The sound of focus: ambient channels that help you sleep, relax, and concentrate

Coined in the 1970s by musician and artist Brian Eno, ambient music was originally intended as an immersive, artful sound for close listening. Today on YouTube, the genre has transformed, its meaning shifting to a category shaped by its massive functional use cases. It has evolved into a broad spectrum "ambience channels" that blend music and visuals, specifically designed to help serve needs such as sleep, relaxation, and focus.

These channels prioritize endless streams and long runtimes with looped visuals, perfect for background use. The sheer scale of this content's rise is undeniable: the YouTube channel Soothing Relaxation has received more than 4.8B channel views.* From stripped instrumentals for relaxation to videos featuring related genres like binaural beats, the community provides the perfect sonic backdrop for any task.

Don't miss our unique YouTube logo (also known as the Yoodle) celebrating the creators who craft these digital ambient atmospheres on the 50th anniversary of Brian Eno's album Discreet Music. Tune in and find your focus and relaxation in our playlist!

_{*Source: YouTube data, Global, Lifetime.}