Music works (and science backs it up).
If you’re in HR, L&D, events, or employee experience, chances are you’ve explored a long list of ways to boost team connection, juice up company culture or raise morale.
Surveys. Offsites. Digital platforms. Meditation apps. Monthly recognition awards.
All good. But one powerful tool often gets overlooked—music.
We’ve been building corporate culture through music since before remote work was cool. And if there’s one thing we know from running team building events in over 30 countries with groups across pharma, tech, energy, FMCG, and finance, it’s this:
Music isn’t just entertainment. It’s a psychological shortcut to connection, focus, joy and memory.
And far too often it’s an overlooked, under-appreciated business tool.
We’ve recently been interviewing some of our clients to gather case studies and dig deeper into their team building experiences with us all over the globe.
While we often talk about the science behind music—especially the power of creating music together—we don’t always highlight just how impactful and sometimes underrated it is as a business tool.
1. Music builds trust and connection—fast
A study by Oxford University found that singing together creates stronger social bonds than other group activities, boosting endorphin levels and feelings of closeness more quickly than simply talking or working side by side.
Why does this matter?
Because when you’re managing a team of 100, or even 10, scattered across time zones and business units, what you really need is speed: fast trust, fast communication, fast cohesion.
Music gets you there.
We’ve seen CFOs, software engineers, and lawyers—people who barely make eye contact in the elevator—belting out original Team Anthems together by the end of a session. Not because they were forced to, but because rhythm and rhyme did the heavy lifting.
The lesson? Shared musical experiences bypass hierarchy and ego. They humanize people—and fast.
2. Music changes state, instantly
Want to energize a burnt-out team before a product launch? Calm nerves before a merger announcement? Bring joy to a kick-off? Music meets that moment.
It’s not just our opinion. Neuroscientists have shown that music activates the brain’s reward system, triggering dopamine release and reducing cortisol (your stress hormone).
This snippet from a Late Show interview with Dr Francis Collins explains exactly what’s happening to our brain chemistry when we listen to a piece of music we love.
And this is why film composers layer emotional soundtracks under big plot twists. It’s why gyms pump you up with pounding, forceful beats. And it’s why smart companies use music to set the tone at conferences, onboarding events, or leadership retreats.
And let’s not forget the subtle art of the retail playlist when you walk into your favorite store.
We’ve opened global sales summits with tongue-twisting raps and closed HR workshops with soulful ballads written by the group themselves.
The shift in energy is palpable—and it lasts.
The lesson? You can’t always talk your team into a better mindset. But you can often play them into one.
3. Music improves memory and message retention
Think about the last jingle you heard. Or your college anthem. Or that song you chose for the first dance at your wedding? Still stuck in your head, right?
That’s because melody and rhythm create powerful memory hooks. According to Harvard Medical School, musical structure enhances recall by giving information a pattern and an emotional charge.
We’ve worked with companies who wanted to land complex internal messages—like new corporate values, strategy pillars, or DEI frameworks. Instead of a static slide deck, they set the key ideas to music. Weeks later, employees could still sing them back, word for word. Clients describe these long-lasting after-effects as ‘a great legacy’ or ‘an unbelievable gift’ and ‘totally unexpected.’
The lesson? When people sing it, they don’t just hear it. They remember it.
If you’re responsible for team performance, culture, engagement, or L&D—and you feel like the usual playbook isn’t cutting it—maybe it’s time to turn up the volume on something fresh and new?
We’d love to help you explore how music can connect, uplift, and embed what really matters to you and your people.
(We also promise you don’t have to sing on stage… unless you want to.)
Curious? Let’s chat. Or sign up for our newsletter for more insights like these.
Who are you? You lead or advise on company culture, employee engagement, and retention. Your organization already invests in building a positive workplace, and now you’re seeking fresh ways to energize and unite your teams. Your leadership knows that without innovation, your competitive edge is at risk. So, you’re determined to create the conditions that spark creativity, drive innovation, build psychological safety, and foster belonging.
Who are we? SongDivision, the culture experts. We use the proven power of making music together to bond teams and amplify your culture. For thousands of years humans have used music to tell stories, entertain, and educate. Why? Because it works.
