There are those musicians whose tunes actually help you behind the wheel. And then there are those who have the exact opposite effect, according to a new study from Auto Trader.
A new study from Auto Trader has revealed which popular musicians who have topped the charts in the past year have a negative impact on drivers' ability to concentrate.
While Noah Kahan, Doechii and pop star Sabrina Carpenter seem to make drivers better at perceiving danger, other artists' music was shown to have the exact opposite effect.
In the study, participants completed a series of tests that tested their ability to perceive danger while listening to popular artists from the past year.
It was revealed that music from Chappell Roan made drivers feel the worst behind the wheel. The average score was the lowest, at just 44.1 points out of a possible 75.
Chappell Roan's breakthrough hits such as "Good Luck, Babe!", "Casual" and "Pink Pony Club" have otherwise brought her great recognition.
Her music makes you a less attentive driver.
However, the study indicates that her emotional performances can be so captivating that the music potentially distracts drivers from what they really need to pay attention to – namely the traffic.
– Over the past twelve months, we have seen many popular and new artists find their way to our 2025 playlists.
"And since concentration is so crucial behind the wheel, we were very interested in finding out which of the new artists could improve drivers' concentration and their ability to react to hazards," said Erin Baker, editorial director at Auto Trader.
Baker and the rest of the Auto Trader editorial team have, however, also found artists who create the opposite effect in the booths around them.
Among the other artists whose music fared the worst were Olivia Rodrigo with 50.1, Benson Boone with 50.2 and Oasis with 50.6.
Central Cee and RAYE's music allows drivers to achieve an attention score of 51.6 and 51.4, respectively.
The study shows that music with a certain BPM (beats per minute) can affect drivers' ability to concentrate in different situations.
While songs with a BPM above 120 can help athletes run faster, slower songs that are between 60 and 70 BPM have been linked to improved focus for students.
But behind the wheel there are some musicians that, according to Auto Trader's figures, you should skip next time. At least if you want to keep as much concentration as possible behind the wheel.
