Music has long been considered an art form that inspires creativity and cultivates emotional depth. It’s a powerful tool that many artists use to get into the right headspace while creating and to motivate themselves during the tough times.

However, recent research has shown that music may not always be the best choice for those seeking to maximize their creativity. In fact, music can sometimes be a creativity killer. Here’s why.

The Science of Music and Creativity

Research has shown that music can have a profound effect on our brains. Listening to music activates the reward centers of our brain, releasing dopamine and providing us with a sense of pleasure and satisfaction.

Studies have also shown that listening to music can boost our moods and increase our cognitive performance in certain areas, such as spatial reasoning and verbal memory.

However, these benefits come with some caveats when it comes to creativity.

One study found that while listening to music can improve mood and performance on routine tasks, it can actually hinder creativity on more complex tasks that require a high degree of mental flexibility and originality. This is because music can be a distraction that reduces our ability to focus and process new information.

The Downsides of Music in Creative Work

When it comes to creative work such as writing, painting, or composing music, distractions are the enemy of progress. When we’re in the flow of creating, even minor distractions can rip us out of that state and disrupt our train of thought.

Music, even if it’s something we enjoy, can be a major distraction.

For one thing, music can be emotionally evocative. A sad song might bring up past traumas or negative emotions, making it difficult to stay focused and optimistic about the creative task at hand.

Similarly, a fast-paced, upbeat song might make us want to dance or move around, disrupting our work.

But even if the emotional content of the music isn’t actively detrimental, it can still be a distraction from the creative process.

Related Article The dark side of music on creativity

Our brains have limited attentional resources, and when we’re listening to music, those resources are being spent on processing the incoming auditory information. This reduces the amount of attention we can devote to the creative task at hand.

Moreover, music can be habit-forming. If you’re used to listening to music while you work, your brain may begin to associate the two activities.

This means that when you sit down to work without music, your brain may struggle to get into the creative mindset it needs to be in.

When Music Can Help Creativity

All that being said, music isn’t always a creativity killer. In fact, some studies have shown that certain types of music can actually boost creativity in certain situations.

For example, research has found that listening to “happy” music can promote divergent thinking, which is the ability to generate multiple creative solutions to a problem.

Upbeat, cheerful music appears to put us in a more positive mood, making us more inclined to take risks and generate new ideas.

Similarly, research has found that listening to ambient music, such as nature sounds or white noise, can promote creative thinking by reducing the amount of external distractions that we’re exposed to.

The Bottom Line

So, what’s the takeaway? Ultimately, whether music is a creativity killer or a creativity booster depends on the individual and the task at hand. Some people work better with music, while others find it too distracting.

Some creative tasks require a high degree of focus and mental flexibility, while others are more routine and can benefit from the mood-boosting effects of music.

If you find that music is helping you get into the flow of creating, there’s no need to give it up.

But if you’re struggling to stay focused or find that music is actively hindering your creativity, it might be worth trying to work without it for a while and see if that makes a difference.