If your boss is responsible for both the programmers and the non-programmers, he/she may have other personnel related issues. Others may perceive it as unfair, and have complained, making their problem your problem.
From an arguing standpoint, make the case that you need to concentrate. Compare it to taking a hard math test. Most people can related to that, if not programming. If they're skeptical, ask if it's ok to wear earplugs or white-noise earphones. From a politics standpoint, you've presented a problem and solutions--they get to choose--managers love that stuff. If the you go forward with the earphones, you may not have the music you want (yet), but it also means the manager has to explain to the non-programmers that 'you're different, but it's ok because you make the computers go, so they're going to ignore you.' partial success--the office knows that you need to concentrate and need things in your ears to assist.
Let that sink in for a month. Then ask if productivity dropped. If it didn't, ask for to listen to your music and say it helps. By then you should have gotten past the 'programmers are different' memo to the bean counters, and now you're trying something to make yourself more effective. If they go for it, just make sure you get more done.
OR
If that's too arduous of a path, just release the manager's inbox to the company. If the climatologists have skeletons in their boxes, I'm sure your boss does too.
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If your boss is responsible for both the programmers and the non-programmers, he/she may have other personnel related issues. Others may perceive it as unfair, and have complained, making their problem your problem.
From an arguing standpoint, make the case that you need to concentrate. Compare it to taking a hard math test. Most people can related to that, if not programming. If they're skeptical, ask if it's ok to wear earplugs or white-noise earphones. From a politics standpoint, you've presented a problem and solutions--they get to choose--managers love that stuff. If the you go forward with the earphones, you may not have the music you want (yet), but it also means the manager has to explain to the non-programmers that 'you're different, but it's ok because you make the computers go, so they're going to ignore you.' partial success--the office knows that you need to concentrate and need things in your ears to assist.
Let that sink in for a month. Then ask if productivity dropped. If it didn't, ask for to listen to your music and say it helps. By then you should have gotten past the 'programmers are different' memo to the bean counters, and now you're trying something to make yourself more effective. If they go for it, just make sure you get more done.
OR
If that's too arduous of a path, just release the manager's inbox to the company. If the climatologists have skeletons in their boxes, I'm sure your boss does too.