Why Music Matters In-store – What You Play Has Sway

With the recent news that ASDA was driving their workers mad with a 20 song playlist, looping all day, music licensing company PPL PRS highlights  the potential benefits of working with background music on without upsetting staff or customers.

At one point or another, you have probably walked into a forecourt or convenience store, and found yourself humming along to a track you didn’t realise was playing. That’s because you walked into a business playing background music.

What is background music?

In short, it’s just music that is played in the background, in stores, in the office or other businesses. It’s not always intended as such, though. Music can set the ambience for an event, cut out other extraneous noise to help you concentrate, or even provide an unobtrusive aural cue when out  shopping, or in a bar. It can also benefit employees and help build your brand identity. A recent survey by music licensing company PPL PRS* found that nearly nine in 10 (89%) people believe that background music lifted the atmosphere in their place of work and even more (93%) said that it helped create a calmer environment, helping to alleviate stress and anxiety when working.

What is the psychology behind background music?

How background music is used varies from place to place, but studies have shown that music can boost dopamine levels, which can make us take action, like making a bigger purchase decision or ordering something pricier in a restaurant. In shops, background music is often tailored to encourage customers to purchase certain products or to spend more. In restaurants, it helps to create a convivial atmosphere for existing diners to enjoy their food and enticing potential diners to venture through the doors. Whatever the setting, background music is used to set a preferred mood; a PPL PRS survey of sports fans** found that three-fifths (60%) ranked atmosphere as the top venue-deciding factor when watching a game in a pub. What’s more, nearly two-thirds (64%) of Brits in another survey*** said background music relaxed them on a first date.

Background music can act as a tool for social cohesion, either with the workplace picking up on the desired mood created by the aural cues via the music played through speakers or where an office playlist has been created to play in the background. Music can shift the atmosphere of a workplace, as research shows that music affects our emotions in different ways. Happy, upbeat music causes our brains to produce chemicals like dopamine and serotonin, which evoke feelings of joy, whereas chill-out music relaxes the mind and the body. Not only can it bring a group of people together over a shared interest in music, but it can tangibly change the atmosphere of a room.

How can employers use background music as a productivity tool in the workplace?

To motivate a team of employees using background music, choose pieces with a slightly elevated BPM – 120 or a little faster – in a major key and with an upbeat sound palate. Consider choosing pieces without lyrics, as it is easier to concentrate on a task at hand when listening to instrumental music.

Getting the team involved in creating a background music playlist helps the team feel invested in something they have created for a positive purpose.  Allowing everyone to choose the music they enjoy listening to  helps the team discover more about each other’s tastes and interests at the same time.

Background music has benefits to both the business’ people and finances; and when harnessed in the right way, it can even serve both purposes at the same time.

* A survey commissioned by PPL PRS of 500 UK respondents by Attest in January 2023

** A survey commissioned by PPL PRS of 500 UK respondents by Attest in October 2023

*** A survey commissioned by PPL PRS of 1000 UK respondents by Attest in June 2023