Background: Music is increasingly recognized as a legal and effective ergogenic aid in the field of sports and exercise. However, a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms and the moderating factors of its efficacy remains fragmented.

Objectives: This review aims to systematically analyze and synthesize scientific evidence to elucidate the key causal relationships between psychophysical effects (mediating psychological and psychophysical mechanisms) and ergogenic effects (measurable performance outcomes).

Methods: This study employs a narrative review approach, analyzing and synthesizing data from foundational theoretical models, meta-analyses, and empirical studies published in reputable scientific databases (e.g., PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar).

Results: The analysis reveals that music operates through a causal chain, initiating from psychophysical mechanisms (e.g., a ~10% reduction in Rating of Perceived Exertion [RPE], promotion of flow state, and arousal regulation) to yield measurable ergogenic outcomes (e.g., enhanced endurance and prolonged time to exhaustion). This effect is most pronounced and consistent in endurance sports. However, findings remain equivocal for strength and power-based activities. The efficacy of music is strongly moderated by factors such as personal preference, tempo (BPM), synchronous application, and exercise intensity (as explained by the Load-dependent Hypothesis).