What music do you guys and gals work to, if any at all?

I generally can't listen to music with words (unless it's Ella Fitzgerald or some Ian Anderson, no idea why) as I start typing lyrics...
I generally listen to classical stuff, I have a few CD's of the Proms. I also listen to some of the instrumental Jethro Tull/Ian Anderson stuff which it quite good.

I have recently found Gypsy Swing, a sound influenced by Django Reinhardt in the 1930's. The genre doesn't seem flooded with lyrics, and has a swing/jazz feel. I'm quite liking it (especially the 71 track album I bought from Amazon for a little under £5!)

So, as I started off, what do you guys and gals listen to while working?

We used to have the radio on at work, but since the PRS starting getting uppity about "public performance"*, it's never turned on. The bastards already have their licence fee, so I don't see why shops should have to pay again merely for the privilege of listening to the radio.

*They call it public performance, I call it incidental music (in line with the Licensing Act 2003). I've even heard of cases of the PRS warning drivers not to play music with the windows/roof open.

I prefer instrumentals as I am not distracted by lyrics and tempted to sing along.

No music. Generally don't like music anyway. I often listen to podcasts as I work.

I prefer podcasts as well but if they are too complex I cannot concentrate on them as well.

I normally listen through one ear of my iPod.

I do it mainly to block out the office radio (AKA the head of IT) as she is the worst gossip in the world and doesn't seem to ever stop chatting and talking and whispering and bitching and gossiping etc...

I don't mind what I listen to though. Green Day, Oasis, Queen, Jamiroquai, Gorillaz, etc...

We've got 100+ Gb of music at work covering most genres so we get a random selection.
However from 12:30 it's the world cup for the next little while (music over the speakers, video streamed to our desks.

We're not allowed to have the radio on in case it stops you hearing the fire alarm. Also, if you use headphones, you're only supposed to use one....although that's not what most people do (including our safety officer who's supposed to "enforce" these rules)...

Generally prefer quiet or melodic background unobtrusive

It depends on a few things.

If I've not got a deadline looming then quite often podcasts. If I need/want to stop to listen to a bit of it when it gets interesting I can, and then return to working as the podcast moves on.

If I need to get my head down I tend to listen to fairly calm-ish stuff, with few or non lyrics, or lyrics in a language I don't understand (eg. Sigur Rós , perhaps).

Sometimes I like near-complete silence, and head up to the top of the library, or put my ear-phones in with no sound. And sometimes I don't mind background noise and chatting to co-workers whilst working. As long as people don't use that new fudging shredder. Guaranteed to make me put my earphones in.

Today's going to be a podcast day, at least initially, I think.

Since the big IT oursourcing we're not allowed to listen to music, although the non IT people who sit 12 feet away from me, but still work for the company that outsourced me, are.

Radio 2. Or if there's cricket, Test Match Special.

Ohh, don't get me started on the PRS! The boss took our work radio out last year after being harassed by the PRS. Not only were they trying to get £300 a year for a "licence", they were threatening to take us to court to get back payment of up to 6 years (another £1800+) - the robbing tw@ts!

Currently listening to "This is my truth tell me yours".

May put on something a bit heavier next, maybe Evanesence (Good for blocking out external noise)

i was revising to motley crue yesterday

today, i might try some GNR