In recent years, music therapy has gained recognition as a valuable tool in healthcare, offering tangible benefits for mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
Tuned Global CMO Virginie Chelles hosted a panel at The Wallifornia Music + Tech 2024 event highlighting the cutting-edge developments in music therapy. She discussed the synergy of music, technology, and artificial intelligence to deliver unique therapeutic outcomes.
This panel consists of:
Nicc Johnson: CEO Music Health, an AI-driven music intervention technology transforming one-on-one dementia care with tailored music-based interventions that support both the caregiver and care recipient.
Oleg Stavitsky CEO Endel, a technology that creates personalised sound environments to reduce stress, improve sleep, and boost productivity.
Haley Harris CMO Biomedical Music Solutions, delivers personalised music to precise areas of the brain responsible for walking and balance.
Gary Jones, CEO Medi Music*, an AI-based music neuroscience solution that dispenses music via our Digital Drip™, which dynamically creates playlists to mimic the human brain's physiological response.
This blog post explores key insights from industry pioneers who are redefining how we perceive and utilise music as therapy.
Music is more than just a source of entertainment.
Research reveals that it’s the one stimulus that interacts with more areas of the brain than any other. This is partly why music can influence our emotions, movements, and memories so profoundly.
As Gary Jones, CEO and founder of Medi Music, explains, different parts of the brain handle various musical elements: rhythm impacts movement, tone influences emotional processing, and tempo helps with spatial awareness.
Using this knowledge, music therapists are developing soundscapes designed to specifically target these brain functions, effectively shaping mood and behaviour in targeted ways.
This foundation underpins the efficacy of music in helping patients manage pain, anxiety, cognitive impairment, and even improve mobility, as shown in recent breakthroughs in dementia and gait therapy.
Technology’s role in music therapy is undeniable, especially when it comes to personalising treatment.
Nicc Johnson, CEO of Music Health, notes the importance of “vibe DNA,” a concept that uses AI and biometric data to adapt music in real-time, fine-tuning it for each user’s specific needs. This method not only enhances therapeutic outcomes but ensures that the music resonates with the listener on a deeply personal level.
Oleg Stavitsky, CEO of Endel, takes a slightly different approach.
His app, known for its adaptive soundscapes, aims to improve focus, relaxation, and sleep. Unlike conventional playlists on streaming services that claim to offer “focus” or “sleep” music, Stavitsky argues that there is minimal science behind them.
In reality, effective sleep music should work in harmony with the body’s natural sleep phases, dynamically adjusting to support the wind-down, onset, and deep-sleep stages. Endel’s AI-driven soundscapes attempt to do just this, adapting to each user’s environment and physiology for a more authentic experience.
Practical examples of music’s healing potential are growing.
At the Wellifornia panel, Haley Harris from Biomedical Music Solutions highlighted their medical-grade sound therapy for gait and walking improvement, which is now used in over 22 countries. By fine-tuning sounds to specific rhythms and tones, Harris’s team has achieved measurable success in enhancing patients’ mobility.
Endel’s story offers another perspective, showcasing how personalised music soundscapes can outperform static playlists. After collaboration with the pioneering psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Endel designed a self-reporting tool to track users’ “flow” states and refine its adaptive soundscapes, which were later validated by peer-reviewed studies.
This adaptive capability sets a new standard for how music therapy can meet users’ immediate needs, providing precise relief for stress, anxiety, and sleep disorders.
Launching music therapy products comes with its own set of challenges, particularly due to the stringent regulatory standards in healthcare and the complex licensing requirements in the music industry.
Johnson, having spent years navigating these landscapes, managed to secure music licenses even before his product launched. On the other hand, Jones’s Medi Music faced the high costs associated with clinical trials, echoing a sentiment shared by many startups about the prohibitive financial demands of achieving full healthcare adoption.
While regulatory barriers can be a hurdle, the interest and willingness to partner are growing.
Tech giants, research institutes, and healthcare providers are increasingly open to these innovative solutions, recognising the potential of music as a viable, non-invasive therapeutic tool.
Yet, for broader acceptance, music therapy needs consistent investment and support. “We need you,” Jones noted, urging the audience to help fund, raise awareness, and advocate for this field to ensure its continued growth and accessibility.
An important topic discussed was the choice between using familiar commercial music and creating custom therapeutic soundscapes.
Nicc Johnson’s work in dementia care relies on familiar songs to tap into patients’ long-term memories, sparking recognition and engagement, which can be highly therapeutic for dementia patients.
Conversely, Biomedical Music Solutions opts for proprietary sound compositions tailored to ensure that sounds do not inadvertently trigger traumatic memories or overstimulation.
These differences underline a vital aspect of music therapy: the need for a personalised approach.
While familiar music can trigger positive memories in certain therapeutic settings, custom soundscapes allow more control and precision, making them ideal for applications in clinical and sensitive environments.
The consensus among the panellists was clear — raising awareness of sound’s power, both beneficial and harmful, is essential.
Hospitals and care facilities need to recognise the potential for sound to impact patient outcomes and incorporate music therapy into standard treatment practices.
Haley Harris pointed out that sound is often overlooked in hospital settings, yet it can influence patient well-being profoundly.
Additionally, policy changes and streamlined regulations could pave the way for more widespread adoption.
Music therapy innovators are pushing for frameworks similar to those in the pharmaceutical industry, which would allow digital therapeutics to be treated with the same rigour and seriousness as conventional treatments
Music therapy stands at an exciting crossroads, driven by advancements in technology and an increasing understanding of its therapeutic potential. With trailblazers like Jones, Johnson, and Stavitsky pushing the boundaries, the future of music as medicine looks promising.
However, its success relies on broader industry and public support, regulatory adjustments, and continuous research.
As we move forward, integrating music therapy into healthcare can provide a transformative, holistic approach to well-being. Whether through soothing soundscapes that support sleep, familiar songs that spark joy in dementia patients, or adaptive music that improves mobility, the possibilities are vast.
For both patients and providers, music therapy offers a powerful, accessible, and effective path to better health—one that deserves attention, investment, and celebration.
By raising awareness and supporting music therapy's development, we can help unlock new ways for everyone to access the profound benefits of music, empowering healthcare to not only treat but also transform lives.
Want to harness the power of music therapy in your own projects?
At Tuned Global, we’re passionate about creating tailored music experiences that drive real impact in health, wellness, and beyond. If you’re ready to explore how music can enhance your platform, engage your audience, or even support therapeutic outcomes, get in touch with us!
Let’s work together to bring the transformative power of sound to your users.
Reach out to Tuned Global today to discuss and discover your possibilities.
*Medi Music is a current client of Tuned Global