Definition
Beats per minute (BPM) is a unit for measuring musical tempo—the number of beats occurring in one minute; higher values mean a faster pace. It turns the vague notion of “fast or slow” into a precise number.
How it works
Given a BPM, the duration of one beat follows directly (60 divided by BPM gives seconds per beat). Metronomes and music software generate a steady pulse from this value so performances and productions stay aligned.
Usage
BPM appears in score tempo markings, metronomes, DAW projects and DJ sets. Electronic music genres are often described by their characteristic BPM ranges.
Related and confusable terms
BPM measures tempo, while time signatures such as 4/4 describe how beats are grouped—different dimensions. In music software, BPM works together with MIDI sequences to determine how fast notes play.