A recent survey of 1,000 programmers has uncovered an intriguing trend: developers who code to the beat of electronic dance music (EDM) are more likely to report pay raises and promotions than their peers who prefer other genres.
The study, conducted by Liquid Web—a major web hosting and cloud services provider managing over 500,000 websites—explores how musical preferences correlate with professional advancement in the software development industry. The results suggest that EDM might offer unique benefits for those working in tech.
According to the findings, 56% of developers who regularly listen to EDM while coding reported receiving a salary increase in the most recent review period. That number beats out developers who favor more mainstream genres like pop. Promotions followed a similar pattern: 23% of EDM listeners reported a promotion in the past year, compared to lower percentages among those who preferred classical or country music.
In terms of overall popularity, EDM still trails some other genres. Rock topped the list as the most common coding soundtrack at 42%, followed by hip-hop and pop, each at 37%. EDM was the favorite of 21% of respondents, with artists like Skrillex, David Guetta, and the late Avicii named as top picks.
While the survey reveals a clear link between EDM listening habits and positive career outcomes, experts caution against drawing firm conclusions. The study identifies correlation, not causation—it’s still unclear whether EDM directly enhances performance or whether developers drawn to EDM already possess traits that make them more likely to succeed.
Still, for those looking to boost productivity or inject energy into their workflow, a danceable playlist might be worth a try. Whether it’s the pulsing beats, high BPMs, or just the vibe, EDM could be the soundtrack to a more successful coding career.
