PPL and PRS For Music are among the latest big industry names to join the likes of UK Music, the English National Opera, Sennheiser and Gibson Guitars in throwing their weight behind the Music At Work Week Campaign.
As previously reported, the MAWW Campaign was the brainchild of academic and author Dr. Julia Jones and is aimed at encouraging employers to enable their staff to listen to music in the workplace to boost wellbeing and productivity.
Music At Work Week is set to take place between November 25 - December 1 2019.
As part of the initiative, choirs and musicians will be visiting places of business and a new Battle Of The Office Bands competition for brands and agencies has also been launched in conjunction with media and marketing platform The Drum.
Speaking about why they have joined the cause, PPL CEO Peter Leathem said: “The level of understanding around how our brains respond to music is increasing all the time. Back in 1940s, the BBC introduced the highly popular Music While You Work programme in order to increase productivity in factories during the war and the show went on to run for over a quarter of a century. Music At Work Week is a positive initiative, which allows for businesses and individuals to explore the potential benefits of listening to music as they go about their working day.”
Andrea C. Martin, PRS For Music CEO, added: “Study after study has shown how the right music can benefit the workplace - from the office to the factory floor, music improves staff morale and can boost productivity. With our colleagues across the industry, we support Music at Work Week and hope more businesses will discover the benefits music can bring.”
Dr. Jones – who has worked with Olympic teams, the NHS, governmental bodies and major brands and corporations around the world – came up with the idea while writing her book The Music Diet, which highlights the power of music in aiding physical and mental health, particularly for those with dementia. The UK’s first Dementia Village is due to open in Kent in October and Dr. Jones has also curated the music policy there.
Speaking about PPL/PRS For Music’s involvement, Dr. Jones said: “The campaign is gaining huge momentum. We are delighted to have the backing of the UK music industry- and thanks PRS For Music, PPL, UK Music and the ENO. Employers will be hosting choirs and musicians in the workplace and a competition to find the UK’s best office band and choir will be launched. We are calling them ‘Brainraves’ – events that can boost mental health in the workplace. Studies have proven that music can aid mental and physical health and stave off dementia.”
An official press release for the Music At Work Week Campaign stated that “Work-related stress and anxiety issues cost the economy billions of pounds each year. Over 15 million working days are lost in the UK each year due to health problems which are predominantly brought on by workload.”
It added: “the stress also means workers have sleeping difficulties. Sleep deprivation costs the UK economy £40bn per year due to its effect on focus, productivity and physical/mental health. “
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