Research suggests that the right kind of music can improve focus, reduce stress, and boost productivity, especially when songs hit the ideal BPM for concentration, which isn’t surprising, given that it is one of the most popular tools students and professionals use to stay productive while hard at work.
But with so many study playlists out there, which tracks are actually best for working and studying?
To find out, the team at Canvas Student analysed 50 popular study and work playlists on Spotify and identified the most frequently featured songs. Each track was then assessed based on its BPM (beats per minute) and compared against the “optimum BPM” range identified by experts to reveal which songs are best suited to focus and productivity.
You can view the full study here:
https://www.canvas-world.com/en/blog/the-best-environments-for-studying
How music improves focus (according to science):
Dr. Emma Gray from the British CBT and Counselling Service, commissioned by Spotify, found that the sweet spot for focus-friendly beats is between 50 and 80 BPM, fast enough to maintain momentum without causing stress or distraction.
Building on these insights, the table below analyses the most popular study tracks featured across Spotify playlists used by students and professionals, using Gray’s recommended BPM range as a guide to reveal the best songs to add to your office or study playlist.
The 15 best songs to listen to while working and studying:
| Rank | Song | Artist | BPM | Variation from ideal BPM (65) | Overall Study Score |
| 1 | I Wanna Be Yours | Arctic Monkeys | 68 | 3 | 10.00 |
| 2 | Telephones | Vacations | 75 | 10 | 9.41 |
| 2 | Sunsetz | Cigarettes After Sex | 75 | 10 | 9.41 |
| 4 | I Love You So | The Walters | 76 | 11 | 9.32 |
| 5 | Evergreen | Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners | 79 | 14 | 9.07 |
| 6 | Daddy Issues | The Neighbourhood | 85 | 20 | 8.56 |
| 7 | You Get Me So High | The Neighbourhood | 88 | 23 | 8.30 |
| 8 | august | Taylor Swift | 90 | 25 | 8.13 |
| 9 | Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High? | Arctic Monkeys | 92 | 27 | 7.96 |
| 9 | Cinnamon Girl | Lana Del Rey | 92 | 27 | 7.96 |
| 11 | Apocalypse | Cigarettes After Sex | 94 | 29 | 7.79 |
| 11 | Softcore | The Neighbourhood | 94 | 29 | 7.79 |
| 13 | Sweet | Cigarettes After Sex | 96 | 31 | 7.62 |
| 14 | Dark Matter Melody | Nahh Chill, Aqua Scholar, Mey Andog | 97 | 32 | 7.54 |
| 15 | Say Yes To Heaven | Lana Del Rey | 100 | 35 | 7.28 |
Key findings from the study:
- Taking the crown as the best song to listen to when studying is I Wanna Be Yours by Arctic Monkeys, released in 2013. The track sits at a near-perfect 68 BPM and has a simple, easygoing feel. Its slow, steady pace gives you something to follow without feeling rushed, while the minimal background keeps distractions to a minimum, making it a great choice for boosting productivity.
- Cigarettes After Sex clearly stands out as the most frequently appearing artist, with multiple tracks featured across the ranking. Their presence spans several positions, showing a consistent alignment with the BPM range associated with focus and productivity. Notably, their song Sunsetz performs especially well, breaking into the top five with a strong study score and sitting close to the ideal BPM range.
Photo by Polina Tankilevitch: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-shot-of-a-person-studying-8553892/
