Fitness & Gym Music
Music programming for
gyms & fitness studios.
The right music drives intensity, keeps members longer and builds your brand. Most gyms run a personal Spotify account on shuffle - which is both legally wrong and a missed opportunity. I build custom, brand-fit music matched to your space, your classes and your energy goals.
Improvement in endurance when music tempo matches workout intensity
Karageorghis et al.
Of gym-goers say music significantly affects their workout quality
Music & Exercise Research
Higher-tempo music increases power output and reduces perceived exertion
Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology
Members train longer when facility music is matched to their activity
Exercise Behaviour Research
The problem
Most gym music is both wrong and illegal.
A personal Spotify account on the speaker system, a YouTube playlist on the TV, or whatever the front-desk staff put on. The result is music that undermines training energy, misrepresents your brand and exposes you to legal risk.
Wrong BPM kills training energy
Music tempo directly influences effort output. A HIIT class needs 150-170+ BPM to drive intensity. Strength training needs a different range entirely. One playlist cannot serve all of them.
Generic music weakens your brand
A boutique studio charging premium rates cannot sound like a budget chain gym. Your music signals your positioning to every member, every day. Most gyms have not made that connection.
Personal streaming is not legal for commercial use
A personal Spotify or Apple Music subscription is for private listening only. Playing it in a commercial gym where members can hear it falls outside those terms. Most countries require separate public performance registrations.
Services
What I offer gyms & studios
Music Strategy & Audit
I analyse your facility, class types, member profile and current music. You receive a complete music brief: genre palette, BPM ranges by workout type, energy arc for each class format and implementation recommendations.
Ideal for: New gym openings, studio refreshes, facilities wanting to fix a music problem
Custom DJ Mixes
Professionally mixed sets built for specific workout types: HIIT, cardio, strength, spin, yoga and cool-down. Each mix is 60-120 minutes, engineered for the correct BPM arc, and built around your brief. Instrumental versions available for instructors who need their coaching to cut through.
Ideal for: Gyms and instructors wanting consistent, class-specific music
Ongoing Music Programming
Monthly fresh content delivered to your facility. I handle the curation, the class scheduling and the BPM structure. You focus on your members and programming; I handle the soundtrack.
Ideal for: Established gyms and studios wanting hands-off music management
Sonic Branding
A complete musical identity for your gym brand or franchise. Covers genre palette, BPM parameters by zone and class type, what to avoid, and implementation guidelines across all locations and platforms.
Ideal for: Gym chains, franchise networks, boutique studio groups
The science
BPM is the engine behind every great workout.
Research by Costas Karageorghis and others in sports and exercise psychology has consistently shown that music tempo matched to movement pace increases endurance, reduces perceived exertion and improves output. This is not subjective - it is measurable and replicable across workout types.
Every mix I build for a gym or fitness studio is engineered around the correct BPM range for that workout type - and the energy arc within the mix mirrors the structure of the session itself. Instructors who need workout music without words can also request fully instrumental versions so coaching is never competed with.
Discuss your facility →Raises heart rate gradually, primes movement
Drives focus and controlled power output
Matches stride cadence, sustains aerobic effort
Maximum drive for peak effort intervals
Syncs to pedal cadence across resistance zones
Slows heart rate, signals recovery
The difference between a good workout and a great one is often the music. The right track at the right BPM does not just motivate - it synchronises the body and removes the mental ceiling on effort.
Kono Vidovic - 34 years of music programming
Who I work with
The right fit for every fitness format
Boutique fitness studios
Premium positioning demands premium music. A curated sound that matches your brand, your interior and the experience your members are paying for.
Big-box & commercial gyms
High footfall, multiple zones, diverse member demographics. Music strategy that works across the floor - cardio area, free weights, group fitness - without sounding generic.
Group fitness & class instructors
Spin, HIIT, bootcamp, circuit - each class format has a specific BPM and energy requirement. Instrumental mixes available so your coaching is never drowned out.
Yoga & pilates studios
Calm, intentional, acoustically considered. Music that supports practice rather than competing with it. Often the most underserved category in fitness music.
Personal trainers & PT studios
One-to-one and small-group training sessions benefit from music that adapts to the client and the workout. A PT with great music is memorable in a way competitors are not.
Gym chains & franchises
Consistent sonic branding across all locations. One musical identity with the flexibility to adapt by zone and class type while staying recognisably yours.
Process
How we work together
01
Discovery call
We talk through your facility, class formats, member profile and current music situation. Free, 30 minutes, no obligation.
02
Music brief
I develop your music strategy: genre palette, BPM by workout type and zone, energy arc for each class format and what to avoid.
03
First delivery
Custom DJ mixes built to the brief are delivered. You review and give feedback before we finalise.
04
Ongoing
Monthly fresh content, seasonal programme updates and regular check-ins. Your music stays current and matched to your schedule.
FAQ
Common questions
Can I legally play Spotify in my gym?
No. A personal Spotify subscription is for private use only. Playing it in a commercial gym or fitness studio where members can hear it falls outside those terms. Most countries require separate registrations with local collecting societies to play music publicly in a commercial venue. Check what applies in your country. A custom DJ mix replaces the streaming service; the venue registrations remain your own responsibility.
What BPM is best for workout music?
It depends on the workout type. Warm-ups work well at 100-120 BPM. Strength training typically suits 120-140 BPM. Cardio and running sessions perform best at 140-160 BPM. HIIT and high-intensity work can go up to 150-170+ BPM. Spin and cycling classes usually run 130-150 BPM. Cool-downs, stretching and yoga benefit from 60-90 BPM. Each class format has an optimal range - see the BPM guide above.
Can you make instrumental workout music without lyrics for fitness instructors?
Yes. Many instructors need music without vocals so their coaching cuts through clearly. I can produce workout music without words - instrumental mixes engineered around the correct BPM range for each class type. This is a standard request and is covered in the brief.
How is a custom DJ mix different from a workout playlist?
A DJ mix is professionally mixed into a continuous flow with managed BPM progression, key-matched transitions and a designed energy arc. Playlists shuffle between tracks with gaps and jarring jumps in energy and tempo. For a fitness class or gym floor, a well-engineered mix drives effort in a way a playlist simply cannot.
Do you make music for specific classes like HIIT, spin or yoga?
Yes. Every mix is built to a specific brief: class type, BPM range, energy arc, genre direction and whether vocals are needed. HIIT mixes, spin sets, strength training background, cardio sessions and cool-down or yoga mixes all have different requirements - I build each one to specification.
Do you work with gyms internationally?
Yes. I work with gyms and fitness studios worldwide. All delivery is digital, so location is not a constraint.
Ready to upgrade your gym's music?
A free 30-minute call is the place to start. No obligation.
