The Evolution of Wellness Music: From New Age to Science-Backed Soundscapes
When you hear the term "new age music," what comes to mind? Enya? Brian Eno? A chill playlist on Spotify? In this episode of Inside Music Curation, the team at Feed.fm breaks down how today’s functional wellness music is not the same as the new age sounds of decades past.
What’s the difference? While classic new age music was artist-driven, today’s functional music is designed with science-backed intent—helping listeners achieve focus, relaxation, better sleep, and mindfulness.
Check out the full episode and read on for key takeaways!
The Shift: From Artistic Expression to Functional Sound
Feed.fm’s music curators highlighted key differences between classic new age music and today’s functional wellness music:
🎵 New Age Music → Artist-led compositions that evoke a mood or atmosphere (think: Enya’s ethereal landscapes).
🎵 Wellness Music → Scientifically crafted soundscapes designed to trigger specific brain responses (think: relaxation, focus, and sleep).
The key? Utilitarian intent. Rather than creating music just for listening pleasure, functional music is engineered to drive specific outcomes, whether it’s helping someone power through work, wind down after a stressful day, or enhance their meditation practice.
How Feed.fm is Redefining Wellness Music
Feed.fm has taken this science-based approach to the next level by working with a Stanford neuroscientist to understand how music activates different parts of the brain. The findings? Certain musical patterns, tones, and tempos consistently influence relaxation, focus, and sleep.
With these insights, Feed.fm curates both commercially available tracks and originally composed music (Feed Originals) to create playlists tailored for fitness and wellness apps.
Functional Music in Action: Real-World Use Cases
Brands are already tapping into this next-gen approach to music curation. For example:
🎧 Fitness & Meditation Apps – Offering guided soundscapes to enhance workouts, yoga, and mindfulness sessions.
🛌 Sleep Technology Companies – Using Feed Originals compositions to help users achieve deeper, more restful sleep.
🎯 Workplace Productivity Tools – Curating focus-boosting music to help users concentrate and work more efficiently.
Even educators are using Feed Originals wellness stations in classrooms to help students stay calm and engaged—just by pressing play.
What’s Next for Wellness Music?
Feed.fm is expanding its wellness collections, adding more science-backed soundtracks and integrating major label artists like Bonobo, Air, SZA, and Ed Sheeran into functional playlists.
By bridging the gap between familiar hits and purpose-driven soundscapes, Feed.fm is making it easier for brands to offer music that enhances daily life.
📢 Watch the full episode above and stay tuned for next month’s deep dive into music curation!
Want to learn more about integrating music into your business? Connect with a music specialist for insights, tools, and success stories from brands leading the charge in health, wellness, and beyond.
2 min