Things You Should Know About Playing Music in Your Pharmacy

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Music Can Help Your Patients Feel Better

Some people come to your pharmacy to pick up medications that help them preserve the robust health they have right now. But chances are most people who visit you are not feeling well. They hope that your assistance will help them get better fast.

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According to The Telegraph, a pharmacy in England commissioned a study of people in pain. Researchers found that 41 percent said listening to a favorite song diminished the pain.

Researchers found that pop music was the most effective type of music, and songs cited included the following:

‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ by Simon and Garfunkel
‘Albatross’ by Fleetwood Mac
‘Easy’ by The Commodores
‘Candle in the Wind’ by Elton John

Playing songs like this could help put customers at ease and help them feel loyal to you.

Music Can Help You Offer Better Customer Service

Your customers aren't the only people who will hear the tunes you play. Your employees will also hear your playlist, and each note may influence them.

Burnout rates are very high among pharmacy workers. In 2017, researchers surveyed more than 950 clinical pharmacists and found that the burnout rate was higher than 61%. Workers said they felt burnout due to high levels of emotional exhaustion.

According to experts interviewed in an article in Pharmacy Times, pharmacy music that is repetitive or annoying can frustrate pharmacy workers, and that leads them to provide service that is less than ideal. On the other hand, music that is positive, upbeat, and varied can keep the workplace enjoyable. Experts cited suggest music from the 1950s and 1960s works best.

Music’s Effect on Concentration

In a separate study conducted in 2008, researchers examined the impact of music on the concentration of workers. They found that music people did not like had a strong impact on their ability to pay attention. However, songs they liked tended to fade in the background.

Studies like this demonstrate why it’s critical to choose music that’s typically liked by a large group of people. If you’re the only one who likes it, your staff morale and work may be impacted.

Once you have chosen a playlist, check back with your employees and ensure they enjoy the list you are spinning. If not, work with your employees to find a mix that works for them. Giving your employees a voice is one of the best ways to ensure that you provide the happy work environment you’re striving for.

You Must Pay to Use It

Recorded music and the composition that guided the recording are both protected by the copyright law of the United States. Per Title 17 of the United States Code, the person who holds a copyright has the legal right to control how—and when—it’s played for an audience.

Songs played over a loudspeaker to a group of unrelated people is, per the code, a public performance. A copyright holder has the right to allow that performance in exchange for a fee.

Penalties for Violating Copyright Law

If you play music without permission (and a fee), you could be subject to civil penalties in court. Those penalties can range from $750 to $30,000 per song played.

To avoid these issues, businesses often work with performing rights organizations (PROs). These companies work directly with copyright holders and accept fees for public performances. PROs handle the documents and payments so the musicians can focus on their work.

Let Pandora CloudCover Help

At Pandora CloudCover, we also take care of copyright issues. We can offer you robust playlists of music that your customers want to hear, and we can ensure that the proper payments are made so you will not be targeted by a lawsuit.

Getting started with us is easy.

Explore fully licensed music for your pharmacy

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Playlists

Modern Pop

Song: 10,000 Emerald Pools

Artist(s): BØRNS

Song: 80s Mercedes

Artist(s): Maren Morris

Song: If I Can't Have You

Artist(s): Shawn Mendes

Song: Sunday Vibe

Artist(s): Cisco Adler, G. Love & Special Sauce

Song: Saturday Sun

Artist(s): Vance Joy

Song: Money (with Tom Misch)

Artist(s): Michael Kiwanuka, Tom Musch

Song: Love You For A Long Time

Artist(s): Maggie Rogers

Song: Butterflies

Artist(s): Kacey Musgraves

Song: I Found You

Artist(s): Andy Grammer

Song: Carry Me Away

Artist(s): John Mayer

Timeless Pop

Song: Bridge Over Troubled Water

Artist(s): Simon & Garfunkel

Song: Albatross - 2018 Remaster

Artist(s): Fleetwood Mac

Song: Easy

Artist(s): Commodores

Song: Candle In The Wind - Remastered 2014

Artist(s): Elton John

Song: Lovely Day

Artist(s): Bill Withers

Song: Hotel California - 2013 Remaster

Artist(s): Eagles

Song: Sweet Caroline

Artist(s): Neil Diamond

Song: Take It Easy - 2013 Remaster

Artist(s): Eagles

Song: (Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay

Artist(s): Otis Redding

Song: Brown Eyed Girl

Artist(s): Van Morrison

50s & 60s

Song: (Love Is Like A) Heat Wave

Artist(s): Martha Reeves & The Vandellas

Song: (You Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher

Artist(s): Jackie Wilson

Song: Ain't No Mountain High Enough

Artist(s): Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell

Song: You Send Me

Artist(s): Sam Cooke

Song: Wouldn't It Be Nice

Artist(s): The Beach Boys

Song: Uptight (Everything's Alright)

Artist(s): Stevie Wonder

Song: Twist And Shout - Remastered 2009

Artist(s): The Beatles

Song: The Great Pretender

Artist(s): The Platters

Song: Sugar, Sugar

Artist(s): The Archies

Song: Stand by Me

Artist(s): Ben E. King

Specific Guidelines for Music for Pharmacies

While you must choose your background music with care, resist the urge to show off your hard work. Think of your music as an enhancement tool. It shouldn’t take center stage.

Experts say a workplace is too noisy when people must raise their voice to hear someone standing about three feet away. Your pharmacy customers shouldn’t have to yell over the counter to talk to your staff or someone else. They should be able to speak at a normal volume.

Consider Volume

In addition to playing music at a low volume, look for songs with a slow tempo. In a study conducted in 2011, researchers found that loud and fast-paced songs made it harder for participants to pay attention while reading.

Since your customers are likely reading about their prescriptions and parsing labels on over-the-counter medications, they need to concentrate.

Your Brand

The songs you play should be closely related to your brand. For example, if you would use words like “edgy” or “modern” to describe your brand personality, your songs should express those same sentiments.

Your company’s marketing team should be closely included in your song development plans so you can find a close alignment between the music you choose and your brand.

Music and Customer Behavior

People choose music for pharmacies because it has a deep impact on the way customers feel about the company. This is a research-backed technique that can change the way people feel about the time they spend with you.

In 2017, researchers examined 30 years of published data on the influence of atmosphere and customer behavior. They found that environments in which music is playing provide higher customer scores in pleasure and satisfaction. In other words, customers enjoy background music in retail environments like pharmacies.
In 2016, researchers looked at the type of music and how customers reacted when they heard it. While this study didn’t deal with pharmacies specifically, it had one lesson that might apply to a pharmacy environment. In this study, people who heard classical music used words like “educated” and “sophisticated” to describe the products they would buy. Since pharmacies want to project healing and knowledge, this could be a useful type of song to play.
In 2015, researchers examined a store’s atmosphere and how likely customers were to spend money. They surveyed 300 customers and found that things like music, cleanliness, and lighting could all have a positive impact on purchase intention. If your pharmacy seems inviting, people are more likely to open their wallets.

Tips for Playing Music in a Pharmacy

Paying attention to your playlist is critical. But how should you share the music you choose? Following a few basic tips could help you ensure you're surrounding your customers with the right experience.

We recommend the following:

Adjusting the volume: Your music should be loud enough to be audible, but quiet enough that your staff doesn't feel compelled to yell at customers. Observe the pharmacy counter throughout the day, and watch for signals like hands cupped around ears or people speaking too loudly.
Watching the tempo: Your pharmacy likely has customer highs and lows throughout the day. Look for fast-paced tunes to keep people moving quickly when you want to clear out the space, and slow it down when you want your few customers to linger longer.
Listening to your staff: Any time you adjust your playlist, check in with your frontline workers. Did they notice the change? How do they think it worked? Keep lines of communication open.

You know your customers and your business. And with the right partner, you can share music that makes your pharmacy a great place for customers and staff alike.