Apple Music and UMG Roll Out Sound Therapy for Focus, Relaxation and Sleep
Krissy Vann | Host, All Things Fitness and Wellness
Apple Music and Universal Music Group have launched Sound Therapy, a new audio collection designed to support mental and physical wellbeing. The offering features adapted versions of popular songs that incorporate sound waves and audio elements linked to focus, relaxation and sleep.
The collection is available exclusively on Apple Music and includes tracks from artists such as Imagine Dragons, Katy Perry, Kacey Musgraves, Ludovico Einaudi, AURORA, Jhené Aiko, Chelsea Cutler and Jeremy Zucker. Songs have been reworked with auditory tools like white noise, pink noise, and brainwave frequencies such as gamma, theta and delta. These elements are often studied for their potential to influence brain states related to concentration or rest.
“For years, elevating music's role in health and wellbeing has been a strategic priority for UMG, linked to a potentially significant commercial opportunity, as well as something that our Chairman and CEO, Sir Lucian, and the entire management team, are passionate about," said Michael Nash, UMG's EVP and Chief Digital Officer. "Given Apple's leadership at the intersection of health and technology, the launch of Sound Therapy represents an important validation of our innovative, science-led Sollos initiative. We look forward to working closely with the team at Apple to expand the ways that music can be harnessed to improve the wellness benefits for its users."
"Every day, people around the world make Apple Music part of their daily routine, and we've seen incredible engagement around our personalized mood playlists and the new Apple Music Chill radio station," said Rachel Newman, Apple Music's co-head. "Now, with Sound Therapy, we're proud to work alongside UMG and Sollos to bring a new listening experience to Apple Music — one that's grounded in artistry, shaped by innovation, and designed to support wellness."
Sound Therapy is organized into three listening modes: focus, relax and sleep. Tracks intended for focus use gamma waves and white noise. Relaxation tracks include theta waves. Sleep content includes delta waves and pink noise, which mimics natural sounds like rain or wind. For example, a version of Katy Perry’s “Double Rainbow” is featured in the sleep category, while an Imagine Dragons track is designed to help with task-based focus.
The Sound Therapy project was developed by Sollos, a UMG-backed venture that combines audio engineering and cognitive science to explore how sound affects the brain and body. The team behind the project includes producers, scientists and sound engineers who modify the tracks while preserving the original artistic intent.
This launch builds on Apple’s existing presence in health and fitness, which includes Apple Watch, HealthKit and Apple Fitness Plus. Apple and UMG plan to continue working together to explore how audio content can be used in everyday wellness routines and supported by ongoing research.
