It's All About People - 23rd October

The Surprising Business Case for Belting Out a Tune

Author

Emma Wynne
October 23, 2025

READ TIME - 4 minute read

This weekend, I was standing in the same studio where The Beatles once recorded — Abbey Road — recording tracks with my Rock Choir group.

Now, I’ve only been part of Rock Choir since last year, but from the very first session, I was welcomed like I’d always been part of it.

And do you know what I felt as we stood there singing in one of the most iconic rooms in music history?

Belonging.

No hierarchy. No awkward small talk. Just 160 people sharing a passion for singing and having a great laugh at the same time.

In studio 1 next to the piano played by many of my music heroes

🎵 Why Singing Is Basically Rocket Fuel for Mental Health

Not my opinion — science:

  • Group singing reduces stress hormones (cortisol) — University of Oxford

  • It boosts oxytocin — the “trust hormone” that builds connection

  • People feel closer to strangers after just one song than after multiple structured activities — University of Exeter

  • Singing in a group improves mood more than exercise or meditation — Tenovus Cancer Care Study

Meanwhile…

  • 49% of UK adults say they feel lonely at least some of the time

  • 1 in 20 say they feel lonely “often or always” — Campaign to End Loneliness

  • Loneliness can be as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day — NHS

  • Lonely employees are twice as likely to take sickness absence — Cigna Wellbeing Report

🎧 So what can employers learn from Abbey Road?

You don’t need to start a choir - although that would be pretty cool!

What Abbey Road reminded me is that wellbeing isn’t about expensive programmes — it’s about creating moments of connection and joy.

You just need to make space for shared human moments that don’t require vulnerability speeches or awkward away days.

Here are 3 simple ways to build connection without forcing it:

Abbey Road Principle

Workplace Version

Breathing together builds calm

Start meetings with one-word check-ins instead of jumping straight to actions

Rhythm unites people

Create a shared Friday focus playlist where everyone adds one track

Joy is contagious when given space

Stop glorifying exhaustion — set visible boundaries like “No emails after 6pm” or mandatory lunch breaks

And if you’re feeling brave?

Hit play on one song at the end of a hard week. Let people just listen together for three minutes.

Not everything needs to be productive to be powerful.

Final thought

Abbey Road might be famous for legends — but its magic comes from ordinary people making something together.

Workplaces could do with a bit more of that.

Until next week…

Best wishes,
Emma

P.S. We have lots of resources in the wellbeing area of the HR Hub to help with mental health and wellbeing. Why not try the HR Hub free for a month here.

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