U.S. women 18 and older listen to music for a wide range of personal and emotional reasons, but those with children under 17 (“Moms”) show distinct preferences compared to women without young children, according to the 2025 Women’s Audio Report from Edison Research and SiriusXM Media.
The report reveals that the top two overall reasons women choose music are “to be entertained” and “to relax.” However, clear differences emerge when parenting status is factored in: Moms rank “to relax” as their number one reason (50%).
Women without children under 17 ranked “to be entertained” highest (51%).
Moms are also significantly more likely to use music as a coping tool. Nearly four in ten moms (39%) say they listened “to cope during a difficult time,” compared with just 28% of women who do not have children under 17. The data did not suggest moms face more hardships; rather, it highlighted that music serves as a particularly valuable emotional resource and mood regulator for them.
Music remains one of the few activities that can be deeply personal yet also highly communal. People turn to it for joy, comfort, focus, nostalgia, social connection, and emotional processing. The 2025 Women’s Audio Report offered a detailed look at how American women engage with audio content, with a dedicated focus on mothers and the unique role music plays in their daily lives.
Whether tuning into a favorite radio station during a commute, curating a Spotify playlist while doing household chores, or playing YouTube music videos with their children, moms appear to lean on music as a reliable source of calm and emotional support.