I was a programmer many years ago and always had music on when working. It wasn't pumping / awesome music but it allowed me to drop back from the concentration of work into the music for a short while then get straight back into work. I wouldn't lose my attention and it game by brain 30 seconds of down time. People are different, but that works really well for my. My role is now more 'interrupt driven' and I really don't like it, people get the hump when I make them wait 10 seconds stood at my desk seemingly being ignored as I finish the micro task.