The soundtrack to success: how Arsenal and Universal Music Group are innovating to enhance elite athlete health and performance. EP#580

About this episode

The episode discusses the innovative use of music in enhancing elite athlete health and performance with insights from experts in cognitive science and sports research.

In this podcast we are joined by Professor Alan McCall and Dr Tara Venkatesan, We talk about how music can be used in the clinical setting to improve outcomes in performance and recovery. We get into detail about styles of music and how they could be used in different scenarios. Dr.Tara Venkatesan is the Senior Director of Cognitive Science Research at Universal Music Group. Her lab researches the impact of music on mental wellbeing and helps develop consumer products. She has a B.S. in Cognitive Science from Yale University and a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from Oxford University. Her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals and media, including The New York Times, BBC, Channel News Asia, and Health Magazine. She is an Honorary Fellow at the School of Advanced Study, University of London. Professor Alan McCall is a practitioner and researcher with over 20 years of experience in elite sport. He spent 12 years embedded day to day inside professional and national teams, before moving into consultancy, where for the past decade he has worked alongside coaches, medical, and performance staff across different sports and countries. He is currently Consulting Head of…

People in this episode

Guests: Professor Alan McCall, Dr Tara Venkatesan

Topics covered

• music in sports
• athlete performance
• clinical applications
• mental wellbeing
• recovery strategies

Keywords

• music
• athlete health
• performance
• recovery
• cognitive science
• sports research

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Universal Music Group, Arsenal Football Club, FIFA, UEFA, NBA, NFL

Places: Yale University, Oxford University, School of Advanced Study, University of London

More episodes of BJSM Podcast

• Breathwork in Athletes, friend or foe? Join Professor James Hull and guests for answers. EP#586 · April 10, 2026 · 18 min
• It is not all about strength! Rethinking the role of exercise for musculokeletal pain relief with Dr. Jared Powell. EP#585 · March 27, 2026 · 26 min
• Brain health and the evolution of the Premier League Head Injury Protocol: The past, present and future. EP#584 · March 20, 2026 · 38 min
• Player reflections on change: 20 years of evolving demands and support in elite football. EP#583 · March 13, 2026 · 57 min
• Sensorimotor Control Meets Society: How Sociocultural Constructs Could Impact ACL Injury Risk. EP#582 · February 20, 2026 · 29 min
• Building a Sleep Health Plan for Athletes with Dr. Jesse Cook. EP#581 · February 13, 2026 · 25 min