Is music a game changer for the digital health industry?

In a world rapidly embracing digital health, where technology continually reshapes our approach to well-being, one unexpected contender has emerged to take centre stage: music. The ‘harmonious’ (I couldn’t resist) union of music and innovation is poised to disrupt the status quo and usher in a revolutionary era for the digital health industry. Beyond its traditional role as a source of entertainment, could music’s potential to drive personalised medicine, give affordable access to quality health resources, enable real-time biometric tracking, and use information from sensor-rich hearables promises, redefine the future of music as medicine?

A phone playing spotify on top of a computer

Photo by David Pupăză on Unsplash

Already, big players in the tech and healthcare sectors have recognised the pivotal role music can play in the longevity and digital health revolution. There has been some noise that Spotify acquired the Swedish healthcare startup Neko Health in 2023. Specialising in AI-powered body scanners, Neko Health plays a vital role in early health issue detection and diagnosis. By integrating this cutting-edge technology into its music streaming platform, could Spotify envisions a future where personalised playlists leverage users’ health data, creating a seamless connection between music and well-being?

While we may just be at the beginning of the music as medicine journey, it looks like we stand on the threshold of an exciting evolution where music role as a central role in the health industry.

Apple, the original digital music pioneer, set the stage for this transformation with the launch of Apple Fitness+ in 2020. Emphasising the link between Apple Watch metrics and music, the platform encourages users to adopt a more active and healthier lifestyle. To quote Jay Blahnik, Apple’s senior director of Fitness Technologies, “We’re excited for Apple Fitness+ to bring together the metrics from Apple Watch, great music… to encourage our users to get fit and stay healthy.”

Amazon looks like it could be on a similar mission. They have a strong music platform and have just set up One Medical in the US aiming to simplify healthy wellbeing, “We’re on a mission to make it dramatically easier for people to find, choose, afford, and engage with the services, products, and professionals they need to get and stay healthy,” said Neil Lindsay, senior vice president of Amazon Health Services. Could they soon be launching music fueled health services and products, further bridging the gap between music and well-being?

The front door at Abbey Road music studios

Yet, it’s not just tech giants exploring the music-healthcare link. Enter MediMusic, the 18th start-up joining Abbey Road, possibly the world’s most famous music studio on the studio’s music tech incubation program. Their ambitious mission? To harness music as medicine for dementia, anxiety, and pain. Employing unique algorithms, MediMusic curates music scientifically proven to alleviate stress in dementia patients (see our Magic of Music story ). The platform monitors heart rates, with plans to incorporate even more bio-markers in the future. Supported by Abbey Road and key music industry partners, MediMusic is confident that their service could potentially reduce medication costs by up to 25%.

While we may just be at the beginning of the music as medicine journey, it looks like we stand on the threshold of an exciting evolution where music role as a leading role in the health industry. The bringing together of music and technology opens a myriad of possibilities for innovation, promising to empower people of all ages in their pursuit of healthier, fulfilling and longer lives. With big tech companies like Spotify, Apple, and Amazon investing in this revolution, and innovative startups like MediMusic pioneering groundbreaking solutions, the future is brimming with opportunities for music to serve as a powerful tool to enhance human well-being and longevity. I, for one, am incredibly curious as to where the blending of music and technology will lead us in shaping a healthier and happier future for us all.

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