.
References
*Survey conducted by PPL PRS on 59 MyActive leisure centre members, July 2025
**Survey conducted by PPL PRS on 38 MyActive leisure centre staff, May 2025
Author
Rhiannon Jepson
Rhiannon Jepson is a Member of The Chartered Institute of Public Relations and has worked in communication roles for around 7 years. She joined PPL PRS in November 2017, shortly after studying for a degree in English Literature, where she developed her love of writing and creativity. Since then, she has completed the CIPR Foundation course and enjoys bringing together her love of communications and music through her role as Senior PR & Communications Executive.
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