Universal and Apple Music Want to Help You Sleep

Universal Music Group (UMG) announced a new project with Apple Music on Tuesday (May 13) “to help listeners attain clearer focus, deeper relaxation, and better sleep,” according to a press release.

The initiative, called Sound Therapy, takes songs listeners are already familiar with — including tracks from Imagine Dragons, Katy Perry, Kacey Musgraves, Jhené Aiko, Chelsea Cutler and Jeremy Zucker — and blends them with “special sound waves designed to enhance users’ daily routines.” 

“For years, elevating music’s role in health and well-being has been a strategic priority for UMG, linked to a potentially significant commercial opportunity,” Michael Nash, UMG’s executive vp/chief digital officer, said in a statement. “We look forward to working closely with the team at Apple to expand the ways that music can be harnessed to improve the wellness benefits for its users.”

This is not UMG’s first foray into “health and well-being”: In 2023, for example, the company partnered with Endel to put “AI to work and help UMG build new and exciting offerings to promote wellness.” Nash said at the time, “We are excited to utilize their patented AI technology to create new music soundscapes — anchored in our artist-centric philosophy — that are designed to enhance audience wellness.”

Four months later, UMG announced plans to launch Sollos, which it described as “a music-centric wellness app,” and licensed its catalog to the start-up soundBrilliance for “music and health research,” according to Digital Music News.

Apple Music launched Apple Music Chill in December. Rachel Newman, Apple Music’s co-head, said in a statement that the streamer has “seen incredible engagement around our personalized mood playlists and the new Apple Music Chill radio station.”