title: Background music description: Playing your Apple Music library during a workout, and how music sits in the audio mix.
Background music
RhythmFit can play music from your Apple Music library while you train, and it stays out of the way of the coach and the countdown. Built-in tracks with cadence-matched playback (see the Tempo Stretching concept page) are not included in the current release.
The three music modes
No Music (metronome only)
The metronome's click is the only sound. Best for short cadence drills and tempo strength where audio cues need to be unmissable.
Apple Music
Pick a playlist or album from your Apple Music library. It plays alongside your workout at its original tempo, and pauses and resumes with the session. Subscription content requires an active Apple Music subscription; tracks in your local library work without one.
Third-party app (passive)
If Spotify, YouTube Music, or any other app is playing in the background when you start a RhythmFit workout, it keeps playing. RhythmFit shows what's playing but doesn't process it — no ducking when the coach speaks (these apps own their own audio).
How to pick your music
On the workout preview screen, tap the music icon
Or, mid-workout, tap the speaker icon on the Execute screen.
Tap Apple Music to choose from your library
The standard library picker opens — pick a playlist or album. The first time, iOS asks for permission to access your media library.
Or choose No Music
Select No Music to train with the metronome and coach only.
Your choice is remembered per workout — next time you start the same workout, it's pre-selected. No account needed.
Why we don't do Spotify
Spotify's SDK doesn't give third-party apps playback control inside a workout session. You can still play Spotify in the background (passive mode above).
Music in the audio mix
When the coach speaks, Apple Music drops to a whisper; when a countdown plays, it goes silent. Everything resumes cleanly. See how audio is mixed.