Music can be a powerful tool in any business owner’s pocket if used strategically. It can help form the attitudes, emotions and opinions of customers with a single touch of a play button. But do you truly know the musical theme which best compliments your business? Whether it’s a single genre for a very particular clientele, or it adapts to the changing clientele from day to day or even hour to hour, having an understanding of which music works best for your customers can help build the ‘theme tune’ for your business. Confidently build playlists, customise your jukebox or background music to create an ambience that your customers remember.

We’ve put together a guide to help you understand and determine just which theme your business could adopt.

Music affects customer behaviour

The way your customers behave whilst visiting your premises can depend upon the type of music being played. For example, a higher tempo may increase eating and drinking rhythms or table turnover. Relaxing melodies can reduce anxiety or stress during long waits. Even the frequency of music is said to subtly affect the taste of food and drink. So picking the right music to create a positive environment for your customers will definitely work in your favour.

Choosing a Genre 

If you’re looking to create a brand within your business, you might opt for limiting your music to a single genre. Understanding which genre works best, however, isn’t always immediately obvious. Does your business have a particular target audience? Possibly a demographic which aligns to a specific musical genre? Understanding your customers’ musical preferences and tolerances requires research and insight. Using a digital jukebox, such as Playdium, much of the hard work has been removed by offering curated playlists based upon many years of industry experience. Other things to consider before choosing a genre include:

• Who Is Your Clientele?

In some cases, your clientele might not stay the same every day of the week, or even every hour of the day. Pubs that serve food, for example, might attract a family audience during the day, and late-night bar-goers in the evenings. As a result, different music can suit different audiences accordingly. Some bars might also see the same clientele day in, day out – whatever the case, understanding the general patterns can help you determine the best music choices accordingly.

• What Kind of Bar Or Club Do You Own?

The music you play can also differ depending on what kind of pub you’re running. If things are more traditional, the music you play will be entirely different from a more modern or theme-focused bar. Sticking to classic rock, alternative, era-focused songs and, of course, pub rock can evoke a feeling of nostalgia in punters at a traditional pub. The likes of electronica or chart music, on the other hand, could work well in a bar/club environment, creating a more energetic atmosphere.

• What Do Your Customers Expect From You?

Put yourself in your customers shoes – what do they expect when they step into your bar or club? If you typically host live music, customers will probably expect music of a similar genre before and after a set, while more ‘alternative’ bar styles could benefit from indie music that creates a feeling of originality that customers can identify with. If your customers are entering your venue expecting a club environment or popping in during the day with the family expecting a kid-friendly space, cater to those expectations with the right music.

• Variety Matters

Unless your venue is very specific to a particular audience or group of people, you should consider including a variety of music. Everyone has different tastes and a song that one group of people might love, others may dislike or feel indifferent to. Whether you build a playlist that includes a huge variety of different music, or you leave the decision up to your patrons with free reign of the jukebox, a bit of variation within your bar or club’s music can help you to expand your overall clientele.

Consider Volume

Did you know the volume of the music at your bar or club can affect how people behave? In fact, amping up the decibels or turning it down at certain times can help you encourage sales of food or drink in different ways. If you serve food at your bar during the day, loud music can actually discourage sales and affect the taste of the food you’re selling. Their chance to enjoy their food is drowned out by the music and can also make it difficult for them to chat with their friends, partners or whoever they’re choosing to share the meal with. For that reason, keep volumes lower to encourage customers to stay longer and buy more.

In the evening, however, turning up the volume can actually encourage drinks sales. Studies have shown that loud music (within reason) can encourage faster drinking and as a result, more sales – but take care that no one is going over their limit!

Customise The Experience 

All in all, you need to ensure that the music you choose to play or to set up for your punters to choose from, is customised to your environment. This not only includes the music itself – our Angelina jukebox gives you the opportunity to customise the interface, the adverts and offers available and over time, it’ll even adapt to what your users like to play the most.

To truly customise the experience and stand out from the crowd, changing up the genres on offer at different times of day could also benefit you and your customers. If you have a slower clientele during the day, and the late-night dwellers in the evenings, adapt the music choices accordingly. Avoid the dreaded effects of the repetition of the same songs by putting the power in your customer’s hands and let them choose the music they want to hear. After all, who better to trust with music choices than those you’ll be playing the music for?

Building a ‘theme tune’ for your business is all a matter of understanding your customers and trusting them with the power of choosing what they want. With an understanding of how different music and volumes can work in your venue, and just what your clientele are looking for, you can encourage sales and create an invaluable atmosphere that will keep them coming back for more.

For more information about our jukeboxes or to organise a site survey for your pub, get in touch with a member of our team, today.