Every time a new school year begins, we have the same discussion argument with at least one of the kids: we try to discourage them from doing homework in front of the TV or while listening to music. 
So far, we've failed to win this argument with our older two kids. At 8, Mr. Third Grader is still expected to do his homework in my presence, so I enforce the "quiet zone during homework" rule. But the big kids don't study in the family room--they're on their own, and I've decided to just allow them to fail learn from their mistakes this time.
I know that my older son has discovered that, while he enjoys listening to music while doing homework, he can't write papers with certain music playing. If the music has lyrics, he'll start writing the lyrics to the song right into his paper! I'm the same way; I love listening to my iPod while I cook or wash dishes, but not when I'm writing. The song lyrics just get in the way. When I was in graduate school, I used to borrow classical-music tapes from my roommates. It was great study music with no lyrics.
There are definitely ways to work it out. Do you listen to music while you work, or do you find it too distracting?
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