How ambient music found its way from '70s niche to mainstream
5 hours ago Share Save Dani Thomas BBC Wales Share Save
Ambient music tends to prioritise texture and atmosphere over rhythm, melody and lyrics
From soothing drones and chimes to the sound of rain gently tapping on the roof - ambient music is transforming the way people sleep, focus and relax. Once an esoteric 1970s genre, mood music playlists have become a daily habit for millions. An official playlist on Spotify called Deep Focus has 4.8 million likes and another called Ambient Relaxation has 1.2 million. Similar lists attract millions of listeners on Apple Music and YouTube. The BBC has also embraced the trend for musical sleep and focus mixes, with playlists such as Ambient Focus proving popular on BBC Sounds. So, what's behind the huge popularity of ambient music today and why are so many of us turning to sound t
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