I don't even know what to call this thread

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Is she in a higher position of authority then you? If so then it would make sense she'd want to tell you what to do. But in the office environment there are usually controlling people.
Sorry. I always have to listen to music to concentrate better and block out noise.

This seems like a matter of 'I don't like it - stop it' rather than someone being unable to concentrate. I was playing on my iPad yesterday and the game music wasn't too loud but it would have distracted me if someone had been playing it, and I looked around me and no one complained. I still turned the music down.

I don't see the need to be exceptionally professional within the office when it's a space that the public/clients/customers aren't in. If you're in the back room not interacting with the public what's the point? You're just there to get the job done and be productive, not to waste time adhering to some unwritten professional "rules".
Maybe my workplace is way more laid back than average. A few people play music at work, even the receptionist has music playing when clients come to the counter.

In the OP's case lots of other people in the office are playing music but the coworker is only singling out his/hers.

I need to be able to interact with the rest of my team, who share the same space as me. If I am wearing headphones, I am extremely likely not to notice when they are talking to me.

No. She doesn't want any of us to play music. It's unprofessional and bothers her.

...and I agree with your points about being "professional" in an office space where no outsiders come in. Last winter she told me it was unprofessional to wear slippers while sitting at my desk. Come on! No one can see my feet, even if someone does come in. Not to mention the fact that I put my shoes on when I leave my desk. None of that mattered. It only mattered that slippers are not "appropriate" office wear.

Or simply play the music at low volumes.

Seriously dude, this is sounding more foolish as times goes on. You have zero point, at best your hiding under persecution as its getting you some sympathy.

Your directly abusing a system used to help people.

"unprofessional" means pretty much anything the person using it disagrees with most of the time. It's kinda like when people say something is "immature," or when they say "a real man does X." It's just a bunch of hogwash, really.

As for why being "professional" comes first, well, because in the NT world, everything is about IMAGE and nothing more. I don't know exactly what your job is or where you work, but if you deal with customers at all, they want you to look happy and inviting or whatever. They most likely don't give a s**t if it inconveniences you or not. That's just the way it is. I don't agree with it, but I don't know how to change it either.

She is playing the music at low volumes. Seriously dude, stop selectively ignoring facts just for the sake of finding a problem with someone today.

That is absurd, and I am not a dude.

I do not care to get people's sympathy. I do not feel like I am being "persecuted." I wanted to know if I was being unreasonable in thinking I should be able to quietly listen to music that only "bothers" someone in another room who happens to think it is unprofessional, when doing so aids in my ability to focus and produce at work. Apparently I am being unreasonable, and I have already stated that if the majority of the people said I was wrong, then I am willing to concede that I am wrong.

Abusing a system used to help people? Get your facts straight. I have never in my entire life claimed any form of disability to get any sort of accommodation or help. If you care not to contribute to the discussion on this thread, you can simply uncheck "Notify me when a reply is posted." No one is forcing you to take part in a "foolish" conversation.

You asked for people's opinions. They've given them. It seems a lot of people agree with your colleague.

I don't see music in the workplace as being unprofessional as long as it is soft and not obnoxious. It should never be so loud that anyone has trouble talking over it.

Turn it up and it quickly becomes unprofessional.

In her poll, your coworker may have made it sound as if the music was loud.

Around here, I frequently have music playing, but so quiet that if you stood in the doorway you would likely not be able to hear it.

One option might be headphones. Have you tried using headphones so that you can hear the music but not anyone else?

Yeah -- if you turn up the volume.

Keep the volume down and there shouldn't be any damage. It's the volume, not the headphones.

Depending on how far their door is from the music, if it is loud enough that they need to close their door not to hear it, then it is likely too loud.

Yeah the proper lighting kind of bars me from some jobs......don't think I would work at a grocery store, wal-mart or anything like that because the light is too bright and there is way to much sensory stimulation and noise. I think I would last half way through the first day without having a mental breakdown and possibly throwing shopping carts across the parking lot.