Recent surveys have shed new light on how people use music for everything from stress relief to long drives, with findings drawn from large-scale data on streaming habits and listener preferences. A compilation of studies published by Global News highlights trends across genres, demographics and even environmental impacts, based on analyses of Spotify playlists and workplace listening patterns.
One study commissioned by the health-care company The Intake examined 155,626 tracks across 560 stress-relief playlists on Spotify. Coldplay’s “Sparks” topped the list for stress relief, followed by “Apocalypse” by Cigarettes After Sex, Lord Huron’s “The Night We Met,” Gigi Perez’s “Sailor Song” and Arctic Monkeys’ “505.” Hip-hop and rap emerged as the most common genre for relaxation playlists, ahead of pop and rock, with Drake appearing on more such playlists than any other artist.
Another long-term project tracked 1,777 metal fans over three decades and found notable resilience among participants. The research, originally conducted in 2016, showed that these listeners reached middle age “significantly better adjusted” and “more satisfied with their lives” than peers who did not listen to metal, according to the psychologists involved.
Workplace listening habits also came under scrutiny in a survey of 532 workers by an American supplier of job-site materials. Classic rock ranked first among tradespeople at 42 percent, with AC/DC, Metallica and The Rolling Stones cited for boosting productivity, particularly among older employees. Hard rock and metal followed at 40 percent, led by Metallica, Pantera and Tool, while Linkin Park topped the productivity rankings overall.
Long-haul truckers reported different preferences during extended hauls. Country music led with Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs and Johnny Cash as favorites, followed by rock acts including Drive-By Truckers, Nickelback and AC/DC. Hip-hop and rap placed third, featuring Eminem, Jeezy and 2Pac, while metal ranked fourth with Metallica, Five Finger Death Punch and Ozzy Osbourne.
A separate poll by a British ticket reseller asked 4,000 respondents which bands they most wanted to see reunite by 2027. Oasis received 18 percent support, ABBA drew 13 percent and One Direction garnered 12 percent.
Historical figures in song lyrics were tallied by the Swedish metal band Sabaton, which reviewed references across popular music. Bob Marley led with mentions in 927 songs, followed by Plato at 737, Bonnie and Clyde at 712 and Donald Trump at 656.
Streaming’s environmental toll received attention in research published on Hypebot. The 20 most-streamed albums in a single Spotify week produced 10.62 billion streams and consumed an estimated 29.1 million kWh of electricity, comparable to the daily usage of about 1 million U.S. homes. This activity generated roughly 11.2 million kg of CO₂. Taylor Swift’s albums were noted as among the highest contributors in weekly streaming volume.
Harvard Medical School researchers identified a statistical link between major album releases and traffic fatalities. Using data from the American Fatality Analysis Reporting System and Spotify streams between 2017 and 2022, the study found streams rose 40 percent on release days for artists such as Drake and Taylor Swift, while fatal crashes increased 15 percent. Possible factors include driver distraction from new music or streaming controls, though the correlation remains under review.
These findings arrive amid broader discussions of music’s role in daily life, from mental health support to occupational routines. Officials and researchers continue to examine how listening patterns intersect with productivity, safety and sustainability, with additional data expected from ongoing playlist analyses and workplace studies.