Abstract
Researchers from the University of Agder carried out a study to explore whether listening to electronic music before a competition could influence performance outcomes. The work appeared in the journal Music and Science, and its main aim was to understand if pre-event auditory input can prime athletes for better results, even when they cannot wear headphones during the actual event.
Past findings have consistently shown that music can boost performance during exercise. However, the challenge in competitive settings is that athletes often compete without the option to listen to music during the event itself. This prompted scientists to test the potential benefits of listening prior to the start, in a controlled pre-competition moment.
The researchers assembled a group of young adults with a military training background to minimize variability. The sample consisted of twenty-six participants, balanced in gender, with similar age ranges, education levels, and general musical tastes to reduce confounding factors. The goal was to create a relatively uniform cohort so that any observed effects could be more confidently attributed to the musical exposure rather than underlying differences between individuals.
To avoid pre-existing associations with specific songs, the team chose to use original material. Pre-competition listening tracks were generated by undergraduate students focused on electronic music composition. This approach aimed to keep the listening content neutral with respect to prior experiences or emotional triggers tied to familiar tunes.
In a series of trials, participants were asked to experience either a fast tempo or a slow tempo version of a piece. The results consistently showed an improvement in performance on a rowing ergometer after listening to music, compared with quieter preparation. Participants who listened to electronic music not only achieved higher scores with each attempt but also demonstrated greater anticipation for the forthcoming effort when compared to someone who prepared in silence.
Interestingly, the study also tracked subjective responses. Those who listened before the task reported heightened motivation and a more positive outlook toward the upcoming exertion. The data suggest that pre-competition listening can prime arousal and focus in a way that carries over into the physical task, potentially influencing pacing and endurance strategies used during the activity.
While the improvement in performance was evident in the rowing task employed in this research, the authors note that transfer to other types of physical effort remains to be explored. The study provides a foundation for further work on how pre-performance auditory cues interact with physiological and cognitive factors to shape competitive outcomes. The implications could extend to sports where athletes must rely on internal regulation and mental preparation when external music cannot be worn during the actual competition, such as in team events or regulated individual sports.
Overall, the findings highlight that a carefully curated pre-event audio experience may offer a simple, noninvasive method to enhance readiness and performance. The authors emphasize the importance of considering how musical structure, tempo, and predictability can influence anticipation and confidence before a test or race. Additional research could examine variations in tempo, rhythm complexity, and melodic direction to determine which elements yield the strongest performance benefits for different athletic disciplines. As the field advances, researchers may also investigate long-term effects, potential differences across age groups, and how personalized listening profiles interact with sport-specific demands. These avenues will help clarify whether pre-competition listening should be incorporated into standard training routines or used selectively depending on the sport and competition format.