It's neat that music can help shape that word melody. I know what you mean about inspiring a mood, too; instrumental music used to do that for me, as long as it wasn't something I was tempted to play along with (so, no Irish music or I'd be grabbing for the pennywhistle going "Oh yeah, I always meant to learn this tune!"), and movie soundtracks. Adrian Legg and Leo Kottke were especially good writing music, and I kind of miss that!

I think part of it for me too is that lately I've been more in active-listening mode. I can write with the TV on and filter out the distraction completely, but if the stereo's playing music that I like, I want to sit and listen to it and think about it--give it my full attention. So, I can screen and I can focus, but I can't split my focus. Hmm.