A few studies have been done on music to alter the moods and behaviors of retail customers. The effects can be long-lasting, as people remember up to 90% of what they learned while listening to music. Some researchers claim that shoppers will spend between 8-12% more time in stores where background music is playing, and they will also purchase more products.
If you own ambient music for retail stores, you must pay attention to the music selection and its volume. You don’t want your customers to be put off by either of these things.
For this reason, some songs should never be played in a retail store. Here we list them:
1. Heavy Metal
The first thing that comes to mind is black T-shirts and ripped jeans alongside long hair and piercings, but there’s more to it than that. Metallic elements within the music will turn away families and older shoppers (the people most likely to make purchases), while the deep bass lines can damage your store’s flooring and PA systems.
2. American Classic Rock
Some classic songs might be an obvious no go for retail stores, but there are at least four reasons why you should avoid these songs
– Classic rock is known for its long guitar solos, which can become annoying over time
– The themes presented in classic rock songs are not suitable for retail stores due to their violent nature
– Hearing the American national anthem in a store might be considered disrespectful by some shoppers
– The song “Dancing with Myself” can increase aggression levels in listeners.
3. National Anthems
An obvious no-no for stores is playing the national anthem of any country, whether it’s your own or not. This might seem especially obvious for Singapore, but it can be easily overlooked. By its very definition, an anthem is a song that you would play to represent your country. So why would anyone want to hear the national anthem in a store?
4. Classical
If you’re going to create an environment conducive to shopping, then it’s probably best not to include the sounds of clanging swords, crashing cymbals, or any other loud percussive effects. Your customers won’t hear each other talk, and they will probably go home with more items than they intended.
5. Anything with a strong voice
A song with a powerful lead singer can be fun to sing along to as you’re doing your shopping, but it’s not the kind of music that belongs in a retail store. You might think that it will boost morale among employees and encourage them to work harder, but it doesn’t. Research has shown that it can have the opposite effect and lead to a decrease in both their performance levels and work satisfaction.
Bottom line
You don’t want to alienate any of your customers. In the case of heavy metal, classic rock, and anything with a strong voice, you’ll probably be avoiding most music fans, too, which is never a good thing for business. There are plenty of other songs that won’t negatively affect your customers or employees.
When it comes to playing ambient music for retail stores, you want something that will capture all of your customers’ attention. A song with no vocals might seem like the best option, but if someone wants to know what time it is, they’re not going to find out by listening to the radio.
You may also read: 6 Reasons to Switch & Start Using Spotify Web Player
