Fitness companies are continuing to integrate entertainment into their products and programs. Peloton is a New York City-based exercise equipment and media company that is known for its innovative cycles.
The company’s premier product is a luxury stationary bicycle that allows users to stream classes for the company’s fitness studio through a monthly subscription service.
A major draw for Peloton owners was the heart-pumping, music-driven cycling workouts. Music is an integral part of the Peloton experience and users often praised their love for the engaging playlist…until.
Peloton sued for stealing artists’ music
Yep. Peloton was hit with a lawsuit seeking damages of more than $150 million charges Peloton with using unlicensed music in its video workouts.
Nine music publishers, all members of the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA), filed a lawsuit seeking more than $150 million in damages.
Artists whose work was used without permission include Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, and others.
Peloton users are disappointed to find that classes now feature repeats of generic pop songs from the Now That’s What I Call Music catalog.
Random songs are shoved in the middle of an otherwise consistently themed playlist, which really devalues the Peloton experience.
Good Peloton playlists are a necessity
It seems silly to dwell over music selections in an exercise class, but it’s an issue that fitness companies may increasingly face as they transform from traditional health companies into game-changing media publishers.
Research has found that listening to music leads to a 28 percent increase in enjoyment during a walking task, compared with no auditory stimuli.
Working out can be boring, and people are willing to pay Pelotons price to have an instructor yell at them while sweating to the latest Drake single.
At the end of the day, Peloton owners paid top dollar for the luxurious piece of exercise equipment, and they expect a premium experience.
