Skip to content
City PM
  • Germany
  • France
  • Europe
  • Markets
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • DE
  • Germany
  • France
  • Europe
  • Markets
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • DE
Thursday 23 July 2015 5:12 am

Analytical minds prefer complex music – here’s the ultimate Spotify playlist for people working in finance

By: Sarah Spickernell

Add as a preferred source on Google

The way you think determines your taste in music, according to a new study published in Plos One, and for analytical financial minds this means a preference for punk, heavy metal, and avant-garde jazz.
 
Read more: North vs south London: Whose music tastes come out on top?
 
Researchers at the University of Cambridge found that “systemisers” – those who think analytically and like identifying patterns – prefer intense, complicated music types, opting for songs such as Metallica's Enter Sandman. 
 
Read more: Spotify data identifies musical middle age and a musical mid-life crisis when you start listening to Taylor Swift
 
By contrast, people who have an empathetic way of thinking are more likely to chose mellow, low-energy types of music, such as R&B, soft rock and folk.
 
The researchers identified the pattern by asking 4,000 people questions to determine whether they fell more into the “empathiser” or “systemiser” category, such as whether they are interested in the construction of car engines and how good they ware at understanding people’s feelings. 
 
They then asked them to listen to 50 short pieces of music belonging to 26 different genres and rate them on a scale of one to 10. 
 
As the City is brimming with analytical, financially-focused minds, here's our list of top songs for you:
 

Share this article

  • Facebook
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp
  • Email

Similarly tagged content:

Sections

  • News

Categories

  • Tech

Trending Articles

  • Citroën 2CV returns as a £13,000 electric car, and the timing is no accident

  • The former African gold miner taking on the billionaire Issa brothers

  • Wimbledon: HMRC set to slap Sinner and Noskova with £1.6m tax bill

  • Barclays and Lloyds back calls to digitalise UK markets and unlock £33bn boost

  • Music tycoon Simon Cowell sued by prominent City lawyer

More from City PM

  • Ciauru Wins the Second Edition of the Reply AI Music Contest, the International Competition Dedicated to Experimentation Across AI, Music and Live Performance

    Business Wire
  • Finalists Announced for the Second Edition of the Reply AI Music Contest, the International Competition Exploring the Relationship Between AI and Live Performance

    Business Wire
  • Why I’ve fallen back in love with the iPod

    Life&Style
    GettyImages 542216126 showing a significant event or subject relevant to current news trends on a general news site
  • One year after Brian Wilson’s death: Beach Boys founder a genius like no other

    Life&Style
    Brian Wilson performing live on stage, surrounded by musical instruments and colorful stage lights, captivating the audience
  • AI disputes are turning into deals

    Opinion
    Sam Altman and Demis Hassabis discussing AI advancements at a tech conference stage, highlighting innovation collaboration
  • World Cup proves film and music walked in the US so that sports can run

    Sport Business
    Getty Images logo on a digital screen, representing the companys media and photography services in a business context.
  • Barcelona downgraded by credit ratings agency amid Spotify Camp Nou delays

    Sport Business
    Getty Images logo displayed against a neutral background, symbolizing stock photography in a business context
  • Music tycoon Simon Cowell sued by prominent City lawyer

    Lawsuit
    Simon Cowell smiling brightly during a press event, dressed in a classic tailored suit, showcasing his signature confident...

City PM — European politics, business and analysis.

Europe

  • Germany
  • France
  • Europe
  • UK & Ireland

Topics

  • Business
  • Markets
  • AI
  • Technology
  • Opinion
  • Energy

More

  • Politics
  • Economics
  • Fintech
  • Legal
  • Sport
  • Life

Company

  • About City PM
  • Editorial Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
© 2026 City PM · Published by CityPM Media, Bahnhofstrasse 65, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
About · Editorial Policy · Corrections · Contact · Privacy · Facebook