Whether you’re leaning into a New Year’s Resolution or a longtime gym rat, it’s never a bad idea to mix up a workout playlist (say, with rock, hip-hop, or even metal). However, the day I learned that not everyone is hyper-focused on the pace of a song while working out, my worldview turned on its head a bit. When it comes to an ideal workout playlist, the BPM (beat per minute) is one of the most important factors for song selection; I’m not necessarily a big runner, but if I’m out for a jog, I have a specific need to align my steps with whatever song is blasting in my headphones.
It was therefore extremely validating when treadmill strut workouts increased in popularity a few years ago. These workouts, for anyone not familiar, are designed for the listener to move (walk and eventually run) to the pace of the songs, picking up speed along the way. For me, this is absolutely the only way to approach time on a treadmill, and I know now that my preferred jogging pace is 152 BPM, and my final burnout is 182 BPM.
As we head into 2025, I designed a playlist for anyone who wants to try out the treadmill strut workout for themselves — or anyone just hoping to mix up their standard fitness playlist, really — with a collection of songs from Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Charli XCX, and beyond. These are some of the songs that inevitably get my heart rate up, and will keep you running forward even if you’re staying in place.
Like all of our New Year’s Resolution playlists, you can listen to this Pop Music Treadmill Strut playlist on Amazon Music Unlimited, which is currently offering three few months to new users. You can also check out playlists built around our 50 Best Albums and 200 Best Songs of 2024 lists (as well as many of our Annual Report features), as well as over 100 million songs in HD sound, the largest catalog of ad-free podcasts, and audiobooks from Audible. Submit proof of your free signup here for a chance to win a Bluetooth headphone bundle.
Plus, take a look at what we can get excited about down the road in our Most Anticipated Albums and Tours of 2025 roundups.