Best Music for Restaurant Playlists | How to Choose Your Songs

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Choosing the Right Music for Your Restaurant

For decades, researchers have told us that music has a deep impact on the way people behave inside restaurants.

For example, in 2003, researchers said that different types of music (such as jazz, popular music, easy listening, and classical) have significant effects on consumer behavior.

They found that the music had an impact on the perceived atmosphere and the amount patrons were willing to spend in the establishment.

The songs someone might want to hear in a coffee shop might not be the same as the songs they expect in a classy restaurant.

Creating a cohesive playlist ensures that the music complements the restaurant’s theme and customer base. This ties into the overall aesthetic and experience of the restaurant.

Popular Playlist Ideas for Restaurants

The songs you play could help consumers understand the experience they’re about to have inside your restaurant. In 2020, researchers created a survey to determine why people chose to visit one location over another.

While price was important, brand reputation and word-of-mouth recommendations mattered more. The right music makes this possible.

These are ideas for playlists to consider for your restaurant.

Classic dinner vibes:

“Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra
“Take Five” by The Dave Brubeck Quartet
“Summertime” by Ella Fitzgerald
“What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong
“Moon River” by Audrey Hepburn

Casual and comfortable:

"Perfect" by Ed Sheeran
"Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley
"Thinking Out Loud" by Ed Sheeran
"At Last" by Etta James
"Your Song" by Elton John

Upbeat and energetic:

“Can't Stop the Feeling!” by Justin Timberlake
“Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift
“Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
“Don't Stop Believin'” by Journey
“Happy” by Pharrell Williams

World flavors:

“Chan Chan” by Buena Vista Social Club
“Agolo” by Angelique Kidjo
“Wombo” by Cecile McLorin Salvant
“Yamatai” by Ryuichi Sakamoto
“Desert Rose” by St. Germain

Modern chill:

“The Less I Know the Better” by Tame the Impala
“Young and Beautiful” by Lana Del Rey
“Falling” by Harry Styles
“River” by Leon Bridges
“Lost in Japan” by Shawn Mendes

How to Build & Maintain Your Playlist

Decades ago, there were just a few genres of music. Now, experts say there are more than 6,000 to choose from. Matching a genre to your restaurant could be a good starting place for your perfect playlist.

For example, if you serve barbeque in a room filled with horseshoes and sawdust, country could be an ideal genre. The songs you play will match the atmosphere of your joint perfectly.

Some restaurant owners look for words that describe their business (like classic, playful, or child-friendly) and enter that term and “music genre” into a web search engine. You could find a match in minutes.

It’s not always easy to find the best music for restaurant playlists. However, you can learn from what has worked for others.

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The following tips may help:

Try Playlist Tools

You’re not required to create the perfect playlist from scratch. Many companies (including Pandora CloudCover) provide pre-programmed channels filled with music associated with keywords, such as an artist’s name or a type of business.

Use these tools to help you get started, and if they’re not quite right, customize them.

Set the Right Volume

The perfect playlist won’t help if it’s too loud for your customers to enjoy. Top audiologists explain that their customers often complain about music that’s too loud to allow for normal conversation in restaurants.

Don’t be so enamored of the songs you choose that you forget to walk through the restaurant and ensure it’s not too loud or too quiet. If your staff members can’t hear patrons or each other, the music is too loud.

Update Regularly

Refreshing the songs you play can keep the customer experience dynamic and engaging. Some streaming companies make this easy by changing their channels regularly.

However, you can also tackle this independently by adding and removing songs on a predetermined date.

Monitor Customer Feedback

Survey company FreshLime says 77% of customers say they prefer brands that ask for and accept customer feedback. You could ask your customers directly when they’re finished with their meal, or you could ask for suggestions via social media or an email survey.

Remember to act on any feedback you get. For example, if your customers say they hate a specific song, remove it from the list ASAP. And if they ask for songs from a different artist, add that to the mix. If a customer sees that you acted on a request, or at least heard them out, they’ll feel valued in your restaurant.

Let Pandora CloudCover Handle Music Selection & Messaging Today

You might be tempted to plug your phone into your speakers and play songs you’ve purchased independently. This is a violation of copyright rules.

Songs that you play in your restaurant are public performances, which means you need an agreement and a payment to cover your use of them. Signing up with companies like Pandora CloudCover ensures that your songs are legal to play within your environment.

Pandora CloudCover can also help you find the perfect songs to play inside your restaurant. We can free up your time, so you can focus on your food and your customers. We can provide you with legal songs collected into playlists you can play as-is or customize to meet your specific environment. We can also create custom-tailored messaging.

If you’re interested in experimenting, we provide a two-week trial with no payment required. Terms and conditions apply.