Key takeaways
- Gym Mode is one tap: no playlist to build, no settings, no toggles.
- Music you like works best: preferred music raised bench-press reps and early-rep power in a 2021 study.
- A 139-study meta-analysis found music lifts mood, physical performance and perceived effort during exercise.
- The gym edit plays songs about 4% faster and skips slow intros and long outros.
What does Gym Mode do?
Most workout apps hand you a generic 'beast mode' playlist and call it personal. Gym Mode starts from what you actually listen to. It reads your taste from what you finish and skip, then ranks for energy, beat and hype.
One tap, then lift
Tap Gym
Open Boulevard on your phone or computer and tap Gym in your Library. There is nothing to set up.
Two warm-up songs
Two calmer tracks play first while you get the blood moving, so the first song isn't a jump scare.
Your hardest songs
Then come your own hardest-hitting songs: your taste first, then energy, beat and hype.
The gym edit
Every song runs about 4% faster and skips slow intros and long outros, so the energy never sags between sets.
No sliders, no intensity levels, no toggles. If you want to change the vibe, skip. Boulevard learns from what you skip and finish.
Does music actually make workouts better?
Yes, modestly and reliably. The largest review so far pooled 139 studies on music and exercise. Music improved how people felt during exercise, their physical performance and how hard the effort felt. Fast-tempo music helped performance more than slow-to-medium tempos. It made no significant difference to heart rate.
- Mood during exercise0.48g
- Physical performance0.31g
- Perceived exertion (lower)0.22g
- Oxygen use (lower)0.15g
- Heart rate (not significant)0.07g
Source: Terry et al., Psychological Bulletin, 2020. Meta-analysis of 139 studies and 3,599 participants. Effects around 0.2 are small, around 0.5 medium.
Why your own music beats a gym playlist
In a 2021 study, 12 resistance-trained men did bench press sets to music they liked and to music they didn't. With preferred music they completed more total reps, moved the bar faster with more power on the first reps, and reported higher motivation. That's why Gym Mode starts from your taste instead of someone else's idea of hype.
- 139studies in the biggest meta-analysis of music in exercise and sportTerry et al., 2020
- 0.84effect size for extra bench-press reps with preferred vs. disliked musicBallmann et al., 2021
- ~4%faster playback in Gym Mode's gym edit, with slow intros and long outros skippedBoulevard
| Your own playlist | Boulevard Gym Mode | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Pick and order songs yourself | One tap |
| Warm-up | Whatever comes first | Two calmer songs, then full energy |
| Slow intros and long outros | Play in full | Skipped |
| Tempo | As recorded | About 4% faster |
| Gets smarter | Only if you edit it | Learns from skips and finishes |
| Price | Depends on your app | Free to listen |
What makes a song good for the gym?
Three things, and Gym Mode is built around all of them. Taste: music you already like moves the needle most, so your own favorites lead. Tempo: in the 2020 meta-analysis, fast music lifted performance more than slow-to-medium music, and the gym edit nudges every song about 4% faster. Timing: nobody wants a slow fade-in under a loaded bar, so intros and outros are trimmed and the calm songs come only at the start.
What it ignores: a fixed 'workout BPM'. Lifting has no steady step rate to match, so Gym Mode ranks for energy and hype instead. Locking songs to a tempo is a running job, covered on our running BPM guide.
What kind of music does Gym Mode play?
Whatever hits hardest for you, from Boulevard's own AI artists. In this catalog the heaviest songs are rap, drill and trap, peak-time house, EDM and loud alt rock. Here are some of the most played heavy tracks right now.
Rap, drill and trap for heavy sets
Front DoorJagger
Fresh Off the LotJagger
Still Know My NameJet Black
I Don't Get OutDesert Noir
I Heard It FirstMarnie
Cash HouseJagger
Tap a cover to play it free in your browser.
House that doesn't let up
Wordless peak-time house, built for the last set.
Is there a free workout music app for iPhone?
Boulevard's iPhone app isn't out yet, but Gym Mode works in Safari today. Open boulevardai.app/listen and add it to your Home Screen, and it opens like an app with lock-screen and headphone controls. On Android, get Boulevard from Google Play.
What Gym Mode doesn't do
- No famous artists. Every song is by one of Boulevard's original AI artists. If you need a specific chart hit, use your usual app.
- No offline downloads. Gyms with bad signal are a problem; you need a connection.
- No timers or coaching. It's music, not a workout plan.
- Running is separate. For runs, Run Mode locks every song to your exact BPM.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gym Mode free?
Yes. Gym Mode is part of Boulevard's free listening at boulevardai.app/listen, in any browser on your phone or computer, and in the Android app. You can start without an account. A free account lets you comment, react and keep a library.
How does Gym Mode choose songs?
It starts with your taste, learned from what you finish and skip, then ranks songs for energy, beat and hype. Two calmer warm-up songs play first. There are no settings to choose.
What is the gym edit?
Every song in Gym Mode plays about 4% faster and skips slow intros and long outros, so you get to the part that hits sooner and the energy doesn't dip between sets. It's always on; there is no setting to manage.
Does music really improve workout performance?
On average, a little. A 2020 meta-analysis of 139 studies found music improved mood, physical performance and perceived exertion during exercise, with fast-tempo music helping performance most. A 2021 bench-press study found people did more reps with music they liked than with music they didn't.
Can I use Gym Mode for running?
You can, but Run Mode is better for runs. It plays every song at exactly the BPM you choose, so each step lands on a beat, and hands songs over on the beat. Gym Mode is built for lifting, classes and general training.
Is there a Boulevard app for iPhone?
Not yet. On iPhone, open boulevardai.app/listen in Safari and add it to your Home Screen. It works like an app, including Gym Mode and lock-screen controls. Android users can install Boulevard from Google Play.
Sources
- Effects of music in exercise and sport: A meta-analytic reviewPsychological Bulletin (Terry, Karageorghis et al.), 2020
- Effects of preferred vs. nonpreferred music on resistance exercise performanceJournal of Strength and Conditioning Research (Ballmann et al.), 2021
- Effects of music in exercise and sport (abstract)PubMed, 2020
- Effects of preferred vs. nonpreferred music (abstract)PubMed, 2021
