Apple Music and Universal Team Up for ‘Sound Therapy’: Lofi Beats Meet Pop Sensations for Focus, Relaxation, and Sleep
Apple Music is diving deeper into the wellness space with its latest offering: Sound Therapy. In a unique collaboration with Universal Music Group (UMG), Apple Music is transforming popular songs into lo-fi beats designed to enhance focus, relaxation, and sleep. But is this just another trend, or a genuine step toward music-driven well-being?
The collection, available exclusively on Apple Music, features “extended, instrumental, and reimagined” versions of tracks from artists like Imagine Dragons, Katy Perry, and Kacey Musgraves. But there's more than meets the ear. These songs have been tweaked with auditory beats and colored noise intending to stimulate specific brain responses.
According to the press release, gamma waves and white noise could potentially help boost focus, while theta waves are designed to encourage relaxation. For those struggling to catch some Z's, delta waves and pink noise—similar to rain or wind sounds—are the prescription. Imagine drifting off to sleep to a dreamy rendition of Katy Perry’s “Double Rainbow” or tackling your to-do list with an instrumental Imagine Dragons track.
“For years, elevating music’s role in health and wellbeing has been a strategic priority for UMG,” said Michael Nash, UMG’s Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer. Apple's co-head of Apple Music, Rachel Newman, echoed Nash's sentiments, highlighting the engagement with personalized mood playlists and the Apple Music Chill radio station.
The Sound Therapy collection is divided into three categories:
- Focus: Aims to improve cognitive performance with gamma auditory beats and white noise.
- Relax: Infuses theta auditory beats for ultimate relaxation.
- Sleep: Encourages deeper sleep using delta auditory beats or pink noise.
This isn't Apple's first foray into music for wellness. The company also has a dedicated radio station for chill music and various playlists dedicated to sleep, chill, productivity, and well-being. Apple's collaboration with Sollos within UMG London offices underlines its commitment to audio innovation.
While some may be skeptical about the science behind it, there's no denying that music can significantly impact mood and productivity. Whether it's the placebo effect or genuinely effective auditory engineering, if Sound Therapy helps you focus, relax, or sleep better, it's a win-win.
Will Sound Therapy revolutionize how we approach music and wellness? It remains to be seen. In the meantime, why not give altered versions of top hits a listen? Let us know if it works for you! What are your thoughts on the Sound Therapy collection? Share your favorite tracks and experiences in the comments below!