Convenience stores are evolving fast. Today’s customers expect more than quick service. From background music to digital signage, every sensory detail can influence how long they stay, what they buy, and how they feel about your brand.

That’s why Pandora CloudCover joined the 2025 NACS Show, where we connected with convenience store owners, operators, and brand leaders about smarter ways to use sound and visuals in their stores. We showcased both our licensed business music platform and a preview of our upcoming digital signage solution, built to help retailers connect with customers in more dynamic ways.

The Current State of Convenience Store Experience

There are approximately 152,255 convenience stores in the U.S., which is roughly one store for every 2,233 people.

The modern convenience store is more than a pit stop. It’s a local hub where people grab coffee, charge their EV, or pick up dinner on the way home. Owners and operators are rethinking layouts, upgrading technology, and finding ways to stand out from competitors — all while keeping margins in check.

Music and digital signage play an important role in that evolution.

The right background music and overhead messaging shape how customers perceive your brand. It can bring foot traffic from the pump inside, make your store feel energetic, modern, or relaxed. It keeps the atmosphere pleasant and consistent, encouraging customers to stay a little longer — or return more often.

Meanwhile, digital signage is becoming a key marketing tool inside the store. Dynamic screens can highlight daily specials, promote loyalty programs, or display sponsored messages from partner brands. When done well, signage not only informs customers but also inspires impulse purchases and reinforces your visual identity.

3 Key Takeaways from Convenience Store Retailers

Bryan Lipson, Senior Director of Product at Pandora CloudCover recently demoed Pandora CloudCover’s upcoming digital signage offering to existing clients as well as new retailers in the space.

Our team spoke with hundreds of store leaders during the event. Three consistent themes emerged:

1. “We need music that truly fits and reflects our brand.”

Store owners want playlists that match their audience — whether that’s upbeat pop for younger shoppers, easygoing classics for commercial drivers, or today’s hits for family travelers and road-trippers.

That’s why Pandora CloudCover comes with family friendly business stations as well as the ability to customize stations yourself or get help from our musicologists. 

A quick look at your music options with Pandora CloudCover:

• Pandora Radio for your business: Explore top hits from popular artists
• Business stations: Choose from over 300+ business stations to fit your brand
• Create your own stations: Tailor your sound through custom mixes and stations
• Work with our Musicologists: Let our musicologists create a totally unique and branded sound for your business
  

2. “We need to monitor and control what’s playing across all locations.”

Managing sound across dozens or hundreds of stores is easier with a cloud-based platform. Pandora CloudCover lets you manage music selection, volume, and scheduling — all from one dashboard. 

You can oversee all your store locations from one place — adjusting music selection, setting schedules, and ensuring your sound stays brand-safe and family-friendly across every site.

3. “In-store messaging and signage are essential for promoting products and driving sales.”

Digital signage is now part of the marketing mix. 

Our upcoming digital signage feature will give users an integrated way to display promotions, menus, videos, and brand messages — right alongside their licensed music and overhead messaging. It’s a streamlined way to bring marketing, merchandising, and music under one roof (literally).

Music and Messaging Should Work Together

The most effective retail environments blend sound and visuals seamlessly. Imagine walking into a c-store with lively music that matches animated signage for a new energy drink — it feels cohesive, current, and engaging.

That’s why CloudCover is focusing on more connected in-store experiences. Music, messaging, and display need to work together, in sync, in order to encourage customers to shop inside, reinforce your store’s brand, and increase sales.

Pandora CloudCover provides fully licensed background music and messaging to thousands of retail and convenience store locations across North America. Our clients rely on us to keep their sound consistent, their licensing compliant, and their brand on point.

Try Pandora CloudCover Today

Convenience stores are competing on more than location — they’re competing on experience. Music and digital signage give you a fast, cost-effective way to shape that experience across every location.

With Pandora CloudCover, you get the tools to:

• Play music that fits your brand and audience
• Manage content from anywhere
• Deliver marketing messages in real time

Try it free for 14 days, and if you sign up for our Messaging plan, you’ll be the first to experience digital signage along with today’s popular overhead business music. Terms and conditions apply.

References

U.S. Convenience Store Count Stands at 152,255. January 225. NACS.