Music that resonates with all construction workers

The more generic ‘construction’ playlists we examined seem to be the most diverse when it comes to the variety of artists and genres that are often featured in them, which perhaps shows that they’re trying to appeal to a wider group of people. This comes as no surprise when you take a look at the variety in demographics of construction workers in the UK - 32% are aged over 50, with a further 58% aged between 25 and 49. A further 10% are under 2.

In fact, genres in ‘construction’ playlists’ top 10 songs range from hard rock (Papa Roach) and Southern rock (Lynyrd Skynyrd), to country rock (Creedence Clearwater Revival) and hip-hop/rap (Eminem).

Gardeners enjoy songs celebrating good weather

According to our research, green thumbs love working along to tunes about balmy weather. Here Comes The Sun by The Beatles, Sunny Afternoon by The Kinks, Sunny by Bobby Hebb, and In The Summertime by Mungo Jerry are all in gardeners’ Spotify playlists.

This is probably unsurprising when you consider that good weather is usually associated with growth and vitality in the garden - warm sunshine helps plants to thrive, while rain provides much-needed hydration. Therefore, these tracks probably help to sprinkle some sunshine into professional gardeners’ days, keeping the vibe jolly and their connection to their leafy friends on point - even when working outside in the typically rainy British weather! Plus, who can resist the infectious optimism and happiness that comes with a feel-good weather tune?

Landscapers are big country music fans

It turns out that landscapers are big country music fans, as Jon Pardi, Oliver Anthony, Blake Shelton, Morgan Wallen, and Jason Aldean all make it into their top 10 songs. Who would have guessed? Well actually, when you think about it, the genre's frequent themes of nature, outdoor work, rural life, and manual labour might resonate with their daily experiences.

Country music often tells stories about simple living, connection to the land, and the changing seasons, making it a perfect soundtrack for those who spend their days quite literally shaping and interacting with the earth. Not to mention, the typically upbeat tempo and rhythm can provide an energising background for physical work.

So, whether they're mowing lawns under the hot sun, planting trees, or designing an outdoor oasis, landscapers might find country music as a fitting companion that not only entertains them day-to-day, but also celebrates their profession.

Builders are dedicated to the Red Hot Chili Peppers

Born from the sunny streets of Los Angeles in the early ‘80s, the Red Hot Chili Peppers seem to have stolen the hearts of builders across the pond with their infectious blend of rock, funk, punk, and a dash of psychedelic seasoning. In fact, we found that two popular RHCP songs made it to builders’ top 10 songs - Californication and Snow (Hey Oh).

Carpenters are classic rock and country music fans

Interestingly, six of carpenters’ top 10 songs are by classic rock bands like AC/DC, Gun N’ Roses, and The Rolling Stones, and another three are by country musicians Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen.

Why might carpenters be jamming to classic rock and country tunes? Well, these genres often echo the values and experiences associated with their line of work. Classic rock, with its robust, energetic beats and powerful guitar riffs, can provide a lively soundtrack to the physical and hands-on nature of carpentry. Similarly, country music, with its storytelling lyrics often focused on everyday life and craftsmanship, can resonate with carpenters who take pride in their manual skills and the tangible results of their labour.

Both genres often celebrate the virtues of hard work, dedication, and creativity, all of which are integral to the craft of carpentry.

Electricians spark the beat to Guns N' Roses

Welcome to the Jungle, Sweet Child O’ Mine, and Paradise City by Guns N’ Roses all feature in electricians’ top 10 songs on Spotify. Perhaps it’s the technical and skilful guitar solos by lead guitarist Slash that prove enticing to these tradespeople who work with wiring and connections?


With reports of electricians containing an ageing workforce, this band’s popularity also makes sense when you consider that they were particularly popular in the late 80s. It could be the feel-good and nostalgic music of their youth that motivates electricians to work hard every day.

Health and safety considerations of listening to music on-site

Although there are countless benefits of listening to music at work, it can come with health and safety concerns - particularly when working with heavy tools and machinery, like a lot of tradespeople do. It could act as a distraction for example, or make communication more difficult to understand over the sound of the music, which could lead to accidents or injuries.

The experts in Admiral Business's Claims Department have put together the following top tips to make sure you can enjoy all your favourite tunes safely at work:


1. Sensible volumes

Cranking up the volume might feel like a great way to get into the groove of your work, but it's not always safe or respectful. Keep the volume at a level where you can still hear and respond to your surroundings. Overly loud music can mask important auditory cues like warning shouts or the sound of machinery, and it can also be a nuisance to those around you. In the long term, exposure to loud noise can even lead to hearing damage. So, remember to keep it at a sensible volume for your safety and others' comfort.


2. Turn it off when operating power tools

Power tools often make unique sounds when they're working properly versus when they're misbehaving. Having music playing can mask these sounds, delaying your response to potential malfunctions or hazards. Not to mention, operating power tools requires your utmost concentration - music can serve as a distraction in these circumstances, therefore increasing the risk of accidents.

3. Keep electrics away from water and other electricity hazards

Water and electricity are a dangerous duo. Always ensure your music devices are placed well away from any water sources, puddles, or damp areas – plumbers, we’re talking to you! If you're using a device that requires a power supply, plug it in a safe distance away from any electrical hazards. It’s also crucial to never touch electrical equipment with wet hands. Additionally, consider using battery-operated or chargeable devices to reduce the risk.

4. Be mindful of tripping hazards

Wires sprawled across the floor are a recipe for accidents. When setting up your music source, keep power cords, speaker wires, or headphones neatly organised and away from walkways or workspaces to prevent tripping hazards. Wireless or Bluetooth devices can be a great choice to minimise clutter and keep your work area safe.

5. Music licensing

If you're playing music out loud in a commercial setting, you might need a music licence. Licensing laws can vary depending on location, but generally, if you're playing music in public areas or for staff or customers, a licence is required to ensure artists get paid for their work. If you're unsure about the rules, check your local regulations or consider using a licensed music service designed for businesses.


Despite everyone’s best intentions, sometimes accidents can happen. Fortunately, if you’re a tradie or own a trade-related business, our flexible public liability insurance and employers’ liability insurance policies can protect you, your employees and ultimately, your business from costly legal repercussions.

Methodology

Using API requests, we scraped UK Spotify data for the top 40 playlists under 29 keywords related to 14 popular trades – for example, bricklayer, bricklaying, carpenter, and carpentry etc.

The keywords we used are:

plumbing, plumber, electrician, wiring, roofer, roofing, plasterer, plastering, gardener, gardening, landscaper, landscaping, carpentry, carpenter, builder, building, joinery, joiner, bricklayer, bricklaying, painter, painting, decorator, decorating, scaffolder, scaffolding, welder, welding, construction

Then, we combined relevant keywords (e.g. plumber and plumbing) to find the most popular songs in playlists related to each trade, by ‘counting’ the number of times each song appears in the relevant playlists.