Music And Memory: Could Your Playlist Help You Study?

We’re officially in the ninth month of the year, which means final exams are creeping closer for many students along with the stress, late nights and desperate attempts to make all that information actually stick.

But what if your study playlist could become part of your exam strategy?

There’s an interesting connection worth exploring between music and memory.

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Did you know music could affect the way you study?

Music and memory have been explored by researchers looking at whether listening to music while studying can influence focus and information retention.

A 2025 study by M. Shriya and Bismirty Bhuyan examined the role of background music in focus and memory retention among academic students.

Interestingly, the researchers did not find a statistically significant relationship between music use and the measured memory outcomes in their sample.

So, unfortunately, pressing play on your favorite playlist isn't an instant ticket to academic greatness.

But there’s more to it.

Your study playlist might need a rethink

Think about your usual study session.

Textbook open. Notes everywhere. Highlighter ready.

Then your favorite song comes on.

Suddenly you're no longer studying. You're performing a private concert in your bedroom.

“Yoh, this is MY song!”

Research reviewed in the study suggests that the type of music, volume, tempo and complexity can influence concentration.

Some previous research found that softer, simpler or instrumental music may be less distracting during certain tasks, while louder or more complex music could interfere with concentration.

In other words, your exam playlist probably shouldn't sound like your Friday night playlist.

Could music become part of your exam strategy?

There’s no universal answer.

Some students need complete silence. Others can't study without something playing in the background.

That’s why it could be worth experimenting before final exams really kick in.

Try one study session in silence.

Then try another with quiet instrumental music.

Keep the volume low and see which environment helps you concentrate and retain information.

The goal isn't to replace studying with music. It’s about finding an environment that helps you get more out of the hours you're already putting in.

Your brain might already have a soundtrack

There’s another reason music and memory are so fascinating.

You can hear a song you haven't heard in years and suddenly you're transported back to a specific person, place or moment.

The song hasn't just stayed in your ears. Somehow, it's attached itself to a memory.

That doesn't mean your favorite track will magically help you remember an entire textbook, but it does show why the relationship between music, attention and memory remains interesting to researchers.

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So, should you study with music?

Maybe.

The research doesn't give us a simple “yes, music improves memory” answer. But it does give students something interesting to experiment with as they prepare for final exams.

Find what works for you, keep distractions low and, if your playlist starts becoming more interesting than your textbook...

Maybe it's time to hit pause.

Good luck to everyone heading into exam season!

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